NRMCA e-news
National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
NRMCA's celebration of the 100th anniversary of ready mixed concrete in the U.S. continues its September offerings with a West Coast Producer member and an East Coast Associate member - see below for their respective Web site links. This week's industry milestone: In 1919, Oregon became the first state to level a fuel tax on gasoline to finance road construction; today, still the primary method of financing road building and maintenance.
To have your company featured in this space in the coming weeks, please contact
NRMCA's Kathleen Carr Smith at kcarrsmith@nrmca.org or 301-587-1400, ext. 1145.
A. Teichert & Son, Inc. - Adolph Teichert immigrated to New York from Germany in 1866 and he was recruited by the California Artificial Stone Paving Company in the 1870's. Some of his earliest work can still be seen in Golden Gate Park and near the Mark Hopkins Hotel in San Francisco. He came to Sacramento to work on laying the sidewalks around the original State Capitol building. He then started his own business in 1887 by building walkways, cellar floors, sidewalks, fencing and other projects. Read more.
An NRMCA producer member since 1990 Nycon Corporation - Nycon pioneered the use of fibers for secondary reinforcement in many products including concrete, asphalt, plastic and soils. Nycon has a broad portfolio of reinforcing fibers, which include "Green", nylon, polypropylene, AR glass, steel, macro, high-dosage synthetic fibers, PVA and steel/synthetic blends. With headquarters in Fairless Hills, PA, Nycon markets its products worldwide. Its sales and distribution network includes 35 domestic and 20 international sales representatives. Nycon’s U.S. distribution centers are located in California, Florida and Pennsylvania. Read more.
An NRMCA Associate member since 2010 
NEWS LINKS
NRMCA Producer member Central Concrete Supply Co., Inc., a business unit of U.S. Concrete, Inc., has summarized its work on the Bay Bridge (San Francisco to Oakland) construction project. Central Concrete started work on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge in 2001. Twelve years later, it has supplied over a quarter of a million cubic yards of concrete - equivalent to covering a football field with concrete, 153 feet thick. At peak times, Central Concrete utilized four plants, 60 trucks at a time (using 136 trucks for the East Span Deck pour alone) and multiple 12- to 16-hour pours, including several overnight placements.
Source: A U.S. Concrete press release that was distributed by Globe Newswire and, in this case, included as a September 4 posting by The Wall Street Journal. Read more.
Porous concrete on the parking lot of the Sunset Swim Center in Beaverton, Ore., will absorb stormwater runoff and reduce water pollution, according to this article by KGW.com of Portland, OR. The concrete material can capture runoff containing contaminants and prevent it from getting into the Tualatin River and other nearby water sources. The technology could make other parking lots in the Northwest more environmentally friendly than traditional asphalt material, this article contends.
Source: A recent edition of the Concrete SmartBrief e-newsletter.
Adding limestone powder to "green" concrete mixtures - those containing substantial amounts of fly ash, a byproduct of coal-burning power plants - can significantly improve performance, report researchers from the National Institutes of Standards (NIST) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The promising laboratory results suggest a path to greatly increasing the use of fly ash in concrete, leading to sizable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, construction costs and landfill volumes. Global production of cement for concrete accounts for 5 to 8% of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions.
Source: A September 4 posting on the Web site R&D. Read more.
There’s no doubt that the ancient Romans were master builders. Many temples, roads and aqueducts constructed during Roman times have held up remarkably well, despite the wear-and-tear, in the form of military invasions, tourist mobs and natural disasters such as earthquakes. Now, a team of researchers from Italy and the U.S. has analyzed a sample of concrete taken from a breakwater in Italy’s Pozzuoli Bay, at the northern tip of the Bay of Naples, which dates back to 37 B.C. Their findings, reported earlier this month in the Journal of the American Ceramic Society and American Mineralogist, may revolutionize modern architecture.
Source: A June 2013 posting on the Web site of the History Channel. Read more.
PROMOTIONS
NRMCA thanks members who reached out to national resource directors in response to a recent E-NEWS request for information and interaction with members and local general contractors. NRMCA Producer member Delta Industries recently set up a presentation with a large, national general contractor to discuss concrete parking lots with a focus on the Design Assistance Program. It asked Senior National Resource Director Amy Miller to deliver the message.
