Concrete Curing Covers and Jobsite Safety
Before Transhield entered the market of concrete curing products with TopCure, we asked ourselves – what problem can we solve where other curing covers fall short? The curing market is extremely competitive with options ranging from curing compounds to a variety of curing blankets. In our preliminary research, one theme kept coming up – a lack of emphasis on safety. Safety in construction is paramount to engineers and contractors alike. And when it came to concrete curing covers, safety was often overlooked.
So, the mission began to fill the void and make a concrete curing cover that provided a stronger cure while at the same time created a safer construction job site.
In talking with contractors and industry pundits, there were three key areas of safety concern when using different curing covers:
Slippery Surface
When wet, a conventional curing blanket can become slippery, especially those that utilize super absorbent polymers as a moisture control method. This obviously creates a dangerous surface for construction workers to tread over. They could slip, fall and badly injure themselves and others around them.
Tearing
Research has shown covers not laminated throughout the entire surface can be a trip and fall hazard. This is because the top film layer and the bottom absorbent layer separate, making it easy to tear and trip on the loose film layer.
Wrinkled, Uneven Surfaces
When rolled out improperly, curing covers can form hard creases. This causes a wrinkled and uneven surface that not only causes tiger striping but also creates a trip and fall risk.
TopCure: The Curing Cover with Safety in Mind
From careful research and analysis, TopCure was created. TopCure is a 7-day wet cure cover that controls moisture loss for a steady and strong cure. It does this while at the same time provides jobsite safety benefits not found in other curing covers.
Anti-Slip Surface
Addressing the concerns of numerous contractors that some curing covers can be slippery, TopCure’s top layer is an anti-slip, grit surface that prevents slips and falls. TopCure accomplishes this by using a resin with a high coefficient of friction paired with a grit, textured surface. The combination of these two factors make the top surface of TopCure virtually non-skid.
Tear-Resistant
Transhield has been engineering protective covers – made to withstand the harshest elements – for twenty-five years. TopCure is made using similar technology, which gives it the same tear-resistant and durable properties found in all Transhield covers. For concrete construction workers, this means TopCure provides a safe surface to walk over and one that won’t tear or rip. And when it’s time to remove, TopCure will stay intact making removal as simple as folding a flat bedsheet.
Lays Flat
TopCure utilizes a clean nonwoven and a thin film which work together to maintain moisture. And with the non-marking honeycomb pattern of the nonwoven, the cover holds to the slab surface evenly, creating a flat expanse. What this means for contractors is an overall smoother surface with less wrinkles and less risk for tripping.
Transhield debuted TopCure at World of Concrete 2018, and we are proud to provide construction jobsites with an innovative concrete curing cover that was designed with safety in mind. TopCure can be a small, incremental change with the potential to have a big impact on workplace safety.
What safety products have you discovered that make a big difference? Comment below!
Learn more about TopCure here, and view TopCure Installation Instructions here.