NRMCA e-news
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
NEWS LINKS
There might be light at the end of a long, dark tunnel that represents the prospects of passing a highway funding bill. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) predicts that the House and Senate will agree on a long-term surface transportation bill by June 30, when current funding runs out. The member of a House-Senate highway bill conference committee said passage is tied to the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. The House has passed its highway bill, which authorizes programs through September.
Source: A May 12 entry from The Hill's transportation blog, which was included in the May 14 AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter. Read more.
Construction of a 50-turbine wind farm in Nebraska will use massive amounts of concrete for the turbines' foundations, pedestals and roads leading to the farm. Concrete foundations are 8 feet deep and 56 feet across and shaped like an octagon. Circular pedestals sit 3 feet deep into the foundation and are 14 feet around. In all, a single turbine requires 750,000 pounds of concrete to support it, along with 46,000 pounds of steel.
Source: May 12 Kearney (NE) Hub article which was contained in the May 15 AGC SmartBrief e-newsletter. Read more.
Last week, Minnesota's Mayo Clinic was the site of a large concrete pour. This week, we travel to South Carolina, where a lengthy line of mixer trucks placed tons of concrete to lay the foundation of Clemson University’s Wind Turbine Drivetrain Testing Facility. How much concrete? Well, the local NBC television news affiliate, WCBD, came up with a few novel descriptions in its May 11 report.
Read more here (the link also includes a video link to the testing facility).
A few months ago here in E-NEWS, we reported on a Rapid City, SD, pervious concrete project. A couple of months later, construction workers placed a 1,100-square-foot section of sidewalk at a local park. City officials acknowledge that that mixture is more costly than conventional ready mixed concrete, but cited reducing stormwater runoff as worth the extra dollars.
Source: May 9 article in the Rapid City Journal. Read more.
PROMOTIONS
A week of promotion in Western Colorado in April, coordinated by Ed Bush of the Colorado Ready Mixed Concrete Association, brought NRMCA to a large group of people in a short amount of time, reports Jon Hansen, senior national resource director. Three seminars involved NRMCA producer members and their contractor customers who learned about parking lot and street paving opportunities and support for local efforts utilizing NRMCA Design Assistance Programs (DAP) for parking lots and streets and local roads (SLR). Also covered was updated information on National Account clients and how NRMCA works to deliver concrete parking lot opportunities to local members.
A fourth seminar on SLR renovation methods using concrete overlays was presented at the annual meeting of the Colorado Chapter of American Public Works Association (APWA) in Grand Junction, CO. In all, NRMCA programs that support local markets were presented to an audience of over 120 people during the week, Hansen said.
For more information contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org.
On Tuesday, June 5, NRMCA Senior Director of National Resources Phil Kresge will host "The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots" Webinar. This program provides an introduction to concrete parking lots and is targeted toward owners, designers, specifiers and other decision-makers. Attendees will learn the benefits of using concrete for parking lots, including design, low maintenance and safety. Additionally, the economical and environmental advantages of concrete parking lots and their role in sustainable development will be discussed. Special focus will be given to the reflective benefits of concrete pavement with regard to heat island mitigation and lighting requirements. Attendees will also learn about other concrete alternatives such as concrete overlays and pervious concrete.
When designing, constructing or proposing a concrete parking lot, there is just one standard that should be followed: ACI 330R-08 – Guide for the Design and Construction of Concrete Parking Lots. On Thursday, June 7, NRMCA Senior Director of National Resources Amy Miller, P.E., will host "ACI 330R-08: The Gold Standard of Concrete Parking Lot Design." This Webinar discusses the basis of the design guide, gives an overview of the sections of the guide and, most importantly, compares and reviews other commonly used design procedures to that of ACI 330 R-08. Upon participating, an attendee should feel confident that the best option for designing, constructing and testing of a concrete parking lot is encompassed within ACI 330R-08. Single copies of both ACI 330 R-08 (Guide for Design and Construction of Concrete Parking Lots) and ACI 330.1-03 (Specification for Un-Reinforced Concrete Parking Lots) will be provided free with each paid Webinar.
NRMCA State Affiliates and members are encouraged to use these Webinars as an opportunity to interact with designers and specifiers within their regions. "Several of our affiliates have had great success hosting these Webinars in conjunction with a lunch and learn at an engineer’s office," Kresge said. "By doing so, they get the benefit of a presentation by NRMCA Concrete Resource Team members, each with a very strong knowledge of concrete and an average of more than 20 years of construction industry experience."
