SEPTEMBER 2015
Rise of an Empire CSDA Member Takes Brooklyn Waterfront Renovation by Storm
400-Ton Lab Door Cut with Wire Saw Success Factors of High Frequency Sawing Chicago Board of Trade Building Renovated
Feb. 2–5 2016 Best Registration Deal Use Source Code
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President’s Page
KEVIN BARON CSDA President
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n my first President’s Page, I mentioned that there were exciting opportunities open to CSDA and now I would like to talk about some of these opportunities in more detail. Before I do, I would like to point out that the past and current successes of the association, along with all future successes, are realized because of the determination and hard work of the committee chairs, committee members, Board members and every CSDA member. This association is what we, the members, want it to be so please—whether you are a member or not—make an effort to join us at one of our quarterly meetings and sit in on as many sessions as you like. It is up to us to make CSDA the best association possible and the leader of our industry, so participation by all is encouraged. One of the most exciting opportunities and challenges CSDA has today is the restructuring of its Company Certification Program. The CSDA Certification Committee is working hard to develop a new certification program combined with an aggressive marketing plan that will continue to give certified CSDA contractors an advantage over the rest of the industry. The Certification Committee is looking to streamline and simplify the program to provide one level of certification instead of three based on the recommendation of the Construction Certification Institute (CCI), an independent company that will act as the program administrator. This level of certification will include training requirements as recommended by CCI and as outlined by CSDA. The intent is to specify that a set percentage of employees must take part in some form of industry training—whether online, in the classroom or through a
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hands-on class. An outline of the new program is being developed by the committee. Concrete polishing has become a very exciting segment of the industry for CSDA, with incredible opportunity. The association has welcomed many new polishing contractors in the past year and there is the potential to gain many more new members as this part of the industry continues to grow. CSDA’s involvement with the concrete polishing industry has gained significant momentum thanks, in part, to the introduction of Standard CSDA-ST-115 and its related certification class. Since the association held its first official CSDA-ST-115 Certification class during the 2015 Convention, around 100 students have become certified and there is demand for more classes. This performance-based certification is offered in response to the demand from the specifying community. CSDA continues to work with industry specifiers to promote concrete cutting, polishing and imaging. I look forward to sharing more with you in my next President’s Page, which will be published as the industry is preparing for World of Concrete—be sure to use CSDA’s Source Code A26 for the lowest registration price available. For now, I leave you to consider the opportunities CSDA has with the development of a new certification program, the incredible potential the association has with the polishing industry and the important relationships being built with the specifying community. I encourage you to come to one of CSDA’s quarterly meetings, share your thoughts with us and join me in a committee meeting.
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CSDA OFFICERS
CONCRETE CASES
President, Kevin Baron Western Saw, Inc. kevinb@westernsaw.com Vice President, Jack Sondergard Central Concrete Cutting, Inc. Jacksondergard@sprynet.com Secretary/Treasurer, Mike Orzechowski DITEQ Corporation mikeo@diteq.com Past President, Judith O’Day Terra Diamond Industrial joday@terradiamond.com Executive Director, Patrick O’Brien Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association pat@csda.org CSDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Terms expiring 2016)
Down to a Science
Concrete Cutter Removes 400-Ton Laboratory Door
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Paul DeAndrea DeAndrea Coring & Sawing, Inc. paul@deandreacoring.com Patrick Harris Concrete Renovation, Inc. ptharris@sbcglobal.net Kevin Schmitt Husqvarna Construction Products kevin.schmitt@husqvarnagroup.com Kellie Vazquez Holes Incorporated kvazquez@holesinc.com Kevin Warnecke ICS, Blount Inc. kevin.warnecke@blount.com
Rise of an Empire
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CSDA BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Terms expiring 2017) Tim Beckman Cutting Edge Services Corp. beckman@cuttingedgeservices.com Matthew Finnigan National Concrete Cutting Inc. matthewf@nationalconcretecuttinginc.com Dan Foley Cobra Concrete Cutting Services Co. danfoley@cobraconcrete.com Greg Lipscomb Diamond Products Limited glipscomb@diamondproducts.com
Sweeping the Board
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Mike Nelson K2 Diamond mike.nelson@k2diamond.com Doug Walker Atlantic Concrete Cutting, Inc. dwalker@atlanticconcretecutting.com
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CSDA Member Takes Brooklyn Waterfront Renovation by Storm
GPR Imaging and Diamond Tools a Winning Combination
Turning the Tide
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Diamond Tools Strengthen Pier’s Tidal Defense
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CONCRETE OPENINGS MAGAZINE Official Magazine of the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association Volume 24, Number 3 ISSN: 1093-6483 Concrete Openings magazine is published by O’Brien International, Inc., four times each calendar year in March, June, September and December. Editorial contributions are welcomed and advertisements are encouraged. Please contact the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association 100 2nd Avenue South Suite 402N St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Tel: 727-577-5004 Fax: 727-577-5012 WWW.CSDA.ORG Magazines, newspapers and private individuals are welcome to reproduce, in whole or part, articles published herein provided that acknowledgements are made in the following manner: “Reprinted courtesy of the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association, Concrete Openings magazine, Issue Date.” No alterations should be made in the text of any article. PUBLISHER
C O N T E N T S 12 2015 IACDS Annual Meeting
International Association Elects New Officers in Paris
26 Polished Perspective
What Specifiers Look for in a Concrete Polishing Contractor
28 Tech Talk Success Factors of High-Frequency Sawing
38 Safety Counts
The Universal Language of Safety
42 The Business of Business Change Your Mindset: See Problems as Opportunities
Patrick O’Brien ASSOCIATE EDITOR Russell Hitchen CONCRETE CASE CONTRIBUTORS Paul Anderson Charles Billington John Emberson Bob Hopkins EDITORIAL REVIEW COMMITTEE Skip Aston Rod Newton
44 Core Health Buying Organic—Where to Spend and Where to Save
46 Industry Bits 56 Certification 58 Membership
Pat Stepenski The information and recommendations in this magazine are provided for use by fully qualified, professional personnel. The Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association and the publisher disclaim any responsibility as to their use by readers and shall not be liable for damages arising out of the use of the foregoing information.
60 Calendar 64 Director’s Dialogue
All bylined articles published in this magazine represent solely the individual opinions of the writers and not necessarily those of the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association.
28 Cover: Empire Stores, Brooklyn.
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(Photo courtesy of VisualHouse).
Concrete Cases
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Down to a Science Concrete Cutter Removes 400-Ton Laboratory Door
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scientific research center recently laid down a huge challenge for one specialty contractor—cut and remove a giant 400-ton concrete shielding door from one of its laboratories. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, located on 6,800 acres in Batavia, Illinois, is the premier particle physics and accelerator research center in the United States. Operated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Fermi Research Alliance (a consortium of groups that include the University of Chicago and Universities Research Association), Fermilab conducts high energy physics experiments using powerful particle accelerators to expand humanity’s understanding of matter, energy, space, time and the origins of the universe. Ryan Schultz, a project engineer at Fermilab, was given the task of converting an existing building into a long-term storage facility for “neutrino horns” and “targets” after they are used. A neutrino horn is a high-current electromagnet that physicists use to focus particles which decay to neutrinos, producing intense beams of neutrinos to destinations hundreds of kilometers away.
“Neutrino horns are about the size of a large pick-up truck,” Schultz explained. “Roughly 4 feet wide, 6 feet tall, and 13 feet long, they weigh about 3,500 pounds.” Plans were formed to redesign and repurpose a large portion of the center’s C-Zero Detector Hall Building to handle and store these components. There was only one problem: a moveable concrete wall that weighed in excess of 800,000 pounds. The structure served as a giant door for a previous experiment, but now stood in the way of the renovation works. Fermilab hired general contractor Equity Construction Services, Inc., of Troutman, North Carolina, to oversee the project. Equity then subcontracted CSDA member Hard Rock Concrete Cutters of Wheeling, Illinois, to cut and remove the concrete shielding door that closed off the main storage room. The successful completion of this highly technical concrete sawing project required two years of planning. Hard Rock’s President, Jim Dvoratchek, worked with Schultz to evaluate and implement the appropriate plan for the project. “We had to develop a removal process that satisfied the structural needs of the facility while maintaining a safe environment for our operators,” Dvoratchek said. “We were thrilled to take on a highly technical project with a fascinating scientific purpose.” The
The 400-ton concrete shielding door that closed off the facility’s main storage room was to be removed.
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Operators set up wire sawing equipment to cut the 21-foot-wide, 20-foot-tall and 13-foot-thick door.
The wire saw created 36 blocks, each weighing in excess of 16,000 pounds, which were removed by crane.
small and constricted space in which the structure stood ruled out some traditional forms of demolition, so the decision was made to use wire sawing techniques. This prevented any potential health or environmental concerns. In late September of 2014, Hard Rock operators arrived to begin demolition. Company superintendent, Doug St. Marie, oversaw the daily onsite work. “They rolled out the door on four 200-ton Hillman rollers, this thing was huge,” St. Marie recalled. “The block itself was 21 feet wide, 20 feet high and 13 feet deep of concrete. The bottom three feet were reinforced along the structure’s length by five embedded I-beams caged in 0.38-inch-thick steel plating. It was over 400 tons.” The first stage of work involved removing a top layer of 14 “shielding blocks” from the door. These blocks, each weighing approximately 6,000 pounds, were originally welded together. Hard Rock cut the welding and removed them one at a time. Fermilab provided an overhead 30-ton crane with an operator that lifted the
pieces out of the three-story pit with rigging straps and onto a truck parked on a loading dock adjacent to the facility. The second stage involved sawing the bulk of the structure. The contractor utilized a Hilti-Plattner wire saw with wire supplied by Diamond Tools Technology. The operation required four vertical cuts and four horizontal cuts on the upper 14 feet of the door. The vertical cuts covered 13 square feet each, and the four horizontal cuts covered 14 square feet each. In order to set the wire for specific cuts, 2-inchdiameter holes were made with a Hilti DD-200 core drill through the width and length of the structure using continuous tubing. In total, two holes were cored through 21 feet of concrete, and another two holes were cored through 13 feet of concrete. Plastic sheeting was hung on all four sides of the work area to prevent debris and slurry water from contaminating the surrounding areas of the storage facility. The team averaged approximately one cut every eight hours, with necessary down time to reset the wire, perform saw maintenance and
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Steel plating measuring 0.38 inches thick and 3-foot I-beams lined the bottom section of the structure.
adapt safety protocols to changes in site conditions. Concern over hazardous dust emanating from the door during the sawing process was abated by the use of a water recovery system. Each of the 36 16,000-pound blocks was removed by crane to waiting trucks on the loading dock. The third and final stage involved cutting the base of the door. The bottom 3 feet proved to be the cutting contractor’s most challenging part of the project, given the significant amount of rebar and steel within the concrete. Steel plating measuring 0.38 inches thick lined the entirety of the bottom section and within the concrete were five 3-foot I-beams, forming a hard base to the door. Operators sawed the section into three blocks, weighing an average of 25 tons each. Once these pieces were lifted out, area cleanup commenced and the project was finished successfully. By the end of the job, operators had cored approximately 60 feet of concrete and cut approximately 2,132 square feet of concrete with the wire saw. Hard Rock operators employed standard safety-related personal protective equipment when working on the facility floor: steel-toed boots, hard hats, safety glasses, hearing protection and work gloves. For those working on top of the structure, retractable full-body harnesses were provided as a preventative measure against potential falls. All workers evaluated their surroundings at all times and used extreme caution when dealing with the wire saw, rigging blocks to the crane and moving around on the top of the structure. Due to the commitment of all parties involved, there were no injuries during the course of the project. The general contractor removed the block pieces to Fermilab’s on-site dump, making available over 400 tons of concrete and steel to be repurposed for other shielding needs around the lab. Hard Rock’s work was completed on time to the satisfaction of Fermilab and Equity Construction Services. When asked about his experience with the cutting contractor, Schultz said, “Hard Rock ran like a well-oiled machine! They determined the best type of diamond wire to use at the beginning of the project and there were no major issues during the cutting process. The work performed was very impressive.”
Approximately 2,132 square feet of concrete was cut to remove the shielding door.
COMPANY PROFILE A CSDA member since 1989, Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Inc., has been in business for 28 years. The company is based in Wheeling, Illinois, and services the entire Chicagoland area. Hard Rock Concrete Cutters employs 58 employees, has 28 trucks and offers the concrete cutting services of slab sawing, core drilling, wall sawing, hand sawing, wire sawing, grinding, concrete polishing, staining and GPR imaging. The company is a CSDA Certified Company and employs CSDA Certified Operators.
RESOURCES General Contractor: Equity Construction Services, Inc. Sawing and Drilling Contractor: Hard Rock Concrete Cutters, Inc. Wheeling, Illinois Phone: 847-850-7710 Email: jimd@hardrockconcretecutters.com Website: www.hardrockconcretecutters.com Methods Used: Wire Sawing, Core Drilling
REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.CONCRETEOPENINGS.COM
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2015 IACDS Annual General Meeting
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ELECTS NEW OFFICERS IN PARIS
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he 21st Annual General Meeting of the International Association of Concrete Drillers and Sawers (IACDS) was held April 22 in Paris, France. The meeting brought together delegates and guests from all over the world to discuss the global status of the sawing and drilling industry. Representatives from Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Liechtenstein, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States were in attendance to witness the election of new Officers and the retirement of the association’s long-standing secretary. Outgoing IACDS President Lars Sandström of Sweden gave his annual report to the attendees and discussions were held on the association’s planned activities for the coming year. In 2014, several national associations produced new international industry resource documents that were approved by the association. The aim is to have a set of resources that any concrete construction and demolition professional can use to better understand sawing and drilling techniques and best practices, regardless of where in the world the professional is located.
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While documents titled Descriptions of Existing and New Technology, Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome, Key Market Indicators and Robotic Demolition were approved, others on the subjects of noise levels, silica control and slurry handling remain under discussion. The IACDS delegates are focused on creating documents that are in line with accepted standards produced by national safety administrations, so it is important that the criteria from each of these standards is taken into consideration. This latest series of documents complements the Basic Parameters for Concrete Drilling and Sawing Equipment and Tolerances and Limits for Construction Sawing and Drilling documents revised and updated in 2006. Discussion also focused on the creation of an internationallyrecognized training standard and monitoring guide for operators in the industry. The standard would provide introductory training and issue a pocket card to identify the operator as being competent in sawing and drilling disciplines. This is considered to be of particular importance for contractors in Europe, as workers can easily travel between one country and the next to find employment. The implementation of an international training standard would help reduce cases of people falsely claiming to be skilled sawing and drilling operators and, therefore, increase safety on jobsites. Such a training scheme would complement existing national training programs, like the one offered by CSDA, and the IACDS delegates agreed to move forward with this idea.
