Products in Practice

Successful Hot Weather Concreting

ACI Committee 305 defines hot weather as any Potential Problems

combination of high ambient temperature, high The potential problems of hot weather can
concrete temperature, low relative humidity, occur at any time of the year in warm tropical
wind speed and solar radiation. The effects or arid climates and generally occur during the
of high temperature, solar radiation and low summer season in other climates. Problems
relative humidity on concrete may be more associated with freshly mixed concrete
Hot weather can lead
pronounced with increases in wind velocity (see placed during hot weather conditions include
to many problems in Figure 1), and can lead to rapid evaporation of increased:
mixing, placing, and moisture, which is the primary cause of plastic l Water demand (see Figure 2)
curing of concrete that shrinkage cracks in concrete.
l Rate of slump loss and tendency for
can have an adverse
retempering
effect on its properties Figure 1. Effect of Concrete and Air Temperatures, Relative
Humidity and Wind Speed on the Rate of Surface l Rate of setting (see Table 1)
and service life. This Moisture Evaporation from Concrete
l Difficulty in handling, placing, compacting
guide has been developed
5 15 25 35 ˚C and finishing
by BASF to assist the
l Occurrence of plastic shrinkage cracking
entire construction team
l Amount of air-entraining admixture to
(owners, specifiers,
entrain air
Co

90
contractors, and
nc

Relative
l Need for early curing
re

humidity100 percent 80
t
e

ready-mixed concrete
te
m

70 l Risk of cold joints

pe

producers) in the design,

ra
tu

60
re

manufacture, delivery, Figure 2. Effect of Concrete Mix Temperature

10
0˚F

50
placement and curing of on Water Requirement
90

(3
˚F

8˚C

40
(3

quality concrete in hot

80

310
2˚

30
˚F

(184)
C)
70

(2
˚F

weather.
7˚
60 ˚F

C)
(2

20
Water content, lb/yd3 (kg/m3)

300
50
˚

1˚
F

C)

(178)
(1 ˚C

kg/m2 /h

10
6˚ )
(1
40

C
0
)
˚F

40 50 60 70 80 90 100 290
(4
˚C

(172)
)
/h

Air temperature, ˚F
)

km

280
/h
(40

4.0
km

If the rate of 0.8 (166)

h

2
Rate of evaporation, lb/sq ft/h

mp

(3

evaporation )
0.7 /h 270
ph
25

approaches 0.2
km (161)
m

24
ity

0.6 3.0
20

lb/ft2/h (1 kg/m2/h), (
loc

ph 260
precautions (154) 30
ve

0.5 m 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

against plastic 15 / h)
(0) (4) (10) (16) (21) (27) (32) (38) (44)
ind

km
16
W

shrinkage cracking 0.4 2.0 Concrete temperature, ºF (ºC)

h(
are necessary. mp Slump: 3 in. (75 mm) Max. size agg.: 1-1/2 in. (38 mm)
0.3 10 m/h
)
(8 k
ph
0.2 5 m
(3 km
/h) 1.0 Source: PCA, "Design and Control of
2 mph 0 Concrete Mixtures"
0.1

Source: ACI 305.1 Specification for Hot Table 1. Setting Time of Concrete at Various Temperatures
Weather Concreting Temperature Approximate
Setting Time
100 °F (38 °C) 1 2/3 hours
90 °F (32 °C) 2 2/3 hours
80 °F (27 °C) 4 hours
70 °F (21 °C) 6 hours
60 °F (16 °C) 8 hours
50 °F (10 °C) 11 hours
40 °F ( 4 °C) 14 hours
Products In Practice: Successful Hot Weather Concreting

