Arizona Contractor & Community Fall 2015 V4 I3 | Page 25

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● Look for IR thermometers that match
your temperature needs.
Most
projects do not require readings below
20 degrees or above 200 degrees.
● The IR thermometer that looks like a
starter pistol is easy to use and is
powered by a 9V or AA batteries,
which are less expensive to replace.
● Look
for
starter
pistol
IR
thermometers that come with a
holster, so that it is protected when
not in use.
● Be sure to read the user comments
that are available online. I chose not
to buy several IR thermometers
because
others
found
them
unreliable.
● Expect to pay mid-to-upper price
range for your IR thermometer ($50$100). From my experience, this will
meet most contractor’s needs.
Conclusion
This article is a summary of a detailed
paper I wrote for Concrete International.
For those that want more information, see:
wt-us.com/pdf/Snell_20150108.pdf

Images courtesy of author

identify if the temperature is too high and
use water to cool it. Care should be made
not to allow the water to get into the fresh
concrete during the placement, which
could change the water-cement ratio
resulting in further complications.
Curing Conditions for Concrete - Cold
Weather
Most specifications require the
contractor to protect and keep the
concrete above 40 degrees for up to seven
days after placement. Concrete below this
temperature gains strength very slowly
and may not be used for extended periods
of time. Some specifications require that
the
contractor
document
that
temperatures above 40 degrees have been
achieved for their specified curing time.
The IR thermometer allows the contractor
to check the concrete temperatures at
several locations and provide the
necessary documentation.
How to Select the “Right” IR Thermometer
There are a wide variety of IR
thermometers available that range in cost
up to $300. I would recommend the
following approach in selecting an
instrument:

Across page: Luke Snell measuring the
temperature of concrete in Ulaanbaatar
Mongolia, where the temperature was 53
degrees F in June.
Above: Luke Snell on the concrete-mixing
truck in Ulaanbaatar.
Arizona contractor & community