Concrete

Making Concrete in Cold Conditions

Published

9 years ago

February 28, 2017

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Cold weather is defined as a period when the average daily temperature falls below 4?C for more than three successive days. These conditions warrant special precautions when placing, finishing, curing and protecting concrete.

Concrete production always faces a problem during cold weather. There are two main problems associated with cold weather. The general rule is that the concrete has to gain strength till about 500 psi (35 kg per cm2).

Concrete can freeze before it gains strength which breaks up the matrix;
Concrete sets more slowly when it is cold – very slow below 6? C; below 4? C, the hydration reaction basically stops and the concrete doesn’t gain strength.
But these are concrete temperatures, not air temperatures. So when it’s cold, the concrete has to be protected until it can handle the cold on its own. The general rule is that the concrete has to gain strength till about 500 psi (35 kg per cm2). Almost the same time that the concrete achieves 500 psi compressive strength, hydration of the cement consumes enough of the water in the original mix so that even if it does freeze, there’s not enough water left in the pores to damage the concrete. With most concrete, even at 6?C, this happens during the second day.

To help it reach that 500 psi strength, the mix can then be changed to get it to set more quickly or protect the concrete from the cold – or more likely do both.

Changes to Concrete Mix during Cold Weather
Many of the problems with cold weather can be overcome by the ready mix producer. Here are a few things to keep in mind:
Hot water: A ready mixed concrete producer will usually have, and use, hot water in the concrete when the weather turns cold. Most producers will try to have the concrete be at least 180C when it leaves the plant, which is generally good enough depending on air temperature and thickness of the concrete element. The slump has to be specified at less than 100 mm and air-entrained concrete should be used to reduce bleeding.

Accelerators: Since colder weather leads to colder concrete, the set time can be delayed. Accelerators added to the concrete can keep it on schedule. Addition of 2 per cent (by weight of cement) of calcium chloride is the traditional way to accelerate the hydration reaction – it is very effective and reasonably cheap. But – a big but -that much chloride can lead to corrosion of any steel embedded in the concrete (like rebar) and can lead to a mottled surface appearance with coloured concrete.

Non-chloride accelerators are also widely available and are very effective. They won’t discolour the concrete, but they are a bit expensive. Accelerators are not anti-freeze agents – they simply increase the rate of the hydration reaction.

Fly ash: Producers should typically stay away from using fly ash or slag cement in cold weather, since those materials set more slowly and generate less internal heat; slag can cause the same effect.

To make the reaction a bit hotter, the ready mix producer can add some extra cement (typically 60 kg per cubic metre) or can use Type III (high-early strength) cement, which hydrates more rapidly.

Producers have to be careful with water reducers in cold weather, since they can slow the set time. Besides, cooler concrete seldom needs water reduction since the cooler temperatures prevent slump loss. For admixtures added at the job site, they shouldn’t be used if they have frozen. The chemicals may have separated.

Precautions before Placing Concrete in the Cold
When cold weather comes on unexpectedly, the following tips will help:
Frozen ground: Concrete should be never placed on frozen ground or onto ice or snow. There are a couple of problems with this. First, frozen ground will settle when it thaws, cracking the concrete. Second, when the ground is cold, the concrete in contact with it will be cold and will set more slowly. Crusting might also occur, with the top part of the concrete set and the bottom still soft. If the ground is frozen, it can be thawed using hydronic heat pipes and blankets (such as those from ground heaters), or electric blankets.

Anything that will come in contact with the concrete should be warmed up, including forms and any embedment, to at least 00C. If it’s not too cold and everything is covered with tarps the day before the pour, it will stay dry and warm enough.

Concrete

Shree Cement Targets Above Industry Volume Growth In FY27

Chairman says firm will favour organic expansion and higher dividends

Published

21 hours ago

June 16, 2026

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Shree Cement expects to outpace the industry in the financial year 2026-27 as it pursues organic expansion and pricing discipline following a recent investor conference. The chairman said the company has completed a pricing realignment and recovered volumes lost during that exercise. Management signalled a clear preference for internal investments rather than acquisitions to support growth.

The company reported that capacity additions and demand growth across core markets are expected to underpin stronger volume performance, with a target of growing volumes at around 1.1 times the industry growth rate. Cash levels are likely to decline as capital expenditure progresses and shareholder distributions increase, the chairman indicated. The board has prioritised higher dividends over a buyback as a means of reducing excess cash.

Shree Cement described a market shift towards value and affordability rather than a race to the lowest price, which links demand expansion more closely with pricing. Historically, prices have risen at around three per cent annually over long periods, the company noted, and while prices may increase faster this year because of cost pressures from geopolitical tensions, a material improvement in industry profitability is not anticipated. In North India, the company expects additional capacity to be absorbed as demand grows, estimating a requirement of roughly 10 million (mn) tonne (t) of incremental demand annually.

