NRMCA e-news

Pavement

Fire in College Park, MD, Again Highlights Need for Legislative Action

This past Monday, April 24, a 5-alarm fire in College Park, MD, adjacent to the University of Maryland's main campus quickly became the largest firefighting effort in Prince George's County history. More than 200 firefighters and EMS personnel were involved using more than 50 vehicles. Two firefighters were injured, a senior center adjacent to the building was evacuated and classes were cancelled at the University of Maryland as a result of the poor air quality due to heavy and toxic smoke in the area. The building was 60 days away from occupancy. Sprinklers were installed but not active. Acting Chief of the Prince George’s County Fire Department, Ben Barksdale, said in a press conference, "We can see today how much of a problem it is. Once that fire gets to those void spaces, and starts attacking those structural components and all that wood, it’s very hard to catch up to it, especially if you don’t have access to get right up to it."

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=439110&issueID=51192 to view the full article online.

NRMCA Discusses Promotion Activities with Kansas State Execs

NRMCA Senior Director, Local Paving, recently traveled to Kansas where he attended a joint promotion council meeting with the Kansas chapter of the American Concrete Pavement Association and the Kansas Ready Mixed Concrete Association. He met with KRMCA's new managing director, Jerry Younger, and discussed the following:

Went over NRMCA responsibilities and services (pavement design assistance, promotion training Boot Camp program, Unified Design software);
Agreed to middle-of-day "Concrete Forum" format: to be sponsored by KAPA-KRMCA; no charge to attend; targeted to external owner, agency and engineer audience (not necessarily internal industry);
First program's key subjects will be concrete streets, parking lots and concrete building promotion (Build with Strength). Other related shorter presentation topics to be included in program will be soils & sub-base, jointing, best placing/finishing techniques, fibers, "Why Concrete," owner/contractor testimonials, etc.
Locations determined as Kansas City, KS, and Wichita. Do one location one day, then next location following day; same speakers/topics/presentations.

For more information, contact Ken Justice at kjustice@nrmca.org.

NRMCA Partners with Florida Promoters for Day of Training

NRMCA Paving Engineer Amanda Hult will partner with the Florida Concrete and Products Association (FCPA) and member companies to present a day of training on Wednesday, May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hult will discuss available NRMCA resources, including the Design Assistance Program for parking lots and local streets and roads (DAP) and Design Center for Buildings. Attendees will also be provided tools that may be used to seek opportunities for concrete pavement designs and conversions. Who should attend? Industry personnel who plan to promote concrete parking lots in Florida. Additional resources include a promoter’s toolbox and new marketing and technical presentations designed for engineers, architects and developers.

The training will take place at FCPA’s office at 6353 Lee Vista Blvd. in Orlando. Lunch will be provided.

To register, please contact FCPA's Matt Sitter at mattsitter@fcpa.org. For more information on NRMCA's participation, contact Amanda Hult at ahult@nrmca.org.

Government Affairs

NRMCA Advocacy News Roundup Updated Through April 21

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 April 17 - 21, 2017, 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 Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.

NRMCA, Industry Partners to Brief Congress on Concrete Industry, Legislative Priorities

On May 8, NRMCA will join partners from the North American Concrete Alliance (NACA) in presenting an educational briefing on Capitol Hill to House and Senate staffers. This briefing, similar to a briefing NRMCA participated in this February, will explain the process and economic impact of concrete production in the United States. NRMCA will be representing ready mixed concrete and will use the briefing as an opportunity to underscore its legislative priorities which include federal investment in transportation and infrastructure, reduction of federal regulations negatively impacting the ready mixed concrete industry and resilient construction. During the election, now President Trump frequently touted his support for a $1 trillion infrastructure investment, and both Republican and Democratic members of Congress have similarly expressed support for a big infrastructure package.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=439175&issueID=51192 to view the full article online.

Join PCA’s Cement and Concrete Fly-In May 9-10

The Portland Cement Association will host a 2017 Cement and Concrete Fly-In on May 9-10 at the Washington Marriott Metro Center. The 2017 Cement and Concrete Fly-In will be an opportunity to join business leaders and engage with members of Congress and advocate for priorities important to the cement and concrete industry, including funding for the Highway Trust Fund and federal investment in transportation and infrastructure.

Click here for Marriott hotel reservations and here to register for the PCA Fly-In. For more information, please contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.

OES

2017 Safety Contest & Benchmarking Survey Entry Forms Are Due This Friday

The Safety Contest & Benchmarking Survey has for years been a safety performance and incentive/award program aimed to foster safe practices at ready mixed concrete plants across the nation. The Safety Contest & Benchmarking Survey is a per-plant contest open to all facilities operated by NRMCA member companies in good standing in 2016. Companies with more than one division are encouraged to distribute entry blanks to individuals responsible for keeping safety records at each plant location.

Entries must be e-mailed to Karen Bean at kbean@nrmca.org by Friday, April 28. Click here for more information and to download the entry form. You may also contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org for more information.

Nominations Sought for First Annual NRMCA Safety Award

NRMCA’s Annual Safety Award acknowledges the significant contribution that safe work practices gives to the growth and success of individual companies and the ready mixed concrete industry as a whole. The NRMCA Annual Safety 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 award may be presented to an individual whose single action or long-time commitment to safety and health in the ready mixed concrete industry exemplifies superior performance in the field of safety. Examples of the award winner could be a ready mixed concrete truck driver whose actions were life saving. Other examples could include plant managers, safety managers and company officials who have outstanding long-time dedication to safety and health in the ready mixed concrete industry. Other examples would be an individual’s involvement community safety activities.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=439091&issueID=51192 to view the full article online.

Calendar

A Look Ahead

*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.

June 6 – 8, Atlanta

Concrete Durability Course