Fulfilling his two-year term as IACDS President, SandstrÜm stood down and the election of a new president was conducted. Vice-president Julie White of the U.K. was elected to lead the association for the next two years and Norikazu Shibuya of Japan will remain as vice-president. Shibuya is joined by Philippe Wingeier of Switzerland, who was elected to the other vicepresidential position. The 2015 IACDS Officers (back row, from left to right): Vice-Presidents As the association Phillippe Wingeier and Norikazu Shibuya, President Julie White and Past President Lars SandstrÜm. Retiring secretary Daniel Trachsel (front row, welcomed its new left) is accompanied by Jose Blanco, who now assumes the role. Officers, it also said farewell to its secretary, Representatives of the national Daniel Trachsel, who stepped down after associations present gave summaries of more than 15 years in the role. During the current construction market in their this time, Daniel and his wife, Anna, countries. There is a very positive mood worked very hard to organize IACDS among the delegates as signs of economic meetings, plan events and help keep the recovery continue to be seen around the association moving forward. Trachsel world. Countries like Germany, Japan, the was thanked for his efforts and he will U.K. and the U.S. are experiencing upturns continue to attend meetings as a guest. as more government and infrastructure work Former IACDS President Jose Blanco of has become available, but now the concern Spain proposed that he and Rabuso, his is that there is not enough skilled labor in the association management company, take workforce to take on all this new work. This on the secretarial and administrative duties further reinforces the need for industry training of the association. Blanco’s proposal was programs and emphasizes just how important accepted and he was appointed the new safety and training resources provided by secretary for IACDS. national associations can be to contractors.
The next IACDS annual meeting will be held in Munich, Germany on April 17, 2016 in conjunction with the bauma trade show. For more information about IACDS, or to download any of the technical documents produced by the association, visit www.iacds.org.
The International Association of Concrete Drillers & Sawers is an international trade association of sawing and drilling associations from the concrete construction and renovation industry. Its mission is to provide an international union and cooperation of trade associations to support and promote professional development of professional sawing and drilling contractors and their methods. Concrete cutting with diamond tools offers the industry many benefits, including reduced downtime, precision cutting, maintenance of structural integrity, reduced noise, dust and debris, limited-access cutting and the ability to cut heavily-reinforced concrete. This umbrella organization of sawing and drilling associations formed in 1995 is composed of the associations from France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
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RISE OF AN CSDA Member Takes Brooklyn Waterfront Renovation by Storm
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massive transformation has taken place on the banks of the East River in Brooklyn, New York, where an iconic 130-year-old building has been renovated as part of a new 500,000-squarefoot business and entertainment complex. One contractor’s innovative thinking, coupled with the cutting speed and precision of diamond tools, helped penetrate the building’s walls with over 500 holes—some as large as 30 inches in diameter—and create 150 wire saw openings to keep the renovation work moving forward. The 330,000-square-foot Empire Stores warehouse is one of the last surviving brick storehouses on the waterfront and was once surrounded by many others when Brooklyn was a hub for shipping, industry and commerce. The building has a brick masonry façade, schist walls and was built in phases between 1869 and 1885. Originally used as a coffee warehouse, the Empire Stores building was vacant for several decades until work began to convert it into a home for technology companies, fashion houses, retailers and restaurateurs. Divided into seven bays to store coffee and other dry goods that arrived by boat or train, the building was to be opened up to
Holes as large as 30 inches in diameter were required in the 24-inch-thick stone walls.
The New Empire Stores Once complete, the new Empire Stores will include 300,000 square feet of offices, another 80,000 square feet of restaurant/retail/event space, 7,000 square feet of landscaped rooftop open space and exhibition space. The LEED Silver certified building has over 28,000 square feet of private terraces with unobstructed views of lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge. Developer Midtown Equities won the development bid from Brooklyn Bridge Park in summer 2013 and has given the brick building new life. Studio V designed two modern additions for the top, as well as an open-air courtyard that slices through the middle. The developer has kept historic elements like coffee chutes and hoisting wheels, plus there will be dedicated museum space curated by Brooklyn Historical Society to showcase the legacy of Brooklyn’s waterfront, history of the building and Brooklyn Bridge Park development. The building will also have a curated selection of contemporary art from both international names Photo courtesy of the Brooklyn Historical Society. and local Brooklyn designers in public open spaces. Companies moving to Empire Stores can take advantage of the state’s Relocation and Employment Assistance Program (REAP). The program offers business income tax credits for relocating jobs from outside of New York City to one of the outer boroughs. Eligible tenants can qualify for an annual credit with an effective value equal to approximately $15 per rentable square foot. For more information, visit www.empirestoresdumbo.com.
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EMPIRE
accommodate the new venue’s design. Each bay measured approximately 150 feet long and 60 feet wide. All dividing walls were schist stone with no access points from one bay to another, so the general contractor for the renovation work, H&H Builders, Inc. of New York, New York, began looking at ways to create openings in the bay walls without damaging the surrounding structures. Tasks included core drilling 260 holes 30 inches in diameter through 28-inch-thick stone walls, followed by 250 holes 16 inches in diameter through 24 inches of stone. These openings would allow access for underpinning and the installation of needle beams to support the walls and carry the load of new glass structures around the building. In addition, 16 holes were needed for the installation of anchor rods. These 2-inch-diameter holes had to be 16 feet deep and pass through brick elements of the building. Attempts were made to cut some of the 30-inch-diameter holes with a hand saw, but this proved too time-consuming and difficult. After cutting, some stone was chopped out but this was causing damage to the surrounding mortar. The general contractor realized the best solution would be to core drill the openings with diamond tools and hired CSDA member Concrete Cutting Company of Port Chester, New York, for the work. “The foundation and interior walls of the building consisted of a schist stone with 145-year-old mortar, which was extremely fragile. It was discovered that it was impossible to simply break out any pieces without surrounding mortar falling apart, so saw cutting and core drilling methods were the best option,” said Charles Billington, project manager for Concrete Cutting Company. “We surveyed the building and came up with a plan to complete all required cutting and drilling tasks in line with the time frame specified.” Cutting work began in March 2014 with the 30-inch-diameter core drilling tasks. The specified drilling locations were below grade and because the jobsite was next to a river, the contractor frequently dealt with muddy conditions. In some cases, sump pits were dug to help get rid of water. Another challenge was how to anchor to stone that, in some areas, was falling apart. To mitigate this problem, Concrete Cutting Company designed and fabricated drill rigs that attached to skid steers, which eliminated the need to anchor. The rig was positioned in front of the marked location, adjusted to the correct elevation and then drilling commenced. It was calculated that this
Photo courtesy of VisualHouse.
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A custom rig was fabricated to allow safe, solid positioning for core drilling.
innovative design helped increase productivity by as much as 60 percent. Using two custom-fabricated drill rigs, operators drilled at 220 RPM to create the 30-inch-diameter holes and at 400 RPM for the creation of the smaller 16-inch-diameter holes. The larger holes each took between 15 and 20 minutes to drill while the smaller ones took just seven to 10 minutes. Operators completed an average of 12 30-inch holes per eighthour shift, and that number increased to 24 per shift for the 16-inch holes. The 16-foot-deep core holes, required for the installation of anchor rods, were made in the northwest and southwest corners of the building using a 110-volt, four-speed core drill from Diamond Tech, Inc. with a 2-inchdiameter continuous tubing. Each of the 16 holes was completed in approximately two-and-a-half hours.
Vertical wire saw cuts were created in the 24-inch-thick bay walls.
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Operators made 150 openings up to 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide with a wire saw.
In addition to the core drilling work, Concrete Cutting Company was contracted to create 150 openings measuring an average of 12 feet tall and 10 feet wide in the 24-inch-thick stone walls that divided the old bays at Empire Stores. These openings lined up on top of each other through the building, making them between 48 and 60 feet tall when completed. The contractor utilized a Hilti WS 20 wire saw to make the necessary vertical cuts. Due to the age and condition of the wood flooring in the bays, carpenters used 0.75-inch-thick plywood and erected shoring on the front and back sides of the wall and under the marked location before wire sawing commenced. This was to keep the wood beams stable and support the floor when debris fell as areas were broken out.
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Over 500 holes were cored for underpinning and the installation of needle beams.
Pulleys were positioned to create the vertical cuts two floors at a time, which greatly increased production. As the openings were positioned on top of each other, no horizontal cuts were required. The contractor completed the cuts then broke out the sections with a Brokk 100 demolition robot. Actual cutting time for one opening, excluding setup and take down, was around one hour. Operators cut 150 of these sections, which equated to around 7,200 square feet of cutting and 1,330 cubic yards of breaking. It took an operator an average of 45 minutes to break out one cut section with the demolition robot. The last task for the Concrete Cutting Company operators, was to create 250 beam pockets in the brick and stone to install steel reinforcement for a new glass structure on the roof of the building. There were two specified sizes of pockets; 10 inches long, 6 inches wide and 8 inches deep, and 24 inches long, 16 inches wide and 14 inches deep. All cuts were made with an ICS 890F4 chain saw. It took an operator around one hour to complete the smaller beam pockets, while the larger ones each took around two hours to cut and break out. All original contract work was finished in May 2015, but the contractor has returned to the jobsite to perform additional work, including an extra 600 square feet of wire sawing work. Concrete Cutting Company kept two operators onsite at Empire Stores to complete day-to-day cutting tasks such as drilling holes and sawing small openings. H&H Builders, Inc. has also awarded the cutting contractor the task of creating three 12-foot-wide by 13-foot-tall openings in 28-inch-thick brick for bay doors with lintels, and cutting 2-foot-square HVAC openings in the schist walls. “It was amazing to spend several months at this particular jobsite and see the building slowly transform,” said Billington. “We got going in March of last year and we have had guys on the site for around 12 months altogether. The wire sawing and breaking portion of the work accounted for about three of those months. Each item was completed ahead of schedule and we are currently still on the jobsite doing day-to-day extras,” he added. The cutting contractor is extremely happy with the project and the performance of the operators on the job. As a result of the work done
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at Empire Stores, Concrete Cutting Company has received additional work from H&H Builders on other projects. The venue will partially open at the start of 2016 and the building already has a large number of companies ready to move in. Empire Stores has changed the face of Brooklyn’s waterfront once more. Thanks to the precision and speed of diamond cutting equipment and the ingenuity of those who use it, the building lives on as a lively, modern venue. REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.CONCRETEOPENINGS.COM
COMPANY PROFILE Concrete Cutting Company has been a CSDA member for 20 years and is based in Port Chester, New York. The company has been in business since 1993, has 25 employees and 14 trucks. Concrete Cutting Company services southern New York, Connecticut, Northern New Jersey and Rhode Island. The company offers the services of core drilling, wall sawing, wire sawing, flat sawing, selective demolition, breaking and hauling.
RESOURCES General Contractor: H&H Builders, Inc. Sawing and Drilling Contractor: Concrete Cutting Company Port Chester, New York Phone: 914-937-0800 Email: charles@concretecuttingcompany.com Website: www.concretecuttingcompany.com Methods Used: Wire Sawing, Core Drilling, Hand Sawing, Selective Demolition
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Concrete Cases
Sweeping the
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GPR Imaging and Diamond Tools a Winning Combination
The Chicago Board of Trade Building stands 605 feet tall and has 44 stories. 2 0 | S E PTE MBE R.15
Chicago Board of Trade
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he use of non-intrusive ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology provided a Chicago-based CSDA member with critical data to flat saw over 2,000 linear feet of concrete safely and accurately in one of the city’s most iconic buildings.
Crosby Associates is a planning and design firm of visual identity, branding and communications programs for organizations, products, services, events and initiatives. The firm’s office is located on the 35th floor of the 605-foot-tall, 44-story Chicago Board of Trade Building. When the company decided to renovate its 3,400-square-foot office space, it was specified that all electrical cabling be out of sight and buried for safety and aesthetics. Therefore, a 200-linearfoot trench 24 inches wide, along with various other cuts, was to be made in the concrete office floor to bury cables and accommodate new furniture and fittings. The trench had to be 2.13 inches deep with a 0.06 tolerance for both depth and width. It would be covered by a cushioned cork material for employee comfort upon completion. However, the floor contained hidden keyways and other objects connected to the building’s architecture, utilities and office space below. Therefore, each of these objects had to be located, identified and avoided before cutting and chipping out the concrete. It was made clear by the owners that there was no margin for error.
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The Chicago Board of Trade was established in 1848 and is one of the world’s oldest futures and options exchanges. More than 50 different options and futures contracts are traded by over 3,600 members through open outcry and electronic trading. Volumes at the exchange in 2003 were a record breaking 454 million contracts. The Chicago Board of Trade took shape to provide a centralized location, where buyers and sellers can meet to negotiate and formalize forward contracts. The Board of Trade moved to its current location in 1885, but the original building was rendered structurally unsound during the 1920s and was subsequently demolished in 1929. Upon learning of the condition of the building, architectural firm Holabird & Root was given the task of designing a new building and construction began almost immediately after the demolition of the old one. The new Chicago Board of Trade Building opened the following year, in 1930. At 605 feet tall, it was the tallest building in Chicago until the Richard J. Daley Center superseded it in 1965. In 1977, the Chicago Board of Trade Building was designated a Chicago Landmark and is now classed as a National Historic Landmark.
The trench depth tolerance was based on the existence of a clay tile floor underneath the concrete. This clay floor could not be disturbed, as per the specification of the Chicago Board of Trade, because the keyways that locked the tiles in place also helped maintain structural integrity. In addition, a banking firm occupied the floor below and would remain in operation during the work, so noise and water control while cutting was crucial. The general contractor for the renovations, H&R Johnson Bros. Inc. of Evergreen, Illinois, worked with electrical contractor Brennan Electric, Inc., also of Evergreen, and chose Chicago Cut Concrete Cutting of Schaumburg, Illinois to cut the trench and other areas. “We were referred to Brennan Electric for this project based on our reputation in the Chicago Board of Trade Building. We had successfully completed numerous projects in the building before this one, so were confident that this job would have a positive outcome,” said Tiffany Phillips, owner of Chicago Cut.
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A GPR imaging technician scanned over 400 square feet of concrete flooring.
Operators created a trench that was 24 inches wide and 2.13 inches deep to house electrical cabling.
With all hidden objects identified, an operator chipped out all concrete within the cut lines of the trench.
