July 2018 – Page 5 – Concrete Products

Cloud-enabled ASTM collaboration platform speeds document development

July 12, 2018 Concrete News

Source: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.

ASTM’s new SpecBuilder empowers organizations to streamline collaboration and document development for internal specifications, test methods, guidelines, and procedures. Available as a subscription, it provides a single platform to ensure organizations’ drafts, comments, votes, and supporting documents, are uploaded, acted on, and archived within a single secure tool. Users can manage changes to documents; revise multiple documents simultaneously; accelerate voting processes; hyperlink to standards; improve communications; and, securely store and restart projects.

Materials cost data provider applies analytics to predictive project pricing

July 12, 2018 Concrete News

Sources: Gordian Co., Greenville, S.C.; CP staff

Gordian has added Predictive Cost Data to its RSMeans Online service, citing the technology’s potential to deliver accurate, location-specific figures for more than 100 different types of construction projects up to three years out. With a few clicks, it delivers the cost of materials in a specific region during a particular quarter, helping users prioritize project timing and location.

Life cycle auditor Athena revises pavement software program

July 9, 2018 Concrete News

Sources: Athena Sustainable Materials Institute, Ottawa; CP staff

The Athena Pavement LCA Web App has been updated to further simplify life cycle assessment (LCA) and make paving more environmentally sustainable and cost effective. Version 3.1 reflects plant process data based on the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association 2016 industry average LCA and Environmental Product Declaration for concrete, along with these companion improvements:

Mixer Driver Championship registration continues through July

July 9, 2018 Concrete News

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

The NRMCA Safety, Environmental and Operations Committee is accepting 2018 National Mixer Driver Championship applications through August 1. The driver challenge course and written exam will take place September 29 at Gaylord National Resort, National Harbor, Md., near Washington, D.C., concurrent with the association’s ConcreteWorks program and committee meetings, September 28-October 1.

AGC confirms industry headcount at 10-year high

July 9, 2018 Concrete News

Sources: Associated General Contractors of America, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

Construction employment increased by 13,000 in June and 282,000 over the past year, bringing the total industry payroll to 7.22 million—its highest level since May 2008. “The construction industry continues to add workers faster than the economy as a whole, and is paying premium wages to attract and retain [them],” affirms AGC Chief Economist Ken Simonson. “Employment gains are occurring in both residential and nonresidential construction. However, the industry is having to rely more on workers without construction experience, as the pool of unemployed construction workers has nearly evaporated.”

LafargeHolcim marks first U.S. concrete deal with Texas’ Tarrant Concrete

July 5, 2018 Concrete News

Sources: LafargeHolcim, Chicago; CP staff

LafargeHolcim has acquired Tarrant Concrete Co., which operates three ready mixed plants on two sites, and builds on a Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex platform created under Holcim (US). With 90 employees and annual sales hovering $40 million, Tarrant Concrete becomes the first bolt-on transaction in domestic ready mixed production since the Aggregate Industries U.S. and Holcim (US) businesses, along with Lafarge North America, were brought under LafargeHolcim Ltd. in the July 2015 Lafarge Group and Holcim Ltd. merger.

Chryso’s Parker earns top ASTM C09 honor

July 3, 2018 Concrete News

Source: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.

ASTM Committee C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates presented its top annual recognition, Award of Merit and accompanying Fellow title, to Chryso Inc. Sales & Marketing Manager Steven Parker. The award reflects dedicated service to the committee, particularly in administrative leadership roles and contributions to developing and improving standards for aggregates, ready mixed and finished concrete.

Concrete Product Category Rule revisions open to comment

July 3, 2018 Concrete News

Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Silver Spring, Md.; CP staff

Environmental auditor NSF International is accepting comments through July 27 on revisions to NRMCA’s charter Product Category Rule (PCR), issued in 2013 to support Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) covering concrete mix designs. Over the past 18 months, the association has collaborated with the University of Washington-hosted Carbon Leadership Forum plus other stakeholders to draft a revised Concrete PCR reflecting changes in industry practices and international standards.