NRMCA e-news

NRMCA’s Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O’Neill recently met with several New England ready mix producers that are seeking concrete parking lot opportunities with every project they encounter. "Most every project has a parking lot, which in New England goes asphalt," O’Neill said. He reports that these producers are requiring their sales staff on EVERY project to ask the question, "what about the parking lot? Can we give you a price on a concrete alternate?" They may get answers like:

1. It’s too late for this one to go anything but asphalt.

2. We can’t afford to add any additional costs to this project.

3. We don’t know how to do concrete in this region.

4. There is no concrete alternate for this project.

All of these responses have opportunity written all over them, O'Neill noted. The point of the exercise of asking for the opportunity to provide a price is to get the general contractors, owners and developers used to the idea of having a choice. Each opportunity provides us a way to not only communicate equivalent design, but also to get concrete numbers out there. We have many ready mix producers that have never given a legitimate price for a concrete alternate. How could a general contractor or developer know whether concrete is affordable unless it learns what the real costs are. The only way that can change is by getting out there and asking the questions and then providing answers, O'Neill added.

These producers are teaming with their trusted contractors in order to provide actual costs. By utilizing NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program, these producers are helping to educate the local design community, which for years has either been over designing concrete alternates or not providing its clients with any choice at all.

For more information on how NRMCA and your state association can assist with this effort, contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.

On Thursday, February 26, the Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association / Pennsylvania Concrete Promotion Council (PACA/PCPC) will host RCC4PA...The Time is NOW, a workshop that will focus on Roller-Compacted Concrete pavement. The event will be held at the Radisson Hotel in Camp Hill.

"Our industry has been working cooperatively with PennDOT in developing a specification for RCC which will be incorporated into Publication 408," said Ken Crank, director of concrete promotion for PACA/PCPC. "This event is intended to familiarize paving contractors, ready mixed concrete producers, design engineers and potential municipal, industrial and commercial users with the technology, its construction and its benefits."

Additionally, PACA/PCPC has created a new, RCC microsite, www.rcc4pa.org, to help municipalities and design engineers gather information on using roller-compacted concrete in roadway and other paving projects. The site offers articles, case studies, application videos, and much more.

Click here to view the workshop agenda or to register. For more information, contact Ken Crank at ken@pacaweb.org or Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org.

With the recent publication of the newest edition of ACI 318, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete (ACI 318-14), the American Concrete Institute has scheduled seminars in several cities from February through May. This edition of the Code represents a major change to the organization of the standard in over 40 years, especially from a designer’s perspective. This seminar will acquaint designers with the new organization and various technical changes to the Code and provide information that tracks provisions to the previous version so as to ensure that the design of a new project fully complies with the new Code. A member of the ACI 318 committee and an ACI staff engineer deliver the seminars and will cover the new organization of the Code, concentrating on provisions for cast-in-place, nonprestressed concrete member design. The philosophy behind the new organizational structure will be demonstrated through a thorough review of the Code’s outline and provisions in the major chapters to give attendees new insight into the background behind the new organizational structure and how the new organization makes it easier to find needed requirements.

All major technical changes and new provisions will be highlighted to keep Code users up-to-date with the latest requirements. In addition, all construction-related requirements have been collected and then reorganized into a single chapter. The responsibility of the licensed design professional to include this information in contract documents, as it relates to a particular project, will be explained. Attendance to the seminar will include a copy of ACI 318-14 and handout of the presentations.

The American Concrete Institute has released two new documents that should be of interest to ready mixed concrete producers. NRMCA has maintained representation on these committees and was active in the development of these documents.

132R-14 Guide for Responsibility in Concrete Construction - This guide identifies and suggests allocation of responsibilities to various parties involved in concrete construction. The guide can be useful in assessing existing contractual documents to determine if they are adequate and balanced with respect to responsibilities associated with concrete construction. In some cases, the responsibilities outlined carry the force of law. In others, there are options that could be incorporated into a particular contract. It is important that the party controlling that process (usually the owner or the owner’s representative) makes certain that the responsibilities of the parties are clear, coordinated, and consistent. Clarity and consistency in the responsibilities defined in the contracts will reduce friction in the execution of a construction project, as well as reduce the incidence of legal disputes.

