Standard measures drainage products’ pollutant removal capacity

Sources: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.; CP staff

ASTM Committee C27 on Precast Concrete Products’ proposed WK52521, Standard Practice for the Performance Criteria for Storm Water Treatment Devices, will help measure the release of runoff-conveyed contaminants from streets, parking lots, and other structures into natural waterways.

Read More

Leading forecast revises 2017 construction starts slightly downward

Sources: ConstructConnect, Norcross, Ga.; CP staff

The Q3 2017 Forecast Quarterly Report of ConstructConnect (iSqFt, Construction Market Data, BidClerk, Construction Data source) has trimmed projected U.S. total construction starts growth for this year against 2016 from 4.8 percent to 4.5 percent, and the 2018 year-over-year gain from 6.0 percent to 5.9 percent. 

Read More

Concrete paver, slab sales climb steadily, return to 2006 peak in sight

Sources: Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, Chantilly, Va.; CP staff

Sales of concrete pavers and slabs increased to a projected 721.4 million square feet in the U.S. and Canada during 2016, a 4.3 percent increase from the prior year’s 690 million sq. ft. According to the 2017 ICPI Industry Sales Profile, based on a survey of producers representing more than 50 percent of U.S. and Canadian paver and slab capacity, last year’s estimated total was a) the highest since 2006, when estimated shipments hit 800 million sq. ft.; and, b) 35.5 percent above 2010, when the industry hit a recession-low sales point of 472 million sq. ft.

Read More