Interior concrete operations—such as slab-on-grade pours, elevated decks, toppings, self-levelers, and polished finishes—are highly sensitive to temperature and humidity. Even after a building is “dried-in,” the permanent HVAC system may not yet be operational, and cold air often infiltrates through openings, shafts, and unfinished envelopes. The result is longer set times, a higher risk of surface defects, and schedule creep that affects every downstream trade.
Temporary heating isn’t just about crew comfort—it’s about environmental control. Maintaining target slab and ambient temperatures while managing moisture is critical for achieving finish specifications, ensuring adhesive performance, and keeping curing predictable.
This is where REIC Specialty’s temporary heating and drying solutions make the difference. With industry expertise, precise load modeling, and a full range of indirect-fired heaters and dehumidification systems, REIC helps contractors stabilize interior conditions, protect quality, and keep schedules on track—even in challenging weather.
What Can Go Wrong Without the Right Heat
When interior concrete projects proceed without proper temperature and moisture control, the consequences can ripple through quality, schedule, and budget. Cold, damp conditions don’t just slow work—they compromise performance and increase risk at every stage.
- Slow Set and Extended Cure Times: Below roughly 50 °F (10 °C), hydration slows dramatically, causing schedules to slip and finishing windows to become unpredictable.
- Surface Defects: Uneven or inadequate heating can lead to differential curing, resulting in curling, crazing, or dusting.
- Adhesive and Coating Failures: Moisture-sensitive flooring and coatings are vulnerable to blistering, debonding, or costly remediation when conditions are out of spec.
- Rework and Claims: Missed temperature or moisture targets often surface later—when rooms are finished and schedules are tight, leading to disputes and delays.
- Safety and Productivity Hits: Cold interiors reduce crew efficiency and increase slip/trip hazards caused by condensation.
Proper temporary heating and drying aren’t optional—they’re essential safeguards against costly setbacks.
Temporary Heating Options for Interior Concrete
Different interior conditions call for different heating technologies. REIC Specialty selects and sizes equipment based on envelope status, fuel availability, ventilation paths, and your curing targets.
Indirect-Fired Heaters (Most Common for Interiors)
- How they help: Use a heat exchanger to deliver clean, fume-free, low-humidity air.
- Best for: Enclosed spaces where air quality, odor control, and moisture management matter.
- Why contractors like them: Can be ducted to zones, pair well with dehumidification, and reduce condensation.
Electric Heaters
- How they help: Pure, dry heat with zero on-site combustion.
- Best for: Smaller zones, confined interiors, or sites with ample temporary power.
- Why contractors like them: No fuel handling, minimal ventilation needs; ideal for sensitive environments.
Hydronic/Glycol Heating (for Slab Support & Ground Thaw Pre-Pour)
- How they help: Circulates heated glycol through hoses/blankets to warm subgrades or protect slab edges and penetrations.
- Best for: Pre-heat ahead of slab-on-grade pours, edge conditioning, or targeted freeze protection.
- Why contractors like them: Highly controllable, direct heat where it’s needed.
Make-Up Air Units (MAUs)
- How they help: Bring in fresh air, heat it, and pressurize interiors to displace moisture and fumes.
- Best for: Large cores and open floorplates; when controlling pressure, odors, and humidity is critical.
- Why contractors like them: Support indoor air quality, manage infiltration, and stabilize interior conditions.
For interior concrete, REIC often pairs indirect-fired heat with desiccant or refrigerant dehumidification to maintain temperature and a target relative humidity that supports curing, coating adhesion, and rapid turnover to flooring trades.
Heating & Drying: The Combination That Keeps Schedules
Heating raises air and slab temperatures to hit curing targets. Dehumidification (desiccant for low temps/high volumes; refrigerant for finished spaces) removes the moisture that heat alone can drive out of materials. Together, they:
- Shorten time to reach placement and finishing conditions
- Lower equilibrium moisture content (EMC) in slabs prior to coatings/flooring
- Reduce condensation on cold surfaces and glazing
- Improve worker comfort and productivity
Scenario: Fast-Track Office Build, Level-By-Level Slabs
The challenge: A general contractor is pouring elevated slabs on a fast schedule for a mid-rise office building. While the building envelope is mostly complete, cores and loading docks remain drafty, allowing cold air to infiltrate. Night temperatures dip into the 30s °F (around -1 to 4 °C), and the flooring contractor is working toward a tight turnover date for moisture-sensitive Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) and adhesive systems. Without proper environmental control, the schedule and finish quality are at risk.
