General contractors are often required by the specifications to submit a plan for cold-weather concreting procedures that outlines how they will mitigate cold weather and meet the specified requirements.   A contractor’s plan often includes:

• Monitoring temperature in the concrete at or just below the surface to ensure curing temperatures is maintained
• Monitoring ambient and concrete temperatures while removing cure to prevent thermal shock
• Monitoring strength gain in the concrete

Contractors will look to national, state, and local guidelines for recommendations when developing their plan.  Many state agencies require that temperature sensors measure and record temperatures continuously.  ACI 306R-16 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting cites the use of the maturity method for estimating early-age strength gain to be able to determine when curing can be discontinued. Maturity system sensors, like those used in the COMMAND Center concrete temperature and maturity system, meet this requirement.  So, it is not unusual that maturity systems are outlined for use in cold weather concreting plans.  In fact, when the use of maturity systems are implemented into cold-weather concreting procedures, there is a potential to save labor and material costs.  

Temperature monitoring systems that offer continuous, automatic, and autonomous data collection options can be used to collect and transmit data to off-site locations instead of relying on an on-site employee.  In addition, many of these kinds of systems can be set up to send alerts that will forewarn contractors of temperatures approaching specified limits.  The cost of some of these systems may offset some of the initial savings; however, there is a potential for significant long-term savings resulting from reduced labor and a more proactive alerting system.  

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