Spend a few minutes walking with Alan Sparkman around the Tennessee Concrete Association’s campus in Nashville and it is impossible not to be impressed. The TCA executive director has worked with his members and transformed this piece of land into a first class concrete demonstration facility – and folks are noticing. TCA regularly hosts groups of eager visitors who want to see the latest in concrete. For now, that is the beautiful Net Zero building TCA has constructed.

A third generation concrete guy, Alan (shown here at the Net Zero building) is only too happy to share what he knows, says NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Gregg Lewis who caught up with Sparkman and a group of architecture students from the University of Tennessee at the Nashville Civic Design Center. The students are designing a new headquarters building for TCA and will be conducting research to examine the possibility of making the new facility a LEED Platinum project. A LEED Accredited Professional himself, Alan believes the work he is doing with the design students at UT is a model that can be readily employed by any state association looking to inform the next generation of architects and engineers about the many benefits of building with concrete, adds Lewis.

"Here at NRMCA, we can’t wait to see what TCA comes up with next as it builds on its vast experience and commitment to building responsibly with concrete," Lewis said.

For more information, contact Gregg Lewis at glewis@nrmca.org.

NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program continues to progress as a key tool in converting asphalt projects to concrete. Recent successes have included projects for Producer members in Puerto Rico (photo of an Applebee's restaurant shown here courtesy of Pedro Rivera, Professional Ready Mix), Mississippi and the Carolinas along with aiding in opportunities in the Northeast U.S. as well as in Colorado.


"The Design Assistance recommendations are often all some owners need to make a decision," said NRMCA Senior Vice President, Promotion Department Head, Amy Miller. "We’ve seen aggressive NRMCA members utilize our service by teaming up with concrete contractors and together pursuing owners and general contractors to offer the concrete option.  Primary job successes include new construction and concrete overlays."

NRMCA and the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) met during ASCC Committee Week in May to discuss a task group aimed at jointly pursuing concrete paving projects in the parking lot, and streets and local roads (SLR) market segments. The basic outline of the group has NRMCA taking a promotion and marketing role with the ASCC members taking the construction role. The group will be co-lead by Myron Hillock of Somero Enterprises and NRMCA Senior Vice President Jon Hansen.

"This initial information meeting was well represented by an equal number of ready mix producers and concrete contractors," Hansen said. "Additionally, equipment manufacturers, cement companies and industry suppliers attending added their support. All in attendance voted in favor of this group moving forward in partnership to expand the concrete paving market share in parking lots and streets and local roads."

Registration is now open for the Design Assistance Program (DAP) Webinar to be held on Thursday, June 18, at noon Eastern time. This one-hour free Webinar hosted by NRMCA’s paving engineer Amanda Hult and Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O’Neill will detail the free services provided to the industry through NRMCA's Design Assistance Programs. The NRMCA staff will discuss in detail the information provided in the deliverables as well as how to use this information as a part of the promotional effort for parking lots and streets and local roads.

The Webinar is ideal for those involved in the promotion of concrete pavements or looking for assistance in gaining market share in concrete parking lots and streets and local roads. Designers and specifiers looking for information on how to submit for pavement design assistance are also invited to attend.

For more information, contact Amanda Hult at ahult@nrmca.org for more information. Click here to register.

The Tennessee Concrete Association (TCA) is working with professors at the University of Tennessee’s College of Architecture & Design to develop an Advanced Urban Design Studio program centered around the TCA’s headquarters and campus development. Based at the Nashville Civic Design Center (NCDC) over 10 weeks during Summer 2015, the program will provide precedent research on issues, opportunities and exemplars involving the innovative design of reinforced concrete, as well as aspiring to a very high level of sustainability and resilience. The program will also reflect best practices in urban design development within its emerging innovation or "maker" neighborhood context. A master plan consisting of non-contingent, phased development will be developed and designed at an architectural scale of consideration. In addition to significant faculty time, the enrolled students are expected to work on the project a total of almost 2,250 hours.

More details about this program are available and companies interested in sponsoring this program should contact TCA’s Alan Sparkman at asparkman@tnconcrete.org.

The NRMCA Concrete Durability Course was attended by 17 industry personnel on June 2-4 in Nashville, TN. Congratulations to the attendees: 11 individuals passed the exam and nine earned the NRMCA Concrete Technologist Level 4 Certification.