In hardened concrete, hot Of all concrete-making materials, water is the easiest to cool,
weather can increase: and using ice as part of the mixing water will help reduce
l Drying shrinkage and the concrete temperature. The amount of ice used must be
differential thermal included as part of the mix water and should not be more than
cracking approximately 75% of the amount of water required to meet
the specified water-cementitious materials ratio. ACI 305R has
l Permeability
additional guidelines for the use of ice in concrete. As coarse
aggregate is the ingredient with greatest mass in concrete,
and decrease:
changes in its temperature have a considerable effect on
l Compressive and concrete temperature. The following measures will further help
flexural strengths to control concrete temperature at the time of batching or during
l Durability the hydration process:
l Watertightness l Sprinkling and spraying of aggregates with water
l Uniformity of surface l Shaded storage of aggregates
appearance l Use of liquid nitrogen
ACI 305R “Hot Weather Concreting”, states that “concrete can l Use of fly ash/slag cement
be produced in hot weather without maximum limits on placing
l Use of chemical admixtures (Pozzolith®, PolyHeed®, Delvo®
temperature and will perform satisfactorily if proper precautions
Stabilizer, Delvo® ESC)
are observed in proportioning, production, delivery, placing and
curing. As part of these precautions, an effort should be made to l Use of an evaporation reducer (Confilm®)
keep concrete temperature as low as practical.”
Figure 3. Effect of Cooled Mixing Water on
Concrete Temperature Control Concrete Temperature
Concrete temperature at the time of mixing is influenced by o
C
temperature, specific heat and quantity of its ingredients.The 0 2 4 6 8
320
approximate temperature of freshly mixed concrete can be
Water at 45 ˚F (7 ˚C) replacing normal mixing water, lb

calculated from the following equation: 280

C)
)
120
(16˚C

˚C)
[0.22(TsMs + TaMa + TcMc) + TwMw + TsMws + TaMwa] 1˚C 8˚

C)
3
F(

2˚
(27
T=
F (2

(3
[0.22 (Ms + Ma + Mc) + Mw + Mws + Mwa] 240 0˚
60˚F

˚F 10

˚F
70˚

80

where: 200 90
80
T = final temperature of the concrete mixture
160

kg
Tc , Ts , Ta and Tw = temperature of cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and
water, respectively 120

Mc , Ms , Ma , Mw , Mws and Mwa = mass of cement, saturated surface-dry fine Normal mixing water temperatures 40
aggregate, saturated surface-dry coarse aggregate, mixing water, free water on 80
fine aggregate and free water on coarse aggregate, respectively
40

The temperature of concrete can be reduced by 1 °F (0.5 °C) 0 0

by reducing: 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16
Reduction in concrete temperature, ˚F
l Cement temperature by 8 °F (4 °C)
l Water temperature by 4 °F (2 °C) (see Figure 3) Source: ACR 305R, "Hot Weather Concreting"
l Aggregate temperature by 2 °F (1 °C)
The use of slower setting cements may improve the handling
characteristics of concrete in hot weather. A 10 to 15 °F (5 to
8 °C) temperature rise per 100 lb (45 kg) of cement occurs
from cement hydration. The temperature increase from cement
hydration is directly proportional to its cement content.
Fly ash, other pozzolans and slag cement are used as partial
replacements for portland cement and impart a slower rate of
setting and strength development to concrete, both of which
are desirable in hot weather concreting.
Products In Practice: Successful Hot Weather Concreting

The requirements to achieve good results in hot weather Miscellaneous Products

concrete placing and curing are not different from those for
Polypropylene fibers (MasterFiberTM) reduce the formation of
other seasons. Concrete should be placed where it will remain
plastic shrinkage cracks. In addition, these fibers:
and in shallow layers to allow adequate vibration. It shall be
protected using sunscreens, shades and wind breaks and l Improve impact, shatter and abrasion resistance
protected from moisture loss. Adequate curing measures shall l Improve durability
be undertaken.