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No other methods were suitable for the job. It was not only essential that the contractor acquired data to show all hidden objects below the surface, but also that operators used tools and equipment that created low noise, low vibration and produced minimal debris. Any use of highpercussion tools would have compromised the structural integrity of the surrounding structure and caused high levels of noise. Working indoors in a relatively confined space, the team from Chicago Cut had to use electrical equipment that produced no emissions and wear the necessary items of personal protective equipment. Chicago Cut was given two eight-hour shifts to complete the trench work, so the company’s GPR technician, Samantha Hopkins, visited the site one day prior to the start of cutting. The technician utilized a PS 1000 unit from Hilti to scan the required floor areas and produce imaging data. Approximately 400 square feet was covered in four hours, during which time the technician was able to map out the location and depth of all objects found for the saw operator to avoid. The GPR equipment was able to help the technician identify different types of material within the concrete and any voids present within or below the slab, which was also useful information for the other contractors and the property owners. GPR findings identified targets in the trench that H&R Johnson Bros. wanted to use for the new furniture installation. After the findings were reviewed by all parties, adjustments were made to the installation plan. Once the trench location was finalized, concrete cutting work began. Operators Matt Bartels and JR. Woodruff used a 10-horsepower CC1300 electric flat saw from Diamond Products fitted with an 18-inchdiameter blade to make the 2.13-inch-deep cuts for the trench. A K3000 hand saw from Husqvarna was also used for some areas that required cuts. Water control was the cutting contractor’s number one challenge during this stage of the job, based on the office below being occupied. A wet vacuum was employed to collect water and slurry during the work. All 2,000 linear feet of concrete sawing was completed in eight hours. With all flat sawing and hand sawing work done, a Chicago Cut operator then began to chip out all concrete within the cut lines of the trench using a Bosch hammer drill. The operator was careful not to exceed
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The finished trench, showing exposed piping and other objects within the concrete floor.
the specified depth of the trench or hit any of the objects detected by the GPR equipment. The entire trench was chipped out in eight hours. “There was some concern because of the voids present in the clay tiles. We had to be extremely cautious chipping out the areas because if we went past our mark, the water would travel into any cracks created and through the voids in the tile to the ceiling of the office below,” said Bob Hopkins, Vice-President of Chicago Cut. “We had two eight-hour shifts to complete all tasks and the job was finished on time.” The professionalism of the cutting contractor did not go unnoticed by the property owners either. Bart Crosby of Crosby Associates expressed his satisfaction with the work, saying, “The Chicago Cut team did a fine job and created no disturbances. The positioning of the trench was critical, as it determined where our new furniture could be placed and we did not want any exposed cabling. It turned out great.” A sweep of the building—in this case a scan—enabled this CSDA member to complete a delicate concrete cutting job in the Chicago Board of Trade Building successfully. The growing use of GPR imaging is helping to reduce accidents on sawing and drilling jobsites as hidden objects and hazards are being identified and avoided. Combining this equipment with diamond tools is proving to be a winning combination. REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.CONCRETEOPENINGS.COM
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COMPANY PROFILE Chicago Cut Concrete Cutting, Inc. has been in business since 2012 and joined CSDA the same year. The company is based in Schaumburg, Illinois and services the entire Chicagoland area. Chicago Cut Concrete Cutting, Inc. is a woman-owned business, has 20 operators, 20 trucks and offers the concrete cutting services of flat sawing, core drilling, wall sawing, GPR imaging and hot tar sealing. The company employs CSDA Certified Operators.
RESOURCES General Contractor: Brennan Electrical, Inc. Sawing and Drilling Contractor: Chicago Cut Concrete Cutting, Inc. Schaumburg, Illinois Phone: 773-282-2288 Email: hops@chicagocutcc.com Website: www.chicagocutcc.com Methods Used: GPR Imaging, Flat Sawing, Hand Sawing
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Polished Perspective
What Specifiers Look for in a Concrete Polishing Contractor Industry Training and Certification from CSDA
By Christopher Bennett
Concrete polishing specifiers work with clients for weeks, even months, to develop a concrete aesthetic suitable for a project. Expectations are set that the finished polished concrete floor will make the client’s facility beautiful, sustainable and low-maintenance. Now it is up to the specifier to bring those expectations to life, guiding the process of selecting a concrete polishing contractor. Choosing the right craftsman and company is critical for the specifier if they are to achieve the desired design intent. So what exactly do specifiers look for when selecting a polishing contractor? The following information is written from a specifier’s point of view. The aim is to provide contractors with insight into just some of the steps a specifier goes through when choosing the right company for a job. Specifiers want to reduce headaches during the construction and impress their clients by suggesting a sustainable polished concrete floor system, so they are generally thorough in their searches.
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A SPECIFIER’S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: 1. Make a list of potential concrete polishers in the area and ask key questions. How long have they been practicing their trade? Determine the general size and scope of the concrete polishing projects they complete. Consider the types of projects they are involved in. The craftsmanship required for “big-box” store polishing is quite different from projects with highly decorative work. The list of candidates will be appropriate to the client’s project needs. 2. Narrow down the list and look at the track record of each contractor. Have they worked with architects and GCs in this area? Check with colleagues and ask how their experiences with these contractors went. Would they work with them again or avoid them like the plague? Plan a trip to visit a few completed projects and use this opportunity to review their craftsmanship and the sustainability of past floors.
As part of its extensive training program, CSDA is pleased to offer training and certification for surface preparation and polishing contractors. A certification class focused on Standard CSDA-ST-115 Measuring Concrete Micro Surface Texture is achieving great traction across the concrete polishing industry. The association has granted close to 100 ST-115 Certifications since classes officially began in March 2015. The next scheduled class takes place during the Concrete Décor Show in Indianapolis, for which CSDA is an association partner. This five-hour certification class provides instruction on how to correctly measure concrete micro surface texture, discusses the importance of surface preparation and talks about proper tool selection to mitigate damage. Students are issued a certification upon successful completion of the class. In addition, CSDA has a two-day Concrete Polishing 101 class that provides an overview of the concrete polishing industry and fundamentals of concrete, diamond tool technology, diamond selection process, practical applications and maintenance of polished surfaces. It introduces students to various types of concrete grinders, hand polishers, vacuum systems, burnishers and auto scrubbers including their applications and component. Wet and dry concrete polishing is discussed and part of the course addresses estimating and bidding.
Upcoming Classes: CSDA-ST-115 Certification Sept. 30, 2015 Indianapolis, Indiana Feb. 2, 2016 Las Vegas, Nevada Concrete Polishing 101 Training Feb. 3, 2016 Las Vegas, Nevada The association has hands-on, classroom and online courses for every discipline and skill level, allowing contractors to provide operators with superior training. To find registration details and other important information about the above classes, visit www.csda.org/training or call 727-577-5004.
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3. Consider budget and, if possible, find out roughly how much the contractors have charged in the past for similar work. Even if there is a bid process, have a reasonable estimate of what to expect based on the design intent and expectations of the client. This is critical. The contractor should provide accurate pricing for the individual specifications of the job. 4. Check for up-to-date training and certification. Make sure that candidates are not only certified installers of the product selected, but also understand surface texture grades (STG) and proper refinement techniques. Are the candidates familiar with CSDA-ST-115 Measuring Concrete Micro Surface Texture and certified to this Standard? Contractors actively engaged in furthering their education shows a commitment to quality and honing of their craft. 5. The list of potential candidates should be based on experience, education/ certification and visiting of past projects. Select a couple of the best ones to contact. Provide some specifics of the project if applicable, but talk in general terms about what is to be achieved. Is the contractor listening and trying to understand the design intent? If all other qualifications have been met, the specifier will sometimes choose the contractor with good manners and one that makes them feel comfortable. Therefore, always convey a professional attitude during any meeting or conversation as it can sometimes be the difference between winning or losing a job. To summarize, concrete polishing contractors should consider what specifiers often look for when making their decisions. The information above should serve as a guide to help both parties, and is not indicative of every, single consideration when selecting the right contractor for a job. Christopher Bennett is Husqvarna Construction Product’s Architectural Specialist. He is also the chairman
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of CSDA’s Polishing Committee and Marketing Committee. Prior to his career in construction, Bennett served as an active duty Sailor in the United States Navy. He can be reached at 800-288-5040, christopher.bennett@husqvarnagroup.com or on Twitter at @BennettBuild.
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Tech Talk Tech Talk is a regular feature of Concrete Openings magazine, focusing on equipment, maintenance and technical issues of interest to concrete cutting, polishing and imaging contractors. Readers wishing to have a particular subject addressed can call or email CSDA with their suggestions at 727-577-5004 or rhitchen@concreteopenings.com.
Success Factors of High Frequency Sawing By Ian Osborne
H
igh-power electric, often referred to as high frequency (HF) or hi-cycle, concrete sawing machines are becoming the new normal for most of the professional concrete cutting industry due to their significant productivity and versatility. In Europe, hydraulic sawing equipment is almost a thing of the past but this shift has lagged somewhat in North America. This article looks at the success factors of HF sawing equipment: job productivity, portability and versatility. There was significant skepticism concerning the capability of HF machines as they crept into market during the 1970s and 1980s. Up until then, hydraulics ruled the industry and for good reason. Hydraulic machines were durable, simple to maintain and had adequate power. However, companies like Concrete Coring Company introduced 400-hertz HF to the U.S. market and the success of these machines led to an increasing number of manufacturers releasing HF machines during the1990s. The introduction of these new HF concrete sawing machines was good enough to prove that they had potential, but unfortunately they were fraught with problems and were not perceived as durable enough for the industry. However, like many good concepts, they took a while to mature and become durable enough to be called productive. Please refer to the June 2014 Tech Talk article High Frequency Saws and Drills: Maintenance is Key to Higher Production by ICS/Pentruder’s Terry Martin for more information. As any good cutting contractor knows, a machine can cut very fast, but if it frequently breaks down it really isn’t productive. Another area of skepticism regarding HF machines has been the misconception that only hydraulic systems can drive large
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diameter blades. As these machines have matured, this skepticism has been turned on its head. A common depth for wall sawing is 24 inches and the new normal for HF machines is 36 inches. There is the capability for these machines to handle deeper cutting depths if necessary. Operators have become accustomed to hydraulic systems having some “give,” meaning when the saw encounters an unexpected object like a large piece of steel, the system “bogs down” for a moment, allowing the operator to back off on the feed. The power and the auto-feed systems on HF saws operate very differently than the older hydraulic systems. Once the blade and traverse speed are set, the auto-feed system and saw adjusts to anything its path, including unexpected heavy steel. As the industry moves beyond these early skepticisms, there are a number of advantages to HF systems over hydraulic systems that have been well demonstrated over time— specifically over the last few years.
The cornerstone of job productivity is cutting efficiency. The cutting efficiency of a HF system has been demonstrated to be as much as double that of a hydraulic system. On the surface, this has significance, but it is more significant than many realize. The fact that a HF system with superior cutting efficiency can finish a job in half the time means large savings in man-hour costs. It also means that the generator is working at heavy loads for only half the time, therefore a valuable reduction in fuel costs. Fuel consumption is further reduced by the size of the engine driving the generator. In a hydraulic system, it is common to run a 75-horsepower engine to power a hydraulic wall saw power pack. In comparison, a 45-horsepower engine is used to drive a 30-kilovoltampere generator for a HF wall saw. The smaller engine size will inherently be more fuel efficient and the reduced weight of
the engine will also result in a decrease of transportation fuel. The smaller engine size is due to the fact that HF systems are much more efficient at converting the input energy into shaft power. A very good hydraulic system has a system efficiency of around 50%, compare that to the HF system efficiency of 90+%. The reason for the high system efficiency of a HF machine has to do with the design of the machine itself, but also due to a high level of cutting efficiency. The machine design and the auto-feed function are relatively intertwined and interact with each other. The machine efficiency is positively impacted by the fact that the electric motor and the control system, by their very nature, are very efficient. The electric motor commonly used has a very flat power curve which is beneficial in running the range of blade diameters commonly used in wall sawing. Hydraulic systems must use a variety of inefficient mechanisms, for example throttling up the engine, in an attempt to keep the shaft power constant. Auto-feed is the most significant impact on system efficiency and cutting efficiency. The auto-feed of a HF system is constantly self-adjusting the feed load or traverse speed in order to maintain a constant blade RPM and a constant and maximum load on the blade motor. Regardless of what the system’s blade is cutting, or how deep a pass is taken, the auto-feed will make the proper adjustments. In addition to the above, experienced operators have noticed diamond consumables are often significantly less with a HF system. This is also due to the autofeed and cutting efficiency. Of course, this is heavily dependent on matching the proper blade with the machine and job. Another aspect that impacts job productivity is the setup and teardown time on a job. Compare the amount of effort, and as a result time, required to lay out large diameter hydraulic hoses versus a high power electric cable. Hydraulic systems often use 0.75-inch pressure lines and 1-inch return lines. With hydraulic fluid, they can weigh twice as much as a large high power electric cable. In addition to the effort and time to lay the hydraulic lines out, the weight can have a significant drag on the wall saw when cutting vertical. Operators will often place heavy hydraulic lines on their shoulders in an attempt to minimize the drag on the saw.
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The weight of the saw also impacts setup and teardown time. Modern HF saws are often much lighter than hydraulic saws. For a comparable power saw, an HF saw can be half the weight of a hydraulic saw. Also, many HF saws can be separated into a motor and a saw head to further reduce the weight. It should be noted that, in addition to the weight having an impact on setup and teardown time, there is also impact on operator safety due to fatigue and increased risk of injury or accident.
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Increased job productivity is only one factor in the success of HF machines. Successful cutting contractors know there are a variety of jobsite conditions that require thinking beyond pure performance. Jobs can be difficult, cutting specs can vary or the circumstances can change from the original details provided by the general contractor. It is common to see walls that are thicker than specified, walls that vary in thickness, high steel content, access constraints and areas partially under water—the list goes on. This is part of the industry and
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part of the problem-solving that a successful contractor is expected to handle. In cases where jobs do get more complicated, there are a couple of important factors that make HF systems an attractive choice over hydraulic: portability and versatility. Portability is significant because it can allow for cutting jobs to be performed with less setup effort, especially those with limited access. Two aspects that improve the portability of HF systems are the ability to have long cable runs and a system comprised of components. Finding access to power supplies is a common problem during setup and sometimes there are hundreds of feet between a saw and power source. It is common to limit the length of heavy hydraulic hoses to minimize pressure losses, whereas a high power electric cable can go much farther without a large increase in cable weight or loss of power. For this reason, a HF machine is more portable as a system can be placed at greater distances from the generator.
