The U.S. Department of Transportation’s new Crash Preventability Determination Program (CPDP) enables commercial motor vehicle drivers or owners to submit a Request for Data Review covering eligible events from August 2019 forward. By formally clarifying crash conditions or circumstances, it stands to bring greater accuracy and fairness to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) and Safety Measurement System (SMS) mechanisms for critiquing driver or carrier safety performance.
Read MoreMonth: June 2020
Keystone SRW test helps FHWA advance earth retention system practice
Keystone Retaining Wall Systems’ KeySystem III was recently evaluated under the Federal Highway Administration’s new Innovations, Developments, Enhancements and Advancements (IDEA) program. Administered by the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Geo-Institute, the technical evaluation serves to improve earth retention systems technology and installation methods.
Read MoreReport questions 90-minute discharge window in ASTM C94
Sources: Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff
Findings in a new RMC Research & Education Foundation report, “Impact of Extended Time to Discharge on Concrete Durability and Performance,” support reexamination of the 90-minute delivery threshold in ASTM C94, Standard Specification for Ready Mixed Concrete.
Read MoreNPCA to resume audits for precast plant certification
Source: National Precast Concrete Association, Carmel, Ind.
After a nearly four-month, pandemic-spurred hiatus, National Precast Concrete Association Plant Certification resumes July 6, the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Committee modifying the program to allow for virtual and in-plant audits through the remainder of 2020. All annual renewal audits, regardless of method, will be unannounced and scored against the current NPCA Quality Control Manual for Plant Certification grading schedule.
Read MoreLiebherr engineers invite small orders with self-service batch plant
Sources: Liebherr-Mischtechnik GmbH, Germany; CP staff
Virginia-based Liebherr USA’s parent company plans a global launch this summer of an automated batch plant tailored to small professional or do-it-yourself project customers. With output at about 35 yd./hour, the model will be equipped for adjustable height discharge of .20- to 2.5-yd. loads in small trailers or larger vehicles, including conventional mixer trucks.
Read MoreICPI postpones Hardscape North America
Source: Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute, Chantilly, Va.
Due to concerns and uncertainties surrounding the pandemic, the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute will delay this year’s Hardscape North America show, scheduled October 21-23 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, until October 2021. Continuing an arrangement of recent years, 2021 Hardscape NA will co-locate with the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute-led GIE+EXPO, organizers of which recently affirmed commitment to staging a 2020 show.
Read MoreNOx, PM levels dive in latest EPA air quality report
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff
The federal government’s latest annual report on air quality trends, “Our Nation’s Air – EPA Celebrates 50 Years!,” documents pollution reduction progress from 1970-2019, emphasizing gains during the last few years. The combined emissions of Environmental Protection Agency-designated criteria pollutants and their precursors dropped 7 percent from 2017 to 2019. That metric reflects three-year declines in the emissions levels of nitrogen oxides, -10 percent; particulate matter 2.5, -1 percent; sulfur dioxide, -16 percent; carbon monoxide, -6 percent; and, volatile organic compounds, -3 percent.
Read MoreCalPortland blended cement series clips carbon dioxide load
Sources: CalPortland Co., Glendora, Calif.; CP staff
The two charter offerings in a new CalPortland line of blended portland-limestone cements (PLC) have an embodied carbon level about 10 percent below that of common ASTM C 150 materials. ADVANCEMENT LT (Light) is a lighter colored, higher albedo Type IL PLC suiting concrete in design and architectural conditions. ADVANCEMENT HS (High Sulfate) is formulated for general use concrete or when high sulfate resistance is required.
Read MoreLafargeHolcim, GE unit team on 3D-printed wind turbine pedestals
Sources: LafargeHolcim Ltd., Zurich; CP staff
The latest target in a LafargeHolcim investigation of 3D-printed concrete elements or structures is a pedestal for a new class of turbines, 150-200 meters high, that have the potential to harness one-third or more energy than the shorter towers dotting wind farms the world over.
Read MoreOldcastle APG packaging business unit goes from sand to sanitizer
Sources: Oldcastle APG, Atlanta; CP staff
The Oldcastle APG division specializing in paver jointing sand and concrete hardscape unit surface treatments has added a medical-grade sanitizer aimed at supporting the industry and trade professionals during the current pandemic and beyond. Techniseal Hand Sanitizer abides World Health Organization-recommended guidelines for handrub formulas and is manufactured according to U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. With 75 percent alcohol content, it quickly rids hands of germs, bacteria and viruses in the workplace, public spaces or at home. The product is shipped in 5-gal. boxes, their built-in lockable dispensers allowing for easy use at sanitary checkpoints or mess-free filling and refilling of smaller-scale containers.
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