NRMCA e-news

Pavement

NRMCA Partners with Oregon, Pacific NW Officials on Concrete Intersection Seminar Series

NRMCA has partnered with the Oregon Concrete and Aggregate Association (OCAPA) and the Northwest Cement Council (NCC) to conduct promotional programs throughout Oregon, including Wilsonville, Roseburg and a presentation at the Oregon APWA Chapter Conference in Bend.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=407433&issueID=44479 to view the full article online.

NRMCA Discusses Pervious Concrete Before Utah Audience

NRMCA Senior Director, Local Paving, Ken Justice, recently traveled to Salt Lake City where he spoke at the annual pervious concrete roast held at Bunyan Industries and the local AGC office.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=407454&issueID=44479 to view the full article online.

Association & Industry News

Ready Mixed Concrete Production Statistics Updated Through August 2016

The preliminary estimate of ready mixed concrete produced in August 2016 is 34.5 million cubic yards, 3% higher than that in August 2015. The estimated production through August is 226 million cubic yards, 3.6% higher than that during the same period in 2015.

Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Additional details, including quarterly production by state, is available for NRMCA members here.

Government Affairs

NRMCA Advocacy News Roundup Updated Through October 21

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 October 17-21, 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.

Buildings

NRMCA Presents Build with Strength to Missouri Audience

Michael Wymant, NRMCA Senior Director of Building Innovation Michael Wymant traveled to Springfield, MO, last week to present the Build with Strength program to the Concrete Promotion Council of the Ozarks. The event had over 20 members attend, including several structural engineers. "This area of the country is very strong for our industry." said Wymant. "There is a great deal of opportunity here to convert low/mid-rise wood projects to concrete."

The presentation explored emerging trends in housing and development, innovations in concrete construction, case studies that showcase building value generation, economical design of concrete wall and floor systems and how to utilize free resources to design structures. NRMCA’s Design Assistance Program, part of the Build with Strength Concrete Design Center, was well received by attendees, with the opportunity to assist many local projects.

Build with Strength is a first-of-its-kind program for the concrete industry, designed not only to support NRMCA members, their businesses, and the hard-working men and women of the concrete industry, but also to change the way people think about concrete construction versus direct competitors like soft-wood lumber.

Click here to learn more about the Build with Strength Concrete Design Center. For more information, visit www.buildwithstrength.com or contact Michael Wymant at mwymant@nrmca.org.

OES

Texas Judge Blocks Contractor Rule on Labor Law Violations

A Texas judge issued a preliminary injunction on Monday against new regulations that require companies disclose labor law violations they committed in the past three years whenever they bid for a federal contract worth at least $500,000.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=407527&issueID=44479 to view the full article online.

OSHA Again Delays Effective Date for Portion of New Injury/Illness Tracking Rule

In mid-May, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized a rule to change the process and timeline for record keeping and reporting of annual injuries and illnesses at the workplace.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=407314&issueID=44479 to view the full article online.

OSHA Releases Preliminary Most-Cited Violations of FY2015

Last week, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the preliminary Top 10 most cited workplace violations of FY2015 at the 2016 National Safety Council Congress & Expo in Anaheim, CA.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=407434&issueID=44479 to view the full article online.

2017 Driver of the Year Nomination Form Now Available

NRMCA's Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year Award acknowledges the significant contribution of ready mixed concrete truck drivers to the growth and success of individual companies and the ready mixed concrete industry.

Visit https://www.naylornetwork.com/nrc-nwl/articles/index-v3.asp?aid=407315&issueID=44479 to view the full article online.

Engineering

NRMCA Regional Technical Short Course Set for February in Utah

The next NRMCA Regional Concrete Technology Training and Certification Program (Regional Short Course) is scheduled for February 6-10, 2017, in Salt Lake City at the offices of AGC of Utah. The course is co-sponsored by ACI of Utah and the ACI Intermountain Chapter. NRMCA is now accepting registrations for the Salt Lake City course.

The short course provides a fundamental understanding of concrete, aggregates and concrete making materials; requirements in industry codes and standards and proportioning concrete mixtures. Attendees have the opportunity to obtain industry-recognized NRMCA certifications: NRMCA Level 2 and 3 Concrete Technologist certification and an optional NRMCA Grade II Field Testing Technician certification. These industry certifications are essential for technical service personnel with suppliers of materials to the concrete industry and with concrete producers.

Interested persons should register early. Click here for more information, registration links and staff contact.

