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Association & Industry News
The estimated ready mixed concrete produced in November 2023 is 32.0 million cubic yards, the same as in November 2022. The estimated production in the U.S. through November is 366 million cubic yards, approximately 2.7% lower than that during the same period in 2022. Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. More detail is available here for NRMCA members under Production Statistics. NRMCA needs to ensure pro-business and pro-industry candidates are elected to the U.S. Congress in November. By coming together as an industry, we can help influence the political process by ensuring that legislators consider the impact proposed laws could potentially have on the ready mixed concrete industry. Every day, members of Congress vote on issues that affect the way concrete producers do business; the NRMCA Political Action Committee, CONCRETEPAC needs to have a strong voice on Capitol Hill to allow us to maximize the industry’s involvement in the political process.
Buildings
Earlier this month Build With Strength Director, Building Innovations, Justin McCain met with the structural engineering team at Baird, Hampton Brown (BHB) in Fort Worth, TX, to discuss low carbon concrete and what the ready mixed concrete industry is doing to advance sustainability. McCain provided information on the Top 10 Ways to Reduce Concrete’s Carbon Footprint and encouraged the use of performance-based specifications in lieu of unnecessarily prescriptive language that impact the ready mixed producer. McCain also introduced the available services the BWS team offers to the engineering community, including specification reviews, life cycle assessments and concrete design assistance. The meeting provided valuable education to the firm and promoted concrete as the building material of choice throughout Texas. For more information, contact Justin McCain at jmccain@nrmca.org. The Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association (IRMCA) has promoted Chad Montgomery to IRMCA executive director. Montgomery began his career with IRMCA more than 8 years ago as promotions manager; before joining IRMCA he was a plant manager at NRMCA Producer member Ozinga Ready Mix, Inc. "On behalf of the IRMCA Board and Membership, we are very excited and grateful that Chad Montgomery has accepted the Executive Director position. We look forward to his promoting concrete throughout the state of Indiana, continuing to build new relationships throughout the industry, and retaining member commitment to the IRMCA. Chad has been with the association since 2016 and has a solid understanding of the ready mixed concrete industry. He has a vision to continue to grow and lead the Indiana Ready Mixed Concrete Association into its next chapter," said IRMCA Board President Adam Kress.
On February 12, NRMCA Senior Director, Building Innovations, Frank Mruk held meetings with American Institute of Architects' (AIA) New York chapter members and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey officials on low carbon concrete specification strategy. Mruk also attended a full house presentation (seen here) at the AIA Center for Architecture by Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki and Samuli Woolston, co-founders of ALA Architects. The Oodi Library, designed by ALA Architects, is a significant public project and a culmination of a new vision for library design. AIA New York is the oldest and largest chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The chapter's members include over 5,000 practicing architects, allied professionals, students and public members interested in architecture and design. AIA New York is dedicated to three goals: design excellence, public outreach and professional development. Mruk previously served on the AIA NY board as education director for the chapter. 
SEO
Remember, starting February 1, employers needed to display their OSHA 300A log where all employees have access to it. The summary log needs to stay posted until April 30, 2024. Click here for more information on OSHA recordkeeping requirements; here to access OSHA 300A forms and instructions; and here for more information on required electronic submissions. The NRMCA staff contact is Kevin Walgenbach. 
Calendar
Please note that e-mail and direct registration links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's website. February 27 - 29, Orlando, FL *Sold Out March 5 - 7, Nashville, TN March 5, Roseville, MN March 18 - 21, Tampa, FL March 26 - 28, Denver *Sold Out April 9 - 12, Omaha, NE April 16 - 18, Nashville, TN April 23 - 25, Orlando, FL April 30 - May 2, Mendota Heights, MN *Sold Out May 8 - 10, Milwaukee September 10 - 12, Sacramento, CA October 10 - 14, Aurora, CO 
Pavement
 The NRMCA Pave Ahead team has released a new series of technical flyers and brochures titled Under the Banner of Enhancing Concrete’s Performance. "These one- and two-page publications will highlight specific practices and materials that make good concrete better,” said NRMCA Senior Vice President, Local Paving, Phil Kresge. The first publication in the series, Enhancing Concrete’s Performance: Jointing Concrete, is now available for download at www.paveahead.com/resources. This two-page flyer identifies the three types of joints that should be used in concrete slabs and pavement and describes characteristics that can affect the joints. Future topics will include fiber-reinforced concrete, dowels and tie bars, concrete sealers and others. Click here to download the flyer that is seen here. For more information, contact Phil Kresge at pkresge@nrmca.org. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), put into law in 1986, requires industries to report on the “storage, use and releases of hazardous chemicals (and materials) to federal, state, and local governments.” This specific reporting requirement under EPCRA is commonly referred to as Community Right-to-Know (CRTK) reporting, Tier II reporting, and/or Section 311/312 reporting. The reporting deadline is Friday, March 1. Click here to learn more about EPCRA, chemical/material thresholds and how to report. For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. 
Engineering
Registration for the next NRMCA Concrete Durability Course, being offered at the Wildwood Lodge Pewaukee in Milwaukee from May 8 through 10, is now open. Location contracts for room reservations are being finalized and registrants will be notified when available. The course is co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Ready Mixed Concrete Association.
The American Council of Independent Laboratories (ACIL) held its Policies and Practices Conference February 13 - 15 in Washington, DC. NRMCA Senior Vice President Karthik Obla and Executive Vice President Colin Lobo discussed low-carbon concrete specification requirements, new performance-based test methods for concrete, lab accreditation and concrete acceptance testing requirements. Future partnerships with attendees on topics of mutual benefits will be explored. For more information, contact Karthik Obla at kobla@nrmca.org. 
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