NRMCA's celebration of the 100th anniversary of ready mixed concrete in the U.S. concludes its submissions for November - see below for this week's Producer and Associate member Web site links. This week's industry milestone: Lightweight concrete was pumped to a record-breaking 1,038 feet above ground in a single lift during the 1989 construction of the 75-story First Interstate World Center in Los Angeles.

R.W. Sidley, Inc. - R.W. Sidley, Inc. was established in 1933 as a mining and manufacturing company. Since then the company has grown and evolved into a producer and supplier of bulk aggregates, industrial minerals, ready mixed concrete, masonry block products, structural and architectural precast components, and building supplies. Read more.

An NRMCA Producer member since 1991

Power Kleen Corporation - Over the past 38 years, the Jamson Labs/Power Kleen family has grown from one salesman with one product and one customer in 1973 to more than 75,000 square feet of corporate facilities, distribution points nationwide and a family of more than 50 employees and 30 salesmen. Read more.

An NRMCA Associate Member since 2011

The Federal Alliance for Safe Homes® (FLASH) launched a new video in its "Tale of Two Homes" series, titled "Hurricane Sandy: The Story of Survival". Released for the one-year anniversary of the storm, the story features the Sochacki family of Union Beach, NJ, who survived but lost their home and most of their neighborhood. Seth and Karyn Sochacki, their sons and pets survived by sheltering next door in a concrete home. The Sochacki's 800-square foot, 1940's home broke apart and the debris spread over a five block area.  They are alive today because of the elevated concrete home next door, owned by Karyn's mom and built in 2006 to current building codes and standards. After the storm, the concrete home was the only home remaining on the Sochacki's side of the street.

"For 15 years, we have been sharing the 'Tale of Two Homes' that unfolds in every disaster where one home survives and one does not. Seth and Karen's powerful story tells the tale and its life saving lesson yet again," said Leslie Chapman Henderson, president and CEO of FLASH. "We have choices when building or choosing our homes and we can have it all - affordability and strength, but most importantly safety and survival."

FLASH partners from the Portland Cement Association (PCA) brought FLASH and the Sochacki family together. According to PCA's Donn Thompson, "We appreciate the Sochacki's willingness to share their story and encourage families to build safe and strong, and we are proud to partner with FLASH to bring this story to others." In addition to the new video story, FLASH worked with PCA experts and developed information about building with concrete.

While on a recent swing through Ohio, NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Phil Kresge spoke at the Ohio Concrete Association’s (OCA) 2013 Winter Concrete Seminars. The annual events are hosted by OCA’s four regional groups. Attendees are primarily engineers, but also include architects, municipal officials, contractors and ready mix producers.

Approximately 75 attendees at the Northwest seminar in Perrysburg listened as Kresge spoke about Life Cycle Assessment and Life-Cycle Cost Analysis. The presentation included highlights of the research results from MIT’s Concrete Sustainability Hub. A similarly-sized crowd attended the Southwest program in Cincinnati where Kresge presented on concrete overlays, focusing on the new Guide to Concrete Overlays of Asphalt Parking Lots from the RMC Research & Education Foundation and the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center. This presentation was also provided to approximately 120 individuals at the Central/Southeast regional meeting in Worthington (suburban Columbus). 

Additionally, as part of the Perrysburg program Kresge led a breakout session on Alternate Pavement Design. His presentation focused on advances that have been made by NRMCA’s National Resource Director Team with regard to its National Accounts, particularly through the introduction of alternate concrete pavement design. He highlighted the important role that NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program has played and encouraged attendees to utilize the OCA’s design assistance available through their Engineering Services Center.

NRMCA Vice President, National Resources, Jon Hansen was the featured speaker at the Concrete Promotion Council of the Ozarks (CPCOZ) annual membership held recently in Springfield, MO. The members in attendance represented ready mix producers, cement suppliers and a Portland Cement Association promotion executive. The topics presented included a recap of single family housing starts, ready mix production per state per person, awareness of the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) movement, NRMCA Design Assistance Program enhancements and other programs to help members secure more local yardage in 2014.

"Being one of the four affiliate associations NRMCA has in the state of Missouri, the CPCOZ membership is a great example of taking the NRMCA initiatives and putting them to work in their local market," said Hansen. 

Speaking at Portland Cement Association's (PCA) Fall Board Meeting in Dallas last week, Dr. Michael Bienvenu presented the results of tests comparing the fuel consumption of concrete and asphalt pavements. Dr. Bienvenu, an engineering professor at Florida International University, conducted the research along 28 miles of Interstate 95 in Brevard County. The tests were conducted on equivalent sections of concrete and asphalt pavements. He found that passenger vehicles on rigid (concrete) pavements used 3.2 percent less fuel compared to flexible (asphalt) pavements. In addition, the study shows that for loaded tractor-trailers along the same corridor, rigid pavement provided 4.5 percent better fuel economy than the flexible pavement.

