ACI 305R-99 Hot Weather Concreting Reported by ACI Committee 305 american concrete institute P.O, BOX 9094 FARMINGTON HILLS, MICHIGAN 48333-9094, international’First Printing, March 2000 Hot Weather Concreting Most ACI Standards and committee reports are gathered together in the annually revised ACI Manual of Concrete Practice. The several volumes are arranged to group related material together and may be purchased individually or in sets.The ACI Manual of Concrete Practice is also available on CD-ROM. ‘ACI Committees prepare standards and reports in the general areas of materials and properties of concrete, construction practices and inspection, pavements and slabs, struc- tural design and analysis, structural specifica- tions, and special products and processes. ‘A complete catalog of all ACI publications is available without charge. American Concrete Institute P.O. Box 9094 Farmington Hills, Ml 48333-9094 ACI Certification Programs The final quality of @ concrete structure depends on qualified people to construct it. ACI certification pro- grams identify craftsmen, technicians, and inspectors who have demonstrated their qualifications. The follow- ing programs are administered by ACI to fulfil the grow- ing demand in the industry for certified workers: Conerete Flatwork Finisher Concrete Flatwork Technician Concrete Field Testing Technician—Grade | Concrete Strength Testing Technician Conerete Laboratory Testing Technician—Grade | Concrete Laboratory Testing Technician—Grade It Concrete Construction InspectorIn-Training Concrete Construction inspector Concrete Transportation Construction Inspector-In-Training Concrete Transportation Construction Inspector This document may already contain reference to these ‘ACI certification programs, which can be incorporated into project specifications or quality contro! procedures. If not, suggested guide specifications are available on request from the ACI Certification Department. Enhancement of ACI Documents ‘The technical committees responsible for ACI committee reports and standards strive to avoid ambiguities, omis- sions, and errors in these documents. In spite of these efforts, the users of ACI documents occasionally find information or requirements that may be subject to more than one interpretation or may be incomplete or incor- rect. To assist in the effort for accuracy and clarity, the Technical Activities Committee solicits the help of indi- Viduals using ACI reports and standards in identifying and eliminating problems that may be associated with their use, Users who have suggestions for the improvement of ACI documents are requested to contact the ACI Engi- peering Department in writing, with the following infor- mation: 1. Title and number of the document containing the problem and specific section in the document; 2. Concise description of the problem; 3. If possible, suggested revisions for mitigating the problem. The Institute's Engineering Staff will review and take appropriate action on all comments and suggestions received. Members as well as nonmembers of the Insti- tule are encouraged to assist in enhancing the accuracy and usefulness of ACI documents.Hot Weather Concreting |FILE COPY Reported by ACI Committee 305 : Robert J. Ryan Kenneth B. Rear CChaiman ‘Secretary Muwafag A. Abo-Zaid . Gene Dariel ‘Alexander Lescinsky ‘Bijan Abmadi Richard D. Gaynor Wiliam C. Moore 4. Howard Aled John G. Gendich Dan Ravina awe Berhane Terry Haris, Se. John M. Scanlon al P, Brandt ‘Bary L, Housel Victor H. Smith ‘Terence M. Browne Frank A. Kozeliski (George V. Teodor Joseph G. Cabrera ‘Mak B, Leeman Habib M, Zein ALAbidien ames N. Corel, I Concrete mixed, transported, and placed under conditions of high ambient temperature, low huidity, solar radiation, of wind, requires an under. Standing ofthe effects these environmental factors have om concrete prop frties and construction operations. Measures canbe talento eliminate oF ‘minimize undesirable effects of these environmental factors. Experience in hot weather with the tes of construction involved will rece the poten til for serious problems This committee report defines hot weather, lists posible potential prob- lems, and presents practices intended tw minimise them. Among these prac tices ae such inportant measures az selecting materials and proportion, preeooling ingredients, special batching, length of haw, consideration of ‘concrete temperature a placed, facies for handling concrete atthe ite, ‘and during the early curing period. placing, and curing techniques, and ‘appropriate resting and inspecting procedures in hot weather conditions. A selected bibliography is included. These revisions imsove an editorial revision of the document. The rei sions focus x particular on the eects of ha weather on concrete properties, ‘and the use of midrange water reducing adnistures and extended set-on trol admiztres in hot weather. [ACT Committee Reports, Guides, Standard Practices, and |(Commentares are intended for guidance in planning, design- ling, executing, and inspecting construction. This document |is intended forthe use of individuals who are competent to evaluate the significance and limitations of its content and recommendations and who will accept responsibility forthe application ofthe material it contains. The American Concrete Insitute disclaims any and all responsibilty for the stated principles. The Insitute shall not be liable for any loss ‘or damage asing therefrom. Reference to this document shall not be made in contract documents. If tems found in this document are desired by the Architecunginer to be a par ofthe contract documents, they shall be restated in mandatory language for incorporation by the ArchitectEngiieer. 