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Home / DOT Specifications / Utah / Standard Specifications / 03390
Concrete (03000-03999)

03390Concrete Curing

UT · 2026 Standard Specifications✓ Full text on BuildSpecRev. January 1, 2017Book pages 1062–1070 Save this section

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CONCRETE CURING

PART 1 GENERAL

1.1SECTION INCLUDES

A.Concrete curing materials and methods.
B.This section does not apply to cast-in-place Portland Cement Concrete

Pavement or dry cast precast concrete members unless specified otherwise.

1.2RELATED SECTIONS Not Used

1.3REFERENCES

A.ASTM C 309: Liquid Membrane-Forming Compounds for Curing Concrete
B.ASTM C 1315: Liquid Membrane-Forming Compounds Having Special

Properties for Curing and Sealing Concrete

C.UDOT Quality Management Plans

1.4DEFINITIONS

A.Curing – Actions taken to maintain moisture and temperature conditions in

a freshly placed cementitious mixture to allow hydraulic cement hydration and pozzolanic reactions to occur. The following final curing methods are specified in this Section:

1.Forms-In-Place Method (FIPM)
2.Liquid Membrane Curing Compound Method (LMCCM)
3.Steam or Radiant-Heat Method (SRHM)
4.Water Method (WM)
5.Waterproof Cover Method (WCM)
B.Curing Period – The specified duration when specified curing methods

must be maintained.

C.f’c – Specified 28-day minimum compressive strength.
D.Final Curing – Procedures implemented after the finishing of concrete to

reduce the loss of moisture from the concrete surface.

Concrete Curing

E.Initial Curing – Procedures implemented anytime between placement and

finishing of concrete to reduce the loss of moisture from the concrete surface.

1.5SUBMITTALS

A.Manufacturer’s product data sheets for curing compound, for review
1.Include recommended installation instructions for information
B.Bridge deck and approach slab curing plan for review including at least the

following:

1.Description of fogging method
2.Calculation of number of gallons of liquid membrane curing

compound required and quantity to be on available site at time of concrete placement

3.Description of procedure to implement the water method

PART 2 PRODUCTS

2.1CURING COMPOUND

A.Refer to this Section, Part 3, Tables 1 and 2.
B.Limit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) content to 350 grams/liter

maximum.

PART 3 EXECUTION

3.1GENERAL

A.Prevent drying of exposed concrete surfaces after placing concrete and

until applying the selected curing method.

1.Keep exposed bridge deck and approach slab surfaces moist by

initial curing with fogging.

a.Use fogging equipment with compressed air misters that

atomize the water and produce a very fine mist and not a spray. 1) Use equipment that allows for adjusting the rate of fogging depending on the conditions that are present. 2) Maintain misters at least 5 ft above the concrete surface and aimed in a direction not lower than horizontal.

Concrete Curing

3) Do not use fogging to apply excess water to the concrete surface to aid finishing. 4) Do not affect the water/cement ratio of the concrete. 5) Discontinue fogging when a fine coating of water or sheen is visible on the concrete surface.

2.Do not damage the concrete surface.
B.Cure formed surfaces using the FIPM for as long as practical.
1.Transition immediately to a curing method specified for the element

when forms are removed before completing the specified curing period. Refer to this Section, Article 3.4.

3.2CURE CAST-IN-PLACE CONCRETE

A.Cure exposed surfaces of newly placed cast-in-place concrete according

to the curing methods and curing periods in Table 1.

1.Determine concrete compressive strength using field cured

cylinders cured the same as the concrete member when compressive strength is used to determine the curing period.

B.Bridge Decks and Approach Slabs
1.Apply liquid membrane curing compound within 20 minutes of the

tining or finishing operation.

a.Use a work bridge that follows immediately after the finishing

machine to allow application of the curing compound on bridge decks.

2.Implement the water method on the entire exposed surface of

bridge decks, approach slabs, curbs, and sidewalks as soon as the concrete is sufficiently set to support the materials.

C.Concrete Barrier
1.Broom clean the formed surfaces of the barrier after removing

forms.

2.Apply curing method to exposed concrete surfaces immediately

after finishing operations are completed.

