
Winter Concreting
What is the optimal concrete temperature in cold weather conditions?
For concreting in winter temperatures, as a rule, a certain Minimum temperature of the concrete is prescribed. At air temperatures between + 5 °C and - 3 °C, the concrete temperature at placement must be at least + 5 °C If cements with low heat of hydration (LH cements) are used, even mostly + 10 °C prescribedn. If the temperature is lower than -3 °C, a concrete temperature of +10 °C when placing always prescribed.
Basically: The lower the concrete temperature, the longer the strength development takes. Example: Concrete at + 5 °C needs approximately twice the time for strength development than concrete at + 20 °C . If the concrete reaches the -10 °C limit, the hardening process comes to a complete standstill.
Your advantages of concrete heating



How to heat concrete in winter?
Three levers are available for the production of fresh concrete in winter:
- The heating of the addition water
- The heating of gravel
- The heating of sand
KTI offers with the SAUTER product line offers a range of solutions for heating silos and heating the cold fresh water.
What are the effects of low temperatures during concreting?
- Solidification and moisture development is delayed. This results in longer stripping times and a longer curing period. The young concrete must therefore be protected for longer.
- Structural damage due to freezing through too early: If young concrete freezes before freeze-through resistance is reached, the concrete structure may be disturbed and permanently damaged due to the increase in volume of the freezing water contained in the concrete.
- Reduction of the adhesive bond between concrete and reinforcement or top and bottom concrete due to ice and snow accumulation on formwork or reinforcement.
- Risk of frost damage when concreting against frozen ground, formwork or structural elements, if due to their low temperature the concrete freezes through before reaching its freeze resistance.
- Risk of crackingThis is the case when high residual stresses occur due to higher temperature differences in the component between the edge and core zone after stripping or removing heat-insulating covers. In addition, cold, dry air - also in combination with wind - can lead to increased drying of the concrete in winter and thus to increased cracking.
In a nutshell
- Young concrete has Freezing capacity is achieved when it has a compressive strength of at least 5 N/mm² or its temperature has not fallen below +10 °C for at least 3 days.
- The lower the concrete temperature, the longer the strength development takes.
- Concrete at + 5 °C needs about twice the time for strength development than concrete at + 20 °C .
- If the concrete temperature drops below -10 °C, the curing process comes to a complete standstill.
- KTI SAUTER has Three solutions for concrete heating at low temperatures in the portfolio: 1. hot air system 2. hot water system 3. TURBO.
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