!

Safety on site
Many construction activities are 6 CONCRETE
ON SITE
potentially dangerous so care is needed
at all times. Current legislation requires
all persons to consider the effects of
their actions, or lack of action, on the
health and safety of themselves and
others. Advice on safety legislation can
be obtained from any of the area offices
of the Health & Safety Executive.
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

Curing

The downloadable booklets in the Concrete CONTENTS

on site series are a continuation of a series
originally issued in 1951 and have become Health awareness
standard guides to site personnel. Why curing is necessary?
Methods and materials
© The Concrete Society 2015. Copyright Exposed concrete
laws apply. You may not rent, lend, modify Paving and floor slabs
or duplicate without the copyright owners Further reading
permission.

Concrete on site 6 - Curing

OS006
© The Concrete Society
07/15
1
 Curing
HEALTH AWARENESS Note that with alkali burns, pain is Concrete or mortar elsewhere on
not immediate. the skin should also be washed off
immediately. Whenever there is
Dry cement powders in normal use persistent or severe irritation or pain
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

have no harmful effect on dry skin. a doctor should be consulted.

As with any dusty material there Handling precautions
may be ill effects from the inhala-
Protection for the eyes, mouth and
tion or ingestion of cement dust
nose should be worn in circum-
and suitable precautions should be
stances when dry cement may
WHY CURING IS NECESSARY? Fig 1. Well-cured concrete achieves its
taken. potential.
become airborne.
Curing is the last, and one of the
When cement is mixed with water, most important stages of concrete
alkali is released. Precautions should When working with wet concrete or
construction. No matter how
therefore be taken to prevent dry mortar, suitable protective clothing
thorough you have been up to this
cement entering the eyes, mouth or should be worn, such as long-
point, if the curing is not done prop-
nose, and to avoid skin contact with sleeved shirts, full-length trousers,
erly, the concrete will not develop its
wet concrete and mortar. waterproof gloves with cotton liners
full potential.
and site safety compliant wellington
Repeated skin contact with wet boots. Clothing contaminated with
cement over a period of time may Concrete that has been properly
wet cement, mortar or concrete
cause irritant contact dermatitis. cured is superior in so many ways.
should be removed and washed be-
The abrasiveness of the concrete or It is stronger, more resistant to
fore further use. Should concrete or
mortar constituents can aggravate chemical attack and traffic wear, and
mortar get into boots, remove them
the effect. more watertight. Furthermore, it is
IMMEDIATELY and thoroughly wash
less likely to be harmed by frost and
Some skins are sensitive to the small the skin and the inside of the boots
the accidental knocks it is bound to
amount of chromate that may be before proceeding with the job.
receive.
present in cements and can develop
allergic contact dermatitis, but this If cement enters the eye it should be
The surface is the part of the con-
is rare. washed immediately and thorough-
crete most affected by poor curing.
ly with clean water and medical
Yet it is this skin that gives concrete
Continued contact with the skin can advice sought.
its ability to withstand wear, and
result in cement burns with ulceration.
that protects the reinforcement
and the ‘heart’ concrete. If it is

2
 Curing
inadequately cured, the effective- METHODS AND MATERIALS Group two methods, while not so ef-
ness and the lifespan of the con- ficient, are usually satisfactory for all
crete will be affected. except very special work, and they
The Methods have the big plus point that they
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

