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GUIDELINES FOR COLD WEATHER CONCRETING

No. IRCON/QM/QC/CWC/GUIDELINE/001 Date: 03.12.2024

Introduction:

The production of concrete in cold weather poses peculiar problems, which

do not arise while concreting at normal temperatures. In India, severe cold
weather prevails for a longer period in Northern, North-East and North-West
zones of the country. Cold weather, besides affecting the setting and hardening
of the concrete, may also cause damage. If concrete still in plastic state is
exposed to very low temperature, ice lenses may form leading to expansions
within the pore structure. Hence, it is essential to keep the temperature of the
concrete above a minimum value before it is placed in the formwork, while in
formwork and after its removal, by adopting special techniques.

Construction engineers should have a general understanding of the possible

effects of lower-than-normal curing temperatures on properties of concrete at
early ages and the methods of evaluating and controlling them.

This article contains the problems associated with cold weather and the
practices to be followed to overcome the adverse effects of it on concrete. The
characteristics of concrete in fresh and hardened state (Strength and
Durability) significantly improve by following those practices.

Cold Weather Concreting:

Indian Standard defines cold weather concreting as ‘any operation of concreting

done at about 5°C atmospheric temperatures or below 1ºC.

In context of concreting, ACI defines cold weather as a period when, for more
than 3 consecutive days, the following conditions exist:
• The average daily air temperature is less than 5°C and,
• The air temperature is not greater than 10°C for more than one-half of any
24-hour period.

The average daily air temperature is the average of the highest and the
lowest temperatures occurring during the period from midnight to midnight.

Effects of Cold Weather on Concrete:

Low ambient temperatures affect the properties of the concrete in many ways.
These are briefly described below:

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i. Delayed Setting:

In cold weather condition the rate of cement hydration is lowered,

resulting in delayed setting. For every 10°C reduction in concrete
temperature, the setting time of concrete nearly doubles. This results in
increasing the period of time that the concrete is vulnerable to damage
because of freezing. In addition to this, the time for evaporation of bleed
water in low temperatures also increases causing delays in finishing
operations and this may add cost. If the concrete is finished prematurely,
problems may be experienced with delamination (or flaking) and weak,
dusty surfaces. The practice of adding cement or cement/sand mixtures
to the surface of the slab to absorb excess water and allow finishing to
proceed should be avoided as it will inevitably lead to poor wear
resistance.

ii. Slower Strength Gain:

At low temperatures, the development of initial strength of concrete is

retarded due to low rate of cement hydration compared with the strength
development at normal temperatures. The hardening period, necessary
before the removal of forms is thus increased and thereby delaying its
removal. Though the initial rate of gain of strength is low, the concrete
cured at lower temperatures attains higher strengths at later ages.
Properly cured and protected concrete will mature to its required strength
despite subsequent exposure to cold weather.

iii. Freezing of Concrete:

When concrete is exposed to freezing temperature, there is the risk of

concrete suffering irreparable loss of strength and other qualities, that is,
permeability may increase and the durability may be impaired. Freshly
placed concrete is vulnerable to freezing conditions both before and after
it has set. If the concrete is frozen and is kept frozen below -10°C, there
will be insignificant cement hydration resulting in no strength gain.
Therefore, fresh concrete must be protected from freezing until adequate
strength has been gained. A minimum compressive strength of 3.5 MPa
prior to freezing is stated in ACI 306 R as a criterion for preventing frost
damage.

As a general rule, concrete must be protected from freezing for at least 24

hours after placement.

If allowed to freeze after setting but before it develops an appreciable

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strength, the expansion associated with the formation of ice causes

disruption and irreparable loss of strength. Concrete can be permanently
damaged by the pressures exerted by ice crystal growth if this occurs after
the concrete has stiffened but before it has gained adequate maturity.
This weakens the paste-aggregate bond and may reduce strength by 30%
to 50% for one cycle of freezing. The extent of the damage will depend on
its age and strength when frozen.

iv. Stresses Due to Temperature Differentials:

It is a general experience that large temperature differentials within the

concrete member may promote cracking and have a harmful effect on the
durability. Such differentials are likely to occur in cold weather at the
time of removal of form insulations. The extent of cracking may also be
increased, as the lower concrete strength may be inadequate to resist the
drying shrinkage stresses and /or thermal stresses. The latter may result
from the temperature difference between the inside and the (cold) surfaces
of the element, particularly in thick sections.

