NRCS0110

infocus Concrete

March/April 2010

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL READY MIXED CONCRETE ASSOCIATION

Visualizing the

State of the Union’s

Infrastructure Using Concrete to Achieve Credits in LEED for Homes Concrete Then and Now – Has Much Changed?

IFCs Go To School Presorted Std. U.S. Postage PAID FARGO, ND PERMIT 43

Common Issues that Keep Businesses from Being Exceptional

RheoTEC™ Formulating Solutions for Consistent Concrete.

BASF is proud to introduce RheoTEC Z-60 workability-retaining admixture, a unique, Ärst-of-its-kind technology. This revolutionary new chemistry provides time-delayed dispersion to retain slump without retardation, eliminate the need for retempering and redosing, and ensure consistency from batching to placement.

RheoTEC Z-60 admixture brings predictability to concrete, resulting in improved performance and proÄtability.

Formulating Solutions. www.basf-admixtures.com/RheoTEC 800-628-9990

infocus

March/April 2010, Vol. 9, No. 2

Concrete

Concrete infocus is published for: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association 900 Spring Street Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 Phone: (301) 587-1400 Fax: (301) 585-4219 www.nrmca.org

contents

President: Robert A. Garbini, P.E. Managing Editor: Kathleen Carr-Smith Association Editor: Frank Cavaliere Published by: Naylor, LLC 5950 NW 1st Place Gainesville, Florida 32607 Phone: (800) 369-6220 Fax: (352) 331-3525 www.naylor.com

features 4

Using Concrete to Achieve Credits in LEED for Homes

8

Visualizing The State Of The Union’s Infrastructure

Publisher: Jill Andreu

15

IFCs Go To School

Editor: Sean Garrity

17

Common Issues that Keep Businesses from Being Exceptional

Project Manager: Heather Ciocca Marketing Research: Amanda Niklaus Account Representatives: Lou Brandow, Krys D’Antonio, Ryan Griffin, Maureen Hays, Beau Merrifield, Norbert Musial, Christine Ricci, Rick Sauers, Jamie Williams, Chris Zabel Layout and Design: Catharine Snell

depar tments 11

Tech Talk: Concrete Then and Now – Has much changed?

18

Advertisers’ Index

18

Advertiser.com

Advertising Art: Elaine Connell ©2010 Naylor, LLC. All rights reserved.

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the publisher.

PUBLISHED FEBRUARY 2010/NRC-S0110/9574

Visit our Buyers’ Guide online at NRMCA.OfficialBuyersGuide.net CONCRETE

in focus

ı

3

feature

Using

Concrete to Achieve Credits in LEED for Homes

By Erin Ashley, PhD, LEED AP - Senior Director of Sustainable Construction

C

oncrete’s many environmentally friendly benefits can help achieve certif ication using the LEED for Homes green building rating system.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes (LEED-H) is a point based rating system devised by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of residential buildings. The system is creditbased, allowing residential projects to earn points for environmentally friendly strategies employed during the design and construction process.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed several LEED systems including LEED for New Construction, LEED for Core and Shell, LEED for Schools, LEED for Health Care, LEED for Neighborhood Development and LEED for Homes, among others. LEED for Homes was released by the U.S. Green Building Council in January 2008 and is intended to cover single-family houses and multi-family residences less than three stories in height.

LEED-H is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable homes. LEED provides a framework for evaluating residential performance and for meeting sustainability goals through eight credit categories: Innovation and Design Processes (ID), Location and Linkages (LL), Sustainable Sites (SS), Water Efficiency (WE), Energy and Atmosphere (EA), Materials and Resources (MR), 4

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010

Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ), and Awareness and Education (AE). Specific points available in each credit category are provided in Table 1. It should be noted, however, that LEED points are not gained directly by the use of a product but by meeting a specific sustainability goal of the rating program. Concrete can contribute to all LEED credit categories.

Table 1. LEED for Homes credit categories and points available in each category.

Credit Category

Innovation and Design Processes(ID) Location and Linkages (LL) Sustainable Sites (SS) Water Efficiency (WE) Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Materials and Resources (MR) Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) Awareness and Education (AE) Total Points Available

Points Available

10 10 22 15 38 16 21 3 136

regardless of the materia l or method chosen. Four levels of certification are available: Certif ied, Silver, Gold and Platinum. A building requires at least 45 points for basic certification level. Silver level requires 60 points, Gold level requires 75 points, and Platinum level requires 90 points. There are a total of 136 points available. Certification levels are provided in Table 2.

Table 2. LEED for Homes certification levels and points required for each level.