There are two basic ways of curing can be carried out more easily.
concrete. The first - let us call it
What exactly does curing do? Group One - involves keeping the Therefore, it is these methods that
When cement is mixed with water, a surface of the concrete moist by the we shall describe in this booklet.
chemical reaction known as hydra- use of ponding, spraying/sprinkling,
tion occurs. It is this that causes damp sand or damp hessian. Polythene sheet Fig 2. Hessian requires frequent
the cement to harden and then A simple, yet effective, way of keep- wetting.
develop its strength and durability. The second — Group Two — ing moisture in the concrete is to
But hydration can take place only if prevents the loss of moisture from cover it with 125 micron (500 gauge)
the concrete is kept moist and at a the concrete by covering it with polythene sheeting.
favourable temperature in its early polythene sheeting, spraying-on a
life after placing — the process we curing membrane, or leaving the Polythene sheet is a material that is
call curing. formwork in place. easy to handle and store, and after-
wards it can be re-used for so many
If the concrete dries out, the hydra- Group One methods are undoubt- other purposes on site- including,
tion reaction comes to a halt. The edly the most efficient -and the of course, curing other concrete at a
earlier this happens, the more seri- most appropriate for some types of later date.
ous is the effect on the concrete’s work.
potential quality.
Using polythene
However, they suffer from the The polythene should be placed
In this booklet, we tell you how practical disadvantage that they are is position as soon as possible- on
to ensure that the concrete stays expensive since they are labour-in- vertical surfaces within half an hour
moist and at a suitable temperature tensive. Moreover if they are not car- of the removal of the formwork; on
during the first few days in normal ried out properly- and it is difficult to slabs as soon as the concrete is hard Fig 3. A roll of 125 micron polythene,
conditions. For information about ensure this- they may do more harm enough to prevent surface damage 4m wide x 25m long.
the extra precautions that need to than good. or marking. Wait until the water
be taken during cold weather, see
sheen has evaporated, but not so
Concrete on site 11: Winter Working.
long that the concrete starts to dry.

3
 Curing
When the surface of a slab has a Spray-on compounds The white or aluminized pigmented
special finish - such as a texture - the Curing compounds are sprayed on compounds are for external paved
polythene should be spread over to the surface- a hand-held garden areas because they reflect the sun’s
light frames above the concrete. spray is suitable for most jobs- and rays, thus keeping the concrete
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

can be used on both vertical and cooler.

With such finishes there is no horizontal surfaces. It is essential Fig 4. Protect the finish of a textured
need to wait for any bleedwater to always to choose the correct type of Those with a dye allow you to check
slab by raising the polythene on a
evaporate before you position the compound. at a glance that a uniform, all-over
frame.
polythene; the curing can start im- layer has been applied. The dye then
mediately the slab Mostly, the compounds consist of quickly disappears without causing
is finished. a resin in a solvent that evaporates stains, provided it is not applied to a
after it has been applied, leaving dry surface.
It is important that the exposed behind a thin, continuous film or
edges and corners of the sheet membrane that seals-in most of the In Britain a super-grade compound
should be well fixed down. Other- moisture. The film peels off under with white or aluminized pigment
wise wind and draughts would get the action of wind and sun after is advised for external paving, but
underneath and create a wind-tun- about four weeks (or foot traffic a lower, non-pigmented grade is
nel effect that would dry the surface when applied internally). Water satisfactory for structural concrete.
of the concrete. based compounds are available In tropical climates, the higher
for internal use where solvent efficiency grade should be used in
Good fixing also, of course, stops fumes may cause Health and Safety every case.
the polythene sheet from blowing concerns.
about. If you have to use more than If a surface is to receive any addi- Fig 5. Paved areas are cured with a
one sheet, overlap them by at least Most of the compounds come in tional material that requires a posi- super-grade white, or aluminized,
300mm, and tape the joins. Use tape two grades, a standard grade having tive bond, such as: screeds, render- spray-on compound.
or string for tying round beams and a curing efficiency of 75% and a su- ing, paint type finishes or a further
columns. per grade with 90% efficiency. Both layer of concrete, then a standard
are usually available with either a curing compound should not be
If there is no chance of frost, and the white or aluminized pigment, or used. Special curing compounds
concrete is hard enough, it will assist with a fugitive dye. are available and their compatibility
the curing if you spray on water with the proposed additional mate-
before placing the polythene. rial should be checked.