v. Repeated Freezing and Thawing of Concrete:

During construction, it is likely that the concrete will be exposed to cycles

of freezing and thawing while it is in a saturated condition. As the
temperature of saturated concrete is lowered, the water held in the
capillary pores in the hardened cement paste freezes and the expansion of
concrete takes place. If subsequent thawing is followed by re-freezing
further expansion takes place, so that repeated cycles of freezing and
thawing have a cumulative effect. The compressive strength and the
dynamic modulus of elasticity of the concrete get adversely affected due
to freezing and thawing. The extent of damage depends on the number of
freeze-thaw cycles. More the freeze-thaw cycles, more is the loss in the
compressive strength. The new sidewalks and other flatwork exposed to
melting snow during day and freezing during night should be air
entrained and protected from freezing until a strength of at least 24 MPa
has been attained.

Problems resulting from Cold Weather at various stages in the life of Concrete
are listed below:

Stage Effect
Production Incorporation of frost-bound material
Transit Cooling of mix

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Formation of ice crystals in concrete

Increased thermal gradients/increased
Placing, tendency to thermal cracking Delayed
finishing and formwork removal
curing Slower gain in strength
Greater chance of formwork stripping
damage Bleed water may remain on
surface
Slower setting
Long-term Slower gain in strength Freeze–thaw
damage

Minimizing the effects of Cold Weather on Concrete:

Some of the practical methods to minimize the effects of extreme cold weather on
concrete and concreting are as follows:

1. Temperature control of the ingredients:

• The temperature of the concrete can be raised by controlling the temperature

of its ingredients. The contribution of each ingredient to the temperature of
concrete is a function of the temperature, specific heat and quantity of the
ingredients used. The aggregates and mixing water exert the most
pronounced effect on temperature of concrete. Of all the concrete making
components, mixing water is the easiest to heat. Also, it makes more
practical sense to do so because water (specific heat is 1.0) can store five
times as much heat as can the same mass of cement or aggregate (specific
heat is 0.22). At temperatures below freezing, often only the fine aggregates
need to be heated to about 40°C if the mixing water is at 60°C to keep the
freshly produced concrete at the required temperature. This is generally
accomplished by circulating hot air or steam through pipes embedded in the
aggregate stockpile for large jobs and for smaller jobs the heating can be
done with the steel drums embedded in heaped aggregates and filled with
fire. The heating of aggregates to temperatures higher than 15°C is rarely
necessary with mixing water at 60°C.

• The mixing water shall be heated in sufficient quantity under controlled

condition so as to avoid appreciable fluctuations in temperatures from batch
to batch. At temperature in excess of 40°C either for aggregate or water,
these shall be mixed in the mixer first and then cement is to be added to
prevent flash set and formation of balls in the mixer.

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2. Proportioning of concrete ingredients:

• The type and quantity of cement used in the concrete mix affects the rate of
development of compressive strength and rate of increase in temperature of
concrete. Additional quantity of Ordinary Portland Cement, Rapid-
Hardening Portland Cement or use of accelerating admixtures, when used
with proper precautions, helps in development of the required strength in a
shorter period. Use of cement which gives earlier and higher heat of
hydration is preferable. The cement content in the mix shall preferably be
not less than 300 kg/m³.
• It is preferable to use Air entraining admixtures wherever damage to
hardened concrete by alternate freezing and thawing during service is
anticipated.
• Use of accelerating admixtures (preferably non-chloride admixtures) to the
concrete reduces the setting time and accelerates the rate of strength gain
by increasing the rate at which the cement hydrates.
• Having less water in the mix ensures lower slump and this reduces bleeding
and setting time, and increases the rate of strength gain.

3. Production and Delivery:

• Erect Windbreakers to shield the mixing and batching plants.

• Tarpaulin, plastic sheet and other covering, and insulating materials should
be used to protect the mixing unit and the materials
• Transit times to the site should be minimized as significant heat losses can
occur.
• Concrete should be delivered to the point of placing at not less than 5°C.
Place the concrete quickly and cover the top of the concrete with an
insulating material.