"Before leaving the contractor’s office, we were given a project to run through the DAP so that in itself was a victory," Miller said. "Another benefit was conversation vetted in regards to Walmart. This company is well established with Walmart and has done various projects (Sam’s, Walmart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets). The contractor knows the Walmart organization well and was able to offer some suggestions that will be very helpful in an upcoming meeting we have at Walmart headquarters. These type of meetings are extremely valuable as they allow our members to bring value to their customers and allow us to garner information that aids NRMCA in evaluating our approach with our National Accounts and the industry in general." For more information, contact Amy Miller at amiller@nrmca.org. Members of the Northern Virginia Concrete Advisory Council (NOVA) took the opportunity at their last council meeting to participate in hands-on training with NRMCA’s Concrete Pavement Analyst (CPA) software. NRMCA Senior National Resource Director Phil Kresge walked the group through a sample project, showing how to use the software for design and life-cycle cost comparisons. Additionally, he demonstrated how to customize the software for regional use with regard to design and cost defaults. The training session was coordinated by Hessam Nabavi, director of industry services for the Virginia Ready-Mixed Concrete Association. Kresge emphasized that the CPA software is a promotional tool, intended to provide pavement design and cost comparisons and is not design software. "CPA allows the promoter to show the customer that concrete pavement is a viable, affordable option," he said. "It is not intended to be used for design purposes. That’s what ACI 330 is for." Kresge added that if promoters are looking for design recommendations, they should turn to NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program (DAP). For more information on Concrete Pavement Analyst or for CPA training, contact Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org. To help a client better understand the durability of concrete pavements, Michigan Concrete Association Director of Engineering Kerry Sutton recently contacted NRMCA Senior Director, National Resources, Doug O'Neill to see if he had any knowledge of concrete pavements which were placed at least 10 years ago. O'Neill was able to come up with details and pictures of several projects in the Western New York area that he had worked on more than a decade ago, but immediately realized the need for better information regarding successful installations across the country.
"I know many states in the Midwest do a great job tracking their successful efforts, but many other states and individual ready mixed concrete producers do very little to maintain a list of parking lots or roads that go concrete," O'Neill said. "A national database with information on projects across the country would be a tremendous benefit to the promoters who are out there trying to convince owners and designers who aren't aware of concrete's durability in other markets. If each producer member of NRMCA could go back and review its successes over the past few years and then conscientiously submit projects going forward, we'd have quite a database." O'Neill noted that his colleague Jon Hansen has been working on putting a national database together where producers and state affiliates could submit projects that could be viewed by all. For more information contact Doug O'Neill at doneill@nrmca.org. Senior National Resource Director Jon Hansen attended the American Society of Concrete Contractors (ASCC) annual conference in Columbus, OH, last week in his role as NRMCA's liaison on the ASCC Board of Directors. "We have been working with ASCC to make its contractors aware of our Design Assistance Programs (DAP) and were very pleased it allowed us to include an insert within its Board of Directors' meeting book. The insert allowed me an opportunity to explain the program and how it can assist ASCC's contractor members in working with our producer members to secure additional work."
Based in St. Louis, ASCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the capabilities of concrete contractors and those who build with concrete. For more information on how your company can capitalize on ASCC members in your area, contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org.
The Portland Cement Association (PCA) participated at last week’s Greening the Heartland Conference, showcasing the first house in Chicago certified to meet the stringent U.S. performance requirements of the Passive House Institute. The 3,600 square foot home, built in River Forest, IL, features insulating concrete forms, supplemented with additional insulation to achieve the required high insulation values mandated by the program. The monolithic exterior concrete wall assembly also contributed to measured air tightness 35 percent better than required while enhancing the overall durability of the home.
Requirements of Passive House are based on construction standards first developed in Germany. The River Forest design follows recommendations by capturing sunlight in winter, shading its impact in summer and maintaining an extremely tight exterior envelope to limit loss of conditioned interior air. Two small ductless heat pumps replace a traditional furnace or air conditioner to provide heating and cooling for the entire home. Passive house designs typically reduce energy consumption for space conditioning by approximately 90 percent compared to conventional construction. Source: PCA Executive Report e-newsletter for September 16, 2013.
