A Federal Highway Administration and Long-Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) product developed by Austin, Texas, engineering and design firm Transtec Group, ProVAL software has been upgraded to offer highway agencies and contractors map-based features alongside pavement profile characteristics.
Month: January 2015
ASCE states case for life cycle cost analysis
The American Society of Civil Engineers and Eno Center for Transportation question the first-cost philosophy behind much transportation infrastructure funding, based on findings from “Maximizing the Value of Investments Using Life Cycle Cost Analysis.”
NRMCA, ABC challenge EPA Clean Power Plan claims, costs, feasibility
As the public comment period closed late last year for the Environmental Protection Agency’s “Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units” rule, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and the Associated Builders & Contractors joined a host of business interests raising concerns of the proposal’s increased costs and limited benefits, especially on greenhouse gas reduction claims.
Revised ACI 318 Code streamlines concrete mix, performance references
The American Concrete Institute’s just-released ACI 318-14, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete consolidates concrete mixture-specific references from 318-11 Chapters 3 (Materials), 4 (Durability) and 5 (Strength and Construction Issues) into new Chapters 19 (Concrete: Design and Durability Requirements) and 26 (Construction Documents and Inspection). The reorganization of these sections permitted an evaluation and elimination of some Code provisions related to concrete mixtures and construction when better addressed in other referenced standards.
Labor Board rules open employees’ e-mail to union communications
National Labor Relations Board had adopted a final Representation–Case Procedures rule to modernize and streamline union organizing and election dispute resolution, Chairman Mark Gaston Pearce noting: “With these changes, the Board strives to ensure [the] process remains a model of fairness and efficiency for all.”
American Concrete Institute’s ACI 318-14: A modern, accessible code platform
The contemporary use of structural concrete is a complex endeavor, requiring the skills, training, insights and experience of a broad range of professionals. These include designers, engineers, construction specifiers, insurers and code officials, as well as the general contractors, subcontractors and construction personnel.
Read MoreNRMCA Driver of the Year: Eastern Concrete’s Ed Rieper
Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.
NRMCA has named Edward Rieper of Eastern Concrete Materials, Inc., a U.S. Concrete Co., the Ready Mixed Concrete Delivery Professional Driver of the Year for 2015. A panel of industry judges selected him from a group of outstanding nominees across the U.S.
LCA, carbon deployment, resilience topics highlight Concrete Sustainability Conference
Source: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.
Speakers have been selected for NRMCA’s 10th annual International Concrete Sustainability Conference, to be held May 12-14, in Miami. Over 60 world-renowned experts will present the latest developments related to design, specifying, manufacturing, testing, construction, maintenance and research of concrete as they dovetail sustainability. Keynote speakers and topics include:
Cement, fly ash producers commit 100-plus truckloads to CIM Auction pool
Sources: Concrete Industry Management National Steering Committee; CP staff
Cemex USA, Holcim (US) Inc., Lafarge North America, Lehigh Hanson Inc. and Titan America have each donated 10 truckloads of portland cement to the 10th annual CIM Auction, February 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center—in conjunction with the 2015 World of Concrete.
Oldcastle parent confirms Lafarge, Holcim asset interest
Sources: CP staff; CRH Plc, Dublin
CRH is among suitors for certain assets Switzerland’s Holcim Ltd. and Paris-based Lafarge SA have bundled for sale, thereby advancing a merger the producers hope to consummate by mid-year. Assets on the table include Holcim Canada Inc. and a host of overseas cement, concrete and aggregate businesses.
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