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IN THIS ISSUE:
NEWS LINKS
PAVEMENTS
PROMOTIONS
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
ENGINEERING
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
SUSTAINABILITY
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
EDUCATION &TRAINING
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CALENDAR
NEWS LINKS
Electric utility construction contributed to the 23% rise in new construction starts in March, according to McGraw-Hill Construction. Moderate improvements were noted for public works and housing starts, with momentum stalling for nonresidential building. Among the noteworthy projects that contributed to the sharp rise in starts are the $8.5 billion Vogtle reactor project in Georgia and five big wind-power projects in Kansas, Montana, Illinois, Oklahoma and Massachusetts.
Source: AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter for April 23 which contained this story from citybiz Real Estate: read more. A 90-day bill that will continue surface transportation funding through September was passed by the House last week, but Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said that Congress would not pass a multi-year highway bill before the election in November. Speaking at a transportation event in Washington, LaHood said there will instead likely be more temporary extensions of current road and transit funding, like the 90-day continuing resolution that was approved by lawmakers last month. Source: AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter for April 19 which contained this story from The Hill newspaper. Researchers at Drexel University in Pennsylvania are trying to lower cement’s carbon footprint by using technology of the past to build sidewalks of the future. It is the same technique that was used by the Greeks to build the Parthenon and the Egyptians for building the Great Pyramids, so it make sense that it uses less energy. Source: Aggregateresearch.com for April 23: read more. Who says a bad reputation? Well, a columnist for The Globe and Mail of Toronto wrote last week that "While concrete still has a bad popular reputation that hails from those old days, some perceptive architects, planners and scholars have recently been taking long second looks at things constructed from this commonest of all building materials, and finding much to appreciate, and even to admire." Now that's more like it: read more. PAVEMENTS
NRMCA has developed a reference specification entitled Standard Specification for Materials and Construction of Jointed Concrete Pavement for Streets and Local Roads for use by owners to define material and construction requirements, criteria and expectations of material suppliers and construction contractors. The language contained in the document is intended to be modified, as necessary, to fit within a project’s contractual conditions and local preferences. The specification was developed using the Construction Specifications Institute’s MasterFormat® standard. Just like the Parking Lot Guide Specification released in January, the specification is offered free to NRMCA members and to architects, engineers, developers, builders and commercial owners upon e-mail request. More information may be found on the Concrete Promoters’ Resource Center Web site. For more information regarding Concrete Street and Local Road Pavement Design and Construction Assistance or to obtain a copy of the specification, contact NRMCA’s Brian Killingsworth at bkillingsworth@nrmca.org or you may contact the NRMCA National Resource Director located in your region. PROMOTIONS
The new homes in the Turtle Creek subdivision in Gulfport, MS, are being aggressively promoted as built with "poured 5,000-psi concrete and polystyrene to produce buildings capable of withstanding Category 5 hurricane winds." The many benefits of concrete construction, including termite resistance, allergy avoidance, quietness and low utility, maintenance and insurance expenses, are explained as well, but the builder’s Web site for the new homes on the hurricane-prone Gulf Coast focuses on the disaster resistance of the subdivision as the key benefit. This approach to new home construction and marketing may be an influential example for the many other parts of country where concrete construction can provide disaster resistance for new homeowners who are seeking safety and peace of mind. You can view the Turtle Creek Web site at www.turtlecreeksubdivision.com. Following the concrete success story reported earlier in E-NEWS of a Walmart in Bridgeton, MO, NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Jon Hansen reports that another of the retailer's locations, this one in Bowling Green, MO, will prominently feature concrete. He "The now standard Walmart white roof, along with a light colored parking lot and concrete access roads incorporating a concrete roundabout work together to maximize the lighting and heat reflectance of this project," Hansen said. A Google Earth photo of the location is seen at right, along with a front elevation photo prior to the store opening shown here. For more information, contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org. Executive Director of the Mississippi Concrete Industries Association Harry Lee James directed the annual ACI technical training meeting held in Jackson, MS, last week, reports NRMCA Southeast Senior National Resource Director Amy Miller. Miller was invited to speak on how to correctly design and specify concrete parking lots. "As always, Harry Lee packed the house with local engineers and contractors," Miller said. "This venue always proves to be one that not only allows for technical training, but also an opportunity for the industry to pass along information that will enable better design and construction, in this case particularly as it pertains to concrete parking lots. This market continues to be one that still offers great opportunity and we can never repeat the correct message enough to owners, engineers and contractors." For more information, contact Amy Miller at amiller@nrmca.org. NRMCA's national resource directors have one Webinar scheduled through Friday, May 4, so be sure to click on the link below for more information or contact NRMCA's Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