ASSOCIATION & INDUSTRY NEWS
The preliminary estimate of ready mixed concrete produced in July 2013 is 29.8 million cubic yards, 10.7% higher than in July 2012. The production through July 2013 is estimated at 166.3 million cubic yards, 1.9% higher than during the same period in 2012.
Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Additional details on ready mixed concrete production are available for NRMCA members on NRMCA's Web site. Please plan to attend the Building for Life: MIT CSHub Showcase 2013 on September 25-26 in Cambridge, MA. This year’s program (formerly known as Industry Day) will feature keynote speaker the Honorable Ray LaHood, former secretary of transportation, and will also include a comprehensive update on the developments in concrete science and life cycle cost environmental research from the MIT researchers.
For more information please click here. The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub was established in 2009 through funding from the RMC Research & Education Foundation and the Portland Cement Association.
NRMCA is proud to recognize the Association's newest members that have joined after January 2013. This addendum also highlights member updates since the original directory's publication.
The addendum can be downloaded from NRMCA's Web site.
ENGINEERING
NRMCA has announced the winners of its 2013 NRMCA Excellence in Quality Awards. Winning producers have demonstrated that they followed and exceeded quality management principles over a broad range of activities from commitment to quality, materials management, managing production facilities, product quality control and maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction. The winners below will be honored on September 23 during the awards luncheon at NRMCA’s ConcreteWorks and Board of Directors’ Meeting just outside Las Vegas.
Category A (annual production exceeding 1 million cubic yards):
ARGOS USA, SC RMX - Area 4
ARGOS USA, SC RMX - Area 5
CEMEX Florida Division, East Region
CEMEX Northern California
Cemstone Products Company
GCC America Ready Mix & Aggregates Division
Vulcan Materials Company, East Region NOVA/DC Concrete
Vulcan Materials Company, South Region Florida Rock
Category B (annual production from 250,000 to 1 million cubic yards):
Aggregate Industries Northeast Region
ARGOS USA, SE RMX - Area 1
ARGOS USA, SE RMX - Area 2
ARGOS USA, SE RMX - Area 3
CalPortland Nevada Region
CEMEX Carolinas
Chandler Concrete Co., Inc.
Chaney Enterprises
Concrete Supply Co., Heritage Division
Irving Materials Inc., imi South Division
Irving Materials Inc., imi Southwest Division
Preferred Materials, Inc., Oldcastle Southern Group
Tarmac America LLC, A Titan America Business
Titan Virginia Ready-Mix LLC Northern Region
Category C (annual production less than 250,000 cubic yards):
ARGOS USA, SC RMX - Area 6
Powhatan Ready Mix
Titan America/Titan Viginia Ready Mix, Southern Region (TVRM SOVA)
Western Rock Products, Oldcastle Materials Mountain West Division
The criteria for this award were established by NRMCA’s Research Engineering and Standards Committee to recognize the commitment to quality of NRMCA member companies. Companies applied either as a single entity or a division within a company and responded to a multiple-choice type application form that generated their scores; a minimum score of 75% with supporting validation qualified a company to receive an award.
For more information, contact Karthik Obla at kobla@nrmca.org or 301-587-1400, ext. 1163.
HPC Bridge Views is published jointly by the Federal Highway Administration and the National Concrete Bridge Council. http://www.concretebridgeviews.com/.
The September 2013 Focus newsletter published by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) includes the following topics:
Click here to view the newsletter. OPERATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY & HR
On September 12, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) published in the Federal Register a proposal to overhaul the current allowable exposure limits for "respirable" crystalline silica. OSHA’s proposed rule is broken into two separate rules, one for general industry and maritime (which the ready mixed concrete industry falls under) and another for the construction industry. In the ready mixed concrete industry, respirable crystalline silica is typically found during chipping out of concrete mixer drums or possibly while concrete mixer truck drivers are on an active construction site. OSHA estimates that the ready mixed concrete industry currently has 43,920 workers currently exposed to respirable crystalline silica, 32,110 of which are exposed to levels above the new proposed permissible exposure limit (PEL).
