Guest Editorial – Page 2 – Concrete Products

Six Sigma Concrete: A new standard for high quality

March 16, 2018September 21, 2020 Concrete News

Systems and ideologies, such as the three sigma rule or lean six sigma, are used by companies to improve the quality and efficiency of their product manufacturing while minimizing defects and waste. Usage of the word “sigma” traces back to the mathematical concept of standard deviation (σ), and it is a way to define outliers or, in manufacturing categories, defects. The implementation of these “sigma methodologies” evokes a sense of quality and excellence, and therefore combining the word “sigma” and concrete is a creative way to represent high quality concrete. Furthermore, there are six specific attributes of concrete, all starting with the letter “S”, that directly contribute to high quality.

California surprise: Public works ready-mix delivery subject to prevailing wage

December 9, 2015September 21, 2020 Kevin Jeffery

Many of us in the California construction industry spent time this fall with one eye on the capital, Sacramento, hoping our legislators would at long last address the state’s crumbling highways, roads and bridges. Editorial boards, local agencies, citizen groups and construction industry and union leaders alike pressed for additional funding to improve our infrastructure.

The Impending Texas Cement Apocalypse

July 1, 2015September 21, 2020 Paul Gosselink and Jeff Reed

Industry projections reveal that by 2018, the demand for cement in Texas will exceed the supply for the first time. At about the same time, the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to reduce the ozone standard from 75 ppb to 65 or 70 ppb. As a result, all or portions of Central Texas are expected to be designated as a “non-attainment area” for ozone, making construction of additional capacity significantly more expensive. Here are a few thoughts for cement interests that want to expand their facilities or build new plants in this impending new regulatory environment.

Revised ACI 318 Code streamlines concrete mix, performance references

January 30, 2015 Colin Lobo

The American Concrete Institute’s just-released ACI 318-14, Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete consolidates concrete mixture-specific references from 318-11 Chapters 3 (Materials), 4 (Durability) and 5 (Strength and Construction Issues) into new Chapters 19 (Concrete: Design and Durability Requirements) and 26 (Construction Documents and Inspection). The reorganization of these sections permitted an evaluation and elimination of some Code provisions related to concrete mixtures and construction when better addressed in other referenced standards.

American Concrete Institute’s ACI 318-14: A modern, accessible code platform

January 30, 2015 Randall Poston

The contemporary use of structural concrete is a complex endeavor, requiring the skills, training, insights and experience of a broad range of professionals. These include designers, engineers, construction specifiers, insurers and code officials, as well as the general contractors, subcontractors and construction personnel.

Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers set the wood record straight

December 3, 2013 CP Staff

The Canadian Concrete Masonry Producers Association discusses the federal government’s wood building-friendly policies in the wake of recent severe weather events on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border.

Sustainable Practices All Concrete Producers Should Start With

November 19, 2013 CP Staff

Within the concrete world, we hear a lot these days about sustainability. Maybe at times a bit too much, as it can become confusing to concrete producers who may not be sure how it applies to them or where to start. And, the many buzzwords associated with sustainability can further mystify a movement that isn’t going to go away or die out as the next fad, but one instead which is going to form the foundation for how all successful businesses are going to operate tomorrow and into the future. In other words, sustainability and sustainable practices are the future for concrete producers.

IGCC short on resiliency, core and shell requirements

July 30, 2012 CP Staff

The 2012 edition of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) provides specific criteria for building design and construction that are suitable or even favorable for the use of concrete, concrete products and masonry. However, the IGCC is remiss in that it does not adequately encourage or require the building core and shell to be adequately resilient to achieve good sustainable building design.

The Evolution of Concrete Masonry

June 13, 2012 CP Staff

In 2010 while catching up with her on some circa-1930s Popeye cartoons, my (then) three-year-old daughter made the astute observation that Bluto had selected “concrete masonry” in an attempt to slow down a spinach-juiced Popeye saving Olive Oyl from imminent peril.