October 2018 – Page 5 – Concrete Products

Industry alliance bullish on Water Infrastructure Act

October 11, 2018 Concrete News

Sources: North American Concrete Alliance (NACA), Washington, D.C.; CP staff

On behalf of members in cement, ready mixed and precast production, the North American Concrete Alliance is praising passage of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act—reauthorizing the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)—and urging President Donald Trump to sign the bill. Passage of vital water infrastructure and resource programs every two years means Congress is ensuring America can build and maintain 21st Century infrastructure, NACA contends, while supporting the 600,000 jobs across the cement and concrete industries.

BASF Admixture Systems panel probes mixing concrete in space

October 11, 2018 Concrete News

For many years engineers have dreamed about building habitable structures on the Moon or Mars. Those structures will have to be sturdy and stable, which begs the question, why not use concrete? But can ready mixed concrete be successfully formulated in the unique atmospheric conditions of the lunar or Martian surface? That is a question scientists are seeking to answer. And recently completed experiments conducted on the International Space Station (ISS) may bring us closer to that answer.

NPCA extends product-specific certification to water, wastewater tanks

October 11, 2018 Concrete News

The National Precast Concrete Association takes quality control and validation to the next level with a new product-focused certification for water and wastewater tanks. While its Plant Certification program has traditionally centered on precast concrete production processes candidate operations must abide, the just-launched Optional Product Listing for Water and Wastewater Tanks Program describes specific product models, plus design and performance criteria to obtain certification. Like other association programs, the new offering enlists independent third-party engineering firms accredited to ISO/IEC 17020:2012 for Plant Inspection.

Oldcastle retention system sees green light from key agency

October 11, 2018 Concrete News

Oldcastle Infrastructure (formerly Oldcastle Precast, note companion item) recently announced that its BioMod System received Washington State Department of Ecology equivalency approval as a stormwater bioretention planter or planter box. By granting “functional equivalency,” the agency affirms that the BioMod Modular Bioretention System does not need to go through its Technology Assessment Protocol — Ecology (TAPE) program for approval, and may be designed using the same standards and criteria as any non-proprietary bioretention planter or planter box.

International Code Council tackles building safety, fire aspects

October 11, 2018 Concrete News

The International Code Council Board has created Ad Hoc Committee on Building Safety and Security with a goal of bringing “together experts from across many different disciplines to tackle one of the toughest, most important issues of our time.”

GCP measures data integration potential in Sysdyne investment

October 11, 2018 Concrete News

GCP Applied Technologies, Cambridge, Mass., has announced a stake in Sysdyne Technologies, Stamford, Conn.-based provider of plant control and information technology solutions for ready mixed concrete producers.

Feds equate QC manager’s falsified air test results to wire fraud

October 11, 2018 Concrete News

A former concrete quality control manager pleaded guilty last month to conspiring to commit wire fraud in connection with the U.S. Department of Transportation-funded Dulles Metrorail Project Phase II, an 11.4-mile stretch of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority’s (MWAA) 26-mile Silver Line extension.

Pervious pavement, permeable pavers traffic Smart Surfaces Coalition goals

October 11, 2018 Don Marsh

If not from day one, the U.S. Green Building Council has come around on construction criteria where concrete excels: Life cycle assessment (LCA), starting with LEED v4 green building rating system provisions, and now as one of the principles guiding an advocacy effort friendly to pervious or permeable interlocking concrete pavements.

Developer of rebar-tying robot takes top AGC-Autodesk award

October 8, 2018 Concrete News

Source: Associated General Contractors of America, Washington, D.C.

Saxonburg, Pa.-based Brayman Construction and its affiliate, Advanced Construction Robotics, took first place and a $10,000 prize in the inaugural AGC-Autodesk Innovation Awards program for an autonomous rebar-tying robot geared to bridge construction. The Tybot device ties continuously day or night, and takes over after construction crews carry, place and frame-in 10 percent of deck rebar.

Energy efficiency council ranks building and vehicle leaders, laggards

October 8, 2018 Concrete News

Sources: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

As the federal government loosens environmental rules, states are investing more in energy efficiency and delivering increased power savings. Based on 32 metrics in six areas, including building and vehicle performance, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) 12th annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard cites leaders California and Massachusetts; laggards North Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming; and, states with the highest year-over-year improvements, notably New Jersey.