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The HF system of components, which often include a wall saw head, a motor and a power pack, are all light enough to be carried by a single person. This makes the system highly portable. This is in contrast to even the most portable hydraulic power packs, which are not light enough to be carried by one person. The versatility of HF systems is also better than hydraulic due to the fact that a HF system comprises of a group of components. HF system components can be recombined into a wire saw as well as a wall saw. In different cases, different components are reused, but generally the power pack and motor can be re-configured from a wall saw into a wire saw. This versatility allows an operator to complete a job with a varying set of cutting tasks through reinforced concrete and other materials. HF systems have come a long way in the past few years and have overcome much skepticism. Over time, the improvements to HF systems have led to improved job productivity, portability and versatility for many contractors. These factors have been significant in the success of HF cutting systems. To summarize,
here are some numbers to consider when comparing hydraulic to high frequency electric saw equipment: • • • • • •
Reduction of weight as much as 40 to 60% Reduction of setup and teardown time as much as 10 to 25% Reduction of cutting time as much as 25 to 50% Reduction of diamond blade wear as much as 25 to 50% Reduction of fuel consumption as much as 25 to 50% Increase in cutting productivity as much as 30 to 60%
Ian Osborne is the director of business development for Tractive AB, parent company of CSDA member ICS/Pentruder, Inc. The company manufacturers high frequency/hi-cycle sawing and drilling equipment. Osborne previously worked for Blount International, where he held a number of roles including director of research & development and director of business developments. He can be reached at 503-860-4923 or by email at ian.osborne@tractive.se.
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Concrete Cases
Photo courtesy of Gary Pescod.
Seaham North Pier.
A Diamond Tools Strengthen Pier’s Tidal Defense
specialist contractor recently drilled over 1,400 holes and played an integral role in the ÂŁ3.4-million (approximately $5.4 million) restoration of a 100-year-old pier on the northeast coast of England. Without this restoration, a nearby harbor and town were at an increased risk of flooding and coastal erosion.
The Craghead, County Durham, office of D-Drill Master Drillers Ltd., a CSDA member based in Coventry, United Kingdom, performed diamond core drilling tasks at Seaham North Pier as part of a two-year refurbishment project. The aim of the project, due for completion in November 2015, is to protect the town and harbor from potential flood situations and minimize erosion caused by the North Sea tides. Seaham Harbor is protected by two outer piers, the North Pier and South Pier, which were built in phases between 1899 and 1906. The North Pier is next to Seaham North Dock, which was recently refurbished for use as a marina. To the south of this is the larger South Dock, which is a commercial port. Due to its poor condition and its greater importance and function in protecting both the harbor and Seaham, the North Pier was identified as
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A slab saw was used to cut 300-millimeterdeep (11.8-inch) lines to help break out the pier’s center deck. Operators drilled holes up to 600 millimeters (23.6 inches) deep for the replacement of coping and the fitting of steel rebar for the installation of a new deck slab.
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being in need of restoration. The structure was at risk of partial failure during storms and without improvement, it will continue to decline over the coming decades. The restored pier will protect over 100 residential properties, more than 30 commercial properties and Seaham Harbor, a marina development that supports the local economy and regeneration initiatives in Durham County. The U.K. Environment Agency and Durham County Council, the Lead Local Flood Authority responsible for flood prevention and coastal protection, jointly funded the pier refurbishment and appointed Carillion plc of Wolverhampton as Principal Contractor for the works. The pier is owned by Victoria Group, the port operator. Restoration work began in July 2014 and D-Drill was contracted to start its tasks the following month. The first phase of the company’s work lasted four months. D-Drill used specialized diamond drilling and sawing equipment for the cutting tasks. This included the use of a Husqvarna FS6600D slab saw to make cut lines 300 millimeters deep (12 inches) along the inner edges of the pier’s coping stones to allow the center deck to be broken out
for replacement. These cut lines ran approximately 1,200 millimeters (47 inches) parallel from the edges of the pier and equated to around 1,000 linear meters (3,281 feet) of cutting, completed August to October 2014 and March to June 2015. Operators also made 10 cuts measuring 1,200 millimeters long (47 inches) and 600 millimeters deep (24 inches) across the coping stones to allow damaged sections to be removed and replaced. Operators then drilled 40-millimeter-diameter (1.6-inch) holes 600 millimeters (24 inches) deep into existing Norwegian granite. This drilling work was through existing holes to increase their depth and create rough, clean edges to accept new rebar and grouting. The overall depth of the holes was approximately 1,200 millimeters (47 inches). It took an average of 20 minutes to drill each hole to its required depth, which included time for the setup and moving of equipment, and two operators made an average 30 holes each eighthour shift. In addition, 20 32-millimeter-diameter (1.3-inch) holes were drilled 300 millimeters (12 inches) deep into the side of the copings for starter bars over which the new top slab would be cast.
The contractor drilled over 1,400 holes at Seaham North Pier.
Working next to the water, employees were provided with life belt harnesses and other safety equipment to complete the work safely.
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The refurbished pier will protect the harbor and nearby town from flood damage and will help minimize coastal erosion.
All sawing and drilling tasks were completed within the fourmonth time frame, then D-Drill returned to Seaham’s North Pier several months later in March 2015 to complete further tasks and ensure the project could finish on schedule. “The Seaham tidal defense project was an intricate job in testing conditions. As well as securing our engineers to a safety line, we had to bolt a safety stop to the coping to eliminate the risk of the diesel saw going over the edge into the sea!” explained John Emberson, D-Drill’s northeast branch manager. D-Drill used toolbox talks, written method statements and risk assessments to avoid accidents and injuries on the jobsite. Tidal conditions and inclement weather situations were discussed, so the sawing and drilling team knew that there would have to be some flexibility with work hours to complete the job on time. Once on the jobsite, operators were supplied with safety harnesses and attached to a safety line. Meanwhile, a safety boat was in the water every shift and a safety lookout person was present on the pier at all times during the work. In total, the contractor completed approximately 2,000 meters (6,562 feet) of slab sawing and drilled over 1,400 holes ranging from 25 millimeters (1 inch) to 40 millimeters (1.6 inches) in diameter to depths of up to 600 millimeters (24 inches) for new rebar. A further 650 holes were made 12 millimeters in diameter (0.5 inch) and 50 millimeters deep (2 inches) for the installation of new hand rails. The job was completed on time and within budget. The overall Seaham North Pier refurbishment project remains on schedule for a November 2015 completion. Thanks to the speed and precision of this CSDA member’s work, the pier will continue to act as a strong tidal defense for the surrounding harbor and town. “We are proud to have worked on such an important project for the area. It was absolutely vital that these sea defenses were
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Photos courtesy of Lee Dobson Photography.
shored up,” said Emberson. “Everything we did on the job was limited by the incoming tide and weather so we had to plan our work accordingly. To that end, we had to pay very strong attention to health and safety— including securing our employees to safety lines running the full length of the pier,” he concluded. REVIEW AND COMMENT ON THIS ARTICLE AT: WWW.CONCRETEOPENINGS.COM
COMPANY PROFILE D-Drill Master Drillers Ltd. has been a member of CSDA for 33 years and has been in business since 1967. Based in Coventry, England, the company has 94 employees and 70 trucks in 10 locations across the country. D-Drill offers services that include core drilling, slab sawing, wall sawing, hand sawing, wire sawing, controlled demolition, diamond floor grinding and floor preparation services. RESOURCES General Contractor: Carillion plc Sawing and Drilling Contractor: D-Drill Master Drillers Ltd. Coventry, United Kingdom Phone: 44-1752 341364 Email: johnemberson@d-drill.co.uk Website: www.d-drill.co.uk Methods Used: Slab Sawing, Core Drilling
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Safety Counts
The Universal Language of Safety Literacy and Language Challenges in the Workplace By Mark A Lies and Kerry M Mohan
A
s the American “melting pot” becomes increasingly diversified, employers face inevitable issues related to language in the workplace. Employers can no longer assume that qualified workers speak or write English. Employers who hire non-English speaking workers are obligated to ensure that all employees, regardless of their linguistic background, receive and comprehend safety-related training. For employers whose supervisors only speak English, OSHA’s requirements can present unique challenges. This article outlines OSHA’s policies with respect to training non-English speaking employees, discusses OSHA’s recent emphasis program on ensuring employees are provided training in their native language, analyzes potential discrimination issues that may arise by limiting a safety training program to English only, and offers recommendations for employers in assuring that all employees are adequately trained to work safely. OSHA’S TRAINING REQUIREMENTS Numerous OSHA standards, from Lockout/Tagout to forklift operation, and bloodborne pathogens to hazard communication, require employers to train or instruct employees in some way. OSHA generally treats its training requirements as “performance-based,” meaning that OSHA defers to each individual employer to fashion the most effective manner by which to accomplish the goal of the standard. For that reason, none of OSHA’s training standards require employers to use particular documents, teaching methods or language to train employees. Instead, OSHA requires employers to present information in a manner that employees are capable of understanding. For example, if an employee is illiterate, the employer does not satisfy OSHA training requirements merely by telling the employee to read training materials or safety programs. Likewise, if an employee
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does not speak, read or understand English, training must be provided in a language the employee understands. OSHA has tasked each of its inspectors with the duty to determine whether the training provided by an employer satisfies the intent of the Standard—i.e. whether employees receiving the training have actually understood that training. Obviously, this is a highly subjective exercise. One way that an OSHA inspector will make this evaluation is to interview employees. These interviews may or may not take place in the presence of a management representative. During the interviews, OSHA inspectors may attempt to hold employees to high standards of knowledge, asking employees fact-specific questions regarding hazards, signs and symptoms of illness or injury or specifics as to an employer’s program. In some cases, the OSHA inspector may use an employee’s inability to memorize specific facts to claim that training either did not occur or was too technical or complicated for an employee to understand. Another issue involving employee interviews is whether the employee speaks English. Many OSHA inspectors are bilingual, particularly in Spanish, and those who are not may request another employee to act as an interpreter to translate during an employee interview. Translation issues can present potential bias problems during employee interviews, whether the interpreter is another employee, a management representative or an OSHA official. For this reason, employers must ensure that employees understand their right to have a management representative present during the interview. Employers may also consider requesting that a neutral third-party act as interpreter during the employee interview, particularly if the interview is a critical one and accuracy is an important consideration. Another way OSHA inspectors will evaluate the employer’s compliance with
safety training standards is by determining how the employer communicates other workplace rules and policies to employees, particularly job instructions—i.e. other non-safety policies or procedures. If these other job instructions are given in Spanish, for example, OSHA will likely view Englishonly safety training as insufficient. Ultimately, the OSHA inspector will determine, based on a review of all of the gathered facts, whether a “reasonable person would conclude” that the employer has not conveyed training to employees in a manner they are capable of understanding. For example, in one case involving deficient safety training, a supervisor described the company’s training program as follows: “Basically, in the yard with the men making sure they got their vests, their shoring, their boards before they leave for the job. They are directed to not get in holes over four feet deep, when it’s unsafe to use the proper shoring.” Sec. of Labor v. J. Mess Plumbing Co., Inc., 21 O.S.H. Cas. (BNA) 1100, O.S.H.R.C. Docket No. 04-0197 (A.L.J. Oct. 18, 2004). In that case, most of the
company’s employees had immigrated from Bosnia and Albania and could not speak English. Where an employee could not speak English, another co-worker would translate the materials for him. The employer also did not maintain any documentary evidence of a training program. An Administrative Law Judge upheld OSHA’s citation under a construction industry training standard, finding that the employer “hired workers who are not fluent in English, and then failed to ensure that they understood the minimal training they received.” Id. OSHA has also increased the potential liability and penalties that may be imposed for training violations. For instance, recent case law from the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission validated OSHA’s ability to issue citations under its training standards on a per-employee basis, meaning that OSHA can issue a separate citation and penalty for each and every employee who did not understand his or her required safety training. In Sec. of Labor v. E. Smalis Painting Co., 22 O.S.H. Cas. (BNA) 1553, O.S.H.R.C. Docket No. 94-1979 (Apr. 11, 2009), OSHA issued a total of seventy-one Willful citations to Smalis for failure to train seventy-one employees as required in OSHA’s lead in construction standard, 29 C.F.R. § 1926.62(l) (1)(ii). The Review Commission upheld twenty-seven of those Willful citations, one for each of the twenty-seven employees who had been exposed to lead at or above the action level and who had not received the training, and imposed a penalty of over $1,000,000 in total. The Review Commission’s decision in Smalis was based on its finding that training requirement under OSHA’s asbestos standard “imposes a duty that runs to each employee.” While the Smalis decision is based on the employer’s failure to train altogether, the Review Commission’s reasoning may well be applied to situations involving the adequacy of an employer’s training program as it relates to non-English speaking employees. OSHA’S EMPHASIS ON TRAINING PRESENTED IN A MANNER EMPLOYEES CAN UNDERSTAND On April 28, 2010, OSHA issued a policy statement reiterating its position that employee training “must be presented in a
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manner that employees can understand . . ..” https://www.osha.gov/dep/standardspolicy-statement-memo-04-28-10.html. In the policy statement, OSHA states that “an employer must instruct its employees using both a language and vocabulary that the employees can understand.” Id. Accordingly, OSHA believes that employers must take into account employees’ language capabilities and educational levels, and adjust their training programs accordingly. For instance,
if an employer has a workforce who speaks predominantly Spanish or Polish, OSHA will require the employer to provide training in those languages. Further, if an employer has an uneducated and/or illiterate workforce, OSHA will expect the employer to provide the training in very simply terms and use pictograms or visual training materials, as opposed to written materials.
