Construction spending increased 2.2% in April, the highest level since 2008, according to the Commerce Department. The monthly increase was the largest since May 2012 and calculates to annualized construction spending of $1 trillion. Private construction increased 1.8%. Private nonresidential construction increased 3.1%, and public construction increased 3.3%. 

No timber towers happening in America as concrete industry blocks tall wood from International Building Code is the headline from a recent posting from the Web site Treehugger. "It's easy to scare people off wood construction; just show pictures of January's fire in New Jersey. However there is lightweight framing out of dimension lumber, which was what the Edgewater apartments were, and there is heavy timber and Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) which is a whole different thing. Heavy timber is oversized so that in a fire it will char, which essentially fireproofs it."

Writer Daniel A. Gross takes a close look at the latest engineering efforts to improve production of the world’s most common building material which now produces about 5 percent of global CO2 emissions. "But what if we needed less of it?" he asks.

Lehigh Cement's Mike Buckley is a master at developing relationships, reports NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O'Neill. Buckley's more than 30 years of industry experience recently helped O'Neill when they met with the city engineer of Providence, RI, which includes both O'Neill's and Buckley's territory. Their initial meeting was to review the vast concrete industry resources with the engineer and to raise the possibility of using concrete as a way to solve some of Providence's significant pavement troubles.

"Having Mike in the meeting as the local industry expert provided instant credibility since he knows just about everyone and was able to reference several local intersections that would be opportunities for concrete," said O’Neill.

Buckley’s many contacts throughout the region yielded another opportunity; he and O'Neill having met with the professor at the University of Rhode Island who heads its Transportation Research Center. This same professor is an advisor for  the RIDOT and was instrumental in getting a concrete overlay pilot project built in Lincoln several years earlier, an overlay which has outperformed expectations, O'Neill said. Also involved with this meeting was a RIDOT project engineer who, once learning of all the resources available through NRMCA, was interested in continued dialogue and potentially utilizing the Design Assistance Program.

"I can’t thank Mike enough for his efforts in setting up these meetings," O’Neill said. "We need more industry partners who have ties to the local/state construction industry and are willing to get involved and help us get our message out there."

For more information, contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.

NRMCA will host a free member Webinar, "The NLRB Is Changing The Workplace. Are You Prepared?", on Tuesday, June 30, from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern time. This Webinar will look at the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) recently issued decisions. Conducted by labor attorney Jeff Thompson, a partner with Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, the Webinar will focus on the NLRB’s newest changes that allow unions to be quickly and easily voted in by non-union companies’ employees. The latest NLRB revisions also force employers to release employees’ personal information to unions which could undermine employers’ due process rights about unionization. Additionally, these numerous NLRB decisions now find many employers’ rules of conduct policies illegal. These new changes concerning employer policies will affect both union and non-union companies.

Mr. Thompson’s address will not only provide a detailed description of the alterations that allow for quicker elections but also offer specific guidance for employers. Finally, the presentation will provide a summary of employer policies that are now considered illegal as well as possible modifications to employee handbooks and other rules of conduct policies.

The deadline to nominate someone for NRMCA’s Developing Industry Leaders (DIL) program is Monday, June 15; a limited number of middle managers will challenge themselves by thinking about an issue our industry faces. The goal of the DIL project is to broaden participants’ understanding of the ready mixed concrete industry at a more strategic, long-term, level while giving them the opportunity to also work on a team with a diverse group peers from across the country. This peer-centric program, with its accompanying industry mentorship, allows participants to not only make lifelong, career friends but to also gain insight into a specific national challenge.

Last week, Lionel Lemay of NRMCA met with the Dubai Central Laboratory of the Dubai Municipality (DCL-DM) to establish a cooperative agreement to recognize technical equivalencies of their respective concrete plant and truck certification programs. Per the agreement, NRMCA will now offer certificates to concrete plants operating in Dubai that have earned the DCL-DM plant and truck certification. Once a Dubai concrete plant goes through the DCL-DM audit and is issued a certificate, concrete companies can choose to obtain the NRMCA certification without the need for additional audit.

Lemay also met with the Dubai Municipality to discuss alternates to its prescriptive requirements for extremely high quantities of supplementary cementing materials in concrete. Dubai officials seek to lower the carbon footprint, but one unintended consequence is limiting the use high early strength concrete. NRMCA offered its Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) program as an alternate to the prescriptive specification, allowing producers to demonstrate their environmental performance through EPDs.
 

