Hanson Concrete

Using concrete in cold weather

Additional care must be taken when placing concrete in cold Prior to placing ensure that sub-bases,
formwork, reinforcement and any
weather. If young concrete is allowed to cool below freezing transporting or placing equipment
point it may be damaged to such an extent that it will be unfit is free from ice and snow.
for use. It should be noted that even if temperatures do not Severe frost day and night.
drop below zero the concrete will develop strength significantly Additional precautions for these conditions
slower than during the warmer ambient temperatures. include the requirement for heated concrete
(10C at time of delivery) which is available
from selected ready-mixed concrete plants.
The following is advice on practical Ambient temperature If heated concrete is not available it is
measures that need to be implemented below 5C but no frost. advisable to delay concreting until the
when concreting in cold weather. If the temperature is low but does not drop ambient temperature has risen above 2C.
Two different temperatures have to be below freezing there is minimal risk that the If young concrete is allowed to cool below
considered when working with concrete concrete will be permanently damaged but freezing point it may be damaged to such
in cold weather, firstly the ambient air it will take longer to develop strength an extent that it will be unfit for use.
temperature and secondly the concrete and set. It should also be noted that even if
temperature at time of delivery. It is important that formwork is not removed temperatures do not drop below zero the
The following advice makes it clear as too soon otherwise there is a risk that concrete will develop strength at a greatly
to which is being referred to, it is very corners and arises could be knocked off reduced rate and initial setting will be
important not to confuse the two. and that concrete in beams and suspended significantly slower.
slabs may be too weak to carry its own
If freshly placed concrete cools below weight and may collapse.
0C the water in the mix will freeze and
expand. This could damage the concrete It is impossible to give definitive rules
so much that it becomes useless and has as to how long formwork should be left
to be removed. in place as the rate of gain of strength
depends on many factors outside the
However, provided the concrete is able first suppliers control, including the ambient
to reach a strength of about 2 N/mm2, it is temperature.
likely to resist this disruptive expansion. For
most mixes this strength is achieved within Minor frost at night.
48 hours if the concrete is kept at or above Fresh concrete must be prevented from
5C. However, even after the concrete has freezing so all freshly placed concrete
reached 2 N/mm2 low temperatures will must be protected as soon as practicable.
slow down the strength development. The temperature of concrete at time of
The aim therefore, during cold weather, delivery should not be less than 5C.
must be to keep the concrete warm (above There will be occasions when your
5C) for the first 48 hours and then ensure supplier cannot guarantee this temperature
that the strength is permitted to develop, at delivery and you will need to decide For further advice please
albeit at a lower rate. whether you can adequately protect the contact the technical team
The severity of the weather determines concrete in these circumstances if you at your local customer
the precautions that need to be taken. wish to proceed placing concreting. service office.
For the purposes of concreting, cold Necessary protection includes frost
weather can be divided into the Scotland 0845 120 6300
blankets and insulated formwork. Timber
following three categories: formwork by itself often offers sufficient North 0845 120 6300
insulation and, when used for beams, Central 0845 845 6688
columns and walls, the only additional South 0845 758 5646
precaution necessary is to cover the
London 0845 120 5750
exposed surfaces with insulating material
or erect temporary covers and provide Email: concrete@hanson.com
heating with space heaters.
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