Members of ASTM Committees C09 on Concrete and Concrete Aggregates and C01 on Cement, as well as other interested parties, are invited to join the new Subcommittee C09.50 on Risk Management for Alkali Aggregate Reactions. The subcommittee will develop standards on the mitigation of harmful alkali-aggregate reactions in concrete.

The construction of Vancouver’s Olympic and Paralympic Village for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games involved all of Lafarge’s expertise in LEED certification, which was required by the specifications to reduce the buildings’ environmental footprint in terms of energy efficiency, water consumption, heating, use of local materials and reuse of any surplus.

Tindall Corp. has announced the completion of a new Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Miss., replacing one severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina and demolished in late 2007.

Expected increases in public construction activities will pave the way for improved cement consumption in 2010 and beyond, according to the most recent economic forecast from the Portland Cement Association.

Initially developed to treat concrete floors, two-component waterborne (2K WB) polyurethane coatings formulated with resins from Bayer MaterialScience LLC are now being applied to protect against the adherence of graffiti to vertical surfaces.

New Nycon Inc. has been acquired, has officially changed its name to Nycon Corp., and is now affiliated with A.L. Patterson Inc.

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed the first-ever national rules to ensure the safe disposal and management of coal ash from coal-fired power plants.