NRMCA works with Grey Matters Consultancy, a Dubai consulting company that offers the NRMCA plant and truck certification program in the Emirate of Dubai and throughout the Middle East along with dozens of other NRMCA personnel and product certifications.

Contact Colin Lobo of NRMCA at 240-485-1160 or CLobo@nrmca.org for Plant and truck certifications and Lionel Lemay of NRMCA at 847-918-7101 or LLemay@nrmca.org for sustainability certifications.

Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its long anticipated "Waters of the US" (WOTUS) final rule. The final rule aims to clarify what constitutes a water of the U.S. under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act. Traditionally, the definition has been largely tied to "navigable" waters. However, the final rule now expands EPA’s jurisdiction over navigable and non-navigable waters further upstream; potentially threatening current and future activities on or near those covered areas, including ready mixed concrete plants.

Clarifications included in the final rule exclude operations at ready mixed concrete plants from the final rule’s new definitions; however, uncertainties remain when considering expansions at ready mixed concrete plants, constructing new plants and how third-party environmental citizen suits will be impacted. NRMCA is still reviewing the final rule to determine specifically how the rule impacts the ready mixed concrete industry and how concrete producers may need to comply. More detailed information will be available in the coming weeks. Currently, the final rule is only in a pre-publication form. Once the official version is released, the final rule will be effective 60 days from the publication date.

Click here to view the pre-publication final rule. For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

Last week the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued interim enforcement guidance for the new Hazard Communication Standard which became effective June 1, 2015. The new guidance is temporary in lieu of guidance that will be added to the OSHA Hazard Communication directive later this month. Specifically, the interim guidance notes that, "Where a manufacturer or importer (such as concrete producers) has not received classification information from its upstream supplier(s) on which it intends to rely for the classification of its product before June 1, 2015, the manufacturer or importer may continue use of the HCS 1994 label under certain limited circumstances. To do so, the manufacturer or importer must be able to initially demonstrate it has exercised reasonable diligence and made good faith efforts to obtain and integrate the information. "

Last month, the White House Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) finally published its updated Spring 2015 Unified Agenda. The Unified Agenda is the clearinghouse for public access to federal regulatory agencies’ respective regulatory actions, covering 60 departments, agencies and commissions, including EPA, OSHA, FMCSA and the IRS. Some of the actions covered include, but are not limited to, CMV Speed Limiters, ELDs, Silica, Electronic Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, and NPDES Electronic Reporting.

Click here to view the updated agenda. For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

The application form is now available for the 2015 NRMCA National Mixer Driver Championship being held at the JW Marriott San Antonio (TX) Hill Country on Sunday, September 20. As in previous years, this year’s contest will be held during NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors’ Meeting. Application forms are due by Wednesday, July 15. Accepted applicants will be notified shortly thereafter and official registration forms will be sent by e-mail. Applicants must complete the registration form and return it to NRMCA, along with the entry fee, by Monday, August 3. In early August applicants will receive final instructions, including a map of the Challenge Course and reference materials for the written exam.

Click here to download the application form. For more information, contact Karen Bean at kbean@nrmca.org. For information on the 2015 NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors’ Meeting, please click here.

NRMCA and the Missouri University of Science & Technology (Missouri S&T) are seeking abstracts for the 2016 Self-Consolidating Concrete Conference (SCC 2016) and the International Concrete Sustainability Conference (2016 ICSC) scheduled for May 15-18 in Washington, DC. Engineers, architects, public works officials, material suppliers, researchers, academics, students, contractors, and concrete industry professionals are invited to share their research, experiences and accomplishments in advancing SCC and sustainable concrete design, manufacturing and construction by submitting abstracts.

This is the first time the International SCC Conference and the International Concrete Sustainability Conference will be co-located. the primary sponsors - NRMCA and Missouri S&T - hope that combining these important conferences will provide learning and networking opportunities on the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for SCC and sustainable concrete manufacturing, design and construction.

For more information, contact NRMCA's Lionel Lemay at 847-918-7101, LLemay@nrmca.org or visit www.2016icsc.org.