Architects and engineers earn one Professional Development Hour (PDH) upon completion of each of these programs. The seminars are also registered with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems and AIA attendees will receive one Learning Unit (LU) upon completion.
Click here to register or for more information on these or other Webinars in the NRMCA Specifier Webinar Series. You may also contact Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org or Amy Miller at amiller@nrmca.org.
NRMCA's national resource directors have one upcoming Webinar scheduled, 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
Last week, the RMC Research & Education Foundation held its 2nd Annual Walk for Sustainability in Seattle, raising over $9,500 to benefit the Foundation. Over 30 walkers braved the chilly, early-morning Seattle air to join in the 5K that ran along the Puget Sound and passed by several Seattle sites and sustainable development landmarks, such as LEED-certified buildings.
The Foundation would particularly like to thank Mike Philipps, who raised over $4,000 and garnered 42 supporters in his grassroots efforts to benefit the Foundation. We would also like to thank Terry Harris and Jessica Walgenbach for their grassroots efforts on behalf of the Foundation. And a special thanks to our sponsors, walkers and grassroots supporters who helped to make the event a resounding success!
For more information about the work of the RMC Research & Education Foundation, please visit www.rmc-foundation.org.
OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
NRMCA has teamed up with ENERGY STAR® to help concrete producers save energy and money. Join us on Thursday, May 24, from 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern time for a briefing on how concrete producers can save money and energy. Time will be available to ask questions on these topics. It takes committed and supportive people to help manage energy and save money. Unfortunately, people can also make or break the success of a company’s efforts. Who are the key people to engage in an energy program? How can you get everyone moving in the same direction and motivate them to do their part?
Part One of this Webinar will answer these questions and provide tips on how to build an energy network to help you get the job done. In Part Two, Titan America will share its study of how to improve trucking fuel use, its findings and the improvements it made. Plan now to attend. There is no charge, but you must pre-register to participate.
Click here to pre-register for this Webinar. When the host approves your attendance, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions for joining the meeting. For more information, contact NRMCA's Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org.
SUSTAINABILITY
Nearly 200 attendees participated in NRMCA' s 7th annual International Concrete Sustainability Conference held last week in Seattle. Over 60 world-renowned experts presented the latest developments related to design, specifying, manufacturing, testing, construction, maintenance and research of concrete as it relates to sustainability. Examples of key topics presented at the conference include:
• Dave Robison, president and CEO of Delta Industries and chairman of NRMCA, opened the conference with an overview of industry progress toward meeting its sustainability goals.
• Denis Hayes, president and CEO of Bullitt Foundation, national coordinator of the first Earth Day and honorary chairman of the Earth Day Network, presented a comprehensive and visionary view of sustainability coupled with building industry leadership demonstrated by the zero-carbon Cascadia Center in Seattle.
• Dr. Franz-Josef Ulm, PhD, George Macomber Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and director of the MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub, discussed model-based life-cycle assessment for sustainable engineering design.
• Dr. Michael Lepech, PhD, assistant professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, explored "bendable concrete", a new class of high performance fiber reinforced concrete that exhibits mechanical properties similar to ductile metals.
Other topics included life cycle assessment, disaster resilience, low impact development and green concrete. One of the hottest topics at the conference was environmental product declarations, a new concept for building product suppliers to communicate their environmental footprint to decision makers. Examples include:
• Kathrina Simonen, assistant professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Washington, presented Concrete Product Category Rules: Technical Details and Industry Implementation.
• Nicholas Santaro, senior consultant at PE International, presented Creating Value from Sustainability: The Role of Environmental Product Declarations.
• Mie Vold, research engineer at Ostfold Research, presented Tool for Generation of Environmental Product Declarations in the Norwegian Concrete Industry.
A complete list of speakers and additional details about the conference is available online at www.concretesustainabilityconference.org.
Along with industry allies, Tien Peng, NRMCA senior director of sustainability, codes and standards at NRMCA, testified last week at the International Building Code (IBC) hearings in Dallas in support of proposals to enhance the disaster resilience of buildings. There were mixed results from the industry recommendations that aligned with the goals of the International Code Council to enhance life safety of our built environment.