Chemical Admixtures The use of an evaporation reducer (Confilm)† will enhance the
quality of the concrete. This monomolecular film:
Chemical admixtures conforming to ASTM C 494/C 494M
Types B, Retarding; D, Water-reducing and retarding; F, High- l Reduces surface moisture evaporation
range water-reducing; and G, High-range water-reducing and l Reduces crusting, plastic shrinkage cracks
retarding, are beneficial for concrete placed during hot weather.
Benefits obtained from these admixtures include: †
Note: Confilm is neither a finishing aid, nor a curing
l Reduced water demand - minimum 5% compound for concrete
l Improved workability during placing
l Slower rate of setting
l Lower rate of heat evolution
l Increased compressive strength
l Reduced friction among aggregates
BASF offers a wide range of admixtures that conform to ASTM
C 494/C 494M for hot weather concreting, such as those listed
in Table 2.

Table 2. Typical Performance Data

Concrete & Ambient Temperatures 90 °F (32 °C)
Product ASTM C 494/ Dosage Setting Time
C 494M fl oz/cwt Retardation vs.
Designation (mL/100 kg) Plain Concrete
(h:min)
Pozzolith100 XR B & D 2 (130) +2:30
Conventional 5 (330) +8:55
water-reducing and
retarding admixture
Delvo Stabilizer B & D 2 (130) +0:45
Hydration control 6 (390) +2:00
admixture (liquid)
Delvo ESC* B & D 4 (260)* +2:15**
Hydration control (1/4 puck)
admixture
(dry formulation)
* Delvo ESC Puck = 16 fl oz of Liquid Delvo Stabilizer

** Concrete and Ambient Temperatures 70 °F (21 °C)

Your local sales representative will help you select the

admixture that best serves your needs.
Products In Practice: Successful Hot Weather Concreting

Curing
Curing is the maintenance of satisfactory moisture content
and temperature in concrete during its early stages so that
desired properties may develop (see Figure 4). The minimum
recommended curing period is 7 days. Inadequate curing
can cause plastic shrinkage cracking and impair strength
development and durability.

Figure 4. Effect of Curing on Compressive Strength of

Concrete
150
e
Moist-cured entire tim
Compressive Strength, %

125
Summary
100
In air after 7 days
Hot weather difficulties are chiefly caused by high concrete
In air after 3 days temperatures and rapid evaporation of water from concrete.
75 These conditions adversely affect the quality of concrete since
In air entire time the rate of setting is accelerated, strength is reduced and
50 cracks may occur in either the plastic or hardened state. Curing
is more critical and air-entrainment more difficult to attain
25
in hot weather. Field strength specimens are affected in the
same manner as the concrete in place. If all precautions and
0
3 7 28 90 180 recommended ACI 305R guidelines are followed, successful
Age, Days hot weather concreting can be achieved.

Source: BASF has the products and technical expertise to assist the
Source:ACI
ACI306
306R,R,
"Cold Weather
“Cold Concreting"
Weather Concreting” entire construction team (owners, specifiers, contractors, and
ready-mixed concrete producers) in the design, manufacture,
delivery, placement and curing of quality concrete in hot
Methods of curing include:
weather.
1. Moist curing (ponding, continuous sprinkling and fogging)
2. Wet coverings (wet burlap, etc.) More Information
3. Impervious paper and plastic sheets For further information or assistance, contact your local sales
representative.
4. Membrane-forming curing compounds
The Admixture Systems business of BASF Construction
Solutions Chemicals is a leading provider of innovative admixtures
Strength, durability and other desired properties of concrete for specialty concrete used in the ready-mixed, precast,
can be obtained in hot weather through the use of the following manufactured concrete products, underground construction
techniques: and paving markets throughout the North American region. The
l Use of cool concrete ingredients Company’s respected Master Builders brand products are used
l Avoiding prolonged mixing of concrete materials to improve the placing, pumping, finishing, appearance and
performance characteristics of concrete.
l Protection of materials and equipment from hot weather
l Good scheduling (plan hot weather placements)

BASF Construction Chemicals

Admixture Systems
www.masterbuilders.com
United States 23700 Chagrin Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44122-5544 l Tel: 800 628-9990 l Fax: 216 839-8821
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© BASF Construction Chemicals, LLC 2007 l Printed in USA l 07/09 l LIT # 1017074