Association News
Conventions moved to Kansas City
Because of the devastation in New Orleans, the American Concrete Institute has relocated its fall convention to the Kansas City Marriott and Convention Center in Kansas City, Mo. The dates of the convention remain unchanged: Nov. 6 through Nov. 10, 2005.
As a courtesy to those who have already registered, ACI has transferred all registrations from New Orleans to Kansas City. The preregistration cutoff date has been extended until Oct. 7, 2005. To register, visit ACI's website at www.concrete.org or call (248) 848-3800. For additional convention information, call (248) 848-3795.
The Strategic Development Council and American Shotcrete Association meetings will also be held in Kansas City, on Nov. 4 and Nov. 5. The International Concrete Repair Institute Convention will be held at the Kansas City Marriott, Nov. 2 through Nov. 5.
The American Concrete Institute extends its sympathies to those affected by Hurricane Katrina.
The American Concrete Institute has released another batch of new publications.
“Symposium Publication 228: Seventh International Symposium on the Utilization of High-Strength/High-Performance Concrete” contains 96 papers presented at the 2005 Symposium. Topics include: research projects that investigate mechanical properties of high-performance lightweight concrete; properties of high-strength concrete using a high fly-ash content; research, development, and application of ultra-high-performance concrete; and nonconventional aggregates and mineral admixtures in high-performance concrete.
“301-05 — Specifications for Structural Concrete” is a reference that engineers or architects can cite in project specifications. It covers materials and proportioning of concrete; reinforcing and prestressing steels; production, placing, finishing, and curing of concrete; and formwork design and construction. Methods of treatment of joints and embedded items, repair of surface defects, and finishing of formed and unformed surfaces are also specified. Separate sections are devoted to architectural concrete, lightweight concrete, mass concrete, prestressed concrete, and shrinkage-compensating concrete.
“318-05 — Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete and Commentary” is now available in metric and Spanish versions as well as English. It contains the latest code requirements for concrete building design and construction.
“332-04 — Requirements for Residential Concrete Construction and Commentary” offers a code portion that covers design and construction for cast-in-place concrete work for one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses.
“423.3R-05 — Recommendations for Concrete Members Prestressed with Unbonded Tendons” includes suggestions for revisions and additions to ACI 318. Consideration is given to determination of fire endurance, design for seismic forces, and design for catastrophic loadings, in addition to design for gravity and lateral loads.
“551.1R-05 — Tilt-Up Concrete Construction Guide” covers preconstruction planning, foundations, special considerations for slab-on-ground construction, wall panel forming and casting, panel erection, connections and repairing, and painting.
These publications can be ordered by visiting the ACI Web site or by calling (248) 848-3800.
The American Concrete Institute's coffee-table book, “Concrete: A Pictorial Celebration,” has been awarded the Magnum Opus Grand and Gold Awards from Publications Management magazine. The Magnum Opus Awards are presented in conjunction with the Missouri School of Journalism to honor those who work to raise the bar in custom publishing.
The hardcover book has also won the APEX 2005 Award of Excellence from Communications Concepts Inc., in the “One-of-a-Kind Publication” category. APEX 2005 awards were given for excellence in graphic design, editorial content and the success of the entry in achieving overall communications effectiveness and excellence.
“Concrete: A Pictorial Celebration” was published to commemorate the American Concrete Institute's 100-year anniversary in 2004. It notes milestone achievements in the concrete industry and celebrates the utility and beauty of concrete for all applications.
For more, visiting the ACI Web site.
Cement use still on the rise
Cement consumption this year is expected to increase 5 percent over 2004 levels, making 2005 the third straight year with record volume, according to the Portland Cement Association's Summer Forecast Report.
The report is also predicting a 3.3 percent increase in 2006. Recent growth in nonresidential construction, coupled with few signs of a slowdown in the residential sector, point to more demand next year. An increase in public works construction is also expected as state finances improve and the Transportation Equity Act program is initiated. Meanwhile, cement intensities continue to rise and are projected to do so through 2009.