A proposal to included storm shelters for hurricane and tornado prone regions was approved. However, the majority of recommended changes to increase fire, wind, snow load and flood criteria for most buildings were ultimately disapproved. Although the proposed comprehensive inclusion of enhanced design requirements in the Appendix and in the main body of the Code was rejected due to "initial cost considerations", the Code Committee did support the intent of the proposals. The concrete industry code activities are a part of a sustained effort to integrate resilient construction requirements into the model building code that can then be adopted by state and local jurisdictions.
Although the concrete industry was not successful in having the IBC adopt disaster resilience standards, it continues to pursue changes at the local level. Local jurisdictions often adopt modifications to building codes to address potential hazards in their region. NRMCA, along with other industry partners, are delivering a series of workshops to engage local stakeholders in adopting disaster resilience criteria. For more information on the International Code Council development cycle, go to www.iccsafe.org or contact 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 May 7-11, 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.
2. Redefine your market niche – find your new sweet spot for success.
3. Learn the real needs and expectations of your "new customer".
4. Create new value propositions to power your sales.
5. Build an organization that can deliver Value (not just concrete).
6. Rethink what makes a great employee and where you can find them.
7. Create a culture of "success".
Click here for more information, including registration options, or contact Jessica Walgenbach at 888-846-7622, ext. 1152.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
The NRMCA May Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, June 5, is the Environmental Management for the RMC Industry manual. This document outlines best industry practices for water management, air quality management, admixture, chemical and fuel storage issues, noise management, hazardous waste management, best management practice for fleet maintenance shops, plant aesthetics, plant closures, environmental security and sustainability issues. The publication also describes the organizational makeup of regulatory bodies (Environmental Protection Agency and state and local environmental departments) that govern the ready mixed concrete industry and describes agency inspection and tips for preparation of EPA audits.
Order online today and receive 20% off. Regular member price is $75, Internet Special is $60, plus shipping. Please use Discount Code ISMAY12 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.
May 17, Louisville, KY Implementing Disaster Resilient Construction In Your Community
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
May 17, Webinar
Streets and Local Roads
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
May 22, Webinar
Re-Entrepreneuring
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
May 23, Nashua, NH
Handling Concrete Specifications, Low Strength Problems and Mixture Submittals
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
May 29, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Software
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
May 29, Webinar (Part 2 on June 5)
Designing & Specifying Pervious Concrete
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
May 30, Portsmouth, NH
Implementing Disaster Resilient Construction In Your Community
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
June 5, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
June 6, Webinar
Effectively Communicating Sustainability
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
June 6-8, Denver
Concrete Durability Course
Email: Karen Bean, 888-84-NRMCA, x1168
June 7, Webinar
ACI 330 R-08 – The Gold Standard of Concrete Parking Lot Design
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
June 25-28, Online Course
Concrete's Role in Sustainable Development
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
June 28, Webinar
Streets and Local Roads
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
July 3, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Software
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
July 3, Webinar (Part 2 on July 10)
Designing & Specifying Pervious Concrete
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
July 10, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
July 16-19, Online Course
Building Green with Concrete
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
July 26, Webinar
ACI 330 R-08 – The Gold Standard of Concrete Parking Lot Design
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
July 26, Acme, MI
Slabs: We've Got You Covered
Contact: Concrete Foundations Association's Ed Sauter, esauter@cfawalls.org
August 6-9, Online Course
Pervious Concrete—A Stormwater Solution
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
August 9, Webinar
Streets and Local Roads
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 14, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Software
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 14, Webinar (Part 2 on August 21)
Designing & Specifying Pervious Concrete
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 14-17, Silver Spring, MD
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
August 21, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 27-30, Online Course
Design of Concrete Pavements
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
September 4, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Software
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
September 4, Webinar (Part 2 on September 11)
Designing & Specifying Pervious Concrete
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
September 11, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
September 16-19, Metro Washington, DC
2012 NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors Meeting
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
September 20, Webinar
Streets and Local Roads
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
October 2-5, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module I: Concrete 101
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
November 1, Webinar
Streets and Local Roads
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
November 5-9, Silver Spring, MD
Technical Short Course
Email: Karen Bean, 888-84-NRMCA, x1168
November 13-15, Silver Spring, MD
Effective RMC Supervisor Certification
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 4-6, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 4-6, Orlando, FL
Environmental Professional Certification Course for the Ready Mixed Concrete Industry
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 11-14, Denver
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
2013
February 19-21, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
March 19-21, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module IV: Sales Fundamentals
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
May 12-15, Chicago
Fifth North American Conference on Design and Use of Self-Consolidating Concrete
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