REIC Plan:
To stabilize interior conditions and support the accelerated schedule, REIC Specialty would implement a comprehensive climate control strategy:
- Indirect-fired heaters would be placed on the loading dock level and ducted vertically through shafts to each active floor zone, using adjustable diffusers to deliver even, targeted heat.
- Desiccant dehumidifiers, sized for low-temperature, high-volume drying, would be strategically configured to maximize moisture removal through optimized return air routing.
- Electric spot heaters would be deployed in stairwells and cold corners to eliminate localized temperature drops.
- Air movers would circulate warm, dry air throughout the space, preventing stratification and ensuring uniform surface conditions.
- A comprehensive monitoring system with ambient sensors and slab probes near edges, penetrations, and column lines would track environmental performance in real time, ensuring all conditions stay within spec.
The result: With REIC Specialty’s heating, drying, and monitoring systems in place, floorplate temperatures would stay between 60–65 °F (15–18 °C) and humidity would stabilize at 45–50 %, creating ideal curing and finishing conditions. Finishing would stay on schedule, moisture tests would meet specs, and the team would avoid overtime pours. REIC’s tailored solution would keep downstream trades on track and help the contractor maintain quality and timelines despite challenging weather.
Safety, Compliance, and IAQ Considerations
Maintaining a safe, code-compliant job site is essential when deploying temporary heating and drying systems. REIC Specialty prioritizes safety, indoor air quality (IAQ), and operational continuity in every installation.
- Combustion Safety: Indirect-fired units keep exhaust safely outside. Duct integrity and clearances are always verified to prevent leaks and ensure proper airflow.
- Ventilation: Adequate fresh air intake and CO/CO₂ monitoring are maintained where applicable to support healthy indoor air quality.
- Electrical Loads: Power distribution, breaker sizing, and cord management are carefully planned to support electric heat safely and efficiently.
- Trip/Slip Prevention: Ducts and cords are routed with ramps and guards, and condensation points are managed to minimize site hazards.
- Noise & Access: Heater placement is planned to preserve egress paths, maintain accessibility, and reduce disturbances in occupied areas.
REIC Specialty technicians are fully trained to install and commission systems that align with job-site safety plans and all applicable codes—while minimizing disruption to ongoing work.
Cost Control: Heat Smarter, Not Harder
Efficient temperature management isn’t just about keeping conditions stable—it’s also about controlling costs without compromising performance. By strategically sizing, zoning, sealing, and monitoring equipment, contractors can significantly reduce fuel consumption and runtime while maintaining ideal curing and finishing environments.
- Right-sizing: Oversized heaters short-cycle and waste fuel, while undersized units never reach setpoint. REIC Specialty models loads by zone and sequence to ensure precise sizing every time.
- Zoning & Scheduling: Heat only the floors and areas actively in use, and apply setbacks during off-hours while preserving slab temperatures.
- Air Sealing: Temporary vestibules, poly barriers, and core seals minimize heat loss and reduce overall runtime.
- Data-Driven Adjustments: Logged conditions are used to fine-tune setpoints and airflow, achieving the lowest possible kBTU/°F maintained.
Why Contractors Choose REIC Specialty
Major construction projects demand reliable partners who can deliver the right solutions—quickly and seamlessly. Contractors across North America trust REIC Specialty because we bring deep expertise, rapid response, and fully integrated climate control systems to every job. From interior concrete work to complex, schedule-critical builds, REIC provides the equipment, planning, and support needed to keep projects on track.
- Turnkey Service: REIC manages the entire process, from site assessment and load calculations to equipment sizing, layout, fuel/power planning, installation, monitoring, and removal.
- Integrated Solutions: Indirect-fired heat, desiccant and refrigerant dehumidification, electric spot heat, hydronic support, air movers, and make-up air—all designed to work together for maximum efficiency.
- Scale & Speed: 24/7 support and rapid mobilization through a North American network of 19 locations, ensuring equipment is where you need it, when you need it.
- Proven Expertise: Decades of experience through REIC’s specialty brands, consistently delivering schedule-critical interior solutions with precision and reliability.
Ready to Warm Up Your Interior Concrete Schedule?
Successful interior concrete work depends on stable temperatures, controlled humidity, and consistent airflow. With REIC Specialty’s tailored temporary heating and drying solutions, you can protect finish quality, accelerate turnover to flooring and coatings, and keep your construction sequence on track—even when the weather works against you.
Let’s build your plan. Contact our team at REIC Specialty today to schedule a project consultation or set up an emergency response package for your interior concrete work.