4
 Curing
Curing compounds are generally Using the compounds You should hold the spray about
non-toxic but approval should be There are various points to watch 300 to 500mm from the surface,
obtained before using them on when you are applying a curing preferably even closer when there
structures that will be holding drink- compound. is wind.
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

ing water.
Before you start, make sure that It is vital that you cover all the
When to spray you have enough in stock for the concrete, and with a uniform layer.
The compounds should never be ap- job in hand-you will need about a This is best ensured by first moving
litre for each 4 m2 of surface area the nozzle back and forth to apply Fig 6. Fugitive dye shows whether the
plied to dry surfaces since these will
— and sufficient of the cleaning half the quantity required, then application has been thorough.
absorb the compounds, and stain-
ing or discoloration may result. If the solvent, too. applying the remainder by moving
surface is dry, that is a sign that the the nozzle at right angles to the
curing has been left too late. Always wear protective goggles, initial strokes.
gloves and mask. You should avoid
On vertical surfaces, apply the getting the compound on your skin, Clean out the equipment with
compound- standard or high in eyes or in your mouth, for it might solvent after you have finished- and
grade- almost immediately after the cause harm. whenever you break off spraying for
formwork has been struck. If the sur- more than, say, half an hour- paying
face has dried out, wet it down with Make sure you read beforehand, particular attention to the nozzle
clean water, and then spray while it and understand, the manufacturer’s and hose.
is still moist. health and safety notes so that you
will know what to do if anything
On slabs, apply the compound as goes wrong. Protection given by formwork
soon as possible after any bleed While it is in position, formwork
water has evaporated, and certainly Stir the compound before use, espe- protects concrete against loss of
no later than half an hour after the cially if it is a pigmented one, since moisture, and thus allows curing to
sheen caused by the water has the pigment tends to settle at the proceed. It is only after it has been Fig 7. Equipment for applying a
gone. Curing compounds do not bottom of the drum. Fill the spray struck that further curing of col- spray-on curing compound.
work if sprayed on top of water. reservoir with the compound, and umns, walls and beams, for instance,
In damp conditions the water may then you can start work. may be necessary.
take a few hours to disappear, but
much less on a drying day.

5
 Curing
Concrete that is in an exposed posi- through a horizontal construction Well-cured concrete will be more
tion must be thoroughly cured even joint-the top surface of the concrete impermeable and better able to
after prolonged protection by the should be covered with polythene withstand freezing and thawing,
formwork. sheet pressed into place over the wetting and drying. It will also have
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

ends of the bars. The polythene a better long-term appearance,

But in a mild, protected environ- should be well taped to the top of since dirt will not collect easily.
ment, and provided that the the formwork.
formwork has been in position for Polythene sheeting can be used, but
Fig 8. Formwork gives some protec-
at least four days, there might be no When concrete will receive a final a spray-on curing compound is usu-
tion, but tops of walls and columns
need for further curing, even in dry applied decorative treatment, such ally more convenient, though its use
still need to be cured.
weather. However you should check as rendering, plaster or paint, in may be subject to approval in the
this point with the engineer or clerk conditions of mild exposure (inside case of special visual requirements
of works. a building, for instance) further cur- for colour and uniformity.
ing may not be necessary, no matter
If the formwork is struck in less how early the formwork is struck,
than four days, and the surfaces are but this is something you need to
Colour uniformity
The colour of concrete can vary ac-
designed to be a uniform colour- as check first.
cording to how long the formwork
in the case of a row of columns, or
is left in position after placing, and
a continuous wall- thorough and
whether the day on which it is struck
uniform curing is essential.
is dry or wet.
Even when the formwork is left in
EXPOSED CONCRETE
Where uniformity of colour is impor-
place, exposed top surfaces must be
All concrete that will be perma- tant, e.g. with as-struck or textured
cured in the normal way. The top of
nently exposed to the weather surfaces, you should either leave the
a wall, for example, will be exposed
needs to be cured with extra care, formwork in position for four days,
to more severe weather conditions
and for at least seven days. This is or, where it is struck in less than that
than will the face. The top will prove
particularly important for visual con- time, cover or wrap the concrete in
more durable if it is sprayed with a Fig 9. All exposed concrete must be
crete, including white and coloured polythene sheeting for at least an-
high-grade curing compound. thoroughly cured.
concrete, plus special architectural other three days. Curing compounds
finishes created by abrasive blasting might discolour the concrete, even
Where steel reinforcement projects
or tooling. if only temporarily, and might leave
from the top of a wall or column or
some uneven staining.