Education & Training

Employment, Labor Law Webinar Scheduled for Mid-November

An NRMCA Webinar, Are You Aware How the Labor Employment Workplace Recently Changed and Its Possible Impact on Your Company? will be held Tuesday, November 15, from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern time. Conducted by labor attorney Jeff Thompson, a partner with Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, this Webinar will update the ready mixed concrete industry about recent, critical federal employment and labor law changes. It will focus on the new Fair Labor Standards Act White Collar Exemptions regulations. Mr. Thompson will explain the what the new regulations are, how they will impact your business and give you an action plan for implementing them by the December 1 deadline. Mr. Thompson will also review what is considered compensable time under the Fair Labor Standards Act and how you should calculate work time. Finally, one week after the Presidential election, he will discuss what can industry expect.

The Webinar is free to NRMCA members. Click here for more information and to register. For more information, contact Eileen Dickson at edickson@nrmca.org.

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.

November 3, Oklahoma City

Regional ConcreteWorks South Central Region

Email: Tamara Waugh, (240) 485-1132

November 7 - 11, Linthicum, MD *Sold Out

Annual "Short Course"

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

November 29 - December 1, Orlando, FL

Environmental Course

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

December 6, Webinar

Sales Performance Assessments and Reviews...for Ready Mix Sales Managers

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

December 6 - 8, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module II: Customer Business Knowledge

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

December 13 - 16, Anaheim, CA *Sold Out

Plant Manager Certification Course

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

Sustainability

Los Angeles County Adopts Envision Rating System

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has unanimously adopted the Envision rating system as a standard for infrastructure improvement for the county. The system, developed by the non-profit Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI), has been used by municipal agencies and private companies across the nation. The infrastructure rating system has many features which benefit concrete construction, including these categories:

• Assess Climate Threat

• Prepare for Long-Term Adaptability

• Prepare for Short-Term Hazards

• Manage Heat Island Effects

• Manage Stormwater

• Reduce net embodied energy (over project life)

• Support Sustainable Procurement Practices

• Reduce Energy Consumption

• Divert Waste from Landfills

• Extend Useful Life

Build with Strength is a coalition led by NRMCA that promotes concrete building systems through communications, project promotion, education and advocacy and can help leverage sustainable standards to help place more concrete.

To learn more about these programs, or for more information on the Envision Rating System, contact Tien Peng at tpeng@nrmca.org or 206-913-8535.

News Links

Tree Houses: Is Wood Really the Future of Skyscrapers?

That's the title of an article by writer, physicist Lauire Winkless that appeared on the Web site of Forbes magazine. She attributes the move to timber as a move toward sustainability, stating that steel and concrete are two building materials "that could never be accused of being environmentally-friendly." But she also notes that deforestation is threatening our ecology too, so that if wood is really the answer it needs to be sourced from regulated, certified forests.

Visit http://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewinkless/2016/09/12/tree-houses-is-wood-really-the-future-of-skyscrapers/#3622627a87ed to view the full article online.

Pervious Pavement Welcomed in Chesapeake Bay Watershed

Maryland officials have long been protective of one of the nation's largest watersheds, in this case one created by the Chesapeake Bay. Part of the solution of the problem of urban and suburban runoff is pervious concrete. An article posted by the Bay Journal examines the efforts underway by communities looking for ways to absorb the cost of installing runoff-reducing infrastructure.

Visit http://www.bayjournal.com/article/use_of_porous_pavement_catching_on_despite_high_price_maintenance to view the full article online.

Cadillac Covered in Concrete Rides Through Chicago

Say what? Well, a recent article in The Wall Street Journal reports on a 1957 Cadillac has been encased in 27,780 pounds of concrete as part of an art project suggested by the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art. Christine Mehring, an art historian at the University of Chicago, came across it in 2011 and was impressed. "People are surprised at how beautiful concrete can look," she said. Here, here

Visit http://www.wsj.com/articles/concrete-covered-1957-cadillac-makes-art-historians-lose-their-marbles-1476977452 to view the full article online.

2017

January 10 - 12, Orlando, FL

NRMCA Dispatcher Training Forum

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

January 17-19, Kissimmee (Metro Orlando), FL

Effective RMC Supervisor Course

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

January 18, Sacramento, CA

Improving Concrete Quality

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

January 19, Ontario, CA

Improving Concrete Quality

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

January 24 - 26, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module III: General Business Knowledge

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

January 24 - 27, Kansas City, MO

Plant Manager Certification Course

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

February 6-10, Salt Lake City

Regional "Short Course"

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

February 21 - 24, Atlanta

Plant Manager Certification Course

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

March 4 - 6, Las Vegas, NV

Annual Convention

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

March 20 - 22, Atlanta

NRMCA Safety Course

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

March 21 - 23, Silver Spring, MD

CCSP Module IV: Professional Sales Skills

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

April 25 - 28, Seattle

Plant Manager Certification Course

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

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association