InfraStructures - December 2011/January 2012 - Powerblanket® Multi-Duty Blankets Ideal For Cold Weather Concreting

Powerblanket® Multi-Duty Blankets Ideal For Cold Weather Concreting

An independent test confirmed that the Powerblanket® Multi-Duty (MD) heating blanket cures concrete 2.8 times faster than concrete covered with a standard curing blanket. After 72 hours, concrete under the MD heating blanket achieved 3,925 PSI, compared to 2,162 PSI under the standard curing blanket.

The test, conducted in February 2011 at an actual construction site, measured how concrete cured under three scenarios: the Powerblanket MD heated blanket with the power on, the Powerblanket MD heated blanket with the power off, and a standard curing blanket.

A sensor embedded in the slab measured that:

the concrete under the MD blanket with the power on cured almost three times faster than the concrete under the standard curing blanket.
the concrete under the MD heated blanket with the power off still cured 1.5 times faster than a standard curing blanket.

The test took place with ambient air temperatures from -5.4°C to 3.7°C, which is consistent with “Cold Weather Concreting” as defined by ACI 306.

In addition to providing heat and preventing freezing on concrete curing projects, the MD blankets retain moisture throughout the natural hydration process to create a wet cure environment that protects against cracking and rapid drying.

Featuring patented GreenHeat® Technology, which uniformly distributes an insulated barrier of heat while consuming low levels of energy, the MD heating blanket provides an environmentally friendly solution for curing concrete, thawing frozen ground and protecting construction materials and machinery from freezing.

The blankets achieve desired PSI levels quicker, speeding up curing time by almost three times. This enables contractors to advance projects faster and save labor costs for bridge decks, tilt-up, precast, block walls, footings, flatwork, and other concrete construction jobs. The MD blankets can also typically thaw frozen ground to a depth of 60 cm.

The MD heating blankets are offered in several standard sizes ranging from 60-by-60 cm to 335-by-700 cm, and custom sizes are available by request. Standard blankets are rated to -23°C while Arctic versions are rated to perform in temperatures as low as -40°C.

Built with a durable outer shell that is winter-proof and water-resistant, blankets are powered by 120 V electricity, thereby eliminating the open flames and hazardous waste associated with common heating products. Non-horizontal versions of the blankets are certified to UL/CSA/ETL safety standards.

Powerblanket® provides superior heating solutions for a multitude of applications, including ground thawing, concrete curing, industrial and manufacturing temperature control, oil field services and many more.

Source: Powerblanket®