NRMCA e-news
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
NEWS LINKS
The Wisconsin community of Neenah is having an asphalt vs. concrete decision, specifically why did Neenah rebuild a portion of South Commercial Street with asphalt and not concrete. The asphalt pavement installed in 2013 was somewhat of a temporary improvement, designed to last 10 to 12 years until Neenah can redo its storm sewer system. At that point, the city plans to reconstruct South Commercial with concrete pavement, which costs more but is designed to last 30 to 40 years. Gerry Kaiser, Neenah's director of public works, said engineers examining South Commercial realized they had to account for immediate needs and long-term needs.
Source: A July 6 posting on the PostCrescent.com Web site. Read more.
The Massachusetts city of Springfield also faces a concrete vs. asphalt issue, but unlike in Wisconsin this one centers on sidewalks. City officials say the issue centers on money and safety. Springfield is replacing a lot of their broken sidewalks with asphalt instead of concrete, prompting complaints from some neighbors about the appearance of the asphalt. "We’re hoping at some point there will be some money available for us to go back remove the asphalt, remove the broken sidewalk and replace it with concrete," said Mario Mazza, Springfield’s Deputy Director at the Department of Public Works.
Source: A July 7 broadcast from WWLP.com. Click here for the story and the accompanied video clip.
The ever-changing thermal geology of Yellowstone National Park has created a hot spot that melted an asphalt road and closed access to popular geysers and other attractions at the height of tourist season. As they examined possible fixes, park officials warned visitors not to hike into the affected area, where the danger of stepping through solid-looking soil into boiling-hot water was high. "There are plenty of other great places to see thermal features in the park," Yellowstone spokesman Al Nash said. "I wouldn't risk personal injury to see these during this temporary closure."
Source: An Associated Press article that was posted July 11 by Yahoo! News.
PROMOTIONS
NRMCA contractor member Swederski Concrete Construction, Inc. utilized the NRMCA Jointing Plan Assistance Program (JPAP) for a Walmart parking lot in Mt. Pleasant, WI, reports NRMCA Vice President, National Resources, Jon Hansen.
"The Swederski Company is a frequent user of both the Design Assistance Program (DAP) and JPAP," Hansen said. "It also utilizes the NRMCA Concrete Pavement Analysis software as part of its estimating and cost comparison review when bidding and negotiating projects. Another marketing tool used by Swederski is a video drive around the project. One of their latest completed projects is the Mt. Pleasant Walmart. Now the entire world can see the finished project." Click here to view the video. For more information, contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org. ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
The Summer 2014 edition of NRMCA's quarterly magazine, Concrete InFocus, is now available online. This latest issue includes a number of timely and informative articles available only online, among them Concrete's Contribution to LEED v4, by NRMCA's Lionel Lemay and Tien Peng. This is the conclusion of an article that began with the print edition and concludes online in the magazine's digital edition. Look for more highlights of online articles in upcoming editions of E-NEWS.
Please join us the morning of Tuesday, September 23, for the 3rd Annual Walk for Wellness to support the RMC Research & Education Foundation. The Walk will again take place in conjunction with NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks Conference and Fall Board of Directors’ Meeting, this year in Indianapolis. Please join us in spreading awareness of how wellness is an important element of daily life, including at the workplace. Your participation is a tremendous opportunity to also support this initiative and the Foundation at the same time. Registration will be $25 per walker and will be complimentary for drivers participating in the 9th Annual Truck Mixer Driver Championship.
Sponsorships for the event are also available and are a great opportunity to support the event, the Foundation and advertise your company all at the same time. The sponsorship form is available here; one half of the cost of each sponsorship is tax deductible as a contribution to the Foundation.
For more information and to register for the Walk, please click here. Should you have additional questions, please contact Jennifer LeFevre at 240-485-1151 or at jlefevre@rmc-foundation.org.
This week, NRMCA continues to highlight one of the companies that has chosen to exhibit at this fall's annual ConcreteWorks conference in Indianapolis. The conference is one of the industry's best opportunities for ready mix producers to interact with companies that provide goods and services to the concrete industry. This week, Sioux Corporation is the second company in the series.
