Concrete curing room rack design 1

[clem8fan]

I am in the process of constructing a concrete curing room of about 2800 cubic feet and am in need of a rack system. Since rh will be maintained at or above 100%, and a significant quantity of cylinders, prisms, and cubes are slated to be moved, I am wondering if anyone has experience with a rack system that might be efficient as well as durable.

 

[jdonville]

clem8fan,

We built our racks from angle steel. Figure it as a structural exercise - assume the unit weight of the concrete at 150 pcf. OTOH, I am sure that there are commercial rack systems that could meet your needs. Google around.

Jeff

 

[civilperson]

Be sure and limit deflection of full racks to less than 1/4". Space racks vertically at least 10" clear, (for 6" cylinders and beams).

 

[molerat2210]

I have seen the finished result at several places. At all, they used pressure-treated wood racks. Stainless steel bolts. 4 x 4 posts and 2 x 4 beams get the job done. I hear rumour that the pressure-treated will rot in the moist enviroment after about 8 to 10 years. This may be a myth.

I have also seen and personally prefer the low effort approach which is no racks at all. Just stack the cylinders on the floor of the moist room. Make a little stack for each day's breaks.

 

[msucog]

i'm with you molerat...sometimes simplicity works best. it works well for us.

 

[concretemasonry]

An "off the wall" sugestion based on curing concrete products - Not original since I have seen the concept in several independent testing laboratories and industrial testing facilities.

The approach is one that has also been used in older concrete products plants. The concept is using moveable racks with shelf angles and steel pallets for concrete products. The advantage is that samples of different heights may be cured a using combinations of shelf angle spacing. The design and spacing (by skipping shelves) could be adapted to your needs.

A typical rack is about 20" deep with 3 bays, each about 24 - 30" wide. The 8 uprights are either angles or channels with 2x2 angles for shelf supports. Each "rack" has a substantial base with pick-up sleeves for a fork lift (if necessary/available) and a angle or channel for a top braces/stabilizers. - All welded. A testing lab could configure a combination of shelf angles for different racks to test mortar samples (4" max.), block samples (8" high), concrete cylinders (6" or 12" high) or masonry prisms (16").

One adavantage is the ability to move individual rack sections or just individual steel sample pallets IF equipment is available. This can minimize the "open door" problem if samples are located properly.

Just leaving a door while a man searchs for samples can have an effect on the curing environment despite the thermal inertia of the materials in the chamber. The effect on the products being tested is not as critiacal as it is for production products with a short curing cycle.

Steel pallets are readily available in any size and thickness and in most metalurgical compositions.

Dick