The next phase of expansion will focus on the north, west, east and northeast regions, with existing projects and planned capacities viewed as sufficient to meet future demand without pursuing acquisitions. Management said it has already regained lost volumes while sustaining higher prices and will continue to monitor regional opportunities, including a possible investment in West Bengal pending clarity on industrial policy. The company, which has a current market capitalisation of Rs 852,948.9 mn, has seen its shares lose more than 20 per cent over the past year.

Concrete

Ramco Cements’ Hard Worker Campaign Wins Seven Awards

Campaign earns honours for direction, editing and cinematography

Published

2 days ago

June 15, 2026

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The Hard Worker campaign by The Ramco Cements has secured seven honours at the Good Ads Matter Awards 2026, adding to its growing list of accolades and reinforcing its standing among the year’s most recognised advertising campaigns.

The awards were presented during the Good Ads Matter Awards Night 2026 held at Mehboob Studios in Mumbai. The campaign received recognition across multiple categories, highlighting excellence in direction, editing, cinematography and storytelling.

Among the honours, the campaign won Silver in the Campaign of the Year – Direction category, while filmmaker Prakash Varma was named Director of the Year for the films Tortoise & Hare and Eco Plaster. Tortoise & Hare also received Silver awards for Best Editing and Best Colour Grading, along with a Bronze award for Best Cinematography. Eco Plaster earned Bronze awards in the Best Direction – Narrative and Best Direction – Humour categories.

Both films extended their award-winning run, with Eco Plaster being recognised for its narrative centred on water conservation through innovative construction solutions, while Tortoise & Hare was honoured for its storytelling and craft execution.

The Hard Worker campaign was built around the idea that hard work deserves recognition and respect. Through culturally rooted and emotionally engaging stories, the campaign has connected with consumers, engineers, masons and the wider construction community across the country.

Commenting on the achievement, A V Dharmakrishnan, CEO of The Ramco Cements Limited, said that the continued recognition across leading creative platforms reflects the company’s commitment to meaningful and authentic communication rooted in the values of the people it serves.

Balaji K Moorthy, Executive Director – Marketing, The Ramco Cements Limited, said the awards recognise the craftsmanship behind the storytelling, from direction and cinematography to editing and narrative execution.

Following recognition at both the Kyoorius Creative Awards and the Good Ads Matter Awards, the Hard Worker campaign continues to demonstrate the impact of purpose-driven storytelling combined with strong creative execution and consumer relevance.

Concrete

Cement Makers Reaffirm Commitment to Sustainable Growth

Published

2 weeks ago

June 5, 2026

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World Environment Day spotlight on innovation and circularity

On World Environment Day, the Indian cement industry reiterated its commitment to supporting India’s climate ambitions through sustainable manufacturing, resource efficiency and the adoption of cleaner technologies.

The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) said the sector remains aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitments and is accelerating efforts to reduce its environmental footprint while supporting the country’s infrastructure and development agenda.

Parth Jindal, President, CMA and Managing Director, JSW Cement, said the industry is increasingly adopting cleaner technologies, improving energy efficiency and expanding the use of alternative fuels and raw materials. He also highlighted the growing importance of circular economy practices, where industrial by-products and waste streams from one sector are utilised as resources in another.

“The Indian Cement Industry is aligned to the Government’s commitments on carbon mitigation and is accelerating the adoption of cleaner technologies, resource efficiency and circular economy practices while actively exploring the potential of Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) as a critical pathway for deep decarbonisation,” said Jindal.

He added that coprocessing industrial waste and by-products helps conserve natural resources, reduce disposal requirements and lower the environmental footprint across multiple sectors.

According to Jindal, sustainability is no longer limited to manufacturing processes but is increasingly influencing investment decisions, innovation strategies and long-term growth plans within the industry.

Echoing similar views, Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA and Managing Director, JK Cement, said sustainable development extends beyond emissions reduction and must also focus on responsible resource utilisation and waste minimisation.

“Sustainability in the built environment cannot be measured by emissions alone. It is equally about how efficiently we use resources, how effectively we minimise waste and how responsibly we create the infrastructure that will serve future generations,” said Singhania.

He noted that the cement industry is advancing its sustainability agenda through greater resource efficiency, increased circularity, technological innovation and continuous improvements in manufacturing practices. As a key contributor to India’s infrastructure development, the sector has a critical role to play in balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility.

On the occasion of World Environment Day, industry leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting India’s climate goals while delivering the materials required for resilient, durable and sustainable infrastructure.