4. Placing, Protection and Curing:

• Satisfactory concreting can be achieved for the winter conditions prevailing

in India by conserving the heat of hydration of cement with insulations and
insulated form works.
• The temperature of the concrete when placing at or near freezing
temperature shall be at least 5°C and the temperature after having been
placed and compacted is maintained above 2°C until it has hardened
thoroughly.
• Ensure that all ice, snow and frost(if any) are removed from surfaces of the
formwork and the temperature of all the surfaces of formwork shall be raised
as close to temperature of fresh concrete as possible.
• Do not place concrete on a frozen sub grade. Where concrete is to be placed

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over permanently frozen ground, sub grade material may be thawed enough
to ensure that it will not freeze back up to the concrete or it may be covered
with a sufficient depth of dry granular material.
• Cover all the concrete surfaces soon after placing in order to retain the heat
that helps to prevents freezing. Clean straw mats about 50 mm thick, sacks,
tarpaulins, plastic sheeting etc. can be used.
• Provide insulation to the form work, because, during the first 24 hours,
hydrating cement generates a significant amount of heat which, if retained
within the concrete by insulation, will protect it from freezing. Timber
formwork is a reasonable thermal insulator that can be used in moderately
cold conditions. Metal formwork offers little or no protection and should be
insulated. Some of the insulating materials are saw dust, damp sand, timber
insulating board etc.
• For concrete cast in insulated formwork, it is only necessary to cover the
member completely in order to maintain sufficient water for the hydration of
cement.
• Do not saturate the concrete just released from the insulated formwork with
cold water. This can be ensured by covering the concrete members
immediately on removal of the formwork with plastic sheet or tarpaulins with
proper lapping. The surface temperature of the concrete shall be gradually
adjusted to the air temperature.
• Water curing is not recommended in cold weather: during periods of
freezing or near freezing conditions as the loss of moisture from the concrete
by evaporation is greatly reduced in cold air conditions.
• Freshly placed concrete in cold weather must be protected from drying so
that adequate hydration can occur. Normally, measures such as covering
the concrete surfaces with plastic sheets and using membrane forming
curing compounds must be adopted to prevent evaporation of moisture from
concrete.
• Delay the formwork removal to protect the concrete from frost.

For general guidance, the minimum time limits for stripping formwork
when cold weather air temperature is about 3°C and concrete made with
OPC are in the table below:
Structural Concrete Members Min. Time
Beam sides, walls, columns 5 days
Slabs (Props left under) 7 days
Beams Soffits (Props left under) 14 days
Removal of props to slabs 14 days
Removal of props to beams 28 days

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Precautions to be taken during Cold Weather Concreting: (As per IS: 7861
Part II):

The severity of the weather determines the precautions to be taken. For this
purpose, cold weather can be divided into three - categories:
a) When the temperature is below 5°C but does not fall below freezing point,
b) When frost occurs at night only and is not very severe, and
c) When there is severe frost day and night.

Below table summarizes the necessary precautions to be taken under each

condition:

Conditions Precautions to be taken

1. Keep formwork in position for longer duration, or
At low temperature u use rapid hardening cement;
2. Cover the top of the concrete with insulating
material;
3. Ins late steel formwork; and
4. Make sure that concrete is delivered to the point of
placing at not less than 5°C.
Take all the precautions mentioned for low
temperature conditions and also the following:
When there is Frost 1. Ins late all formwork,
at night 2. Make sure that concrete is not placed against
frozen sub-grade or against reinforcement or forms
covered with snow or ice.
3. Pla e concrete quickly and insulate.
Take all the precautions mentioned above and also
When there is severe the following:
frost during day and 1. Heat the water and, if necessary, the aggregate
night also.
2. Make sure that concrete is delivered to the point of
placing at not less than 10°C, place quickly and
insulate; or make sure concrete is delivered to the
point of placing at not less than 5°C, place quickly
and provide continuous heating to the concrete.

CONCLUSION:

Low ambient temperature during cold weather conditions poses difficulties in

concreting operations. In cold weather conditions the concrete shall be protected
from freezing. These conditions affect the hydration of cement, setting of concrete,
strength gain and durability. The required setting time, strength, durability can
be ensured during cold weather conditions by using warm concrete ingredients,

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by not placing concrete on frozen sub-grade or formwork, by insulating the

formwork, by protecting the concrete from drying and by preventing concrete from
freezing. By following the precautions given in this article the problems
associated with cold weather can be avoided and successful cold weather
concreting can be accomplished.

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IRCON/QM/QC/CWC/GUIDELINE/001 Date: 03.12.2024