Sioux Corporation is a customer-focused, family-owned company that has been designing and manufacturing application-specific water heating and chilling systems, steam generators and pressure washers since 1939. Sioux has been the #1 supplier of water heating systems to the concrete industry for over 40 years. Sioux water heaters are designed specifically for the concrete industry, built to last decades in that rugged environment. Over 75 years of manufacturing experience and extensive engineering design capabilities allow Sioux to provide the best equipment for concrete production.
NRMCA thanks Sioux Corporation for more almost 40 years of continuous membership and its support of CONCRETEPAC. Sioux Corporation will be located in booth 209.
Click here for more information on how to exhibit at ConcreteWorks or contact Jessica Walgenbach at jwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
ENGINEERING
The next NRMCA Concrete Durability Course is scheduled for September 8-10 at the office of the Florida Concrete Products Association (FCPA) in Orlando. The course is taught by Michael Thomas, 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 318-11 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. Registration is now open and is available from NRMCA's Web site. OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
Last Thursday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published guidance stating that the agency will now accept Hours of Service (HOS) record of duty status (RODS) logs that have been generated electronically either by a computer, tablet or smartphone and that have been signed electronically. This latest guidance is a switch from 2011 when the agency stated that drivers could use such logging software programs, but still had to print the logs on paper and sign them in "the driver’s own handwriting." However, FMCSA is very clear in mentioning that such programs and electronic devices are not the same as, nor can they be used in lieu of, automatic on-board recording devices (AOBRD), also known now as ELDs (Electronic Recording Devices).
This latest guidance is not only pointed at drivers for expanding their logging options, but also to provide "Federal, State, and local motor carrier enforcement officials with uniform information...". The guidance became effective the same day it was published, July 10, 2014.
Click here for more information or to view FMCSA's new guidance or contact NRMCA's Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org or Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.
The deadline to submit an application form for the 2014 NRMCA National Mixer Driver Championship being held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday, September 21, has been extended to Friday, July 18. As with previous years, this year’s NRMCA National Mixer Driver Championship will be held during the NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors’ Meeting, this year located at the JW Marriott Indianapolis, September 21-23.
Accepted applicants will be notified shortly thereafter and official registration forms will be sent by email. Applicants must complete the registration form and return it to NRMCA, along with the entry fee, by Friday, August 1. In early August, applicants will receive final instructions, including a map of the Challenge Course and reference materials for the written exam. Download the application form and driver schedule of events here. For information on the 2014 NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors’ Meeting, click here. You may also contact NRMCA's Karen Bean.
SUSTAINABILITY
While we have looked to Europe as leaders in environmental movement, it’s good to see the Europeans also face the same challenges we do. Recently, the European Commission released a communication on resource efficiency opportunities in the building sector (read here) that promotes the need for more efficient use of resources consumed by new and renovated commercial, residential and public buildings, and to reduce their overall environmental impacts throughout the full life cycle.
The "Communication From The Commission To The European Parliament, The Council, The European Economic And Social Committee And The Committee Of The Regions On Resource Efficiency Opportunities In The Building Sector" acknowledges the need to "improve the efficient use of materials to avoid negative impacts associated with virgin material," but "the entire life-cycle of a building must be considered if the environmental impacts are to be tackled effectively." The communication also recognizes the "lack of reliable, comparable and affordable data, methods and tools on which the operators in the supply chain can analyze and benchmark the environmental performance of different solutions."
Here in the U.S. we face similar challenges as we embark on this age of transparency and reporting driven by the release of the US Green Building Council’s LEEDv4 and Architecture 2030 Challenge for Products. Green building is a growth sector expected to dominate the construction market by 50% by 2020. The concrete industry can play a significant role in this sector was we begin to create Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Responsible Sourcing Schemes (RSS) and Health Product Declarations (HPDs). NRMCA has a number of sustainability initiatives that will assist producer members to meet the requirements in the various standards.
For more information on these initiatives, contact Tien Peng at 206-913-8535 or tpeng@nrmca.org.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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 July 7 - 10, 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 Elizabeth Fox at efox@nrmca.org.
House Ways and Means Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) has marked up H.R. 5021, an $11 billion Highway Trust Fund bailout that extends authorization and funding to the Highway Trust Fund (HTF) and mass transit accounts through May 31, 2015. The House voted 367-55 in favor of passage on Tuesday.
