NRMCA e-news

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

NEWS LINKS

If You Don't Pave with Concrete, It's Your Own Asphalt

This clever title appeared as a headline to a recent posting by Concrete Construction's Bill Palmer who discussed recent efforts by promoters to increase the use of concrete in parking lots.

Source: Concrete Construction. Read more.

Electric Concrete Melts Snow on Impact

Winter snowstorms brings concrete ingenuity, if you will. "This gift from the heavens is the brainchild of Chris Tuan, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln," stated a January 26 article on the subject. It’s mostly just regular concrete, but Tuan and his colleagues added steel shavings and a carbon byproduct of coal mining to the mixture in order to make it conduct electricity. Then, using about 13 watts of energy per square foot, they were able to heat the concrete to a relatively cold — but warm enough to melt snow — temperature of about 40 degrees F.

Source: A Web site called Grist. Read more.

Self-Healing Concrete Could Fortify America’s Crumbling Roads

Recent innovations in concrete technology point to stronger and higher-performing highways and bridges in the future. Some products are already on the market; others are a long way off. It may sound far-fetched, but the technology exists for self-healing concrete. The auto-mending material contains limestone-producing bacteria that activates when wet. The bacteria can lie dormant for up to 200 years, according to the European Patent Office, where the technology is registered.

Source: Christian Science Monitor. Read more.

PROMOTIONS

Northern New England to Consider Roller Compacted Concrete

The promotion team of Jonathan Kuell, executive director of the Northern New England Concrete Promotion Association and NRMCA Senior Director, Local Paving, Doug O’Neill recently toured Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine in an attempt to build awareness and interest in roller compacted concrete (RCC) as a ready mixed concrete application. Kuell set up meetings with his promotion committees in Vermont and New Hampshire along with also inviting the engineering community and paving contractors from around the region. O’Neill spoke about the basic elements of RCC production and construction and helped the attendees understand the available opportunities from the concrete industry by offering yet another solution to the deteriorating pavements in New England.

The team ended its tour at the offices of the Maine DOT where Kuell also invited a local paving contractor who had experience with RCC out of a pug mill. This contractor’s knowledge of RCC and the fact that he had worked on projects known to the ME DOT officials added to the credibility of the message and "cemented" the fact that it CAN be done in New England, O'Neill said. Both the paving contractor and DOT officials were impressed by the fact that it’s being done from ready mixed concrete plants in other areas; they are now considering RCC on one project. They have agreed to allow NRMCA run a Design Assistance Program (DAP) for the project as soon as more details arise.

For more information, contact Doug O’Neill at doneill@nrmca.org.

ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS

PCA Releases Revised Publication on Concrete Mixtures

The Portland Cement Association has released the 16th edition of the popular industry reference, Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, EB001.16. The first edition was published in 1916 and this has served as an important reference on concrete technology to producers and users of concrete. The 16th edition includes new chapters on Structures and Pavements and provides a road map to using standards, specifications and test methods of ASTM, AASHTO and ACI.

Click here to review of the contents and to purchase this publication.

OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR

Registration Is Very Strong for NRMCA 2016 Operations Classes

NRMCA's OES Department is still accepting registrations for three 2016 face-to-face classes. With a clear understanding that operations people multitask, these classes collectively focus on giving participants immediate skills to juggle compliance parameters along with efficiency and competency processes. A registration fee discount is extended to those member companies that send three or more people to one class. The upcoming schedule follows:

• Plant Manager Certification – Honolulu, February 23-25 - Only 10 seats left with air fare sales from the mainland.
• Ready Mixed Concrete Safety Course – Des Moines, IA, March 15-17 - Close to selling out, so do not delay.

• Plant Manager Certification – Birmingham, AL, April 5-8 - Already half filled.

Specific links to each of these classes, along with registration options and staff contacts are available from NRMCA's main calendar page.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

NRMCA Advocacy News Roundup Updated Through January 29, 2016

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 25 - 29, 2016, 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 Jill Landry at jlandry@nrmca.org.

Latest Edition of Concrete Capitol Connection Now Available Online

The February issue of Concrete Capitol Connection is now available online. The issue includes an update on FMCSA’s federal study on the 34-hour restart provision, the veto override vote of the WOTUS rule and on current legislation being introduced and passed in Congress. Click here to read more.

First Quarterly DC Day Scheduled for Next Week

NRMCA will host its first quarterly "DC Days" for 2016 on Tuesday, February 9. Please join your industry peers on Capitol Hill to advocate for resilient construction legislation, including the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) and the Disaster Savings and Resilient Construction Act of 2015. Details for the event include the following:

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

What: The first of the committee's quarterly "DC Days" for 2016 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 Congress about resilient construction and related legislation and also on our top priorities in the upcoming WRRDA bill.

When: Tuesday, February 9

Where: Washington, DC

Why: Last year, NRMCA and our association members logged more hours on Capitol Hill than any previous year. As a result, we were able to secure many ready mixed concrete industry victories from the new logbook exemption to favorable hours of service rules in legislation like the highway bill and tax exemptions in the year-end spending package passed by Congress. Face-to-face advocacy clearly pays off and is the best way to help lawmakers understand our industry and the impact of their decisions have 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.

For more information please contact NRMCA’s Kerri Leininger at kleininger@nrmca.org.

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

February Internet Spotlight is Book Titled Improving Concrete Quality

The NRMCA February Internet Spotlight, which will be good through Tuesday, March 1, is Improving Concrete Quality. This book suggests steps to measure and reduce variability due to concrete ingredient materials, manufacturing and testing and thereby improve concrete quality. It gets into basic statistics and how to use test data to improve quality and will be of significant value to concrete producers who will come away with readily implementable steps to reduce variability and attain a more consistent product. Producers will therefore see performance benefits and cost savings, and provide suggestions on how architects and engineers can ensure good quality concrete through their specifications.

Order online today and receive 20% off the regular member price of $75 (Internet special is $60, plus shipping).

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.

February 8 - 12, Des Moines, IA *Sold Out

Regional Concrete Technologist Training and Certification Course "Short Course"

Email: Karen Bean, 240-485-1168

February 17, Webinar

Increase Your Profits with Roller-Compacted Concrete