Kent Companies used COMMAND Center to document concrete temperatures to meet project specifications when building a 16-story high rise in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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The Goal: Monitor Concrete Temperatures in Cold Weather

Regulating the temperature of concrete in cold weather is essential to proper strength development. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) recommends a minimum temperature during placement, minimum temperature at mixing, and maximum allowable gradual temperature drop within 24 hours after the end of protection from the cold weather.  These recommendations are often mirrored as requirements in job specifications.

By continuously collecting concrete temperature data, teams can optimize cold-weather curing and thermal control procedures based on project specifications to ensure structural safety and save money on curing methods.

Kent Companies began pouring concrete for 601 Bond in late fall, and well over half the concrete was placed during winter months. The team needed a reliable process to show the internal temperature of their concrete did not drop below freezing and was within specified ACI requirements.  

COMMAND Center Wireless

To ensure the internal temperature of concrete is within specified requirements, COMMAND Center Sensors are embedded in the concrete to continuously monitor and record concrete temperature at regular intervals. The small, self-powered sensors automatically log and store the temperature data internally. To access the data, users connect the sensors to a reusable Sensor Reader Module (SRM), which transmits the concrete data in real-time via Bluetooth to an iOS device. Using the free COMMAND Center app, teams can easily view, analyze, and share the concrete data on their phone. Users can also generate and email reports of temperature history and temperature differential data in the app.

Kent Companies implemented COMMAND Center on 601 Bond, a 16-story apartment building in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. The project included the single-largest monolithic concrete pour in Kent Companies’ history, with 2,700 cubic yards placed in nine hours. The team used COMMAND Center to monitor concrete temperatures and ensure the internal concrete temperature was within project specifications.

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