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Month: October 2016

Giant Cement deal brings sixth Latin America market player to U.S.

Concrete News

Sources: Elementia S.A.B. de C.V., Mexico City; CP staff

Elementia is set for an early-November closing on a 55 percent stake in Giant Cement Holding Inc. through a deal with Madrid-based Cementos Portland Valderrivas, S.A. Giant Cement spans namesake, Dragon Products Co. and Keystone brands, respectively, across South Carolina, Maine and Pennsylvania cement plants, totaling 2.8 million tons/year capacity; six terminals serving New England, New York, Virginia and the Carolinas; three limestone and two sand & gravel operations; and, four waste handling and processing sites.

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Masonry Institute’s Wall Systems Library augments BIM-M

Concrete News

Source: International Masonry Institute, Bowie, Md.

On behalf of the Building Information for Masonry Initiative (BIM-M), IMI is preparing the Wall Systems Library (WSL) for January launch. Based on SketchUp and its companion LayOut program, WSL will benefit architects, engineers and contractors as it presents design and construction options in a systematic way and simplifies decision making.

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Constitutional protections thwart White House’s ‘blacklisting rule’

Concrete News

Sources: Associated Builders & Contractors, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

Free speech and due process protections in the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution frame a judge’s preliminary injunction order that prevents the Federal Acquisition Regulatory (FAR) Council from implementing key provisions of its final rule—plus companion Department of Labor (DOL) guidance—supporting President Barack Obama’s Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order.

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ACI council advances taller wind turbine tower building practice

Concrete News

Sources: American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Mich.; CP staff

The release of ACI ITG-9R-16: Report on Design of Concrete Wind Turbine Towers is timed with wind energy interests’ pursuit of extending structures to higher elevations with markedly more energy extraction potential than current generation towers (≤ 325 feet or 100 meters).

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OSHA schedules meeting, opens nominations for Construction Advisory Committee

Concrete News

Source: Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The 15-member OSHA Advisory Committee on Construction Safety and Health (ACCSH) will meet November 30–December 1 in Washington, D.C. The agenda calls for remarks from agency chief Dr. David Michaels; a presentation clarifying Crane Standard requirements; plus, updates from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management, and National Safety Stand-Down campaign staff.

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Dynegy contracts position Charah in eastern Great Lakes fly ash markets

Concrete News

Sources: Charah Inc., Louisville, Ky.; CP staff

A long-term agreement to manage and market coal combustion products (CCP) from Dynegy Inc. generating stations in Moscow (Zimmer Power) and North Bend (Miami Fort), Ohio, enables Charah to ship Class F fly ash by truck or rail to Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Pennsylvania ready mixed and manufactured-concrete producers. The CCP management specialist will also market the stations’ bottom ash and contract for other material handling at each.

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FHWA revisits Buy America provisions for rebar tie wire, precast lifting devices

Concrete News

Sources: Federal Highway Administration; National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind.; CP staff

Through a recent Federal Register notice, the Federal Highway Administration seeks comments on a one-year waiver under the Buy America Act for tie wire spools used in rebar-tying guns, and indicates the potential for similar action on precast concrete lifting devices. A public comment period runs through December 2 on three agency points:

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Dodge economist pegs 2017 construction growth at 5 percent

Concrete News

Source: Dodge Data & Analytics, New York

The 2017 Dodge Construction Outlook sees total U.S. construction starts for 2017 advancing 5 percent to $713 billion, following increases of 11 percent in 2015 and an estimated 1 percent this year. Projected 8 percent gains for both residential and nonresidential building next year will accompany an expected 3 percent drop in nonbuilding construction.

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