Cold Weather Concrete Solutions
There are several issues ready mix concrete producers have to deal with when pouring in cold weather. These may include but are not limited to the following: freezing temperatures, imposed loads during construction, and high thermal stress, all of which may lead to cracking and reduced strength.
Even with harsh and sometimes bitter cold conditions, there are many things producers can do. These include providing sufficient insulation blankets, using insulated forms (don’t place concrete on frozen subgrade), and using heated enclosures to block wind and conserve heat. Another option is to use heated batch water in accelerating early concrete strength. By using hot water in the mix, producers can batch mix, transport, place, cure, and protect ready mix concrete efficiently during freezing temperatures. Concrete water heaters can be used for once-through applications or with a storage tank system where a large volume of hot water in an insulated tank can be maintained at up to 170°F. The storage tank system meets the needs of larger ready mix concrete operations with high on-demand volume requirements.
Using the proper water temperature increases strength and greatly reduces cracking due to shrinkage. For this reason, many federal, state, and local municipalities specify exact pouring temperatures. An instantaneous concrete water heatercan help meet these specifications. Using hot water eliminates chemicals and allows faster screeding, creating a better finish. Using a water heater can increase productivity and profits while reducing labor costs. Along with Sioux's standard water heater models, we can custom build units to fit your specific ready mix concrete temperature control needs.
For extreme freezing temperatures, a steam generator or forced air aggregate heater can heat up rock and sand aggregates to work in conjunction with a water heater to get your freshly mixed concrete temperature up to the correct specification. The Sioux Steam-Flo® steam generator is ideal for heating aggregates, material bunkers, and overhead material storage bins, while the Sioux Aggre-Flo® aggregate heater provides dry forced air heat, giving precise temperature control for all types of aggregates. The Steam-Flo® or Aggre-Flo®, along with a Sioux water heater, helps maintain consistent ready mix concrete specs during the coldest conditions.
"I can't say enough good about Sioux products. They are reliable and have 99% uptime . Easily, my reliability cost savings and new revenue opportunities with Sioux products are 50-60% more." Brad C. - Utah
Hot Weather Concrete Solutions
In the summer months, ready mix producers face the opposite issue of cold weather concrete, where freshly mixed concrete can become too hot. Using concrete that exceeds specified temperatures can reduce overall strength and durability.
Traditionally, ready mix producers have added ice to batch water to cool it down. However, this can be inconsistent and difficult to control. Instead, concrete water chillers allow precise control of batch water temperature, ensuring consistent high-quality ready mix concrete production.
Sioux offers reliable Carrier water chillers. Compared to using ice, Sioux/Carrier water chillers reduce chilling costs by up to 95%. A Sioux/Carrier water chiller pairs well with a Sioux water heater to support year-round concrete temperature control systems.
Concrete Temperature Calculator
Use our calculator to get freshly mixed concrete temperatures for your operation.
Concrete Temperature Calculator
Calculate the temperature of freshly mixed concrete and determine the required water temperature for your mix design.
Fill out the form below to receive your calculation results and have a Sioux representative follow up with recommendations for your project.
Results Submitted Successfully!
A Sioux representative will review your calculation and reach out shortly with product recommendations for your project.
Truck Wash System for Ready Mix Trucks
The Sioux Truck Wash helps reduce the risk of injury to drivers all while keeping your trucks, including the all important hopper, clean.
As the concrete truck slowly approaches the wash tower, sensors start the process. A series of rotary spray arms with high pressure nozzles clean the hopper for approximately 30 seconds (while only adding about five gallons of water in the drum). Separate spray bars are used for applying soap followed by a series of rinse nozzles to complete the washing process. The whole cleaning process takes about 60 seconds.
For almost 60 years Sioux has been a leader in providing equipment solutions for ready mix concrete batch plants and concrete operations.
Have a Question?
Sioux serves a wide range of industries with our decades of experience, reliable products, and value added services that help companies every day around the world.
Why Choose Sioux for Your Industrial Cleaning & Heating Equipment Needs?
As a leading industrial cleaning equipment company, Sioux's products are built for the concrete, petroleum, mining, rail, greenhouse, food & beverage, and manufacturing industries with the highest quality and durability in mind. We strive to make sure our customers have the safest and most efficient equipment they can rely on year after year.