Although NRMCA is still analyzing the proposed rule, these are the main elements:
• Reducing the PEL from 100 μg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour day, down to just 50 μg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour day;
• Required measuring of silica that workers can be exposed to if it is at or above 25 μg/m3, averaged over an 8-hour day;
• Limiting worker access to areas where the PEL is above 50 μg/m3;
• Required dust controls to reduce worker exposure to limits above the new PEL;
• Employers will be required to provide respirators to workers when dust controls cannot reduce worker exposure to limits above the new PEL;
• Medical exams every three years for workers who are exposed to limits for 30 or more days a year above the new PEL;
• New worker training; and
• New recordkeeping requirements.
OSHA suggests the new proposed standard will save roughly 700 lives and prevent 1,600 new cases of silicosis. OSHA estimates average net benefits of about $2.8 to $4.7 billion annually over the next 60 years, with a cost of about $1,242 for the average workplace. OSHA estimates the new standard to cost companies with less than 20 employees about $550.
The proposal’s comment period lasts until December 11, which will be followed by a public hearing scheduled for March 4, 2014, in Washington, DC. Click here to view the proposed rule, fact sheets, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and more. For more information, contact Gary Mullings or Kevin Walgenbach.
The industry’s premier driver training program is now online and totally self-directed so a supervisor or company trainer is not needed. Instead, NRMCA's Concrete Delivery Professional Certification (CDP) program is lead by a voice-over instructor whose words are seen in subtitles that support drivers with reading or hearing difficulties. Its design allows mixer drivers access through NRMCA’s Web site at any time, using any internet connection. Each lesson is just 20 minutes long so a learning module can fit between loads or can be spontaneously accessed on slow or bad weather days at the plant. Lessons also have a stop/start feature, making CDP participation adaptable to a driver’s ever-changing work schedule. For more support, CDP-Online directly coordinates with an optional textbook.
Exams are online as well, so the requirement for a third-party proctor has been eliminated, saving your company time and money. Finally, the price has not increased since its initial launch yet the material and delivery system are state of the art. With producers’ need to have cost-effective skill reinforcement for their remaining driving pool, CDP-Online gives your frontline representatives the advantage of being the most efficient, skilled and productive driving force representing your business.
For information, contact NRMCA’s Shawnita Dickens at 301-587-1400, ext. 1154 or by e-mail, sdickens@nrmca.org.
SUSTAINABILITY
Last week, Lionel Lemay and Tien Peng of NRMCA, along with Bruce Chattin of Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association (WACA) and other construction industry stakeholders gathered at the University of Washington (UW) for the Carbon Leadership Forum’s Annual Meeting. The group convened to discuss the state of the concrete Product Category Rules (PCR), Whole Building Life Cycle Assessments and other new concepts from the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED v4.
LEED v4 will have dramatic consequences on building material selection for new buildings and major renovations when it is launched in November’s GreenBuild event. The Carbon Leadership Forum Annual Meeting was designed to bring together those with expertise in building design and life cycle assessment (LCA), to advance the development of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and to find opportunity in reduced environmental impacts from construction practices. NRMCA presented an update of the concrete industry’s move toward EPDs during the meeting and provided guidance for future developments. NRMCA worked with the Carbon Leadership Forum to develop the PCR for concrete which is the basis for which concrete producers develop EPDs through NRMCA’s EPD program, enabling concrete producers to meet the new provisions of LEED v4. For more information, contact Tien Peng at tpeng@nrmca.org or 206-913-8535.
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 the Week of September 9 - 13, 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. Recently, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in the Federal Register NRMCA’s application for an industry-wide exemption from the new Hours of Service 30-minute break provision (FR notice can be viewed here). FMCSA’s Federal Register notice requests comments on the exemption application by Thursday, September 19: It is very important to not only relay to FMCSA the burden the 30-minute break has on the industry, but also to show overwhelming and broad industry support for the exemption. To these points, NRMCA is urging individuals and companies to please submit comments to the Federal Register docket on the exemption application. While original and unique submissions are preferred, NRMCA has drafted template comments for your use (please click here to download).