C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 3 9
Safety Counts
continued
THE ISSUES OF ENGLISH-ONLY EMPLOYMENT POLICIES FOR SAFETYSENSITIVE AREAS Employers may be tempted to avoid OSHA’s onerous and subjective training policies by employing only English-speaking workers. Employers must proceed with extreme caution in fashioning these types of policies so as not to run afoul of federal and state anti-discrimination laws. Employers who fashion “English-only” policies prohibiting employees from speaking languages other than English at all times in the workplace are presumed to be discriminating on the basis of an employee’s national origin. The federal regulations implementing Title VII of the Civil Rights Act call such policies “a burdensome term and condition of an employment,” and provide that prohibiting non-English languages in the workplace at all times “disadvantages an individual’s employment opportunities on the basis of national origin” and creates “an atmosphere of inferiority, isolation and intimidation based on national origin.” 29 C.F.R. § 1606.7(a). These same regulations do recognize, however, that when applied only at certain times, an English-only policy in the workplace may be appropriate and non-discriminatory. To avoid liability for discrimination, the employer must establish that the rule is justified by a “business necessity.” 29 C.F.R. § 1606.7(b). In its Compliance Manual, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has recognized that the need for the safe operation of an employer’s business is considered a “business necessity” that can justify an English-only rule that is tailored to specific circumstances. The EEOC also recognizes that the need for supervisors who only speak English to communicate with employees is also a “business necessity” that can justify an appropriately narrow Englishonly policy. The EEOC cites the following scenario as an appropriate use of an English-only rule to address safety concerns: XYZ Petroleum Corp. operates an oil refinery and has a rule requiring all employees to speak only English during an emergency. The rule also requires that employees speak in English while performing job duties in laboratories and processing areas where there is the danger of fire or explosion. The rule does not apply to casual conversations
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between employees in the laboratory or processing areas when they are not performing a job duty. The Englishonly rule does not violate Title VII because it is narrowly tailored to safety requirements. EEOC Compliance Manual, Section 13: National Origin Discrimination (Dec. 2, 2002), http://www.eeoc.gov/policy/docs/ national-origin.html. According to this example, an employer would not run afoul of federal non-discrimination laws by requiring employees to speak only English while performing specific job functions, during emergency situations or while working in particular areas of a facility that implicate workplace safety issues. Employers must also take care in making hiring decisions based on a candidate’s ability to speak English. A narrowly-tailored and appropriately used English-only policy is relevant to hiring decisions. If, for example, an employer has an English-only policy like XYZ Corporation’s in the above example, it would need to consider that policy in hiring employees to work in the laboratories and processing areas. Candidates who speak no English would not be able to adhere to the policy and would therefore not be qualified for hire into a position that includes work in those areas. Similarly, even in the absence of an English-only policy, an employer does not violate federal anti-discrimination laws by rejecting a non-English speaking candidate whose inability to speak or understand English would materially affect his or her ability to perform job duties. If, for example, a candidate’s job duties would require forklift operation, and the candidate could not read or understand warning signs, operating manuals or safety placards required for the safe operation of a forklift, then the employer would have a good faith, non-discriminatory reason for rejecting that candidate.
•
•
•
•
•
employees. If work instructions are communicated in languages other than English, consider providing safety training in those languages as well. Incorporate practical “tests” into required safety training, allowing employees to demonstrate their understanding (or lack thereof) of core concepts. Consider incorporating visual, as opposed to written, materials in the safety training program to account for illiterate or lesser-educated individuals. Maintain meticulous documentation of employee training, including any practical tests included in training. Include a signed statement from each employee that he/she has received and understood specific safety training provided. In the event of an OSHA inspection, advise all employees of their right to have a management representative present during any interviews. Designate a qualified and reliable person (whether management or non-management) to act as the “go to” interpreter to facilitate interviews with non-English speaking employees. Evaluate employee duties on a job-by-job basis to determine whether critical job- or safety-related functions require fluency in English.
Mark A. Lies II is a labor and employment law attorney and partner with Seyfarth Shaw LLP in Chicago, Illinois. He specializes in occupational safety and health law and related employment law and personal injury litigation. In addition, Seyfarth Shaw has assisted CSDA members by holding presentations and moderating roundtable discussions at annual conventions. He can be reached at 312-460-5877 or at mlies@ seyfarth.com.
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Kerry M. Mohan is an associate with
It is recommended that all employers who employ workers with limited or no ability to speak or understand English carefully evaluate their safety training programs to ensure those employees have received and understood required safety training, including the following: • Review the means by which work instructions are communicated to
occupational safety and health, traditional
Seyfarth Shaw. His practice focuses on labor matters and related employment law and civil litigation. Kerry can be reached at 312-460-5659 or kmohan@seyfarth.com.
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C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 4 1
The Business of Business
How to Change Your Mindset to See Problems as Opportunities By Jayson DeMers
D
welling on problems causes stress and hampers productivity. What if you could train your brain to see problems as opportunities? Here’s how. Talk to any successful entrepreneur, or any professional with a positive attitude, and you will find one key trait in common: all of them have a unique mentality that allows them to handle challenges differently. Rather than seeing problems as burdensome forces of opposition, they see problems as opportunities—opportunities to learn, grow, improve or adjust in a way that leaves them better off than before the problem existed. This simple mentality has many benefits. First, it reduces the burden of stress that usually accompanies any new problem— because the problem is viewed in a positive light, it is less intimidating. Second, it contextualizes the problem. Because the mind immediately starts thinking about the effects and potential responses to the problem, it can be broken down and analyzed easier. Third, it encourages growth—this mentality forces you to adapt and improve on a constantly recurring basis. Finally, it is self-perpetuating. Every problem you view or solve this way makes future problems easier to handle, forming a positive cycle of reinforcement. Unfortunately, there is no magic switch you can flip in your brain that suddenly makes you see all your problems in this light. If you want to adopt this mindset, you will have to take the time to retrain your brain. It is possible, though it will take consistent effort over an extended period of time to see the results. ACCEPT THAT PROBLEMS ARE INEVITABLE Most of us react negatively to problems when they take us by surprise. You are on your way to work on a route you always take, and you get a flat tire; this event is completely unexpected, and can make you feel like the day is ruined. However, your work commute almost always has some kind of problem in it—they are usually just so small you do not
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notice. For example, there might be extra traffic, you might have forgotten something at home or you might not have enough of a charge on your mobile device to listen to music. Even a rogue red light can interfere with your commute. Problems are a given—only the intensity of the problems are a variable. If you can learn to accept problems as a normal, regular, and completely unavoidable part of life, you will have taken your first step toward handling them with more grace and objective understanding. STEEL YOURSELF TO FIRST IMPRESSIONS Our first impressions often define our reactions to new situations, so in order to start seeing problems as opportunities, you have to avoid making first impressions altogether (which is easier said than done). Let us take the flat tire incident in the above section; your first impression might be “I’m going to be late,” “This is going to be a pain” or “This is going to cost me money I haven’t budgeted.” These first impressions immediately illustrate the problem in a negative light, rather than
what it is—a neutral situation. Prevent yourself from forming these immediate thoughts by simply thinking of the problem itself: “I have a flat tire.” Practice this on small-scale problems, like spilling a drink, and work your way up. It is our instinct to form first impressions, especially in urgent or problematic situations, so you’ll be fighting against nature on this one. DISTANCE YOURSELF FROM THE PROBLEM Once that initial reaction stage has passed, you can focus on distancing yourself from the problem. We often have a highly self-centered view on the world, leading us to think of all the bad ways a problem could affect us. But if you think of the problem as a separate entity, unrelated to you, you will do a better job of tempering your emotions and thinking about the problem objectively. One helpful strategy to do this is to describe the problem as if it were happening to a friend: “Bob has a flat tire. He needs to pull off to the side of the road and either put on a spare or call a towing company.” This helps you avoid the ego-centric emotional reactions that typically arise.
LEARN TO OBJECTIVELY EVALUATE THE THREATS AND CONSEQUENCES Your next step is to isolate the real threats and consequences of a problem from your exaggerated or imaginary ones. Doing so will help you shift your focus from seeing the problem as a burden or as a destructive force to seeing the problem as a neutral force that allows you to take action. Whenever you face a problem, make a physical or mental list of all the significant negative consequences it will have. Solidifying a comprehensive list will typically illustrate that your problem is not as destructive as it seemed on the surface; our brains are wired to imagine worst-case scenarios and exaggerate potential threats so we can over-prepare rather than under-prepare. In the modern world, this evolutionary programming is less helpful.
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IGNORE REACTIONS, FOCUS ON IMPROVEMENTS Finally, you will need to train your brain to think of your response to a given problem as an improvement, rather than a blind reaction. For example, in the flat tire incident, it is easy to think “I have a flat tire. Now I have to fix it.” This is a direct reaction to the situation. Instead, try to think of current and future improvements: “I have a flat tire. This will give me a chance to use my spare.” “I have a flat tire. I should buy tire sealant to have on hand in case this happens again.” Over time, you will gradually start seeing problems in terms of the potential improvements they illustrate, rather in terms of the actions they demand of you. Again, as with any mental shift, start out with small scenarios and gradually work your way up to larger ones. You are always going to have problems in your life, whether they come up as personal issues, professional challenges or flat-out bad luck that ruins your day. If you can train your mind to view these problems as opportunities for growth, you will become far more adept at handling them quickly, efficiently and with less stress. Jayson DeMers graduated from the University of Washington in 2008 with a Degree in Business Administration (Marketing) and immediately entered the professional online marketing world. Based in Seattle, Washington, Jayson founded AudienceBloom—a content and social media
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marketing firm—in April 2010 and has since become a columnist for Search Engine Journal, Search Engine Watch and Huffington Post. He can be reached at jaysondemers@gmail.com or via his personal blog at www.audiencebloom.com/blog.
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www.ermatorusa.com C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 4 3
Core Health
Buying Organic—Where to Spend and Where to Save By Erin O’Brien
E
veryone is being encouraged to eat healthier, today more than ever. There are many ways to do so, and options to fit everyone’s lifestyle and budget. However, if you are on a budget or have limited options, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) offers an annual review of common produce that can help you decide which fruits and vegetables you can save and buy conventional and which you should splurge and buy organic. This list ranks 48 common fruits and vegetables, from highest pesticide contamination to lowest. The testing evaluates samples of each to determine number of pesticide found and the amount of each. By avoiding buying conventional for the produce ranked “highest” on this list, you can avoid ingesting potentially dangerous amounts of pesticides.
THE DIRTY DOZEN The “Dirty Dozen” highlights the twelve types of produce that tested highest for pesticides. EWG recommends buying organic for these fruits and vegetables. The cost will be a little higher, but you will be avoiding ingesting high amounts of pesticides. The items below are listed from most contaminated to least contaminated. 1.
Apples
2.
Peaches
3.
Nectarines
4.
Strawberries
5.
Grapes
6.
Celery
7.
Spinach
8.
Bell Peppers
9.
Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes 11. Imported Snap Peas 12. Potatoes
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Research found that 99% of apple samples, 98% of peaches and 97% of nectarines tested positive for at least one pesticide residue. So even if you can’t buy all of the above produce organic, you should at least try to buy these three organic. Additionally, the average potato sample has more pesticides by weight than any other produce item. The majority of the remaining produce on the Dirty Dozen list contains more than 13 different pesticides apiece. All of this research enforces the importance of buying these items organic. In addition to the Dirty Dozen, there are two other produce items that fall just outside of the list but were found to have trace amounts of a highly hazardous pesticide. These two are leafy greens, especially kale
and collard greens, and hot peppers. People who buy and consume these on a regular basis should also consider purchasing organic. THE CLEAN FIFTEEN These fifteen were tested and found to have the lowest or no incidence of pesticides. While buying organic is almost always preferred, if you are on a budget or organic produce is not readily available in your area, these items can be purchased conventionally with little chance of pesticide contamination. Listed in order of cleanliness. 1.
Avocados
2.
Sweet Corn
3.
Pineapples
4.
Cabbage
5.
Frozen Sweet Peas
6.
Onions
7.
Asparagus
8.
Mangoes
9.
Papayas
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10. Kiwis 11. Eggplant 12. Grapefruit 13. Cantaloupe 14. Cauliflower 15. Sweet Potatoes Avocadoes are the cleanest option. Only one percent of samples showed any trace of pesticide. For pineapples, 89% of samples had no traces of residue. The same was true for 82% of kiwis, 80% of papayas, 88% of mangoes and 61% of cantaloupe. No single sample from this list tested positive for more than four types of pesticides and only five percent of samples tested positive for two or more pesticides. The dangers of pesticide have been shown in several long-term studies on American children initiated in the 1990s. These studies found that children’s exposure to toxic pesticides were high enough to cause subtle but lasting damages to their brains and nervous systems. Similar studies conducted on pregnant and nursing mothers showed similarly negative effects on the babies shortly after birth. Eating clean and healthy continues to be a priority for many while at the same time can be a difficult goal to achieve on
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a budget. Use the above lists to guide your produce shopping when possible. Even small changes and small purchases can make a big difference in your shopping bill and your overall health. Erin O’Brien, MS, ATC is a Certified Athletic Trainer and Marketing Director for O’Brien International, the association management
1/14/13 10:04 AM
in Athletic Training from Ohio University and her Master of Science degree in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida. She is also a Certified Level 1 CrossFit Instructor and member of CrossFit9 in St. Petersburg, FL. She is a regular contributor to Concrete Openings magazine. She can be reached at erin@csda. org or 727-577-5002.