These findings are consistent with research at Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Concrete Sustainability Hub. The Florida research provides real-world confirmation of MIT’s modeling work.

The potential for economic and environmental benefits are enormous. The study concludes that if all roads within the Florida State Highway System were rigid concrete construction the annual savings in fuel consumption could be 500 million gallons, the annual savings to the public could be more than $2.0 billion and CO2 emissions would be reduced by over 5 million tons.

The preliminary estimate of ready mixed concrete produced in September 2013 is 29 million cubic yards, 14.3% higher than in September 2012. The production through September is estimated at 227 million cubic yards, 3.6% higher than during the same period in 2012. Based on the production through the third quarter of 2013, the production for 2013 is projected to be around 300 million cubic yards (which would be about 3.5% higher than that in 2012).

Please join the RMC Research & Education Foundation for a FREE informational Webinar on Monday, December 2, at 2 p.m. Eastern time. The Webinar will provide participants with a detailed update of the Foundation’s funded programs, including the exciting work taking place at the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSH) as well as information on newly-approved projects and upcoming releases.

In late September, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in the Federal Register a new proposed definition of "tank vehicle" to be used for determining when CMV drivers need a tank vehicle endorsement. This latest development on the tank vehicle issue stems from confusion over FMCSA’s previous poor attempts to provide clarification on the definition of a tank vehicle. NRMCA believes the new definition definitively determines that the current, average concrete mixer truck configuration will not need a tank vehicle endorsement. On Monday, NRMCA submitted comments to FMCSA stating that belief and endorsing the proposed definition. Specifically, the new definition would read:

49 C.F.R. 383.5 Definitions

Tank vehicle:

(1) Means any commercial motor vehicle transporting, or designed to transport, any liquid or gaseous materials within:

           (i) A tank that is either permanently or temporarily attached or secured to the vehicle or chassis and has a rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more; or

           (ii) Multiple tanks either permanently or temporarily attached or secured, when the aggregate rated capacity of those tanks is 1,000 gallons or more, as determined by adding the capacity of each individual tank with a capacity of more than 119 gallons.

(2) If a commercial motor vehicle transports one or more tanks that are manifested either as empty or as residue and that are actually empty or contain only residue, those tanks shall not be considered in determining whether the vehicle is a tank vehicle.

On Monday, NRMCA again requested extensions of the pre-public hearings comment period, public hearings testimony submittal, and the start of the public hearings dates for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed rulemaking "Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica". This extension request follows NRMCA’s first comments extension request submitted in early October which requested a blanket 90-day extension. OSHA responded to NRMCA’s and other industries' requests with just a 47-day extension. NRMCA’s now seeks to push the pre-public hearings comment period, public hearings testimony submittal and the start of the public hearings back to March 10, March 18 and March 31, 2014, respectively. NRMCA argued the additional time is needed to adequately assess a rule of this size and complexity, effectively read and analyze the 1,720 essential supplemental documents attached to the docket, and ensure that a final rule is based on sound science and which has the greatest degree of public participation.

On September 12, OSHA published a proposal to overhaul the current permissible exposure limits (PELs) for "respirable" crystalline silica. Specifically, the new rule would:

• Reduce the PEL from 100 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m3) as an 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA), down to just 50 μg/m3, 8-hour TWA;

• Require measuring of silica that workers can be exposed to if it is at or above 25 μg/m3, 8-hour TWA;

• Limit worker access to areas where the PEL is above 50 μg/m3, 8-hour TWA;

• Require dust controls to reduce worker exposure to limits above the new PEL;

• Direct employers to provide respirators to workers when dust controls cannot reduce worker exposure to limits above the new PEL;

• Mandate medical exams every three years for workers who are exposed to limits for 30 or more days a year above the new PEL;

• Require new worker training; and

• Require new recordkeeping requirements.

According to OSHA, the new proposed standard will save 688 lives and prevent 1,585 new cases of silicosis. As well, OHSA’s data suggests the ready mixed concrete industry has 43,920 workers currently exposed to respirable crystalline silica, 32,110 of which are exposed to levels above the new proposed PEL. Although still analyzing the rule, NRMCA is working to strategically dispute OSHA’s data and ready mixed concrete industry exposures.