The proceedings of the 2015 International Concrete Sustainability Conference are now available online at 2015 ICSC - MIAMI. The conference, which was held in Miami from May 11-13, featured over 65 world renowned speakers on the latest advances, technical knowledge, continuing research, tools and solutions for sustainable concrete manufacturing, design and construction. Resilience, life cycle assessment, low impact development and corporate social responsible were just a few of the topics of high interest at the conference. As always, green concrete technology to help reduce concrete’s environmental footprint was an important topic.

Media articles on Congress, transportation infrastructure, regulation, taxes and other subjects, each of which relate to the ready mixed concrete industry, are updated each week by NRMCA's Government Affairs staff. To access the most recent compilation of articles for May 26 - 29, 2015, please click here.

NRMCA will host its third-quarter "DC Day" on Wednesday, June 17 and/or Thursday, June 18. Please join your industry peers on Capitol Hill to advocate for swift passage of a long-term, fully funded highway bill this year, a permanent ready mixed concrete Hours of Service 30-min break rule exemption and resilient construction tax credit issues impacting the ready mixed concrete industry

Details for the event include the following:

Who: Members of NRMCA’s Government Affairs Committee and Board of Directors and any association members are invited to participate. 

What: The third of the committee's quarterly "DC Days" is an opportunity to meet with your congressional members and their staff to talk about issues of importance to our industry. This quarter's DC Day will focus specifically on educating key members of the new 114th Congress about FMCSA's Hours of Service regulations and how Congress can fix them, passage of a long-term, fully funded transportation bill and resilient construction. 

When: Wednesday, June 17 and/or Thursday, June 18 (you may select one or both days for Hill visits)

Where: Washington, DC 

Why: Congress has returned from Memorial Day Recess and has seven weeks to find the funding to pass a multi-year highway bill or pass another extension. It is critical for you to attend the June DC Days to meet with members of Congress to discuss passage of a long-term, fully funded transportation bill and also to make sure that NRMCA’s priorities are included. Face to face advocacy is the best way to help lawmakers understand our industry and the impact of their decisions on businesses in their state. You are your best advocate for your business. Taking the time to educate decision makers can help ensure that fixes to issues result in positive outcomes for the entire ready mixed concrete industry. 

In recognition of National Safety Month, NRMCA wants to help you promote safety for your delivery professionals. The NRMCA June Internet Spotlight, which will be valid through Tuesday, June 30, are two popular Safety Series topics. Use Discount Code: ISJUN15 to order your safety topics online today and receive 25% off the member price.

• Highway Safety for Ready Mixed Concrete Drivers - This CD-based PowerPoint presentation and instructor notes is designed to teach mixer drivers the importance of safety in highway work zones. These work zones are especially challenging as motorists encounter a different traffic pattern along with assorted lights and cones as well as flagmen directing traffic. The new OSHA highway work zone letter of interpretation is covered along with the three classes of available reflective attire (safety vest). Finally, a quiz and training documentation form is enclosed to help track personnel training.

• Night Pour Safety - This CD-based PowerPoint presentation and instructor notes are designed to teach employees the importance of hazard recognition when it comes to night pours. Job sites are potentially difficult to deliver to in the day, let alone night. Slips, trips and falls as well as temporary lighting are covered. Excavations are more difficult to detect at night and special emphasis is placed on the "1 to 1 Rule." Finally, a quiz and training documentation form is enclosed to help track personnel training.

Regular member price $85, discounted member price $63.75, plus shipping. Order online.

June 16, Webinar

Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete

Email: Brian Killingsworth, 830-438-2690

 

June 30, Free Webinar

The NLRB Is Changing The Workplace. Are You Prepared?

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

July 6, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Promotion & Advocacy Overview

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

July 13, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

July 20, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

July 31, Free Webinar

Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

August 14, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Elected Official Advocacy

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

September 20 - 22, San Antonio, TX

ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors' Meeting

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

October 13 - 16, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module I: Concrete 101

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

November 2 - 6, Silver Spring, MD

Annual Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

November 4, Free Webinar

STEPS A Long Term Career Tool for the RMC Industry

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

November 17 - 19, Silver Spring, MD

Effective RMC Supervisor Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 1 - 3, Orlando, FL

Environmental Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 1 - 3, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

December 8 - 11, Orlando, FL

Plant Manager Certification Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

 

February 23 - 25, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

March 15 - 17, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module IV: Professional Sales Skills

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

May 15 - 18, Washington, DC

International Concrete Sustainability & Self-Compacting Concrete Conference

Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101