On the Senate side, Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) is expected to unveil legislative text to the $11 billion bailout outline the committee approved last week. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW), Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and Commerce, Science and Transportation committees will also need to pass their individual pieces to be combined by Majority Leader Reid into a comprehensive funding and authorizing bill. EPW Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) would like to see the bill have a December 2014 deadline in order to force compromise on a longterm funding bill following the November elections. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told reporters he plans to hold votes on the House proposal, the Senate Finance proposal and Sen. Boxer's proposal. The votes have not been scheduled yet. NRMCA continues to work on both a short-term and long-term Highway Trust Fund fix. Click here to tell your congressman and senators it’s time to fix the Highway Trust Fund.
For more information, contact NRMCA's Elizabeth Fox at efox@nrmca.org. PRODUCTS & SERVICES
During the first six months of 2014, NRMCA has released a variety of new and updated publications. From the ever-popular Concrete In Practice (CIP) topics to the brand new release of the Online Safety Series, NRMCA strives to enhance the ready mix industry with our publications and services to help our members improve their operations. Here is an overview of our new and/or updated titles:
New and Revised CIP and TIP Topics - Working with the NRMCA Research Engineering and Standards (RES) Committee, NRMCA has released a new topic in the Concrete in Practice (CIP) series. CIP 43 – Alkali Aggregate Reactions (AAR) discusses the causes for deleterious expansions due to alkali silica and alkali carbonate reactions in concrete, test methods and methods of mitigating the problem – in the What? Why? And How? Format. Sold in pkgs. of 50 Member $21 | Non-member $30; Order here.
The following CIP topics have been revised to include more current information; Individual topics (sold in pkgs. of 50) Member $21 | Non-member $30:
• CIP 1 – Dusting Concrete Surfaces, Order here
• CIP 2 – Scaling Concrete Surfaces, Order here
• CIP 4 – Cracking Concrete Surfaces, Order here
• CIP 5 – Plastic Shrinkage Cracking, Order here
• CIP 6 – Joints in Concrete Slabs on Grade, Order here
• CIP 26 – Jobsite Addition of Water, Order here
• CIP 27 – Cold Weather Concreting, Order here
The CIP series can be ordered here.
New Topic in TIP Series - Chloride Limits in Concrete is the new topic in NRMCA's Technology in Practice series (TIP 13). TIP 13 addresses the limits on internal chlorides in concrete as addressed in the Building Code, ACI 318. It discusses reasons for the limits, sources of internal chlorides, testing for chlorides and discusses the calculation of chloride content in concrete from the mixture ingredients. To order Chloride Limits in Concrete (Pkg. of 10) click here; member $10 | Non-member $20. To order the TIP set, click here TIP Single Set Member $20 | Non-member $40.
New Promotion Flyers Target Auto Dealers - The full color, two-page flyers list the benefits of concrete pavements for auto dealers – cost effective, reduced lighting costs, superior performance and enhanced vehicle display. They also include testimonials from auto dealers who have made the switch to concrete. "We have even included a space on the flyer for ready mix producers and/or contractors to include their individual contact information, for prospecting purposes," said NRMCA's Phil Kresge. The flyers are available in pdf format for free download at NRMCA’s promotion resource Web site. Larger quantity printed orders can be purchased through NRMCA’s e-store here (for portrait flyers) and here (for landscape format) Member $25 | Non-member $25.
New Publication: Improving Concrete Quality - This book discusses concrete quality measurement as well as the tangible and intangible benefits due to improved quality. The book suggests steps to measure and reduce variability due to concrete ingredient materials, manufacturing and testing, and thereby improve concrete quality. The book gets into basic statistics and how to use test data to improve quality. Doing a test and collecting data by itself is of little value unless data analysis and necessary corrective action are taken. The book addresses a number of topics that are of great interest, including how to identify poor testing, poor initial curing; how do identify abnormal material variation; how to control mixing water variation; improving batching accuracy; how to ensure ingredient material quality; elements of a quality management system; how to do a quality audit and tests a concrete producer should do. Click here to order, Member $60 | Non-member $96.
User’s Guide to ASTM Specification C94/C94M on Ready-Mixed Concrete 2nd Edition - This second edition includes 22 comprehensive chapters that explain every section of ASTM C 94/C94M, including background, scope, referenced documents, ordering information, materials, requirements for production, acceptance of concrete and much more. Authors: D. Gene Daniel and Colin L. Lobo. 160 Pages. Member $75 | Non-member $89. Order online.