Concrete Curing

Table 1 Cast-in-Place Concrete Curing Requirements Curing Curing Compound Methods for Curing Element Application Exposed Period Type Surfaces 1 Rate Bridge Decks and • LMCCM 14 days ASTM Manufacturer’s Approach Slabs and WM C 309, recommended Type I D, rate Class A Closure Pours in Bridge • LMCCM 7 days ASTM Manufacturer’s Decks and Approach and WM and f′c 2 C 309, recommended Slabs Type I D, rate Class A Other Bridge Elements • LMCCM or 0.70 f′c or ASTM 100 ft2/gal (superstructure, • WM or 7 days 2 C 309, substructure, and • WCM Type I D, foundation elements) Class A Box Culverts (including • LMCCM or 0.70 f′c or ASTM 100 ft2/gal wingwalls, and aprons), • WM or 7 days C 309, Headwalls, Retaining • WCM Type I D, Walls, Concrete Drainage Class A Structures, Sign Structure Foundations Concrete barrier • LMCCM or 0.70 f′c or ASTM 100 ft2/gal • WM or 7 days C 309, • WCM Type I D, Class A 3 Curbs, gutters, flatwork, • LMCCM 7 days ASTM 100 ft2/gal sidewalks, driveways, C 309, concrete slope protection, Type I D, and other concrete items Class A not specified Notes: Use FIPM for all formed surfaces. Specified curing methods apply to exposed concrete surfaces and any formed surfaces where the forms are removed before the curing period ends. The curing period for bridge elements that use high early strength concrete may be reduced to the greater of 3 days or the time required to achieve the specified 28 day minimum compressive strength. A curing compound meeting ASTM C 1315, Type 1, Class A may be used when subsequent removal of curing compound is not required. Follow the requirements for Bridge Decks and Approach slabs for box culvert top slabs if the box culvert top slab is to be used as a roadway surface.

Concrete Curing

3.3CURE PRECAST CONCRETE

A.Cure exposed surfaces of newly placed precast concrete according to the

curing methods and curing periods in Table 2.

1.Determine the concrete compressive strength using field cured

cylinders cured the same as the concrete member when compressive strength is used to determine the curing period.

B.Precast Concrete Deck Panels (full depth), and Precast Approach Slabs
1.Apply liquid membrane curing compound within 20 minutes of the

tining or finishing operation.

2.Implement the water method on the entire exposed surface of the

precast element as soon as the concrete is sufficiently set to support the materials.

a.Including parapets if cast concurrently with the deck or

approach slab

C.Precast Concrete Barrier
1.Broom clean the formed surfaces of the barrier after removing

forms.

2.Apply curing compound to exposed concrete surfaces immediately

after finishing operations are completed.

Concrete Curing

Table 2 Precast Concrete Curing Requirements Curing Curing Compound Methods for Curing Element Application Exposed Period Type Surfaces 1 Rate Precast Concrete Deck • LMCCM 14 days ASTM Manufacturer’s Panels (full depth), and WM C 309, recommended Precast Approach Slabs, Type I D, rate (includes parapets when Class A cast concurrent with precast deck and approach slab panels) Precast Substructure • WM or 0.7 f′c or 7 Not used Not used Elements, Partial Depth • SRHM days Precast Deck Panels (non-prestressed) Prestressed Concrete • SRHM or Specified Not used Not used Members (includes all • WM or release pretensioned concrete • WCM strength members where (f’ci) pretensioning is required in the plans) Precast Noise Walls, • SRHM or 0.70 f′c or Not used Not used Precast Retaining/Noise • WM or 7 days Walls, MSE Retaining • WCM Wall Panels Precast Box Culvert • SRHM or 0.70 f′c or ASTM 100 ft2/gal Structures and Precast • WM or 7 days C 309, Three-Sided Culvert • WCM or Type I D, Structures (wet cast and • LMCCM Class A dry cast) Wet Cast Concrete • SRHM or 0.50 f′c or ASTM 100 ft2/gal Drainage Structures • WM or 7 days C 309, (such as manholes, • WCM or Type I D, grade rings, catch basin • LMCCM Class A grade sections, pipe end sections, precast inlets and boxes) Modular Block (wet cast) • WM or 0.70 fꞌc or ASTM 100 ft2/gal • WCM or 7 days C 309, • LMCCM Type I D, Class A

Concrete Curing

Table 2 (Continued) Precast Concrete Curing Requirements Curing Curing Compound Methods for Curing Element Application Exposed Period Type Surfaces 1 Rate Concrete Barrier • LMCCM 7 days and ASTM 100 ft2/gal until C 1315, certified Type 1, according Class A to QMP 2 PCC Pavement Panels • LMCCM 14 days ASTM Manufacturer’s and WM C 309, recommended Type I D, rate Class A Notes: Use FIPM for all formed surfaces. Specified curing methods apply to exposed concrete surfaces and any formed surfaces where the forms are removed before the curing period ends. QMP = UDOT Quality Management Plan: Precast-Prestressed Concrete Structures.