329R-14 Report on Performance-Based Requirements for Concrete - This report discusses the differences between performance and prescriptive requirements for concrete, and provides information on developing performance requirements as an alternative to the current prescriptive requirements in codes and specifications. Performance-based requirements allow the contractor and concrete producer to be more innovative in concrete applications, providing an element for sustainability of concrete construction. The essential elements of a performance-based requirement are reviewed, which include the desired performance characteristics, sampling and testing procedures to verify these characteristics, and acceptance criteria. Because acceptance criteria are crucial elements of effective performance specifications, factors to consider in developing criteria that distribute risks to the owner and members of the construction team are also discussed. Considerations for implementing performance-based requirements on a project are presented and development of performance-based requirements for durability emphasized. Alternative performance-based requirements are proposed for the prescriptive durability requirements in ACI 318.

The latest issue of the Concrete Bridge Views newsletter (Issue 78, Sept/Oct 2014) is now available online. Articles include:

• Dimensional Stability of Cementitious Grouts in Prefabricated Bridge Connections – Ensuring Good Performance, Igor De la Varga, FHWA, Zachary B. Haber, FHWA, Benjamin A. Graybeal, FHWA. The majority of accelerated bridge construction projects rely on using prefabricated bridge elements and systems to meet tight construction windows. These systems commonly depend on field-cast cementitious grouted connections between elements for structural continuity.
• Low-Cracking High-Performance Concrete Bridge Decks,  David Darwin, University of Kansas. Research dating back more than 25 years has established the key factors that control bridge deck cracking – age, bridge deck type, concrete material properties, site conditions, curing and even date of construction.
• Reducing Steel in Bridge Decks, John M. Holt, P.E., Texas Department of Transportation, Amy Smith, P.E. Texas Department of Transportation. The most structurally taxed element in a bridge is its deck. It receives constant pounding from heavy truck wheels and is the element most exposed to the environment.

Registration for next month’s NRMCA Safety Course is now open. The upcoming course will take place March 16-18 in West Palm Beach, FL. This 2.5 day course teaches participants about OSHA safety compliance beginning with why safety is so important and detailing the reasons why an effective safety program actually saves money through loss prevention and control. Participants learn about electrical safety, machine guarding, fall protection, hazard communication, confined spaces, personal protective equipment, fire fighting and evacuation, maintenance shop safety, chute handling, fleet safety, pre-trip inspection and more.

The course will take place at the Embassy Suites West Palm Beach. NRMCA has contracted for a small block of sleeping rooms at the hotel. Attendees should make their own hotel reservations by contacting the hotel directly. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and rooms may sell out before the block’s cut-off date.

Remember, staring February 1, all facilities with more than 10 employees need to display their OSHA 300A log where all employees have access to it. The summary log needs to stay posted until April 30, 2015.

Click here for more information or contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org or Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org.

NRMCA Producer member Graniterock has certified Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for 150 products it manufactures at its concrete production facilities in the San Francisco and Monterey Bay areas. Developing and certifying (also called verifying) EPDs requires a rigorous process of conducting a life cycle assessment (LCA) of plant operations and product formulation followed by an extensive review by independent LCA professionals using a standard called a Product Category Rule (PCR). Graniterock chose the NRMCA EPD Program to certify its EPDs. It followed the Product Category Rule for Concrete developed by the Carbon Leadership Forum and relevant international standards. Athena Sustainable Materials Institute conducted the LCA and developed the EPDs for Graniterock and NSF International verified the EPDs. As is required by the international standards, the EPDs are published on NRMCA’s Web site.

Speakers have been selected for the NRMCA’s 10th annual International Concrete Sustainability Conference, to be held May 11-13 in Miami. Over 60 world-renowned experts will present the latest developments related to design, specifying, manufacturing, testing, construction, maintenance and research of concrete as they relate to sustainability. The conference is co-sponsored by the Iberoamerican Federation of Ready Mixed Concrete (FIHP) along with other industry groups and corporate supporters.