05R ‘Keywords: sit entrainment; cooling; curing; evaporation; high tempers ture; hot weather constriction; plastic shrinkage; prodvetion methods; retemperng; slump tests; water content CONTENTS Chapter 1—Introduction, p. 305R-2 1.1—General 1.2—Definition of hot weather 1.3Potentil problems in hot weather 1.4—Potential problems related to other factors 1.5—Practices for hot weather concreting. Chapter 2—Effects of hot weather on concrete properties, p. 305R-3 2.1—General 2.2-—Temperature of concrete 2.3-Ambient conditions 2.4—Water requirements 2.54 Bifect of cement 2.6—Supplementary cementitious materials 2.7-—Chemical admixtures, 2.8-—Aggregates 2.9—Proportioning ‘Chapter 3—Production and delivery, p. 305R-11 3.1-—General 3.2—Temperature control of concrete 3.3—Batching and mixing ‘ACI 3058.99 supersedes ACLS0SR91 aed became ese Osaber77, 199. Gepyigs © 3080 American Conse fsa, SEES ee nm mma ty ieee aa eat ieee Sees ee she tara ea Eaeeiciinacrmane mento205R-2 3.4—Delivery 3.5—Slump adjustment 3.6—Properties of concrete mixtures 3.7—Retempering Chapter 4—Placing and curing, p. 305R-13 4.1—General 4.2—Preparations for placing and curing 4.3—Placement and finishing, 4.4—Curing and prot Chapter 5—Testing and inspection, p. 305R-16 S.1—Testing, 5.2—Inspection Chapter 6—References, p. 305R-17 6.1—Referenced standards and reports 6.2—Cited references ‘Appendix A—Estimating concrete temperature, PB. R19 Appendix B—Methods for cooling fresh concrete, p. 305R-19 CHAPTER 1—INTRODUCTION 1.1—General Hot weather may create problems in mixing, placing, and curing hydraulic cement concrete. These problems can adversely affect the properties and serviceability of the con- crete, Most of these problems relate to the increased rate of cement hydration at higher temperature and increased evap- ‘oration rate of moisture from the freshly mixed concrete. The rate of cement hydration is dependent on concrete tempera- ture, cement composition and fineness, and admixtures used. ‘This report will identify problems created by hot weather concreting and describe practices that will alleviate these potential adverse effects, These practices include suggested preparations and procedures for use in general types of hot ‘weather construction, such as pavements, bridges, and build- ings. Temperature, volume changes, and cracking problems associated with mass concrete are treated more thoroughly in ACI 207.18 and ACI224R, ‘A maximum “as placed” concrete temperature is often used in an effort to control strength, durability, plastic- shrinkage cracking, thermal cracking, and drying shrinkage. ‘The placement of concrete in hot weather, however, is too complex to be dealt with by setting a maximum “as placed” or “as delivered” concrete temperature. Concrete durability is a general term that is difficult to quantify, but it is per- ceived to mean resistance of the concrete to weathering (ACI 201.2R). Generally, if concrete strengths are satisfactory and curing practices are sufficient to avoid undesirable drying of surfaces, durability of hot weather conerete will not differ greatly from similar concrete placed at normal temperatures. The presence of a desirable air-void system is needed if the concrete is going to be exposed to freezing cycles. fan acceptable record of field tests is not availabe, con- crete proportions may be determined by trial batches (ACI ‘ACI COMMITTEE REPORT 301 and ACI 211.1). Trial batches should be made at temper- atures anticipated inthe work and mixed following one ofthe procedures described in Section 2.9, Proportioning. The con- crete supplier and contractor are generally responsible for determining concrete proportions to produce the required quality of concrete unless specified otherwise. ‘According to ASTM C31/C 31M, concrete test specimens made in the field that are used for checking adequacy of lab- oratory mixture proportions for strength or as a basis for acceptance or quality control should be cured initially at 60 to 80 F (16 to 27 C). Ifthe initial 24 h curing is at 100 F G8 C), the 28-day compressive strength of the test speci- mens may be 10 to 15% lower than if cured at the required ASTM C 31/C 31M curing temperature (Gaynor etal 1985). Ifthe cylinders are allowed to dry at early ages, strengths will be reduced even further (Cebeci 1987). Therefore, proper fabrication, curing, and testing of the test specimens during hot weather is critical, and steps should be taken to ensure thatthe specified procedures are followed, 1.2—Definition of hot weather 112.1 For the purpose of this report, hot weather is any combination ofthe following conditions that tends to impair the quality of freshly mixed or hardened concrete by acceler- ating the rate of moisture loss and rate of cement hydration, or otherwise causing detrimental results: + High ambient temperature; + High concrete temperature; + Low relative humidity, + Wind speed; and + Solar radi 1.2.2 The effects of high air temperature, solar radiation, and low relative humidity may be more pronounced with in- creases in wind speed (Fig. 2.1.5). The potential problems of hot weather concreting may occur at any time of the year in warm tropical or arid climates, and generally occur during the summer season in other climates. Early cracking due to thermal shrinkage is generally more severe in the spring and fall. Ths is because the temperature differential for each 24 h period is greater during these times of the year. Precautionary measures required on a windy, sunny day will be more strict than those required on a calm, humid day, even if air temper- atures are identical 1.3—Potential problems in hot weather 1.3.1 Potential problems for concrete in the freshly mixed state are likely to include: + Increased water demand; + Increased rate of slump loss and corresponding ten- dency to add water at the job site; + Increased rate of setting, resulting in greater difficulty with handling, compacting, and finishing, and a greater risk of cold joints; + Increased tendency for plastic-shrinkage cracking; and + _ Increased difficulty in controlling entrained air content. 1.32 Potential deficiencies to concrete in the hardened state may include: ++ Decreased 28-day and later strengths resulting from