Monitoring Concrete During Pouring and Curing

Concrete pouring is a construction phase that looks straightforward at a glance, but once you’re on-site, it’s clear how much coordination is involved. Between formwork, rebar, pumps, and crews working to place and consolidate the material, there’s a lot happening all at once.

And while much of the focus is on the pour itself, what happens immediately after is just as important.

Understanding the Curing Process

Concrete doesn’t simply dry; it cures through a chemical reaction that develops strength over time. That process is influenced by the environment, both inside and around the slab.
As the material sets, factors like temperature, moisture, and ambient humidity all play a role in how consistently and efficiently it cures. On active job sites, these conditions can shift throughout the day, especially in large or partially enclosed spaces.Because of that, many teams are starting to pay closer attention to what’s happening beyond the surface.

What Should You Be Monitoring?

To get a clearer picture of how concrete is curing, teams typically focus on a few key conditions:

• Internal moisture levels: the amount of water inside the concrete itself. Monitoring this shows how the slab is progressing and helps determine when it’s ready for finishing or next construction steps. A common benchmark is maintaining 75% relative humidity (RH) or lower, measured following ASTM F2170. This involves drilling a small hole in the slab, capping it, and using a probe to measure the moisture within the cavity.
• Concrete temperature: the heat generated as the concrete undergoes its curing chemical reaction. Keeping track of internal temperature ensures curing happens evenly and at the right rate.
• Ambient temperature and humidity: the conditions of the air surrounding the concrete. These external factors influence how the surface and edges cure, especially in open or partially enclosed spaces.

Together, these inputs provide a more complete understanding of what’s happening during the curing phase.

Bringing More Visibility to the Job Site

As projects become more complex and timelines more compressed, having access to real-time information is becoming less of a luxury and more of a practical advantage.

That’s where solutions like embedded sensors and environmental controls come into play. By combining internal data from within the concrete with broader site conditions, teams can get a more complete view of the curing process as it unfolds.

In many cases, this information is available remotely, making it easier to stay connected to what’s happening on-site without constant manual checks.

How to ensure efficient concrete cure

1. Monitor conditions and curing progress: Real-time data provides visibility into how the slab is curing
   • In-situ RH sensors (ASTM F2170) track internal moisture
   • Embedded temperature sensors monitor heat from hydration
   • Ambient sensors measure surrounding air conditions

With solutions like remote monitoring, teams can access this data without constant site checks, making it easier to confirm readiness, identify inconsistencies early, and make faster decisions.

2. Control environmental conditions: Stable conditions are critical for uniform curing and drying.
   • Dehumidification supports consistent moisture removal
   • Heating/cooling maintains target temperature ranges
   • Air movement reduces localized humidity

Polygon’s integrated environmental control solutions connect this equipment directly to live sensor data, allowing systems to automatically turn on or off based on site conditions and curing progress. This closed-loop approach helps maintain consistency, reduce risks like cracking or curling, and keep projects aligned with schedule.

3. Control temperature during the pour: Temperature control should begin at placement, especially in hot conditions or mass pours.
   • Elevated temperatures accelerate hydration, increasing risk of thermal cracking and shrinkage
   • Large pours can create internal temperature differentials

Cooling strategies may include:

• • Conditioned air or increased air circulation
  • Pre-conditioning subgrade or surrounding surfaces

On some projects, additional insight can be gained through custom solutions, such as fittings with built-in thermal wells. 

These allow temperature probes to measure water temperatures entering and leaving the slab,  giving the GC a clearer view of internal slab behavior in real time.

Combined with monitoring, these approaches help maintain a consistent temperature profile
from the start, supporting a more controlled cure and reliable performance.

A More Informed Approach to Concrete

Rather than changing how concrete is poured, these tools support how it’s managed afterward, adding another layer of insight to an already well-established process.

With better visibility into curing conditions, teams can move forward with greater clarity, keeping projects aligned with both quality expectations and construction schedules.

Speak with us before your next pour!

Right photo: Washington School for the Deaf, Vancouver Washington, Skanska USA Building / Mithun