Keynote speakers and topic include:

• Nichole Hefty, chief, Office of Sustainability, Planning Division, Miami-Dade Dept. of Regulatory and Economic Resources, U.S., will discuss the challenges of climate change and steps Miami-Dade County is taking to mitigate weather disasters.

• Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), U.S., will present Resilience on the Rise: A Report on the Disaster Safety and Mitigation Movement.

• Kirsten Ritchie, director of sustainable design, Gensler, U.S., will address the growing demand for transparency and corporate social responsibility in the building sector.

Fifty-seven experts in fields ranging from material science to political science will present during the 3-day event. A complete list of speakers and additional details about the conference are available online. This year’s conference will take place at the InterContinental Miami Hotel.

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 January 19 - 23, 2015, please click here.

On January 21, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on "EPA’s 2014 Final Rule: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities." The hearing focused on EPA’s new rule which was finalized in December. Members of both parties were generally supportive of the rule. The Republicans were extremely happy that the EPA did not classify coal ash as hazardous waste — which would have mandated far more stringent standards – but remained concerned that the rule leaves the door open to a hazardous classification in the future. Several members, including Chairman John Shimkus (R-IL) said new legislation, such as Congressman McKinley’s bill from last Congress, would create a better and more certain regulatory environment for everyone. Ranking Member Paul Tonko (D-NY) said discussing changes now would be "premature" and that the rule should be given some time to go into effect before enacting legislative changes. Several witnesses representing states voiced concerns over the implementation timeline for the regulation.

When asked about the safety of coal ash in concrete used in buildings, EPA Assistant Administrator for Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Mathy Stanislaus vigorously defended EPA’s work on methodology for encapsulated coal combustion residuals and worked hard to assuage the public health concerns from Democratic members. Additionally, many members and the assistant administrator brought up the fact that beneficial reuse is exempt from the rules and that they hope to encourage more reuse.

On January 21, Rep. Jimmy Duncan (R-TN) and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) introduced the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Investment Act of 2015 which would lift the volume cap for private activity bonds (PAB) for water and sewage facilities. Reps. Duncan & Pascrell introduced this bill during the last Congress and have been cosponsors of the water PAB legislation since 2005. Lifting the cap on PAB’s for water infrastructure is estimated to leverage $50 billion in private capital investment and create 1.4 million jobs.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that $682 billion in infrastructure improvements are needed during the next 20 years in order to meet safe drinking water and sanitation standards. Many of these jobs will involve contracting with ready mixed concrete operations. NRMCA will continue to work with the Sustainable Water Infrastructure Coalition to help advance this important piece of legislation.

Who: Members of NRMCA’s Government Affairs Committee and Board of Directors are invited to participate.

 

What: The second of the committee's quarterly "DC Days" will be an opportunity to meet with your congressional members and their staff to talk about issues of importance to our industry. This quarter's DC Day will focus specifically on educating key members of the new 114th Congress about FMCSA's Hours of Service regulations and how Congress can fix them. Additionally, CONCRETEPAC will be hosting two fundraisers.

When: Thursday, February 12

 

Where: Washington, DC

 

Why: The start of a new Congress is a great time to help ensure the issues facing the ready mixed concrete industry are part of the agenda. Face to face advocacy is the best way to help lawmakers understand our industry and the impact of their decisions on businesses in their state. You are your best advocate for your business. Taking the time to educate decision makers can help ensure that fixes to issues result in positive outcomes for the entire ready mixed concrete industry.

 

The third class in NRMCA's sales certification series, Fundamentals of RMC Accounting, Finance, and Business Law: CCSP Module III, Business Knowledge, will be held February 24-26 in Silver Spring, MD. The curriculum stands alone; attendees do NOT have to attend CCSP I or II first. Class content shows how to use break-even analysis, fundamentals, cash flow, fundamentals of contract law, collections and antitrust regulation. Each is critical to a producer to assure sales staff sell every cubic yard profitably. The class only runs once a year.

CCSP III is a required class in the STEPS Sales and Promotion program.