company that manages the Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association. O’Brien received her Bachelor of Science degree
C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 4 5
Industry Bits
Brokk Introduces Next-Generation Brokk 100
Husqvarna Releases Vari-CutTM Range of Blades Worldwide Due to the performance and sales success of the enhanced range of Vari-Cut™ diamond blades, launched in 2014, Husqvarna Construction Products has announced it will sell these blades throughout the entire world. The product line includes the Vari-Cut™ Turbo, Vari-Cut™ Plus and Vari-Cut™ Tile blades. Vari-Cut™ is a cost efficient premium diamond blade for a range of materials. It is designed to cut steel rebar as easily as bricks, blocks and concrete slabs. This can eliminate the need to switch blades, saving time and money. The blade has a unique design, combining 0.4-inch turbo segments for increased cutting speed and 0.4-inch straight segments for increased tool life. The Vari-Cut™ range is also designed with safety in mind. The blade is equipped with a perforated core that allows an optimal cooling of the blade and has angled gullets designed to protect it against cracking. For More Information Contact: Cate Stratemeier Tel: 913-928-1442 Email: cate.stratemeier@husqvarnagroup.com www.husqvarnacp.com
Brokk, a leading manufacturer of remote controlled demolition machines, presents the next-generation Brokk 100. The updated model features improved controls for smoother functionality in slewing and arm movements, a simplified method to integrate attachments and an updated electrical system for improved reliability. The Brokk 100 is the secondsmallest machine in the lineup, weighing 2,183 pounds, and can use a wide range of attachments, such as breakers, crushers, grapples, rock drills and shears. With its 31-inch width, the Brokk 100 and its attachment fit through standard doors or inside passenger elevators. The machine produces zero emissions, has an impressive power-to-weight ratio and is operated by a wireless digital remote control. By using wireless controls, operators can position themselves for optimum visibility and safety, avoiding potential falling debris or exposure to harmful environments. For More Information Contact: Peter Bigwood Tel: 413-537-5572 Email: peter@brokkinc.com www.brokkinc.com
Diamond Back Introduces XLR Core Bits Diamond Back Diamond Tools, Inc. is pleased to introduce its new line of XLR diamond core bits. The bits are available in diameters from 1 to 36 inches. Standard barrel length is 18 inches, so total height is 21 inches when including the connector and segment. XLR segment height is 0.4 inch. These core bits are manufactured with the aim of providing constant clearance for better core removal and slurry evacuation. Segment configuration can be adjusted as per customer requirements. The application is designed for very hard concrete, hard rock, heavily reinforced concrete, very hard aggregate, brick and stone. Special bonding is available for dry cutting and asphalt. For More Information Contact: Patrick Lemieux Tel: 866-600-2557 Email: patrick@dbdiamondtools.com www.dbdiamondtools.com
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Western Saw Celebrates 85 Years and Four Generations In 1930, Western Saw began as a repair shop, sharpening knives and scissors under the guidance of Waldemar Christian Nielsen (grandfather of current owners Kevin and Kraig Baron). After World War II, Western Saw established itself as a manufacturer of circular saw blades and band saws, and in 1947 manufactured its first diamond core for Felker. The company’s reputation grew, and in 1950 the name was changed to Western Saw Manufacturers Inc. and a new era began with Frank Baron. By 1951, Western Saw had six different dado designs and a patented multi-cut oscillating dado. Soon after; chrome plating, circular saws and the manufacturing of square saws had joined the production line. In 1955, Western Saw started producing carbide tipped saws for hardware and industrial businesses. The business once again expanded in 1968 to an 18,000-square-foot building, and patented the first hard face diamond core. By the late 70’s and early 80’s, it was the turn of a third generation of leadership, with Kevin and Kraig Baron beginning a new era of innovation and technology. Their first laser purchase came in 1984, which started a new journey of becoming a leader in the Diamond Core industry. In 1991, another big move came when Western Saw moved to Oxnard and into a 25,000-squarefoot building. The company then acquired an additional 22,000 square feet in 1995 and in 1999 Western Saw purchased land, designed and built a state-of-the-art, 70,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. Today, the company manufactures cores, tubes, carbide blanks and custom laser cutting for the automotive and aerospace industries. Western Saw celebrates 85 years of business with a great sense of pride in its achievements. With a fourth generation now playing an active role in the company— cousins Cole and Chase, sons of Kevin and Kraig respectively—the future looks bright. The Western Saw family would like to thank all of its customers and the company looks forward to being of service for the next 85 years.
ICS is pleased to introduce the Pentruder® 6-10 high frequency wall saw. This wall saw is the most lightweight sawhead produced by parent company Tractive AB and provides the horsepower expected of a Pentruder wall saw. The 24-horsepower 6-10 high frequency wall saw features a maximum cutting depth of 18 inches without the weight of hydraulic hoses. Available as a system or individual component to add to a Pentruder system, the 6-10 sawhead is suitable for industry professionals looking to add a lightweight configuration to their toolbox.
For More Information Contact: Cole Baron Tel: 805-981-0999 Email: cole@westernsaw.com
For More Information Contact: Matt Fildes Tel: 503-905-2728 Email: matt.fildes@blount.com
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ICS Introduces the Pentruder® 6-10 High Frequency Wall Saw
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Industry Bits
continued
Water Recycling and Slurry Containment Vacuum from CS Unitec The CS 2000 from CS Unitec is a water recycling and slurry containment vacuum designed for contractors using wet-working tools, such as diamond core drills, masonry saws and wet grinders. The CS 2000 functions as a portable water supply, eliminating a contractor’s task of refilling portable pumps. Slurry is trapped in a porous filter bag for easy disposal. A continuous loop system returns the filtered water back to the tool. The work area remains clean and dry eliminating cleanup or environmental issues. The CS 2000 vacuum features an integrated sump pump that can either discharge the water or recycle it back to the 13-gallon stainless steel canister for reuse. It pumps 78 gallons per minute at ground level and has a maximum water lift of 18 feet. Delivery is 10.5 GPM at 10 feet. For normal wet/dry vacuuming, the motor and pump operate from two independent switches. The CS 2000 comes with a portable cart with large wheels, locking front casters and a 26-foot power cord. The stainless steel tank can either be tilted for emptying water or lifted out of the cart for easy transport. For More Information Tel: 800-700-5919 Email: info@csunitec.com www.csunitec.com
ICS, Blount Appoints Two ICS, Blount is pleased to announce the promotion of Scott Brown from northwest regional sales manager to national sales manager for the U.S. and Canada. Brown has been with ICS since 2007 and, prior to joining the company, managed a concrete cutting company based in the Pacific Northwest. Brown brings extensive knowledge of the concrete cutting industry along with the understanding of ICS initiatives and long term strategies. He is based at ICS, Blount corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon and can be reached at scott.brown@blount.com. The company is also pleased to announce the addition of Eric Freedlund as the ICS, pro-direct regional sales manager for the North Central U.S. region. Eric brings over 21 years of sales experience in the heavy commercial, highway and bridge and diamond tooling industries to ICS. Eric has a degree in communications and public relations and is based in Chicago, Illinois. Eric’s regional responsibilities will include North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. For More Information Contact: Kevin Warnecke Tel: 800-321-1240 Email: kevin.warnecke@blount.com
Scott Brown
Eric Freedlund
New Family of Diamond Tools from K2 Diamond
Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc., a leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, has moved its headquarters to a 70,000-square-foot state-of-the-art location in Nashua, New Hampshire. The new office has a modern work environment and double the space of the previous location to accommodate the company’s rapid growth. The design of the facility includes an emphasis on green initiatives, with an energy-efficient HVAC system and LED lighting, an interior green space with a 20-foot-tall tree and extensive use of natural lighting. The new location features an open research & development area with flexible laboratory space to maximize collaboration among employees and drive innovation. Additionally, the building’s stateof-the-art training and test facility includes an extensive indoor test area and a large underground pit to emulate sub-surface utilities and geophysical features.
K2 Diamond is happy to introduce a whole new family of diamond tools for slab saws, wall saws, hand saws and core drills. The new USA Series of professional bits and blades are the latest development from the company’s Matrix Technology™ diamond tool platform. Part of the new lineup includes new developments in the USA Cured, USA Asphalt, USA Hand and USA Wall saw blades. In addition, other new Matrix Technology™ diamond tools are in development and testing for release in the near future. Each of these professional-level diamond tools are designed for elevated performance, are competitively priced and ultimately meet the demands of today’s pro cutter application requirements. The new USA Series is available in a wide variety of bonds and product designs to provide optimal performance in all aggregates, conditions and on all saw types across North America.
For More Information Contact: Jami Harmon Tel: 603-893-1109 Email: harmonj@geophysical.com
For More Information Contact: Mike Nelson Tel: 800 539-6116 Email: mike.nelson@k2diamond.com
GSSI Moves to New State-of-the-Art Headquarters
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C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 4 9
Industry Bits
continued
DITEQ Releases New Turbo Core Bit
Frank Keeling, 1944-2015
DITEQ Corporation is pleased to introduce its high-velocity G3 Turbo core bit. The company has found this new bit to be extremely fast in drilling hard reinforced concrete. The C-42AX G3 utilizes ARIX™ diamond placement technology along with a new bond formula. It is available in diameters from 2 to 8 inches and can be used wet or dry.
Industry Professional Franklyn Jay Keeling, 71, of Overland Park, Kansas, passed away on May 19, 2015 at Kansas City Hospice House. Born to Guy and Grace Keeling on February 7, 1944 in St. Petersburg, Florida, Frank settled in Upstate New York as a child. He grew up and graduated from high school in Gorham, New York, in 1962. He married his high school sweetheart, Judy Bigham, in 1964. Frank attended several different universities and worked at several companies including Eastman Kodak Company and Brede Tool in Rochester. He ultimately found his niche while developing a tools sales division at Iversen Lumber in Gorham. As a territorial sales man at Wedge Company, he found his true Frank Keeling life’s passion selling diamond tools for construction. In 1977 he moved to Target Products, Inc. where he served in many sales and management positions that lead to his family’s move to Kansas City. In 1983, Frank co-founded Magnum Diamond and Machinery. He owned and built the company with his two sons, Jeff and Pat, until it was sold to Electrolux in 2000. Magnum was merged with Dimas USA where Frank served as President until 2002. He and his sons then started Precision Tractor and continued with the company until his retirement in 2008. Frank continued to keep up his relationships with friends in the industry and attended various events and trade shows. Frank and Judy’s two sons have both followed in their father’s footsteps— working in construction, sales and sharing his love of the industry. In addition to his wife and sons, Frank is survived by two daughter-in-laws Cathy (Pat) and Connie (Jeff) as well as seven grandchildren; Brandon, Christy, Emily (Pat) and Aubrye, Darby, Donovan and Lawson (Jeff). Frank was a world traveler, visiting the majority of Europe, Australia, the Philippines and Mexico. He was also a sports fan who attended Kansas City Chiefs games and numerous Indy 500 races. Frank also had the opportunity to attend the Italian Formula One Grand Prix and a Super Bowl. He was a loved and respected man in business and by his friends and family. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
For More Information Contact: Mike Orzechowski Tel: 816-246-5515 Email: mikeo@diteq.com
Bosch Introduces 6.0 Ampere Hour 18 Volt Lithium-Ion Battery Pirit® Heated Hose from Sykes Hollow Innovations The Pirit® heated hose from Sykes Hollow Innovations allows for running water in extreme cold conditions for safe wet cutting in winter weather. The product enables concrete cutting contractors to reduce the creation of silica dust on the jobsite, no matter how cold the temperature. Heating wires built into the inner core of the hose wall prevent water inside the hose from freezing down to minus 40 degrees and damaging the hose. The heated hose works with 120 volts of power (or 12 volts with an inverter). Industrial-sized wide ID hoses are also available. Conventional inner diameter Pirit® hoses use low wattage and come in four lengths; 12 feet (using 90 Watts,) 25 feet (180 Watts,) 50 feet (360 Watts) and 100 feet (500 Watts.). CSDA members can use promo code PIRITCSDA for a 10% discount via the company’s website.
Bosch Tools is pleased to introduce the BAT622 18 volt FatPack battery, the power tool industry’s first 6.0 ampere hour battery. The new product offers up to 45% more runtime over standard 4.0 ampere hour packs. Bosch lithium-ion batteries have a propriety heat sink housing design. CoolPack™ heat conductive housing is specifically designed to cool internal cell temperatures. The BAT622 is compatible with the complete line of Bosch 18 volt lithium-ion power tools and maintains the same size and weight footprint found on the company’s 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0 ampere hour 18 volt batteries. It includes a fuel gauge to ensure the user is always aware of the power level. For More Information Tel: 877-207-2499 Web: www.boschtools.com
Dixie Diamond Announces New Sales Manager Dixie Diamond Manufacturing is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Cowman to the position of sales manager for Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. Cowman has been a district manager in outside sales for almost 30 years, with the past 18 years focused on construction sales. He lives in Pella, Iowa, with his wife of 34 years. Mike has two married sons and six grandchildren.
For More Information Contact: Christopher Ferrone Tel: 518-392-7273 Email: chris@pirithose.com www.pirithose.com Mike Cowman
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For More Information Contact: Sid Kilgore Tel: 800-654-7224 Email: skilgore@dixiediamond.com
Celebrating over 50 years of service, we are your Dedicated Industry Professionals.
Compact Rider Scrubber Introduced by DITEQ DITEQ Corporation introduces the compact TTB 2120 rider scrubber, designed to provide the maneuverability of a walk-behind unit with the productivity of a ride-on. The on-board charger allows it to be charged anywhere. The TTB 2120’s compact design means the unit can be stored in the same closet space as a walk-behind scrubber. Additional features include a rear wheel drive system for greater ramp climbing ability, an easy-fill tank and stainless steel chassis. The TTB 2120 has a 20-inch cleaning path with a brush pressure of 52 pounds and a working capacity of 30,000 square feet per hour. It uses two maintenance-free 12 volt gel batteries, which are both economically and environmentally safer to use than other traditional battery power supplies. For More Information Contact: Mike Orzechowski Tel: 816-246-5515 Email: mikeo@diteq.com
New Multilayered Brazed Diamond Wire from ICS ICS is pleased to announce the addition of multilayered brazed diamond wire to its already expansive diamond wire portfolio, which includes sintered wire, electroplated wire and accessories. Brazed wire offers three distinct advantages over conventional types: the diamonds have full utilization; the diamonds allow for better chip and slurry removal; there is less diamond separation. This allows for faster cutting speeds and longer life. The new multilayered brazed wire is available in a wide range of specifications, lengths and loops. For More Information Contact: Jessica Gowdy Tel: 503-653-4687 Email: jessica.gowdy@blount.com
W WW. C O N C RE TE OPE N IN GS.COM
National “A” Rated Insurance Program Apollo General Insurance Agency, Inc. (Apollo) has an insurance program specifically designed for Concrete Sawing, Drilling and Polishing Contractors. Apollo’s program is underwritten in-house offering General Liability & Auto with other markets available for Excess Liability, Contractors Pollution, Property, Equipment, Bonds and more. We can work directly with you or, in most cases, with your current insurance agent. Coverage is written through an A Rated Carrier on an occurrence policy and available in most states.
1-800-624-5829
www.apgen.com
Maribel Hernandez, Underwriter
Ext. 13
maribel@apgen.com
Bob Elster, President
Ext. 17
bobe@apgen.com
Nikki Carpenter, Broker Relations
707-721-9545
nikkic@apgen.com
Proud Partners of
Concut, Inc. Announces New Territory Sales Manager Concut is pleased to announce that Jeff Harper has joined its sales team as territory sales manager for Texas. He replaces industry veteran Wayne Benton, who retired earlier this year. Jeff brings a diverse set of sales and management skills to Concut. Most recently, he worked for CSDA member DeAndrea Coring & Sawing, Inc. as the manager of the company’s imaging division. In his new role, Jeff will lead Concut’s sales efforts in the states of Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, working with professional sawing and drilling contractors as well as with Concut’s distribution partners in the region. Jeff is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area where he resides with his family. For More Information Contact: Jim Mayer Tel: 800-243-5888 www.concutusa.com
Jeff Harper
C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 5 1
Industry Bits
continued
Wolverine Releases 25-Horsepower Hydraulic Power Pack
Husqvarna Appoints New District Sales Managers
Wolverine Equipment continues to add to its extensive line of hydraulic power packs with the introduction of the new WP-25C. This 25-horsepower unit offers the highest horsepower in the industry on a compact frame. Wolverine’s gas-powered hydraulic power pack gives users 10-12 GPM of flow and will produce a maximum pressure of up to 2,500 PSI. It is suitable for powering a wide range of tools, including core drills, chain saws and ring saws and is designed to handle the greater power requirements of hydraulic handsaws. The unit can operate with 100 feet or more of hose, providing greater flexibility at jobsites. The air-cooled engine features a pressurized lubrication system and low oil level shut-down. As with all of the company’s hydraulic power packs, the WP-25C incorporate a number of innovative features designed to maximize performance and safety for users. Weighing in at just over 300 pounds, this power pack is easy to transport and maneuver.