ASTM Standards for Ready-Mixed Concrete, 5th Edition - This new compilation of 38 current ASTM standards related to ready mixed concrete includes the principal specifications and test methods that are referenced in ASTM C94/C94M Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete. The compilation also includes the Manual of Aggregate and Concrete Testing. This compilation is relevant to other methods of producing concrete, such as precast and site mixed concrete. It represents the latest information in the industry and is a valuable resource and essential reference for specifiers, engineers, architects, contractors, builders, testing laboratories, concrete material suppliers, concrete producers and students. By special arrangement with ASTM International, this publication is only available to NRMCA members at a considerable discount from the ASTM list price. 301 pages; Single copy Member price: $110, order online. For 10 or more copies, $100 each - order online.
NRMCA's 2014 Drivers' Hours of Service Regulations Compliance Guide has all the answers and can help you and your company be prepared for complying with the recent HOS changes. Regular member price $80; Non-member price $350. Order online.
NRMCA Launches Online Safety Series - Each streamed lesson is about 20 minutes long and includes quizzes to provide proof of training and comprehension. They are accessible online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1 month streaming access per title per company: $100 member, $400 non-member. •Concrete Mixer Truck Backing Accident Prevention Program - Mixer drivers learn about the root causes of backing accidents and 11 prevention tips. Appropriate for front and rear discharge mixers. Click here to purchase.
•Concrete Mixer Truck Rules for Using a Backing Spotter - Mixer drivers learn seven steps to use when working with a spotter, including proper hand and arms signals as well as blind spot awareness tips. Appropriate for front and rear discharge mixers.Click here to purchase. NRMCA's July Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, August 5, is the Concrete Plant Operators Manual. This manual is a comprehensive guide for the batch plant operator that includes valuable information on materials, batch tolerance and aggregate moisture, calculations, plant maintenance, safety and more.
Order online today and receive 20% off. Regular member price is $28, Internet Special $22.40, plus shipping. Discount Code: ISJULY14.
CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.
July 23, Webinar
Building the Customer Relationship... in the Post-Recession Economy
Email: Kimberly Pittmon, 240-485-1146
July 25, Tukwila, WA
Regional ConcreteWorks Northwest Region
Email: Nicole Maher, 1-888-846-7622, ext. 1158
July 29-30, Online Course
Designing Jointed Concrete Pavement for Streets and Parking Areas
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
August 4-7, Online Course
Life Cycle Assessment of Concrete Structures
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
August 5, Free Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete for Streets & Local Roads
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
August 6, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion & Advocacy Overview
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
August 6, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Program
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 6, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part 1 (Part 2 is August 13)
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 6-8, Ontario, CA
Ready Mixed Concrete Safety Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 12-15, Silver Spring, MD
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 14, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
August 19, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
August 20, Free Webinar
New Radical Material and Resources Reporting Criteria in LEEDv4
Email: Tien Peng, 206-913-8535
August 20, Webinar
Recruiting & Hiring Top Performing Ready Mix Sales Reps
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
August 21, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
September 8-10, Orlando, FL
Concrete Durability Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
September 9, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete Part 1 (Part 2 is September 16)
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
September 10, Webinar
Re-Entrepreneuring: 7 Strategies for Rebuilding Your Business in the New Economy
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
September 12, Free Webinar
Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities
Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165
September 12, Webinar
Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!
Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850
September 30, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
September 30, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Program
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
October 7-10, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module I, "Concrete 101" - Technical/Product Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
October 14, Free Webinar
Streets & Roads Elected Official Advocacy
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
October 15, Silver Spring, MD
Improving Concrete Quality
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
November 3-7, Silver Spring, MD
Annual Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"
Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168
November 7, Webinar
Designing Concrete Parking Lots the Right Way!
Email: Amy Miller, 904-264-8850
November 18-20, Silver Spring, MD
The Effective RMC Supervisor - Silver Spring, MD
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
November 19, Webinar
Sales Performance Assessments and Review for Ready Mix Sales Managers
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 3-5, Phoenix
Environmental Professional Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 9-12, Phoenix
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 16-18, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge - Understanding the Concrete Contractor's Business
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
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