hot/warm water in winter construction ?? 1

[lammmbda]

Hello everyone,

Long time reader, first time poster. Just want to say this is an awesome site but I wish more people in the field knew about it.

I'm on a bridge construction project in Ontario Canada, where we need to grout post-tension cable ducts in -10'C weather. The spec on the grout product says water temperature must be above 15'C when mixing.

We are not close to any buildings with heat source or plumbing.

Are there any products / equipment to heat a water tank (size of a tandem axle water truck) ?
We thought about housing the tank we have on site and keeping it heated for 24-48hrs prior to mixing, but I'm having doubts about effectiveness. Building bon fire under the water tank??

Any thoughts on this?

Thanks.

 

[dicksewerrat]

Call around to some Cured in Place Pipe lining contractors. They use hot water or steam to cure their liners. They aren't as busy during this time. You may be able to rent a boiler. They are all on trucks.

Richard A. Cornelius, P.E.

http://WWW.amlinereast.com

 

[chicopee]

You can lay thermal blankets under which steam can be injected via perforated hose lines placed under these thermal blankets. A portable boiler can generate the steam. We did that back in the 90's on a bridge job in Bridgeport,CT in the middle of winter.

 

[PilebuckEngineer]

You got lots of options. If grouting post tensioning ducts I would:
-Tent with thermal blankets and few days before
-Add frost fighter type heater under blankets
-Check temp under blankets prior to pour. It should be warm enough
-Mix grout in controlled environment with warm water. You'll want to check temp after mixing
-Pour it and cure it with same methods. It'll take longer to come to strength, but it'll make it.