Husqvarna Construction Products is pleased to announce the appointment of two new district sales managers. Christophe Delavoye has joined the company as the new district manager for heavy user sales serving Northern California (Visalia to the Oregon border) and North Nevada (Reno). Delavoye has over 20 years of experience interacting with customers in the marketing and sales environment. Seven of those years were in residential and commercial development projects. Christophe was born and raised in France and speaks fluent French and Spanish. Kevin Galbreath has been appointed to a position within Husqvarna’s distribution sales division as district sales manager, serving New York. Galbreath was previously district manager for Latin American sales in the Caribbean and has been with the company for five years.
For More Information Contact: Bill Darling Tel: 253-867-6209 Email: bill@wolverineequipment.com
Visit us online or call for more information
NEW GRINDER/POLISHER
For polishing residential and smaller commercial concrete floors. GRINDING, STRIPPING & SCRAPING Removes coverings & resurfaces floors.
SURFACE & MARKING REMOVAL
Removes concrete & asphalt surfaces.
SURFACE LEVELING
Levels different size high spots & trip hazards.
2D-HDE 2D-HDP HEAVY-DUTY FLOOR GRINDER AND POLISHER
VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE
1-800-638-3326 • edcoinc.com 5 2 | S E PTE MBE R.15
For More Information Contact: Cate Stratemeier Tel: 913-928-1442 Email: cate.stratemeier@ husqvarnagroup.com www.husqvarnacp.com
Christophe Delavoye
Kevin Galbreath
Hilti Relocates North American Operations to Texas Hilti is pleased to announce it has relocated its Western Hemisphere Product Development and Tool Service Center and North America Corporate Headquarters to Plano, Texas. More than 250 team members are based at the new location. The facility houses the Product Development and Testing Lab and the second-largest Hilti Tool Service Center in North America. With over 65,000 square feet of space, the facility serves two main purposes— certified technicians perform tool repairs and maintenance, laser calibrations and battery checks; engineers, designers and product specialists develop, test and provide customer support for fire protection, anchoring and direct fastening products and applications. By relocating, Hilti is aiming to place the company closer to the dynamic construction market in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex and a broad base of customers in the company’s core construction and civil energy segments. For More Information Tel: 800-879-8000 (U.S.), 800-363-4458 (Canada) Web: www.us.hilti.com (U.S.), www.hilti.ca (Canada)
Pullman-Ermator Introduces Deluxe 7-Inch Shroud Pullman-Ermator is pleased to introduce the Deluxe 7-inch shroud, the company’s newest point-of-origin dust collection tool. The shroud has multiple rings that allow it to be attached to almost any common hand grinder. A flexible rubber center allows for easy height control and the shroud has a flip-up lip for edges and wall work. Other features of the Deluxe 7-inch shroud include a swivel hose connection for 1.5- and 2-inchdiameter hoses for greater control, an air vent and replaceable wear plates to extend the life of the shroud. For More Information Contact: Lyndon Kelsey Tel: 813-335-4046 Email: lkelsey@ermatorusa.com www.ermatorusa.com
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DITEQ Corporation • 9876 Pflumm Road • Lenexa, KS 66215 866-688-1032 • www.DITEQ.com W WW. C O N C RE TE OPE N IN GS.COM
866-688-1032 DIAMOND TOOLS & EQUIPMENT
C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 5 3
Industry Bits
continued
GPRS Appoints New Member of Management Team CSDA member Ground Penetrating Radar Systems (GPRS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Dragon to the company’s management team. Dragon has accepted the position of director of client engagement. He brings eight years of GPR sales and application experience to GPRS. Dragon has worked in direct sales and sales team management, supporting concrete scanning applications nationwide. In his new role, Matthew will lead national sales efforts focused on design build contractors as well as environmental firms.
STIHL Sponsors One Moment Air Racing Team STIHL’s racing plane, One Moment, recently competed at the 2015 National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada. Andrew Findlay is the pilot of One Moment and is also a STIHL Inc. test cell supervisor. Several other STIHL Inc. employees serve as the racing plane’s crew, including Brian Manke, business analyst; Andre Prager, emission engineer; Sebastian Strauss, EQR manager; Thomas Lindgens, test cell technician; Mike Pell, tool and die fabricator; Thorsten Schilling, special projects manager; Erik Schmeiser, polymers intern; Jeremy Simpson, production supervisor; and Steve Sook, test cell technician. In addition to members from STIHL Inc, the team has a talented crew from around the U.S. who are passionate about aviation and racing. The Lancair Super Legacy plane has the STIHL logo on its 24-foot fuselage. When the team arrives in Reno, the plane is converted to its racing configuration and in the process doubles the engine’s power to over 600 horsepower. Findlay has previously received the 2013 Rookie of the Year award and 2014 Airmanship award from the Sport Class Air Racing Association. This year, Team STIHL engineer, Andre Prager, was awarded Best Test and Best Build from the Mojave Experimental Fly-in judges for his work on the Beluga belly modification to the One Moment Lancair Legacy.
For More Information Contact: Matthew Dragon Email: matthew.dragon@gp-radar.com www.gp-radar.com
Matthew Dragon
New GLM 40 Laser Measure from Bosch Tools The pocket-sized GLM 40 is one of the newest laser measure products from Bosch. The laser measure offers a range of 135 feet with accuracy of 0.06 inch. A simple keypad gives users the option to select length, area, volume and indirect measurements. The user is instantly measuring in real time when the unit is turned on. Measurements change as the user moves farther or closer to the target. Computation of area comes with just two clicks of a button; volume with three clicks. A backlight allows the user to see information in dark areas. The GLM 40 can store up to 10 measurements and comes with target cards, a hand strap and a pouch. For More Information Tel: 877-207-2499 Web: www.boschtools.com
For More Information Tel: 800-467-8445 www.stihlusa.com
STIHL Inc. President Fred Whyte to Retire STIHL Inc. has announced that President Fred Whyte will retire at the end of 2015. Whyte has been part of the STIHL group for 44 years and president of STIHL Inc. for 23 years. Under Whyte’s presidential tenure, the company experienced record growth and achieved the status as the number one selling brand of gasoline-powered handheld outdoor power equipment in America. Bjoern Fischer, presently STIHL Inc. vice-president of finance, will assume the duties of president January 1, 2016. Fischer has been with the company since 2012 and currently oversees the financial operations of the company as well as the human resources and information services departments. Fred Whyte
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For More Information Tel: 800-467-8445 www.stihlusa.com
Western Saw Introduces Threaded Tubing Line Western Saw, Inc. is pleased to introduce its new threaded tube line. The threaded tube line is available in sizes from 1 to 6 inches in diameter with eight threads per inch, and sizes from 2 to 6 inches in diameter with four threads per inch. All sizes and threads-per-inch options are in stock and ready to ship. For More Information Tel: 800-388-7297 Email: sales@westernsaw.com
Concrete embedments can be the number one obstacle on a job site. The SIR® 4000 lets you scan through the concrete with confidence. It’s the only high performance GPR control unit that offers the ability to use digital or analog GPR antennas, to grow with your business needs. Backed by service excellence, we’re there with you every step of the way. The new SIR 4000: A radar that you can build on.
W WW. C O N C RE TE OPE N IN GS.COM www.geophysical.com sales@geophysical.com
Scan It. Cut It. Core It. C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 5 5
Certification OPERATOR CERTIFICATION CSDA’s Operator Certification is a comprehensive six-day program that combines detailed classroom instruction with on-slab demonstration and evaluation of advanced concrete cutting techniques. Safety, proper equipment use and efficiency are emphasized. CSDA certified operators are recognized industry-wide for their proficiency in the full range of sawing and drilling applications.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS • Successful completion of CSDA Cutting Edge, Slab Sawing & Drilling 101, Wall Sawing 101 or Wire Sawing 101 • Three years field experience (4,500 hours) • Successful completion of 10-hour OSHA Construction Safety course • No more than one lost-time injury within the last three years • Unrestricted driver’s license • Negative drug test within 30 days of taking the course
ABC CUTTING CONTRACTORS BIRMINGHAM
CORING & CUTTING OF SPRINGFIELD, INC.
HOUSLEY DEMOLITION CO., INC.
Bessemer, Alabama
Nixa, Missouri
Visalia, California
ABC CUTTING CONTRACTORS MOBILE
CORING & CUTTING SERVICES, INC.
INTERNATIONAL DRILLING & SAWING, INC.
Daphine, Alabama
Bentonville, Arkansas
Montgomery, Alabama
ACCU-CUT CONCRETE SERVICES
CORING & CUTTING SERVICES, INC.
J-RAY CONTRACTORS, LLC
Palm Harbor, Florida
Jacksonville, Arkansas
Marrero, Louisiana
AGGREGATE TECHNOLOGIES
CR MEYER
JACK DOHERTY CONTRACTING
Houston, Texas
Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Woburn, Massachussetts
AMERICAN EAGLE CONCRETE SERVICES
CUT-RITE CONCRETE CUTTING CORP.
K.C. CORING & CUTTING CONSTRUCTION, INC.
Orlando, Florida
Pawtucket, Rhode Island
Kansas City, Missouri
ANDERS CONSTRUCTION, INC.
CUTTING EDGE SERVICES CORP.
L&S FORMLESS CURB COMPANY
Harvey, Louisiana
Batavia, Ohio
Hanover, Pennsylvania
ATLANTIC CONCRETE CUTTING, INC.
D.M. CONLON/DAN-KEL CONCRETE CORING, SAWING & SCANNING
LIUNA LOCAL 506 TRAINING CENTRE
Mt. Holly, New Jersey
AUSTIN ENTERPRISE Bakersfield, California
B.T. RENTALS LIMITED Woodbrook, Trinidad & Tobago
CENTRAL CONCRETE CUTTING, INC. Edgar, Wisconsin
CHICAGO CUT CONCRETE CUTTING Chicago, Illinois
COBRA CONCRETE CUTTING SERVICES CO. Arlington Heights, Illinois
CONCRETE CUTTING & BREAKING CO. Jacksonville, Florida
CONCRETE CUTTING SPECIALISTS, INC. Freeland, Michigan
CONCRETE PENETRATING CO. Dallas, Texas
CONCRETE RENOVATION, INC. San Antonio, Texas
CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS REMOVAL, INC. St. Augustine, Florida
CORE SOLUTIONS LTD. Maraval, Trinidad & Tobago
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Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
DARI CONCRETE SAWING AND DRILLING Raleigh, North Carolina
DEANDREA CORING & SAWING, INC. Henderson, Colorado
DELTA CONTRACTORS & ASSOCIATES, LLC Baltimore, Maryland
DIXIE CONCRETE CUTTING CO. College Park, Georgia
EAST COAST CONCRETE SPECIALITIES, INC. Jessup, Maryland
ELMER’S CRANE & DOZER, INC. Traverse City, Michigan
HAFNER & SON, INC. Danielsville, Pennsylvania
HARD ROCK CONCRETE CUTTERS, INC. Wheeling, Illinois
HARD ROCK SAWING & DRILLING SPECIALIST CO. Keshena, Wisconsin
HOLES INCORPORATED Houston, Texas
HOLES OF SAN ANTONIO, INC. San Antonio, Texas
Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
LOMBARDO DIAMOND CORE DRILLING CO. Santa Clara, California
M6 CONCRETE CUTTING & CORING Wichita, Kansas
PENHALL COMPANY/CONCRETE CORING COMPANY OF HAWAII Aiea, Hawaii
QUICK CUTS CONCRETE CUTTING SERVICES, LLC Belvidere, Illinois
ROUGHNECK CONCRETE DRILLING & SAWING Morton Grove, Illinois
SUPER CITY CONCRETE CUTTING Ocean Grove, Victoria, Australia
TRUE LINE CORING & CUTTING OF CHATTANOOGA, LLC Chattanooga, Tennessee
TRUE LINE CORING & CUTTING OF KNOXVILLE, LLC Knoxville, Tennessee
TRUE LINE CORING & CUTTING OF NASHVILLE, LLC Nashville, Tennessee
WOLF INDUSTRIAL SERVICES San Francisco, California
COMPANY CERTIFICATION The CSDA Company Certification Program is the first of its kind in the industry. This program has been created for cutting contractors to provide owners, architects, engineers, general contractors and government officials with a valuable pre-qualification tool that acknowledges sound business practices. It is available to all sawing and drilling contractors.
A COMPANY MUST MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA TO ACHIEVE CERTIFICATION: • Meet the basic safety, and insurance requirements of the industry • Undertake sound operational and financial best practices • Provide evidence it has took part in basic training or certification programs to better its employees and the company as a whole • Successfully pass a written application review
ATLANTIC CONCRETE CUTTING, INC. Mount Holly, New Jersey
AUSTIN ENTERPRISE Bakersfield, California
CENTRAL CONCRETE CUTTING, INC. Edgar, Wisconsin
COBRA CONCRETE CUTTING SERVICES CO. Arlington Heights, Illinois
CONCRETE RENOVATION, INC. San Antonio, Texas
CUTTING EDGE SERVICES CORP. Batavia, Ohio
DEANDREA CORING & SAWING, INC. Henderson, Colorado
DI-TECH INTERNATIONAL, INC. Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
GREENE’S, INC. Woods Cross, Utah
HARD ROCK CONCRETE CUTTERS, INC. Wheeling, Illinois
HOLES INCORPORATED Houston, Texas
ONLINE CONCRETE CUTTING SERVICES PTY. LTD Seven Hills, New South Wales, Australia
WESTCOAST CUTTING & CORING, LTD. Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
W WW. C O N C RE TE OPE N IN GS.COM
C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 5 7
Membership
NE
W
ME
North American Contractors
Polishing Contractors
ACCU-CUT INC.
ARDOR SOLUTIONS LLC
ACTION CONCRETE CUTTING & DEMOLITION
CONCRETE POLISHING + RESTORATION
AMERITEX IMAGING & SERVICES
LASTING IMPRESSIONS DECORATIVE CONCRETE
Summerville, South Carolina
Gardena, California Toney, Alabama Houston, Texas
Caryville, Tennessee
MBE
BAZIN SAWING & DRILLING LLC
Conway, Arkansas
JMC CONCRETE CUTTING & DEMOLITION
Everett, Washington
Louisburg, Kansas
Winter Garden, Florida
Overseas Contractor CEMCUT CONCRETE CUTTING Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
R
Manufacturers
NCSGRIND
Distributor SELECT CONCRETE SOLUTIONS, INC. Shelbyville, IN
Affliiate LATICRETE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
DIAMOND BACK INC.
