The Aust r al i an St andar d f or Concr et e

St r uct ur es, AS 3600, r equi r ed

si gni f i cant changes i n many pr act i ces t o
t hose al l owabl e under pr evi ous
Aust r al i an St andar ds. AS 1379
Speci f i cat i on and suppl y of concr et e,
acknowl edges t hese changes and i s now
t he St andar d t o whi ch suppl i er s of
pr emi xed concr et e ar e bound.
Thi s Bul l et i n addr esses t he
r equi r ement s of bot h St andar ds and
gener al l y di scusses t he ef f ect s of
di f f er ent met hods used t o cont r ol t he
set t i ng t i me of concr et e i n col d weat her.
The Use of Cal ci um Chl or i de as a set
accel er at or i s now el i mi nat ed f or Most
Pr act i cal Pur poses
AS 1379 places limits on the chlorides in concrete. This
is one of several steps introduced to further ensure the
protection of steel reinforcement from corrosion, and
hence avoid the structural damage that can follow.
Clause 2.7 limits the quantity of chloride ions in a cubic
metre of most concrete to a maximum of 0.8 kg. AS
3600 goes further and specically prohibits the addition
of chloride salts or chemical admixtures containing
signicant chlorides for a wide range of exposure
conditions.
Even for those exposure conditions where the
addition of chloride salts is not prohibited, the practical
effect of the 0.8 kg/m3 limit is to reduce the allowable
dose-rate of calcium chloride (and proprietary solutions
of calcium chlorides such as Rapidard quickset, etc) to
ineffective levels, because signicant quantities of
chloride ions are often introduced with cement,
aggregate and mixing water.
A limit of 3 kg of chloride ions per cubic metre is
allowed in plain concrete. However, in the context of
AS 3600, plain concrete would rarely be encountered.
Cost I mpl i cat i ons of Al t er nat i ves t o
Cal ci um Chl or i de
This greater assurance of durability may incur a cost
increase. In a concrete plant with a large regular demand
for accelerated setting times, the use of hot water can
provide an economical solution. In other circumstances,
alternatives such as the use of non-chloride accelerators
and/or larger amounts of more-reactive binders may cost
more. Contractors and subcontractors are therefore
advised to make adequate cost allowances. The need for
set accelerators arises in construction rather than design.
Contract documents will therefore not necessarily
contain anything that will alert tenderers to the limiting
requirement of AS 1379.
Hot Wat er
In the chart above, the importance of both ambient and
concrete temperatures is patently clear because the need
for accelerators arises more commonly in cold weather.
The use of hot mixing water to increase the
temperature of the fresh concrete above the ambient
temperature is a very useful technique for acceleration.
If a plant has a large continuous and predictable call
for acceleration, then an efcient hot-water storage
system, using off-peak energy where appropriate, can be
installed. The high xed capital costs can be spread over
a large production and the energy cost per cubic metre
treated can be minimised.
Col d Weat her Concr et i ng
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SETTING TIME (relative value)
AMBIENT TEMPERATURE (C)
Initial set
Final set
0
0.5
1.0
2.0
3.0
1.5
2.5
0
5 10 15 20 25 30
3.5
Setting time of concrete made with Type GP cement at
different temperatures relative to setting time at 15C
The Australian Premixed
Concrete Association is a non-
prot organisation sponsored by
the concrete industry. The infor-
mation provided is intended for
general guidance only and in no
way replaces the services of
professional consultants. No
liability can be accepted by the
Association or its members for
the use of the information
provided therein.
For any one plant the cost of concrete using hot
mixing water will increase as the demand for it
diminishes. In very-low-demand plants it may not be
viable.
In some areas where hot water has been in use for
some time, it is reported that it alone can satisfy most of
the demands made for accelerating setting time and
strength gain.
Type and Quant i t y of Cement i t i ous
Bi nder
The nature and quantity of the cementitious material will
also have an effect on the setting times.
The greater the quantity of cement used in a mix,
the greater will be the heat generation.
The time to complete nishing in winter is often
critical for commercial and industrial oors.
Fortuitously, higher cement content than that previously
used in oors may now be needed to satisfy the
requirements of Clause 4.7 of AS 3600 which species
minimum strength grades greater than some current
practice to provide abrasion resistance.
It should be noted that if the mix temperature
approaches freezing point, the hydration reaction of the
cement and water (and the attendant heat generation)
slows and eventually ceases, regardless of the quantity
or type of cement used. Fortunately, climates where this
happens are rare in Australia. When they are
encountered, special construction techniques are
required. This Bulletin does not deal with these.
Chl or i de- f r ee Chemi cal Admi xt ur es and
Accel er at or s
The construction chemical industry offers winter
formulation chemical admixtures and accelerators which
provide enhanced setting time performance in colder
weather. Accelerating admixtures are generally
incorporated at an added cost, and product types, dose
rates and effectiveness vary over a range of climatic
conditions, ingredient properties, haulage times and
other relevant issues.
Local concrete producers are able to recommend a
proven product most suitable to local conditions that
satises the requirements of AS 1379.
Wat er Cont ent of Mi x
The ever-present need to minimise water content is even
greater in winter time. Increased mechanisation of
transportation, spreading, compacting and nishing may
be necessary to permit the lowest possible water content.
Bleed water which lies on the surface is especially
troublesome in cold weather. Evaporation will be very
slow and to the degree that it does occur, it will further
reduce the temperature of the concrete. Unless removed,
say by dragging a length of hose over the surface, by a
vacuum process, or by other means, it will interfere with
trowelling and reduce the density and quality of the
surface and may lead to dusting of the surface.
I n Br i ef
I AS 3600 and AS 1379 for almost all
practical purposes prohibit the use of
calcium chloride as a set accelerator.
I Alternatives will generally cost more.
I Hot water may be available at high-
volume plants.
I Increasing cement quantity and/or
varying cement type can produce
shorter setting times and higher early
strength gains.
I Non-chloride set accelerators may
be used.
I Minimising water content will expedite
nishing in winter time.
I Non-chloride winter-grade chemical
admixtures are generally used.
ISBN 0 947132 87 2 May 1996
Aust r al i an
Pr e

Mi xed
Concr et e
Associ at i on
Aust r al i an Pr eMi xed Concr et e Associ at i on
Locked Bag 2011 St Leonards NSW 1590
Telephone: 02 9903 7750 Facsimile: 02 9437 9748
Internet: www.apmca.com.au
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