23 Aug Concrete Temperature
Concrete Trucks are time stamped when the concrete is batched at the plant and here is why:
The American Society for Testing Materials which is the industry standard for specifying and testing construction materials in ASTM C94 states:
“Discharge of the concrete shall be completed
within 1 ½ hours or before the drum has
revolved 300 revolutions, whichever comes first,
after the introduction of the mixing water to the
cement and aggregates.”
It is clear to this standard that it should only take
90 minutes for the concrete to be discharged
from the mixer, otherwise, the concrete can be
considered “expired.”
Concrete is a chemical based product that relies upon a chemical reaction to cure. The curing
process begins immediately when it is batched, continually generating heat as it cures. The 90-minute rule as it is called in the industry is based upon the heat tolerance of the concrete mix.
Heat is self-destructive to the overall quality and strength of the concrete, the hotter it gets the faster it cures and the faster it cures the hotter it gets. This is important to understand and recognize especially with the extreme heat we have here in Florida.
Always check the time stamp on the delivery tickets indicating when the truck was batched. If it is not completely poured out within that 90-minute window do not accept that load of material and send it back to the plant.
Once on site and the pour has begun, it is very important to keep the pour flowing or you or your concrete contractor could be the cause of the delay in getting the material off the truck within that 90-minute window.
Big Lake Construction and Consulting fully understands this time window as well as other steps necessary to assure proper strength and quality in concrete construction.
Call us today to put us, our expertise and knowledge to work for you!
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