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Association & Industry News
The estimated ready mixed concrete produced in March is 29.4 million cubic yards, 8% lower than in March 2023. The estimated production in the U.S. through March is 79 million cubic yards, approximately 4.4% lower than that during the same period in 2023. Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. More detail, including production by state for the first quarter of 2024 is available here for NRMCA members under Production Statistics. 
Engineering
Following is a summary of activity which took place at the ASTM meeting in Philadelphia in June on Committees C09 on Concrete, C01 on Cement and E05 on Fire attended by NRMCA staff.
C09.20 Aggregates - A revision was approved to specification C33 on normal-weight aggregates for concrete, to simplify the limits for deleterious materials for coarse aggregate by establishing durability class designations based on potential exposure of concrete and eliminating that based on U.S. weathering zones. The committee will consider as new business if soundness requirements should be stated for aggregates used in wetting and drying applications and a suggestion to use the micro-Deval method as an alternate to soundness test (C88).
The ASTM International Committee C09 on Concrete and Committee C01 on Cement have both awarded NRMCA Senior Vice President, Technical Services, Karthik Obla honorary membership in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the committees for over 20 years. An Honorary member is achieved with at least 20 years of involved participation and contribution to the activities of the ASTM committees.
SEO
The NRMCA’s Annual Safety Award acknowledges the significant contribution that safety work practices give to the growth and success of individual companies and the ready mixed concrete industry as a whole. The award is presented to an individual or company whose actions represent the very highest in the advancement of safety in the ready mixed concrete industry. The award program is generously sponsored by the Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau (TMMB).
The US EPA’s ENERGY STAR program is offering free specialized energy management training and support for ready mixed concrete producers and their manufacturing suppliers that are seeking to save money, reduce the carbon footprint of their operations and impact the embodied carbon of their products. Training sessions are provided by industrial energy managers through nine monthly, two-hour webinars. Manufacturers are encouraged to nominate their plant personnel for participation in ENERGY STAR’s Industrial Assistance Networks where they will learn to control energy consumption, receive coaching from professional industrial energy managers, and access to tools and other support. To learn more, go to www.energystar.gov/ian. You can also e-mail the program that you are interested in enrolling your plants in the training. For more information about NRMCA’s engagement with policymakers on sustainability, contact Tiffany Reed-Villarreal, P.E. at treedvillarreal@nrmca.org. In May and early June, NRMCA verified system-level Environmental Product Declarations covering 28 ready mixed concrete plants and one cement plant for the following producers:
ScienceDirect has published an article titled Extended discharge time of ready-mixed concrete: Myth or necessity? The piece is based on a previously published report, Impact of Extended Time to Discharge on Concrete Durability and Performance, a study conducted at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) with support from the Concrete Advancement Foundation (formerly known as the RMC Research & Education Foundation). The study explored the impact of extended discharge time on concrete properties. Previously, in accordance with ASTM C94, Specification for Ready Mixed Concrete, freshly mixed concrete could be rejected if it exceeded 90 minutes at the end of discharge. The NJIT study demonstrated that with applicable adjustments, extended discharge times are feasible with minimal impact to fresh and hardened concrete properties required for projects. ASTM C94 has since removed a specific time limit to discharge concrete with an alternative that any limit should be established between the producer and purchaser for specific project conditions. The concrete producer has to meet the specified properties and comply with other requirements of the specification. 
Buildings
 On June 12, NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations and Northeast Region Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Vice President Frank Mruk attended the annual CSI Boston awards event held at Branch Line in Watertown, MA. Numerous service awards were presented, including those to CSI Boston Board members Bob McEachern and Susan Raneri (seen here at center of photo, with Ms. Raneri holding her award certificate). Over 30 specifiers from Boston's leading architecture firms and representatives were in attendance. Founded in 1948, CSI is a national not-for-profit association of more than 6,000 members dedicated to improving the communication of construction information throughout continuous development and transformation of standards and formats, education and certification of professionals to improve project delivery processes. CSI Boston is one of the largest chapters nationwide. The Build With Strength program is a leader in supporting architects and the AEC industry in the specification of high-performance, energy-efficient concrete buildings. For more information, contact Frank Mruk at fmruk@nrmca.org.  On a sunny morning in June, NRMCA state affiliate Minnesota Concrete Council (MCC) held its inaugural Run With Strength 5k and Family One Mile Scholarship Fundraiser where 66 runners and walkers took to the streets of Apple Valley to raise money for MCC’s scholarship and grant program. Individuals from MCC companies and their families (seen here) challenged themselves to a 5k (3.1 miles) run or a one-mile walk. The event netted $1,000 which will be added to a scholarship fund which also benefits from MCC’s golf and sporting clay events. The total raised for 2024 should approach $30,000, MCC said. The event was sponsored by Apple Valley Ready Mix (AVR), NRMCA Producer member Cemstone Companies, HGA Architects and Engineers, Nucor Rebar Fabrication and Western Specialty Contractors. The Minnesota Concrete Council is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1989. MCC brings proven methods and new ideas together to educate its members on how to improve the quality of cast-in-place concrete; advance the techniques used to place and maintain it; and innovate the methods used to design it. MCC strives to cultivate an abundant and qualified workforce that can support the cast-in-place construction industry in Minnesota. For more information contact NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Donn Thompson at dthompson@nrmca.org or 224-627-3933.
NRMCA’s Commitment to Environmental Excellence Awards competition offers producers national recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment and maintaining sound management practice in their operations. The program salutes companies that have not only met but surpassed governmental compliance measures and demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through plant and staff investment. NRMCA member companies producing ready mixed concrete from a fixed plant location in the U.S., its territories or Canada are eligible to enter. Awards will be determined upon individual plant merits. Winning entrants will be honored at the Awards Ceremony at NRMCA‘s ConcreteWorks this October in Aurora, CO. Winners will also be featured in a 2024 edition of NRMCA’s Concrete InFocus magazine and Concrete Products magazine. Entries and photos must be e-mailed to kwalgenbach@nrmca.org by Friday, July 19. Click here for more information and to download the form. The staff contact is Kevin Walgenbach. 
Registration is open for this year’s Environmental Certification Course being held in Orlando, FL, December 3-5. Course attendees will be educated on industry-specific environmental issues that affect ready mixed concrete production, including the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, Discharge Permits, Stormwater Management, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Solids Management, Hazardous Materials, Dust Control, Recycling, Spill Prevention Plans, Air Quality Management, Noise Management, Environmental Auditing and much more. Those who should attend include plant managers, environmental managers, compliance managers, executives or anyone with fiscal and/or environmental responsibilities that should know the details concerning a company’s responsibilities when it comes to EPA regulations, the Clean Water Act, Discharge Permits, Stormwater Management and numerous other critical environmental matters. Click here to register or for more information. You may also contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. 
Calendar
Please note that e-mail and direct registration links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's website. September 9 - 13, Baltimore September 10 - 12, Sacramento, CA September 25, Metro Kansas City October 10 - 14, Denver October 15 - 18, Denver November 20 - 22, Oklahoma City December 3 - 5, Orlando, FL December 10 - 13, Charleston, SC *Sold Out December 10 - 12, Denver 
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