SECTION 03051

COLD WEATHER CONCRETING PROCEDURES

PART 1 GENERAL

1.1 DEFINITIONS

A. Cold weather is defined as a period when for more than 3 successive days the mean daily
temperature falls below 40° F or any day when the temperature is expected to fall or falls below
freezing.

1.2 RELATED WORK

A. Related work specified in other sections:

1. Section 03300 - Cast In Place Concrete
2. Section 03314 - Prestressed Concrete Tank

1.3 SHOP DRAWINGS

A. Not less than 30 days prior to expected placement of concrete under cold weather conditions, a
complete procedure shall be submitted for review covering all aspects of protection of concrete and
its ingredients from the detrimental effects of cold weather. Concrete placement during cold
weather shall not commence prior to return of the procedure marked “Reviewed”.

1.4 PRODUCT DELIVERY, HANDLING AND STORAGE

A. The concrete temperature, during placement in cold weather, shall not be less than 50° F.
Temperature measurements of the concrete as delivered to the jobsite shall confirm this
requirement.

PART 2 PRODUCTS

2.1 HEATING

A. Water and aggregates may be preheated for cold weather placement; however, their temperature
shall not exceed 150° F. All methods and equipment for heating of water and aggregate shall be
subject to the approval of the ENGINEER and shall conform to ACI 306.

PART 3 EXECUTION

3.1 GENERAL

A. No concrete shall be placed on frozen ground.

B. The ground, against which concrete is to be poured, must be protected against freezing after its
preparation, or the concrete placement shall be delayed until the ground has fully thawed out.

C. When temperatures are expected to be below 32° F the night before the concrete is placed, then all
reinforcing steel, forms and the ground shall be preheated, for a minimum of 12 hours, under a
minimum temperature of 50° F.

D. When temperatures are expected to be below 32° F any time before the concrete has reached a
strength of 1000 psi, the concrete must be adequately protected against frost damage by heating

03051 - 1 Cold Weather Concreting Procedures

 SECTION 03051
COLD WEATHER CONCRETING PROCEDURES

blankets, straw or insulation materials for a minimum of 7 days or until at least 1000 psi concrete
strength has been reached. The concrete temperature shall at no time fall below 40° F based on
recording temperature monitors placed at a maximum of 50 feet on centers, each way, and around
the circumference of the floor, wall, roof slab and wall footing. CONTRACTOR shall provide
heat as required to keep the concrete temperature as specified throughout the entire curing period of
7 days.

E. Weather prediction made by the nearest NOAA station, and corrected for the local elevation and
environmental conditions, may be used to determine whether cold weather protection shall be
required. Thermometers will be used by the ENGINEER and these readings shall determine
whether cold weather protection shall be required and whether cold weather protection is adequate.

F. When combustion type heaters are used to maintain concrete temperatures within an enclosure, the
exhaust gases shall be vented from the heater to the outside atmosphere so that the concrete is not
exposed to the products of combustion.

- END OF SECTION -

03051 - 2 Cold Weather Concreting Procedures