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
S
SUPERABRASIVE, INC. Hoschton, Georgia
Bethany, Connecticut
SYKES HOLLOW INNOVATIONS LTD. Manchester Center, Vermont
MEMBER
BENEFITS SAFETY RESOURCES
UNTS O C DIS GRAM ember PROion negotiates mional
sociat ith nat The As programs w PS and t i benef aples, U provide t S e k i o rs l order t vendo .com in rtunities ly p p u s ppo V-belt vings o mbers. cost-sa DA Me for CS
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NETWORKING
AND TOOLBOX SAFETY TIPS (TSTS) • 230-page CSDA Safety Manual • Safety Handbook in English/Spanish • Safety Videos for concrete cutters • Over 100 Toolbox Safety Tips (TSTs)
AT THE ANNUAL CONVENTION AND QUARTERLY MEETINGS The number one benefit for members has always been the opportunity to network with cutting professionals at the annual convention and quarterly meetings. This networking provides opportunities to forge new relationships and learn from other experienced professionals.
NEXT GEN
CSDA NEXT GENERATION GROUP The group aims to continue the growth of the association while serving the needs and wants of the younger generation, with the goal of continuing to set a standard of excellence.
TESTIMONIAL I have been polishing marble, terrazzo and concrete since 2005. During this time, I have participated in many types of training in several states. I like to stay up to date on the latest techniques and products that will help me stay ahead of my competition. I first heard about CSDA at the World of Concrete trade show in Las Vegas. I later read an article in Concrete Openings about industry Standard CSDAST-115 and I was intrigued. I have long thought that the concrete polishing community needed a standard and an international association to back it up. When [CSDA Polishing Committee Chair] Christopher Bennett told me about the CSDA-ST-115 Certification class at CSDA’s Annual Convention & Tech Fair, I thought it was a great opportunity to become certified as well as meet some other people in the business. I attended the Ruben Gil convention and took the The Floor Whisperer Irvine, California class. I became certified and thefloorwhisperer@sbcglobal.net made some new friends as well! Being a member of the association has helped me make connections all over the country. It is great to be able to network with my fellow polishers as well as people who work in other areas of concrete. I not only look forward to the opportunities that I’m sure will come my way from being CSDA-ST-115 Certified, but the improvements that this standard will bring to our industry.
24/7
THE CSDA WEBSITE AT WWW.CSDA.ORG CONTAINS A WEALTH OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE 24/7 IN THE “MEMBERS” SECTION. IN ADDITION, CSDA’S FACEBOOK PAGE AND DISCUSSION FORUM GROUP PAGE ALSO PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH A CHANCE TO DISCUSS TECHNICAL ISSUES, SELL EQUIPMENT, HIRE EMPLOYEES OR ANY OTHER RELEVANT TOPICS.
TRAINING OVER 4,000 INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS HAVE GRADUATED FROM MORE THAN 20 CLASSROOM, HANDS-ON AND ONLINE CSDA TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON CUTTING DISCIPLINES, ESTIMATING, POLISHING AND SAFETY. ONLINE TRAINING AT WWW.CSDATRAINING.COM OFFERS A COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO THOSE NOT ABLE TO AFFORD THE TIME OR THE MONEY TO SEND OPERATORS TO CLASSES.
DUESSCHEDULE REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.CSDA.ORG GROSS SALES
NORTH AMERICAN CONTRACTOR
POLISHING CONTRACTOR
GPR IMAGING MANUFACTURER DISTRIBUTOR OVERSEAS CONTRACTOR CONTRACTOR
$0–1M
$585
$750
$1,255
$910
$1–2M
$950
$1,550
$1,160
$2–3M
$2,290
$1,720
$3M–5M
$1,445 $750 $1,950 $1,250
$5–10M
$2,450
$4,975
>$10M
$3,095
$6,175
$3,690
$400
AFFILIATE
$725
$2,775
For more information about CSDA membership, visit www.csda.org, call 727-577-5004 or email info@csda.org. W WW. C O N C RE TE OPE N IN GS.COM
C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 5 9
Calendar 2015 SEPTEMBER 28 – OCTOBER 2
NOVEMBER 2-3
FEBRUARY 1-2
Concrete Décor Show Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, IN Tel: 877-935-8906 Email:info@concretedecorshow.com www.concretedecorshow.com
CSDA Slab Sawing & Core Drilling 201 Certification St. Petersburg, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
CSDA Estimating Class Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
NOVEMBER 2-3
FEBRUARY 2
SEPTEMBER 30
International Conference on Stone & Concrete Machining Ruhr University Bochum Congress Center Bochum, Germany Email: icscm15@wtech.rub.de www.icscm.de
CSDA-ST-115 Certification Class Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
NOVEMBER 2-6
World of Concrete Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 972-536-6423 www.worldofconcrete.com
CSDA-ST-115 Certification Class Indiana Convention Center Indianapolis, IN Tel: 727-577-5004 Email:info@csda.org www.csda.org
SEPTEMBER 30 – OCTOBER 3 Construct Show 2015 America’s Center St. Louis, MO www.constructshow.com
Batimat 2015 Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre Paris, France Email: info@batimat.com www.batimat.com
OCTOBER 12-13
NOVEMBER 4-5
CSDA Slab Sawing & Core Drilling 101 Training Husqvarna Construction Products Olathe, KS Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
CSDA Wall Sawing 201 Certification St. Petersburg, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
OCTOBER 14-15
World Demolition Summit Kransnapolski Hotel Amsterdam, the Netherlands Tel: 44-1892 786210 Email: lindsay.gale@khl.com www.demolitionsummit.com
CSDA Wall Sawing 101 Training Husqvarna Construction Products Olathe, KS Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
OCTOBER 14-15 Offsite Construction Show ExCel London, United Kingdom Email: eddie@marwoodevents.com www.off-siteshow.co.uk
OCTOBER 16-17 CSDA Wire Sawing 101 Training Husqvarna Construction Products Olathe, KS Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
OCTOBER 28-30 Concrete Show South East Asia Jakarta International Expo Jakarta, Indonesia Email: frank@merebo.com www.concreteshow.merebo.com
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NOVEMBER 6
NOVEMBER 6-7 CSDA Wire Sawing 201 Certification St. Petersburg, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
DECEMBER 10-11 CSDA Winter Meetings Grand Summit Hotel at Canyons Resort Park City, UT Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
2016 JANUARY 13-15 CSDA Robotic Demolition 101 Training St. Petersburg, FL Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
FEBRUARY 2-5
FEBRUARY 3 CSDA Board Meeting Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
FEBRUARY 3-4 Diamond Cutting: Sharpen Your Skills Introductory Training Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
FEBRUARY 3-4 CSDA Concrete Polishing Class Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, NV Tel: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org
MARCH 7-8 New York Build Expo Javits Center New York, NY Email: info@oliverkinross.com www.newyorkbuildexpo.com
MARCH 8-9 CSDA Spring Meetings JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Palm Desert, CA Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
MARCH 10-12 CSDA Convention & Tech Fair JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort Palm Desert, CA Tel: 727-577-5004 Email: info@csda.org www.csda.org
Advertising and Readership Circulation 18,000+ minimum, per issue 11,000+ member and prospective member companies made up of contractors, manufacturers, distributors and affiliates
7,000+ general contractors, engineers, architects and government officials who specify cutting, polishing and imaging
Who Reads the Magazine? Concrete Openings reaches cutting, polishing and imaging contractors as well as specifiers of these services, including engineers, architects, general contractors and governmental agencies. Why waste your message on unnecessary circulation? Advertising in Concrete Openings guarantees a targeted audience of industry professionals.
READERSHIP BY PROFESSION
Target the Specialized Industry of Concrete Cutting, Polishing and Imaging Advertising in Concrete Openings magazine is the only way to reach the specialty market of cutting, polishing and imaging contractors who work with concrete, asphalt or masonry because it is specifically targeted to this segment of the industry.
How Do You Reach 18,000+ Concrete industry Professionals? Each issue of Concrete Openings magazine is sent to more than 11,000 operators, equipment manufacturers and suppliers in the concrete cutting, polishing and imaging industry, and more than 7,000 specifiers of these services around the world.
Not a Subscriber? Get your free subscription today! Visit www.concreteopenings.com and click “subscribe.”
52%
Readership Per Issue A poll of Concrete Openings subscribers revealed that 66% pass on their copy of the magazine to at least one other person, with almost 25% stating that the magazine is passed on to four or more people each issue. This translates to an average of four people reading each issue of the magazine for a total readership per year of approximately 60,000.
8% 40%
• Specifiers • Contractors • Manufacturers, Distributors
CSDA Social Media CSDA’s social media pages are packed with all the latest news, updates, photos and videos from the association and Concrete Openings magazine. Look out for exclusive content and become “friends” with others who are looking to network and promote the sawing and drilling industry. Join our growing fan base and stay in touch with the association through your PC, laptop or mobile device. Find direct links to these pages at www.csda.org.
Concrete Openings Website Concrete Openings has its own website. Advertisers have direct links to their websites placed on our Advertisers page as a complimentary addition to ad placement. A full page-turning copy of the magazine, including ads, is also available for visitors to read on the website. Visitors to the site can now access our advertisers at the touch of a button. The Concrete Openings website also has banner advertising opportunities available throughout the year. Visit www.concreteopenings.com for more information.
W WW. C O N C RE TE OPE N IN GS.COM
C O N C RET E O P EN I N G S | 6 1
Advertisers To receive additional information about products advertised in this issue, contact the vendors below. PAGE
ADVERTISER
PHONE
51
Apollo General Insurance Agency, Inc.
707-996-2912 x17
bobe@apgen.com
39
Brokk, Inc.
877-276-5548
peter@brokkinc.com
19
Concut, Inc.
253-872-3507
suemayer@concutusa.com
27
CS Unitec, Inc.
203-853-9522
info@csunitec.com
23
Diamond Back Diamond Tools, Inc.
866-600-2557
patrick@dbdiamondtools.com
31, Inside Front Cover
Diamond Products
800-321-5336
jpalmer@diamondproducts.com
63
Diamond Tools Technology
612-408-9253
mark@diamondtoolstechnology.com
41
Diamond Vantage
866-322-4078
johnconrad@diamondvantage.com
29, 53
DITEQ Corporation
816-246-5515
jmiller@diteq.com
25
Dixie Diamond Manufacturing
678-296-3751
skilgore@dixiediamond.com
52
EDCO, Inc.
800-638-3326
moran@edcoinc.com
23
Expert Equipment Company
713-797-9886
expertequipment@sbcglobal.net
45
GDM Technologies/Terra Diamond
801-990-9034
gdmsaws@yahoo.com
47
GelMaxx
619-701-7246
info@gelmaxx.net
55
Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. (GSSI)
603-893-1109
harmonj@geophysical.com
Inside Back Cover
Hilti North America
918-872-3079
claire.combs@hilti.com
32, 33, Outside Back Cover
Husqvarna Construction Products
913-928-1442
cate.stratemeier@husqvarna.com
2
ICS, Blount Inc.
800-321-1240
marketing@icsdiamondtools.com
11
Makita USA
714-522-8088
whart@makitausa.com
17
Merit Engineering & Equipment Company
928-771-0575
r.ferguson@meritsaws.com
49
Pentruder, distributed by ICS, Blount Inc.
800-321-1240
terry.martin@blount.com
43
Pullman Ermator
855-736-2869
info@ermatorusa.com
30
Solutions Insurance Trust
312-803-7420
kristen_long@ajg.com
52
Sykes Hollow Innovations, Ltd.
518-392-7273
chris@pirithose.com
5
Western Saw
805-981-0999
cole@westernsaw.com
9
World of Concrete
727-577-5004
info@csda.org
6 2 | S E PTE MBE R.15
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Director’s Dialogue
Fact or Fiction
PATRICK O’BRIEN Executive Director
C
SDA is part of a very well connected construction and renovation community, where information is routinely shared through the Internet, various publications and personal exchanges. However, occasionally some of the information shared can be incorrect or misinformed, especially in the case of personal exchanges between people and companies. When I was hired as executive director, one of my first tasks was to approach a group of members in the Pacific Northwest who were upset at CSDA and threatening to resign. I called and spoke to many of the members to find out why they were upset. These members had been misinformed by someone in the industry who was unintentionally passing along incorrect information that rightfully upset many members. No one ever took the time to validate the information and all assumed it to be correct, which created the problem. Eventually, I was able to convince these members that the information was incorrect and move past the situation, but this took some time. While that first incident may have been an extreme, there has continued to be incorrect information about CSDA communicated to members and non-members. We have tried many different ways to inform members and met with some success. However, the issue still exists. Recently on social media, an operator posted about CSDA Training Programs and the fact that the training was only for experienced operators, not rookies. In addition, this person was unaware of the introductory-level classes offered, and also assumed
6 4 | S E PTE MBE R.15
that these classes were all taught by “book smart” instructors. Neither of these assertions is correct. CSDA offers over 30 training courses and has graduated 4,500 students from these classroom, hands-on and online training courses of all levels, from introductory to advanced, and all taught by instructors with years of practical experience in the field. What can CSDA do to keep members and prospects better informed of the many programs and services that we offer? Maybe we could offer up a challenge to social media followers to solicit rumors, assumptions, ideas about CSDA so that we can dispel some myths, or confirm accurate information. We have created a new area on the CSDA website that will inform visitors on the current activities of the many CSDA committees. This was an idea that surfaced from a social media posting. The committee members meet quarterly and have accomplished so much for the association, but there is always more that can be done and many of these ideas will come directly from members. How about it Concrete Openings readers? What suggestions can you offer to help better inform the industry and help advance professionalism? Nearly all of the member benefits offered today by CSDA are the result of a member, even prospects, contacting us to ask if we can offer specific new benefits, or try something new. CSDA welcomes your thoughts and ideas. Give me a shout at pat@csda.org.
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17400 West 119th Street • Olathe, Kansas 66061 • T 800-288-5040 • F 800-825-0028 • www.husqvarnacp.com 2077 Bond Street • North Bay, Ontario P1B 4V6 • T 800-461-9589 • F 800-825-0028 • www.husqvarnacp.ca Copyright © 2015 Husqvarna AB (publ.). All rights reserved. Husqvarna is a registered trademark of Husqvarna AB (publ.).