The next NRMCA Concrete Durability Course is scheduled for September 28-30 at the Holliday Rock office in Ontario, CA. The course is taught by Michael Thomas of the University of New Brunswick, Kevin Folliard, University of Texas at Austin and NRMCA Engineering Staff. The course provides a fundamental understanding of the nature of cement and concrete as they relate to durability of concrete. Topics will cover cracking, alkali aggregate reactions, sulfate attack, corrosion of reinforcing steel, freeze-thaw durability and other aspects. A group exercise will be facilitated to walk attendees through ConcreteWorks software that can be used to develop concrete mixtures for durability and to evaluate the potential for temperature-related cracking.

The course also discusses the durability provisions in the Building Code - ACI 318-14 and how specifications can be structured to address durability. Comprehensive reference material is provided as course notes that is an excellent resource to concrete producers and associated technical personnel. The course concludes with a comprehensive exam on the subject matter covered. Those with NRMCA Level 3 Certification obtain the NRMCA Concrete Technologist Level 4 Certification when passing this exam. However, it is not essential to have attended the NRMCA Technical Short Course to attend the Durability Course. The course provides required learning units toward the technical track of the NRMCA STEPS certification program. Please register early if you wish to attend.

Click here for registration options, more information and staff contact.

NRMCA is accepting entries for the 2015 Quality Awards through Tuesday, June 30.  It does not take a long time for a company to fill out the form, particularly if it has done so previously. For companies that have never done so, filling out the application is an excellent way of self auditing quality metrics. Companies that do not receive an award are given areas for improvement based on their scores. It is also an excellent way of self auditing your company’s quality. So don’t wait till the last minute: please send the form to Karen Bean as soon as you can (make sure you download and fill the 2015 award form and not an older version).

Last week, 28 industry personnel successfully completed the NRMCA Plant Manager Course in San Antonio, TX (attendees seen here at The Alamo).


The 4-day course is industry-specific and concentrates on issues that challenge plant managers all across the county. The intense learning course includes the latest on product knowledge and technical standards, safety culture and OSHA-based regulations, operational and maintenance skills, current environmental issues and regulations from EPA as well as labor law issues and the challenges of supervision and training of industry personnel. The NRMCA Plant Manager Certification is required on all Army Corps of Engineer jobs and is considered the industry gold standard of training for all ready mixed concrete plant managers.

The next NRMCA Plant Managers Course is scheduled for Orlando, FL, December 8 - 11. Click here for more information or contact Eileen Dickson at edickson@nrmca.org.

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 June 1 - 5, 2015, please click here.

This week, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) released its technical study on federal truck size and weight after two years of analysis on the issue. The congressionally-mandated study was included in the transportation bill, MAP-21, which became law in 2012. The study is inconclusive on whether the federal government should change federal truck size and weight limits due to a lack of sufficient data, according to the DOT. The DOT goes on to recommend that Congress make no changes to the current truck size and weight limits. A final report is due to be released to Congress this November after DOT consults with an independent review board and seeks public comment on the issue.

Ready mix industry stakeholders and advocates of changing the federal truck size and weight limits are outraged with the timing of the release of the DOT study because of the upcoming House vote on the Transportation Housing and Urban Development (THUD) bill on June 9. The THUD bill includes a policy provision exempting some states from the current truck size and weight limits.

 

Increased truck weights is a continuing issue of concern to the ready mixed concrete truck industry, as the current federal limitations frequently prevent mixer drivers from hauling a full payload; subsequently forcing them onto state and local roads. After many objections from NRMCA, DOT refused to consider mixer truck type configurations in its study (3- and 4-axle single-unit trucks). Unfortunately, the June 5 study only reviews 5-axle or more, tractor-trailer truck configurations. NRMCA made the arguments to DOT that such a limited focus on truck size and weights would not produce an accurate picture of how current limitations impact our nations roadways.

For more information, contact Jill Landry at jlandry@nrmca.org or Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) will mark up on Wednesday, June 10, S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act. The Senate bill, introduced by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), is a similar version of the recently passed House bill, H.R. 1732. The bill halts the implementation of the rule and provides guidelines to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers to draft a new rule with the states, local stakeholders and small businesses. The bill has 37 Republican cosponsors and three Democratic cosponsors and is expected to pass out of committee. 

The Waters of the US Rule, now referred to as the Clean Water Rule, was proposed in April 2014 and the final rule was recently released last month. Numerous lawsuits are expected to be filed on the Clean Water rule from cities, states and industry stakeholders on the EPA’s definition of navigable waters. NRMCA is concerned about how expansion of federal jurisdiction over marginal waters would place an undue burden on ready mixed concrete and aggregate operations, and new construction starts. NRMCA is continuing to evaluate what other unintended consequences the rule might place on the 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