The proposed rule, fact sheets, frequently asked questions and more can be found here. For more information, contact NRMCA's Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org or Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

The new Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) from OSHA requires chemical manufacturers, distributors or importers (including ready mixed concrete producers) to make adjustments to their Hazard Communication Plan... is your company ready? Did you know that the new rule that went into effect in 2012 requires ready mixed concrete producers to change their Material Safety Data Sheets or MSDSs to a new 16-part format Safety Data Sheet (SDS)? There is a new criteria for labels on hazardous chemicals, including pictograms... do you know what they are? The labels must now include Chemical Hazard Classifications, Precautionary Statements and Signal Words... are your employees familiar with these? The new standard requires that your employees be trained about the various aspects of your new Hazardous Communication Plan by December 1... have they been trained? Do you know where to find ready mixed concrete industry specific training?

Another vital addition to NRMCA’s Safety Series, the Hazard Communication Standards Guide for the Ready Mixed Concrete Industry has the training and answers for all of these questions. This CD-based PowerPoint training guide provides the ready mixed concrete producer with the tools to train employees on OSHA’s new Hazard Communication Standard changes. The training guide includes a CD with training PowerPoint, trainer notes, attendee slides, sample SDS for ready mixed concrete, and OSHA QuickCards highlighting the new Hazard Communication Standard changes. Finally, a quiz and training documentation form are enclosed to help keep track of personnel training. 

To obtain your guide please click here or call the NRMCA publications department at 240-485-1165. For more information, contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org.

The new version of LEED – that’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – was officially launched at the annual Greenbuild International Conference and Expo held last week in Philadelphia. As previously reported, there are significant changes to the LEED system with much of it centered around the Materials and Resources credits directly affecting the concrete industry. Manufacturers that disclose environmental impacts, sourcing of their supply chain and hazardous chemicals of their products can help earn points under their Materials and Resources credits.

NRMCA will offer a Webinar to our members with an updated "Concrete’s Role in Sustainable Development" online course on December 9-12 that will feature LEED v4. Subjects covered will include Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Responsible Sourcing, LCA and Health Product Declarations (HPDs).

Click here to register. For more information on the LEED v4 launch and the upcoming course, contact NRMCA's Tien Peng at TPeng@nrmca.org or 206-913-8535.

NRMCA Producer member Central Concrete Supply Co., Inc., a leader in delivering low-carbon concrete to the San Francisco Bay Area, has joined the Building Health initiative as a Founding Partner. The Initiative is a coalition of commercial building owners and tenants; architects, engineers and builders; building product manufacturers; legal professionals; labor and healthcare professionals and institutions established to promote human health through green building. Other founding members of the Building Health Initiative are Adobe, CalPERS, Genentech, Google, Kaiser Permanente, salesforce.com, and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). They have committed to elevating green building as a public health benefit and pledged to educate clients and peers about health impacts of the built environment and developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs).

Central Concrete, a business unit of U.S. Concrete, Inc., has continued to lead the green building field and has benefited by being a trailblazer. It is a founding member of the Carbon Leadership Forum that developed the Concrete Product Category Rule (PCR) and was the first ready mixed concrete supplier in the U.S. to offer Concrete EPDs and the first to receive external verification of the EPDs in accordance with ISO 14025 and ISO 21930.

HPDs, EPDs and responsible sourcing practices are new protocols in the newly launched LEED v4 (see above E-NEWS item). NRMCA will offer a Webinar to members with an updated "Concrete’s Role in Sustainable Development" online course on December 9-12 that will feature LEED v4. Subjects covered will include Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Responsible Sourcing, LCA and Health Product Declarations (HPDs).

Click here to register. For more information on the LEED v4 launch and the upcoming course, contact NRMCA's Tien Peng at TPeng@nrmca.org or 206-913-8535.

For the past 17 months, the General Services Administration (GSA) has been studying third-party green building certifications for federal construction and renovation projects. The GSA is the largest real estate owner in the U.S. and is required every five years under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to examine its green building policies. This past month, the GSA recommended the federal government continue to use LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), but also expand its options to include Green Globes as a second green building certification system.

While this is a big win for the U.S. Green Building Council, the developer of the LEED standard, this is an even bigger win for Green Building Initiative (GBI) which has been developing the alternative to LEED. Green Globes is a Web-based program for green building guidance and certification that includes an onsite assessment by a third party. Backed by industry, Green Globes offers a streamlined and affordable green building program. Green Globes has various programs (modules) - New Construction (NC), Continual Improvement of Existing Buildings (CIEB) and CIEB for Healthcare.

For additional information on the Green Globes or the GSA decision click here or contact Tien Peng at TPeng@nrmca.org or 206-913-8535.