6
 Curing
White and coloured concrete PAVING AND FLOOR SLABS is most convenient for small paved
It is best to use the polythene sheet- areas built by semi-manual methods
ing method when curing white or It is essential for most horizontal of construction.
coloured concrete. surfaces to be well cured, especially
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

if they will have to stand up to foot Always use white pigmented or

Polythene also has the advantage or vehicular traffic. aluminized super grade of com-
that, if left in place, it will protect the pound, because this will reflect the
concrete from dirt caused by activi- Always start the curing soon after sun’s rays. You must also take care
Fig 10. By leaving polythene sheeting
ties that are proceeding on the site. the water sheen has disappeared. to ensure that an even, uniform
in place, you give added protection to
Removing stains and dirt at a later However, if you are using polythene coat of the membrane is applied,
the concrete.
stage is both time consuming and sheeting, allow the concrete to particular care being needed in
expensive. stiffen slightly first, so that the sur- windy weather, when the stream of
face will not be marked or damaged compound could easily be blown
Hessian or a curing compound as the sheet is placed on top of it. ‘off course’.
should only be used if these will not
cause staining of the concrete. Major concrete roads are usually If the road is fairly wide, you will not
cured by a membrane sprayed from be able to reach far enough to spray
a machine that is part of the paving the middle. You will therefore need
to work from a movable walkway
Rust Staining train. They are not considered in this
that spans the road. A stout plank
The action of rain on reinforcement booklet.
well supported at both ends will be
left projecting from the tops of walls sufficient.
and columns e.g. for continuity with Combined curing and sealing
concrete that will be placed later compounds are available that can
reduce the incidence of dusting However, you might find it more
on, can create rust. This will form convenient to use polythene sheet-
stains as it is washed down the face from floor slabs.
ing, and this is just as good. Keep Fig 11. Paths and drives are cured
of the cast concrete. Rust stains can the sheet in place for at least seven with a white or aluminized spray-on
be prevented by applying a neat days, and make sure it is well fixed at compound.
cement grout wash, or taping plastic Minor roads, paths and drives the edges, where there is a tendency
sheaths, to the exposed reinforce- A curing membrane, applied by a for the concrete to dry out more
ment. hand-operated garden-type spray, quickly.

7
 Curing ! USEFUL CONTACTS
British Precast Concrete Federation
Direct finishes and toppings Cement-sand screeds www.britishprecast.org
BSI Quality Assurance
Special attention to curing is essen- Curing compounds are not
www.bsi-global.com
tial for power-floated and power- recommended for cement-sand
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

trowelled finishes. screeds. The screed should be kept Cement Admixture Association
continuously damp for seven days, www.admixtures.org.uk
Immediately after the final finishing, preferably by being covered with Cementitious Slag Makers Association
the surface should be firm enough polythene. www.ukcsma.co.uk
to be either covered with polythene
sheeting or similar in the case of Construction Plant Association
small areas, or treated with a curing www.cpa.uk.net
compound. Polythene should be Meteorological office
ideally kept in place for at least www.metoffice.gov.uk.
seven days. Some loss of moisture
Mineral Products Association
may occur at the edges and joints of
www.mineralproducts.org
the sheets, and it will then be neces-
sary to turn them back and spray the Quality Scheme for Ready Mixed Concrete
surface with water every other day. www.qsrmc.co.uk
Sprayed Concrete Association
www.sca.org.uk
The Concrete Centre
www.concretecentre.com
The Concrete Society
www.concrete.org.uk
UK Cares (reinforcement)
www.ukcares.co.uk
UK Quality Ash Association
www.ukqaa .org.uk

8
 Curing
FURTHER READING BS EN 206: Concrete - Specification, performance, production and conformity.
BS EN 12350: Testing fresh concrete.
For information on Concrete Society publications, refer to the Concrete Book Part 1: Sampling.
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

Shop, www.concretebookshop.com Part 2: Slump test .

