Sources: International Masonry Institute, Bowie, Md.; CP staff
A Dallas-based consultant specializing in Building Information Modeling-enabled Virtual Design & Construction methods, Will Ikerd, P.E., will present the American Institute of Architects and Associated General Contractors of America’s joint Level of Development Specification to lead off the BIM for Masonry 2015 Symposium, April 9-10 in St. Louis.
Read MoreSources: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, Elyria, Ohio; CP staff
Capable of reading and holding truck drivers to posted speed limits, momentary engine de-throttling and automatic brake engagement upon detecting imminent or highly probable accident conditions, a new suite of vehicle-mounted devices leverages established ESP Electronic Stability Program, Wingman Advanced Collision Mitigation, and AutoVue Lane Departure Warning System technologies. Bendix CVS unveiled the Wingman Fusion package at the Mid-America Trucking Show, March 26-28 in Louisville.
Read MoreSources: Volvo Trucks North America, Greensboro, N.C.; CP staff
Adaptive Loading, a 6×2 tractor configuration whose liftable forward axle automatically adjusts to load weight changes and 4×2 operation, can lower fuel consumption 3-5 percent and tire wear 20 percent in cement and other bulk material hauling. Volvo Trucks premiered the technology at the Mid-America Trucking Show, March 26-28 in Louisville.
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Sources: Silvi Group, Fairless Hills, Pa.; CP staff
Silvi Group has closed on R.E. Pierson Materials’ Winslow and Logan Township central mixed plants in southern New Jersey, three months after acquiring Pierson’s nearby Lumberton Township operation. The latter operates as Silvi Concrete of Mt. Holly, while the newly added plants will be rebranded Silvi Concrete of Berlin and Logan, respectively.
Read MoreSource: Construction Industry Safety Coalition, Washington, D.C.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s proposed standards covering respirable crystalline silica will cost contractors and their suppliers $5 billion per year—nearly $4.5 billion above estimates agency officials indicated in September 2013, when they outlined a new permissible exposure limit (PEL) for construction and general industry workplaces.
Read MoreSource: Portland Cement Association, Skokie, Ill.
Cement and concrete interests will convene April 14-15 in Washington, D.C., joining participants in the annual Transportation Construction Coalition Legislative Fly-In. Organizers aim to stress to federal lawmakers the urgency of reauthorizing the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) bill, set to expire at the end of May.
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A modified version of the ASTM C231, Standard Test Method for Air Content of Freshly Mixed Concrete by the Pressure Method vessel, the Super Air Meter (SAM) measures air-void spacing and air content of plastic concrete in about 10 minutes. Void spacing has been shown to be a better indicator of freeze-thaw durability than total air content, SAM developers note, but challenging to pinpoint—especially in the fresh concrete.
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Northern California’s leading independent aggregate and concrete operator, Graniterock, has issued Environmental Product Declarations covering 30 mixes at three central and two transit mixed plants serving Silicon Valley and coastal markets south. National Ready Mixed Concrete Association certified the documents as an EPD Program Operator, adding them to a growing industry library hosted on its website.
Read MoreAs part of its Multifamily Green Initiative, Fannie Mae is granting a 10 basis point reduction in the interest rate of a refinance, acquisition or supplemental mortgage loan for a multifamily property carrying certification or recognition under U.S. Green Building Council LEED, EPA Energy Star or Enterprise Green Communities programs. On a $10 million dollar loan amortizing over 30 years, an owner could save $95,000 in interest payments across a 10-year term based on 3.9 percent versus 4 percent market rate.
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Following up on two major 2014 product introductions—MasterLife CRA (Crack-Reducing Admixture) 007 at World of Concrete, MasterSphere FT (Freeze-Thaw) 300 at ConExpo-Con/Agg—BASF Admixture Systems returned to Las Vegas this year with another concrete breakthrough attributable to its parent company’s vast well of chemistry.