The preliminary estimate of ready mixed concrete production in February 2012 is 17.3 million cubic yards, 30% higher than February 2011. The year-to-date production through February 2012 is estimated at 34 million cubic yards, 27% higher than during the same period in 2011. Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Details are available for NRMCA members by clicking here. Please join the RMC Research & Education Foundation for the 2nd Annual Walk for Sustainability taking place on Wednesday, May 9, in conjunction with NRMCA’s International Concrete Sustainability Conference (ICSC) in Seattle. The Walk will help to raise awareness of the Foundation's large body of sustainable development-focused research reports and to raise additional funds to help the Foundation continue this important work. Participants can set up their own personal fundraising pages to track their support online (although they can also just join us for the Walk). The Walk will begin at 6:30 a.m. (registration begins at 6 a.m. with pre-walk coffee) and will conclude with enough time for participants to freshen up and take advantage of the continental breakfast before conference sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. Walkers need not be registered for the ICSC to participate so Seattle-area supporters should feel free to join us. Walkers may register online. If you won't be able to join us, you have the opportunity to support one of the walkers in the endeavor. Please click on the Walk for Sustainability link above to access online fundraising pages of Walkers. For more information, please contact Foundation Senior Director Jennifer LeFevre at 240-485-1151 or at jlefevre@rmc-foundation.org. Additional information on the work of the RMC Research & Education Foundation may be found at www.rmc-foundation.org. ENGINEERING
The CPRoad Map Enews is the newsletter of the Long-Term Plan for Concrete Pavement Research and Technology. The March-April 2012 issue has the following items with more details at e-news homepage.
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
NRMCA members are invited to participate in the annual Spring 2012 OES - HR Task Group Meeting on Monday, April 30, from 1-2 p.m. Eastern Time. The free Webinar format encourages all interested to participate easily from their desk. Of importance is an update of current and future projects as well as finalizing the speakers for the September 2012 ConcreteWorks, in metro Washington, DC. Reserve your Webinar seat now by clicking here. 
SUSTAINABILITY
NRMCA, local affiliate partners and members of the Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative (CJSI) are working together to present a series of one-day workshops on implementing disaster resilience. By educating decision makers at the local level on the importance of resilient construction, the program promotes the adoption of enhanced codes for both residential and commercial construction to enhance community continuity during disaster events. Relevant topics include: linkage to sustainability, mitigation strategies, voluntarily "code plus" programs, enhanced building code criteria at the state and local level, and concrete systems as solutions to minimize loss of life and property. The workshops are registered with the AIA and GBCI for six continuing education hours. These workshops were well attended and received by architects, engineers, code officials, educators and industry professionals in Springfield, MO, and Sioux Falls, SD. The remaining schedule for the program is Pewaukee, WI, on May 15; Louisville, KY, on May 17 and Portsmouth, NH, on May 30. Seats are still available for these remaining workshops. For more information, go to www.nrmca.org/resilience or contact NRMCA's Tien Peng at 206-913-8535 or tpeng@nrmca.org. GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
To read government affairs-related stories that relate to the ready mixed concrete industry for the week of April 16 - 20, please click here. If you would like to receive this weekly updated link in a separate e-mail, or if you have questions or comments about the roundup, contact NRMCA’s Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. EDUCATION &TRAINING
On Tuesday, May 22, NRMCA will conduct Re-Entrepreneuring, 7 Strategies for Rebuilding Your Ready Mix Business in the New Economy, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The glimpses of hope for an economic recovery offer ready mix producers an unprecedented opportunity to rebuild and reshape their businesses to succeed in the emerging 21st century economy. As the market improves, it won’t be/can’t be business as usual - not only has the competitive landscape changed, but so have customers and their expectations. As producers begin the process of rehiring and rebuilding operations, there is an opportunity to "re-entrepreneur," that is to "start from scratch," by fundamentally reshaping their companies for the new marketplace. Learn How To: 1. Take a fresh view of your market and not rely on the past as you plan your business. Click here for more information, including registration options, or contact Jessica Walgenbach at 888-846-7622, ext. 1152. PRODUCTS & SERVICES
NRMCA's April Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, May 1, is the In-Place Concrete Strength Evaluation A Recommended Practice manual. This manual contains guidelines for use when strength tests fail to meet specifications. The guidelines include investigation procedures, testing methods and precautions, and assignment of responsibility. It addresses the degree of strength deficiency that warrants further evaluation; a sequence of steps to follow in the investigation and actions that should result from the investigation along with suggestion of allocation of costs. Order online today and receive 20% off. Regular member price is $12, Internet Special $9.60, plus shipping. Please use Discount Code ISAPRIL12 to receive the online discount. CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site. April 26, Webinar May 15, Pewaukee, WI |
April 25, 2012
 
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learned of the development from the concrete contractor at a recent industry meeting in St. Louis. The store is not a SuperCenter, but one of Walmart's smaller market stores built in the past 18 months.
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