3.4FORMS-IN-PLACE METHOD (FIPM)

A.Cure formed surfaces of concrete by retaining the forms in place without

loosening

B.Complete the cure using one of the methods specified for the element

when forms are removed before completing the specified curing period.

1.Apply curing method within 20 minutes of removing the forms.
a.Protect the concrete surface from losing moisture if the

selected curing method is not applied within 20 minutes.

2.Complete any necessary patching to damaged concrete surfaces

when forms are removed before the end of the curing period and the LMCCM will be used to cure the concrete for the remaining cure duration.

3.5WATER METHOD (WM)

A.Keep concrete surfaces wet by ponding, spraying, or covering with

materials that are continuously and thoroughly wet.

1.Acceptable materials for covering concrete surfaces include cotton

mats, multiple layers of burlap, or other materials that retain water.

2.Secure the cover materials to prevent wind or other forces from

removing them.

3.Keep the cover materials saturated throughout the curing period.

Concrete Curing

4.Use a system of continuously active soaker hoses to keep

materials thoroughly wet if a waterproof cover is placed over the top of the water method materials.

B.Do not erode or damage the finish.
C.Prevent excess water from impacting traffic on in-service roadways.

3.6LIQUID MEMBRANE CURING COMPOUND METHOD (LMCCM)

A.Limitations
1.Do not use curing compounds on surfaces of construction joints

against which new concrete will be cast.

a.Abrasive blast to completely remove known curing

compound on joints before casting new concrete against the surface.

2.Do not use curing compounds on surfaces that require a rubbed

finish

3.Do not use curing compounds on surfaces that will receive a

concrete coating or penetrating concrete sealer within 3 months of curing compound application.

B.Apply liquid membrane curing compound uniformly at the rates specified

in Tables 1 and 2.

1.Use an airless power sprayer with a fan tip to apply curing

compound.

a.Do not use a roller to apply curing compound.
C.Immediately repair damage to the curing compound film during the

specified curing period by re-spraying.

3.7WATERPROOF COVER METHOD (WCM)

A.Exposed concrete surfaces must be wet before installing cover.
B.Cover exposed concrete surfaces with a material that prevents moisture

loss from the concrete.

1.Do not use materials that have lost their waterproof qualities.
2.Place waterproof cover in direct contact with the concrete
3.Prevent airflow beneath the cover.
C.Use this method only when the covering can be secured adequately to

prevent displacement by wind.

Concrete Curing

3.8STEAM OR RADIANT-HEAT METHOD (SRHM)

A.Use only for precast concrete members manufactured in prequalified

plants.

B.Use a complete steam or radiant heat curing system that includes 24 hour

temperature control and monitoring devices.

1.Use temperature recording devices as necessary to verify that

temperatures are uniform throughout the enclosure and within the limits specified.

C.Steam Heat Curing System
1.Use a suitable enclosure to contain live steam and minimize

moisture and heat losses.

2.Use low-pressure and saturated steam.
3.Maintain 90 to 100 percent relative humidity in the curing enclosure.
4.Do not apply heat directly on the concrete or cause localized high

temperatures.

D.Radiant Heat Curing System
1.Apply heat by means of pipes circulating steam, hot oil, or hot

water, or by electric heating elements.

2.Use a suitable enclosure to contain the heat.
3.Minimize moisture loss by covering exposed concrete surfaces with

plastic sheeting.

E.Waiting Period
1.Do not apply the initial application of heat before the initial set of the

concrete except to maintain the minimum temperature within the curing enclosure.

2.Maintain the temperature within the curing enclosure at not less

than 50 degrees F.

a.Live steam or radiant heat may be used to maintain the

curing enclosure at the proper minimum temperature.

b.Keep the concrete wet during this period.
F.Curing Temperature
1.Increase the temperature within the concrete during the initial

application of heat at an average rate not to exceed 40 degrees F per hour until the curing temperature is reached.

2.Maintain the concrete temperature at between 50 degrees F and

160 degrees F.

3.Maintain the curing temperature until the concrete achieves the

specified strength for terminating the curing.

Concrete Curing

4.Decrease the concrete temperature at a rate not to exceed

40 degrees F per hour until reaching a temperature of not more than 20 degrees F above the air temperature to which the concrete will be exposed when discontinuing heat.

G.Transfer the stressing force to the concrete immediately after

discontinuing steam curing or radiant heat curing for prestressed members.

END OF SECTION

Concrete Curing

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Source: Utah Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, 2026 Edition. Pages 1062–1070 of 1,331. View official source ↗
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