Email Address is required Invalid Email Address
In today’s market, it is imperative to be knowledgeable and have an edge over the competition. ACI members have it…they are engaged, informed, and stay up to date by taking advantage of benefits that ACI membership provides them.
Read more about membership
Learn More
Become an ACI Member
Founded in 1904 and headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA, the American Concrete Institute is a leading authority and resource worldwide for the development, dissemination, and adoption of its consensus-based standards, technical resources, educational programs, and proven expertise for individuals and organizations involved in concrete design, construction, and materials, who share a commitment to pursuing the best use of concrete.
Staff Directory
ACI World Headquarters 38800 Country Club Dr. Farmington Hills, MI 48331-3439 USA Phone: 1.248.848.3800 Fax: 1.248.848.3701
ACI Middle East Regional Office Second Floor, Office #207 The Offices 2 Building, One Central Dubai World Trade Center Complex Dubai, UAE Phone: +971.4.516.3208 & 3209
ACI Resource Center Southern California Midwest Mid Atlantic
Feedback via Email Phone: 1.248.848.3800
ACI Global Home Middle East Region Portal Western Europe Region Portal
Home > Tools > Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the ACI building code requirements for placing concrete in a tropical climate? Some people in our office say we should specify a maximum permissible concrete temperature of 90 ºF (32 ºC). Others say a temperature higher than 90 ºF (32 ºC) is allowable if the concrete contains a set-retarding admixture. A. ACI 301-20 “Specifications for Concrete Construction” and ACI 305.1-14 “Specification for Hot Weather Concreting” limit the maximum concrete temperature to 95 °F (35 ºC) at the time of discharge. This limit is for general types of hot weather construction such as pavements, bridges, and buildings, not mass concrete. According to ACI 305.1-14, qualification of a concrete mixture with a maximum concrete temperature that exceeds 95°F (35 ºC) shall be supported by successful past field experience or preconstruction testing. The request for a maximum concrete temperature that exceeds 95°F (35 ºC) shall be submitted to the architect/engineer prior to concrete placement. Computer modeling to predict fresh concrete temperature could be used to assist in determining control measures but shall not be used as a substitute for preconstruction testing. For more information and details on hot weather concrete, refer to ACI 305.1-14 and ACI 305R-20 “Guide to Hot Weather Concreting”. For temperature, volume changes, and cracking problems associated with mass concrete refer to section 8 of ACI 301-20, ACI 207.1R-05 “Guide to Mass Concrete”, 207.2R-07 “Report on Thermal and Volume Change Effects on Cracking of Mass Concrete”, and 224R-01 “Control of Cracking of Concrete Structures”. References: ACI 301-20; ACI 305.1-14; ACI 305R-20; ACI 207.1R-05; ACI 207.2R-07; ACI 224R-01; ASTM C1064 Topics in Concrete: cracking; hot weather; durability; placing; shrinkage
Q. What are the ACI building code requirements for placing concrete in a tropical climate? Some people in our office say we should specify a maximum permissible concrete temperature of 90 ºF (32 ºC). Others say a temperature higher than 90 ºF (32 ºC) is allowable if the concrete contains a set-retarding admixture.
A. ACI 301-20 “Specifications for Concrete Construction” and ACI 305.1-14 “Specification for Hot Weather Concreting” limit the maximum concrete temperature to 95 °F (35 ºC) at the time of discharge. This limit is for general types of hot weather construction such as pavements, bridges, and buildings, not mass concrete.
According to ACI 305.1-14, qualification of a concrete mixture with a maximum concrete temperature that exceeds 95°F (35 ºC) shall be supported by successful past field experience or preconstruction testing. The request for a maximum concrete temperature that exceeds 95°F (35 ºC) shall be submitted to the architect/engineer prior to concrete placement. Computer modeling to predict fresh concrete temperature could be used to assist in determining control measures but shall not be used as a substitute for preconstruction testing.
For more information and details on hot weather concrete, refer to ACI 305.1-14 and ACI 305R-20 “Guide to Hot Weather Concreting”.
For temperature, volume changes, and cracking problems associated with mass concrete refer to section 8 of ACI 301-20, ACI 207.1R-05 “Guide to Mass Concrete”, 207.2R-07 “Report on Thermal and Volume Change Effects on Cracking of Mass Concrete”, and 224R-01 “Control of Cracking of Concrete Structures”.
References: ACI 301-20; ACI 305.1-14; ACI 305R-20; ACI 207.1R-05; ACI 207.2R-07; ACI 224R-01; ASTM C1064
Topics in Concrete: cracking; hot weather; durability; placing; shrinkage
Search other resources on the ACI website for answers to technical questions