NRMCA Discusses Specifications for Sustainability before North Carolina Structural Engineers

The Structural Engineers Association (SEA) of North Carolina requested a presentation on how specifications impact the ability to achieve low carbon concrete and how these should evolve. Adam Neuwald with NRMCA Producer member Concrete Supply Co. partnered with Colin Lobo of NRMCA to present the specification requirements, typically prescriptive, that do not support achieving sustainable concrete mixtures. They discussed factors that impact the embodied carbon of the structural system as impacted by the design; concrete mixtures that had different requirements depending on where used in a structure; performance alternatives for mixtures; availability of product-specific environmental product declarations (EPD) in NC; consideration of establishing a carbon budget for all products used on a project and for concrete so that higher impact mixtures could be traded off with others to meet the target goal; and to communicate early with contractors and concrete suppliers to discuss challenges and opportunities. The webinar was attended by about 60 designers with the NC SEA.

For more information, contact Colin Lobo at clobo@nrmca.org.