Registration is now open for NRMCA's Sales Skills Seminar, CCSP IV, for March 31-April 2 in Silver Spring, MD. This innovative three-day course provides a sales framework and toolkit that can immediately adapt to your organization’s strategies to drive revenue. Master the most up-to-date, industry-related, sales fundamentals through ready mix-specific simulations, role plays and case study analyses that include the challenges of selling concrete's sustainability attributes as well as applying tools for pervious and parking lot sales.

Get Results Now: This course is recommended for professionals of all levels, so whether you deal with internal or external customers, these skills will make an immediate impact on your work.

• Volume and Value: Sell both for short and long term results;

• Secrets to Good Relationships: Solve problems and win loyalty;

• Who Calls the Shots?: Find and communicate with decision-makers;

• Role-playing is Serious Business: Learn how practice makes perfect; and

• Close Calls: Overcome obstacles and close the sale.

he NRMCA January Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, February 10, are four driver training lessons to help ready mix delivery professionals cope with rough winter weather:

• How About This Weather - This video lesson provides guidelines to survive both cold and warm weather situations. The DVD highlights prevention methods against hypothermia as well as dealing with someone who is experiencing hypothermia on preventing overexposure to heat. Regular member price is $70, Internet Special $50, plus shipping. Use Discount Code: ISJAN15. Order here.

• Too Cold! Can't Start? - The lesson discusses cold weather engine start-up procedures and concerns. Regular member price is $70, Internet Special $50, plus shipping. Use Discount Code: ISJAN15. Order here.

• Cold Weather Concrete - This driver training DVD gives information on adjusting mixes for use in cold weather, provides drivers tips on how to properly deliver concrete in cold weather and offers suggestions that delivery professionals can make to customers with regard to placing concrete in cold weather. Regular member price is $70, Internet Special $50, plus shipping. Use Discount Code: ISJAN15. Order here.

• Pressure's On - Pts. 1 & 2 - In a two-part set, this DVD set  explains the function and safe operation of the 10 main components in a typical water system, and the lesson builds on that functional understanding so the delivery professional can recognize when the system is not working properly. Basic winterizing is detailed in this lesson. Regular member price is $99 and non-member price is $129 (no discount). Order here

January 29, Free Webinar

Roller-Compacted Concrete for Streets & Roads

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

February 9-13, Seattle Sold Out

Regional Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

February 10-13, Centennial, CO (metropolitan Denver)

CCSP Module I: Introduction to Concrete Fundamentals (Concrete 101)

Email: Stacy Ehrlick, (303) 290-0303

 

February 17-19, Silver Spring, MD

Dispatcher Training Forum

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

February 24, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Promotion for DOTs, Counties & Municipalities

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

February 24-26, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module III: Business Skills Basics for Profit - General Business Knowledge

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

February 25, Atlanta

Improving Concrete Quality

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

March 1-3, Orlando, FL

NRMCA Annual Convention

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

March 9, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

March 9-11, Nashville, TN (Presented by Tennessee Concrete Association)

CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

March 13, Free Webinar

Winning Initial Streets & Roads Projects in Counties & Municipalities

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

March 16-18, West Palm Beach, FL

Safety Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

March 18, Free Webinar

STEPS - A Long Term Career Tool for the RMC Industry

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

March 23, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Elected-Official Advocacy

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

March 24-27, Salt Lake City

Plant Manager Certification Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152

 

March 31-April 2, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module IV: Professional Sales Skills Workshop - 24 hours

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

April 6-8, Nashville, TN (Presented by Tennessee Concrete Association)

CCSP Module IV: Professional Sales Skills

Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154

 

May 11-13, Miami

International Concrete Sustainability Conference

Email: Lionel Lemay, 847-918-7101

 

June 2-3, Nashville, TN

Concrete Durability Course

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

July 13, Free Webinar

Streets & Roads Team Building & Situation Analysis

Email: Jacques Jenkins, 240-485-1165

 

November 2-6, Silver Spring, MD

Annual Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

 

December 1-3, Orlando, FL

Environmental Course

Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152