Historically, concrete work came to a grinding halt in winter — unless you wanted to spend the money to build a heated enclosure for your concrete crews to work in. But the science of concrete work has advanced — and so has the practice of concrete contractors in the field. In January, JLC covered the latest research in a feature article, “Advances in Cold-Weather Concrete Work.” Take a look.
Concrete in Cold Weather: Research Drives Advances
Improvements in concrete chemistry and field practice are pushing the envelope for cold weather concrete work.
A Fairbanks, Alaska, concrete crew strikes, bull-floats, and trowels freshly placed concrete in a test slab for a demonstration project organized by engineers from the US Army Corps of Engineers Cold Regions Research and Engineering Lab (CRREL). CRREL researchers believe that using concrete mixes formulated with anti-freeze admixtures could extend the season for concrete construction well into the winter months, even in cold regions, without the need to provide heated enclosures or insulation.
