Shotcrete is a method for placing concrete. Concrete has a set time that provides hardness of the in-place concrete. Final set may take anywhere from an hour to several hours depending on the concrete mixture and the weather.
Hot weather has a faster set time than cold weather with the same concrete mixture. If the pool is shot in the morning, it may be hard enough to tolerate a rainstorm in the late afternoon. The concrete should certainly be set by the next day unless there is a very cold overnight temperature or a problem with retarder in the concrete mixture. Tarps could be placed over the vertical walls to protect them from a sudden rainstorm. The floor may be harder to protect as the rainwater wouldn’t necessarily drain off the floor.
If concrete is exposed to rain and the surface isn’t washed off in any way, the concrete should be good. Similarly, if you are expecting freezing temperatures overnight, the fresh concrete must be protected from freezing. This may require using vented heaters and insulated blankets. The goal of the cold weather protection is to keep the surface temperature of the fresh concrete above 50°F (10°C). More details on cold weather protection can be found in ACI PRC-306-16 Guide to Cold Weather Concreting available directly from ACI’s bookstore (concrete.org/store.aspx).
By hydration, I’m assuming you are referring to curing of freshly placed concrete. A minimum of 7 days of continuous wet curing is recommended. Continuous means the exposed concrete surface is wet the entire duration. Not just “watered” twice a day as has sometimes been suggested by contractors. Use of a spray-on curing membrane is an option if for some reason water curing is not practical.
If you are looking specifically at swimming pools, this ASA Pool and Recreational Shotcrete Committee Position Statement “Curing of Shotcrete for Swimming Pools” provides more details: shotcrete.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/218216_ SCMSummer21_PS7v2.pdf Also, for a more detailed look at curing, the American Concrete Institute (ACI) document, ACI PRC-308-16 Guide to External Curing of Concrete is an excellent reference.
You can find this at ACI’s bookstore (concrete.org/store.aspx). Finally, a good reference on the basics of concrete, from materials to placement and curing, is the Portland Cement Association’s “Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, 17th Edition.” You can find this on the PCA website bookstore.
ASA Conventions provide a unique opportunity to network with leaders in the industry and hear the latest advances in shotcrete technology! This year we will have three tracks, including tracks for Pools and Underground presentations respectively.
3 Reasons to Sponsor:
Support the work of the Association as we seek to expand and advance global utilization of the shotcrete process for concrete placement.
Promote your company as a stakeholder in Quality Shotcrete applications.
Opportunity to EXHIBIT your company at the Convention as one of our tabletop exhibitors, co-located with included meals and breaks at the Convention
ASA Conventions provide a unique opportunity to network with leaders in the industry and hear the latest advances in shotcrete technology!
3 Reasons to Sponsor:
Support the work of the Association as we seek to expand and advance global utilization of the shotcrete process for concrete placement.
Promote your company as a stakeholder in Quality Shotcrete applications.
Opportunity to EXHIBIT your company at the Convention as one of our tabletop exhibitors, co-located with included meals and breaks at the Convention
Sponsorship Promotional Opportunities:
Listing & postings in the 2027 ASA Convention Event App; Banners and signs at ASA Convention; Logos in Awards Banquet program & Banquet reception scrolling ppt; Listed on ASA’s Convention & Awards website pages throughout the year; Inclusion in press releases, Shotcrete magazine Q2 issue, and “What’s In The Mix” – ASA’s March newsletter.
Bonus Distribution: Sponsors secured by January 11, 2027 will be featured at ASA’s World of Concrete booth!
Details
Promotions Included
Sponsors and their logos will be featured in convention & awards celebration promotions including:
Pre-Event marketing announcements and invites
ASA website
Online Convention Program for the event
ASA’s booth at World of Concrete 2025
Verbal acknowledgment and thank you to all sponsors by ASA during the awards banquet
An ASA press release regarding the ASA Outstanding Shotcrete Project Award program will be issued featuring project award winners and a listing of Award Sponsors for each sponsorship level. ASA press releases are sent to well over 200 concrete construction news sources for inclusion in their magazines, web sites, and other media outlets.
Sponsors are prominently featured on the Awards section of the ASA website until the 2025 Sponsors are listed
A Thank You in our eNewsletter, What’s in the Mix, pointing to the above-mentioned web page.
Social Media mentions via ASA’s Facebook, X, Instagram & LinkedIn pages
1st Quarter – 2025 Awards Issue of Shotcrete magazine:
Full-page thank you noting each sponsor’s name and logo prominently featured in the issue.
“Thank You” page in the electronic version of the magazine will include live links to each sponsor’s website.
Sponsorship Deadlines:
The deadline for guaranteed inclusion in pre-event promotions is January 8, 2025.
Email your logo & preferred web link to [email protected]; Include in the subject line: 2027 Sponsor
*Those who wish to exhibit must register attendee separately (to staff your exhibit table) : Registration will open in October 2026, check here for updates: www.shotcrete.org/convention
In the world of shotcrete, we often speak about the importance of safety: how to handle the nozzle safely, how to hold the nozzle to protect your back, the impor- tance of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), and even pump and vehicle maintenance. How all these safety measures affect your bottom line is the world of risk management, and risk management affects productivity and insurance premiums.
The American Concrete Institute (ACI) defines alkali- silica reaction (ASR) in ACI CT-23: ACI Concrete Terminology as “the reaction between the alka- lies (sodium and potassium) in portland cement and certain siliceous rocks or minerals, such as opaline chert, strained quartz, and acidic volcanic glass, present in some aggregates.”