Part 4: Degree of compactability.
British Standards Part 5: Flow table test.
BS 1881: Testing Concrete. Part 7: Air content. Pressure methods.
Part 113: Method for making and curing no-fines test cubes. Part 8: Slump-flow test.
Part 130: Method for temperature-matched curing of concrete specimens. Part 9: V-funnel test.
BS 4449: Steel for the reinforcement of concrete. Weldable reinforcing steel. Bar, Part 10: L-box test.
coil and decoiled product. Specification. Part 11: Seive segregation test.
BS 4482: Steel wire for the reinforcement of concrete products. Specification. Part 12: J-ring test.
BS 4483: Steel fabric for the reinforcement of concrete. Specification. BS EN 12390: Testing hardened concrete.
BS 5975: Code of practice for temporary works procedures and the permissible Part 2: Making and curing specimens for strength tests.
stress design of falsework. Part 3: Compressive strength of test specimens.
BS 7542: Method of test for curing compounds for concrete. BS EN 13670: Execution of concrete structures.
BS 7973: Spacers and chairs for steel reinforcement and their specification. BS EN 13286-41 Unbound and hydraulically bound mixtures: Part 41: Test
BS 8443: Specification for establishing the suitability of special purpose concrete method for determination of the compressive strength of hydraulically bound
admixtures. mixtures.
BS 8500: Concrete – complementary British Standard to BS EN 206, BS EN 14227-1 Unbound and hydraulically bound mixtures – Specifications –
Part 1: Method of specifying and guidance for the specifier. Part 1 Cement bound granular mixtures.
Part 2: Specification for constituent materials and concrete.
BS 8666: Scheduling, dimensioning, bending and cutting of steel reinforcement
for concrete. Specification.

9
 Curing
FURTHER READING CONTINUED. Construction Industry Research and Information Association (CIRIA)
Concrete pressure on formwork, Report 108, 1985
Building Research Establishment Formwork striking times – criteria, prediction and methods of assessment,
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

Report 136, 1995

Design of normal concrete mixes, 2nd ed, 1997
Action in the case of non-conformity of concrete structures, Report C519, 1999
Formwork for modern, efficient concrete construction, BR495, 2007

Construct
The Concrete Society
Guide to flat slab formwork and falsework, 2003
Technical Report 52, Plain formed concrete finishes, 2015
A guide to the safe transportation of formwork and falsework equipment, 2005
Technical Report 62, Self-compacting concrete, 2005
A guide to the safe use of formwork and falsework, 2008
Formwork – a guide to good practice, 3rd edition, 2012
Good Concrete Guide 2: Pumping concrete, 2005
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
Good Concrete Guide 6: Slipforming of vertical structures, 2008
Hand-vibration – The control of vibration at work regulations, 2005
Good Concrete Guide 7: Foamed concrete, application and specification, 2009
The work at height regulations, 2005
Good Concrete Guide 8: Concrete practice, Guidance on the practical aspects of
concreting, 2008 The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations, 2002
Checklist for erecting and dismantling falsework, 2014 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, 1999
Checklist for assembly, use and striking of formwork, 2014 Managing Health and Safety in Construction, 2007
Concrete Advice no 16, Assessing as struck in situ concrete surfaces The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations, 1992
Concrete Advice no 20, Curing concrete The Manual Handling Operations Regulations, 1992
Concrete Advice no 30, Identity testing for strength in accordance with
BS EN 206 and BS 8500-1 Highways England, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office (HMSO)
Concrete Advice no 31, Identity testing of fresh concrete for properties other Manual of contract documents for highway works, vol 1, Specification for High-
than strength way Works
Concrete Advice no 37, Mould release agents

10
 Curing
Uncontrolled copy, ©Concrete Society Ltd. 4 April 2019 Not for circulation.

Other titles in the Concrete on site series

1. Ready-mixed concrete
2. Reinforcement
3. Formwork
4. Moving fresh concrete
Published by The Concrete Society 5. Placing and compacting
OS006
6. Curing
Published May 2010
revised July 2015
7. Construction joints
© The Concrete Society 8. Making-good and finishing
The Concrete Society 9. Sampling & testing fresh concrete
Riverside House, 4 Meadows Business Park
Station Approach, Blackwater, Camberley
10. Making test cubes
Surrey GU17 9AB 11. Winter working
Tel: +44(0)1276 607140 FAX: +44(0)1276 607140
www.concrete.org.uk 12. Health and safety
Other publications in this series are available from the
Concrete Bookshop at www.concretebookshop.com
Tel: +44(0)7004 607777