Once your comments are finalized, they can be submitted electronically, by fax, mail or by hand (each detailed in the Federal Register notice). NRMCA suggests using the electronic delivery method to ensure that all comments are received by FMCSA, at the latest, close-of-business on September 19.
DIRECTIONS FOR ELECTRONIC SUBMITTAL: Please visit www.regulations.gov. In the field titled Search, enter FMCSA-2013-0317 and then click Search. Next to the listing titled Hours of Service of Drivers; Exemption Applications: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, click the button titled Comment Now! Then just follow the 3-step process to upload and finalize your comment submittal.
For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach, Gary Mullings or Kerri Leininger. EDUCATION &TRAINING
Six years ago, NRMCA’s Board of Directors supported an industry-specific career development tool, called STEPS® (Seminars, Training, & Education, Programs). Candidates progress through a set of prerequisites, required courses and electives to attain a CCPf designation. There are four STEPS career tracks within which to earn a CCPf designation ─ Concrete Technology, Operations & Production, Sales & Marketing, and Sustainability.
With the importance STEPS® has played in talent management since its inception, international concrete producers are now adopting the program. NRMCA’s first international STEP partnership will take place through an agreement with Grey Matters Consultancy in the Middle East. "Just like in the U.S., the program’s depth and breadth is set to improve concrete industry standards and provide excellent career opportunities for concrete professionals," said Rabih Fakih, managing director of Grey Matters Consultancy, from Dubai.
"STEPS’s goal is to build industry-wide standards for consistent training, content and performance. It not only enhances business outcomes but also illustrates to employees that they have an internationally recognized personal tool that supports long-term careers in the concrete industry," said NRMCA President Robert Garbini.
A full description of NRMCA’s STEPS and CCPf program can be found here.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
NRMCA's September Internet Spotlight, good through Tuesday, October 1, 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: ISSEPT13. CALENDAR
*Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site.
September 22-24, Las Vegas
ConcreteWorks & Board of Directors' Meeting
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
September 25-26, Cambridge, MA
MIT CSHUB Showcase 2013
Email: Donna Hudson, donnaon@mit.edu
September 26, Webinar
Sustainable Design with Concrete
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
October 1, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete - Part 1 (*Part 2 on October 8)
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
October 1, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
October 1-4, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP I: Introduction to Concrete Fundamentals—Concrete 101
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
October 8, Orlando, FL
Regional ConcreteWorks, Gulf Coast Region
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
October 10, Uncasville, CT
Regional ConcreteWorks, Northeast Region
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
November 4-8, Silver Spring, MD
Concrete Technologist Training & Certification "Short Course"
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
November 5, Webinar
Introduction to Concrete Pavement Analyst Software
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
November 5, Webinar
The Quantifiable Advantages of Concrete Parking Lots
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
November 7, Webinar
Sustainable Design with Concrete
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
November 8, Webinar
ACI 330 R-08 – The Gold Standard of Concrete Parking Lot Design
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
November 12-14, Silver Spring, MD
The Effective RMC Supervisor Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
November 19, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete - Part 1 (*Part 2 on November 26)
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 3, Webinar
Roller Compacted Concrete: Another Choice for Pavement
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 3, Sacramento, CA
Handling Concrete Specifications, Low Strength Problems and Mixture Submittals
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 4, Glendora, CA
Handling Concrete Specifications, Low Strength Problems and Mixture Submittals
Email: Jessica Walgenbach, 888-84-NRMCA, x1152
December 3-5, Silver Spring, MD
CCSP II: Customer Business Knowledge
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 4-6, Orlando, FL
Environmental Certification Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 10-13, Orlando, FL
Plant Manager Certification Course
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
December 23, Webinar
Designing and Specifying Pervious Concrete - Part 1 (*Part 2 on December 30)
Email: Shawnita Dickens, 888-84-NRMCA, x1154
2014
January 14, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
January 28, Webinar
RCC: Intro to Design and Construction Webinar
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
March 18, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
March 25, Webinar
Concrete Overlays for Streets and Local Roads and Parking Lots
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
May 6, Webinar
Soils 101
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
June 17, Webinar
Concrete Pavement Jointing Plans
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
August 19, Webinar
Controlling Moisture in Concrete Slabs
Email: Amanda Hult, 303-953-2382
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