For more about PCA reports, visit www.cement.org.
The Portland Cement Association launched ConcreteThinker.com, a Web site that enables architects interested in sustainable design to learn more about the environmental benefits of building with concrete.
ConcreteThinker.com provides access to valuable tools, case studies, profiles, up-to-date information on sustainable development, real-world examples and concrete solutions for environmentally responsible design.
The complete Concrete Thinker awareness program will include an upcoming architectural student competition, additional promotional initiatives for architects, and direct outreach to architecture firms nationwide.
For more about the PCA, visit www.cement.org.
Pervious placement certification on the way
The RMC Research Foundation has unveiled the Text Reference for Pervious Concrete Contractor Certification.
The text will serve as the basis of a certification for the placement of pervious concrete. Until now, no specific guidelines existed for the use of pervious concrete, which is rapidly growing in popularity across the country.
The Text Reference is available for purchase from the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA). Details on the certification exam may also be obtained from NRMCA, with the exam being administered through local sponsoring groups.
For more about the RMC Research Foundation, visit www.rmc-foundation.org.
Cement shortage feared after Katrina
Ken Simonson, chief economist for AGC, has expressed concern about cement shortages in the coming year due to Hurricane Katrina. “The New Orleans customs district led the nation with 12 percent of total imports, which accounted for more than three percent of the nation's cement shipments during the first six months of 2005,” Simonson noted. “Therefore, cement shortages are expected to worsen in some of the 32 states that were already experiencing shortages and spread to new states. Cement prices are likely to rise even more steeply than the 12.7 percent increase that occurred between August 2004 and August 2005.”
AGC in mid-September sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Commerce urging that the Bush administration provide an immediate suspension of the anti-dumping duty on Mexican cement and allow imports of cement from all countries without duties or quotas in light of the emergency created by Hurricane Katrina.
“In light of the lost supply, it is imperative that other supply sources be made available as soon as possible,” Simonson said. “Without it, construction projects and manufacture of concrete products in many states will have to halt, potentially laying off thousands of workers. Moreover, vital infrastructure repairs and reconstruction in the hurricane zone could be imperiled. One alternative is to import cement from Mexico by barge to all of the Gulf states and by rail into the Southwest. Such cement could arrive more promptly than cement from most of the current leading sources of imports, such as South Korea, China or Greece. But the current 55 percent anti-dumping duty makes Mexican cement prohibitively expensive.”
CSDA schedules convention
The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association will hold its 34th annual convention in Charleston, S.C., between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1, 2006.
The event will include workshops on maintenance management and wage and hour compliance, presentations covering a range of topics from economics to safety, roundtable discussions, and the CSDA Tech Fair. Professional keynote speaker Chip Eichelberger will deliver the keynote address.
For more information, visit www.csda.org or call (727) 577-5004.
The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association has launched a new Web site at www.csda.org, the association's existing address.
The redesigned site includes several new features. In a Members Only area, CSDA members access valuable safety and training materials. The Specifier's Corner presents sawing and drilling specifications, standards and tolerances for all the major sawing and drilling applications, plus helpful articles and a contractor search function. The CSDA Store sells a wide range of industry resources, including CSDA safety manuals and handbooks, training videos and marketing materials.
All of the site's standard components remain, including a membership directory, discussion board, calendar and magazine archive, advertising details, and information on becoming a member. To contact the CSDA by phone, call (727) 577-5004.
The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association has published the 2005-2006 Sawing & Drilling Resource Guide and Membership Directory.
This edition of the annual publication includes industry specifications for the first time, including specs for core drilling, flat sawing, wall sawing, wire sawing, hand sawing and chain sawing. Tolerances from the International Association of Concrete Drillers and Sawers are offered too. The directory portion lists sawing and drilling contractors worldwide, as well as industry manufacturers, distributors, affiliates and reciprocal associations. For more information, visit www.csda.org or call (727) 577-5004
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