LEED-H Certification Levels

Certified Silver Gold Platinum

Points Required

45-59 60-74 75-89 90+

Points for Certification LEED-H provides points for specific green building strategies. The program does not require that every project meet identical requirements or have identical design to achieve certification. Instead, the LEED-H rating system provides credit for achieving a level of sustainability, in most cases,

Concrete and LEED for Homes The following are suggestions for earning LEED points through the use of ready mixed concrete products. The paragraph headings correspond to the credit categories and the credit numbers in the LEED-H rating system.

Innovation in Design Credit 2: Durability Management Processes The intent of this credit is to promote durability and high performance of the building enclosures and its components and systems through appropriate design, materials selection, and construction practices. To achieve this credit, the project team must develop specific measures, among other requirements, to ensure durability and moisture control within the home. Concrete homes have proven to have unparalleled disaster and wind resistance, durable long lasting finishes, low maintenance, less frequent replacement, and mold and mildew resistance.

Location and Linkages Credit 3: Preferred Locations The intent of this credit is to encourage the building of LEED homes near or within existing communities. This credit can be achieved in part by locating the lot such that 75% of the perimeter borders previously developed land or if the home is built on a previously developed lot. A brownfield site is previously developed property, for which the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cementitious materials can be used to solidify and stabilize contaminated soils and reduce leaching concentrations to below regulatory levels. Although not typical, ready mixed concrete trucks and plants have been used to mix and deliver cementitious slurries for solidification and stabilization projects.

Sustainable Sites Credit 1: Site Stewardship The intent of this credit is to minimize long term environmental damage to the building lot during the construction process.

This credit can be achieved in part by minimizing disturbance area of the site. Concrete basements can increase living space without increasing building footprint reducing site disturbance. In addition, fire resistant concrete building systems allow for increased development density including multifamily construction.

Sustainable Sites Credit 3: Heat Islands The Intent of this credit is to reduce heat islands (thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas) to minimize impact on microclimate and human and wildlife habitat. This credit requires high albedo materials (reflectance of at least 0.3) and/or vegetation for at least 50% of the sidewalks, patios and driveways within 50 feet of the home. White concrete and new gray concrete typically have SRI of at least 29, therefore, meeting the requirements of this credit. Concrete materials other than typical white or gray concrete must be tested in accordance with ASTM E903, ASTM E1918 or ASTM C1549 to determine the material’s albedo.

reuse of rainwater and/or graywater. To achieve this credit, a rainwater harvesting system must be installed to hold all the water from a 1-inch rainfall event. One method to of rainwater harvesting is through the use concrete cisterns.

Energy and Atmosphere Pre-requisite 1: Optimize Energy Performance Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance

The intent of this credit is to design site features to minimize erosion and runoff from the home site. Several options exist to achieve this credit, however, the lot must be designed such that 70% of the built environment (not including area under roof) is permeable or designed to capture stormwater runoff on site. One method to achieve this credit is through the use of permeable paving such as pervious concrete. The pervious paving must include porous above ground materials and 6-inch porous sub-base, and the base layer must be designed to ensure proper drainage away from the home.

The intent of these credits is to improve the overall energy performance of the home by meeting or exceeding the performance requirements of an ENERGY STAR labeled home. To achieve this prerequisite, you must meet the prerequisite ENERGY STAR program and have third party verification.

To achieve points under credit 1, you must exceed the requirements of the ENERGY STAR program based on the Home Energy Standards (HERS) equations found in LEED-H. Up to 34 points are available.

The primary role of ready mixed concrete in improving energy performance is in reducing heat loss and gain through foundation and exterior above grade walls using insulated wall technologies that incorporate insulation and thermal mass. Using these high-performance wall systems can save energy and help reduce heating and cooling equipment size that can lead to further energy and construction cost savings.

Sustainable Sites Credit 5: Nontoxic Pest Control

Energy and Atmosphere Credit 2: Insulation

The intent of this credit is to design home features to minimize the need for poisons for control of insects, rodents and other pests.

In areas where “moderate to heavy” through “very heavy” termite infestation exists based on the probability map provided in the LEED for homes document, points are awarded if non-cellulosic wall materials are not used and/or solid concrete foundation walls are provided. Concrete wall and floor and roof systems can be used for abovegrade and below-grade applications to meet the intent of this credit.

The intent of this credit is to minimize heat transfer and thermal bridging.

To achieve this credit, insulation must exceed the R-value requirements listed in Chapter 4 of the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) by at least 5%.

Concrete wall systems such as insulated concrete forms (ICFs), insulated tilt-up concrete wall systems, and traditional insulated concrete walls can help meet the requirements of this credit.

Sustainable Sites Credit 4: Surface Water Management

Water Efficiency Credit 1: Water Reuse The intent of this credit is to use municipal recycled water, or offset central water supply through the capture and controlled

Energy and Atmosphere Credit 3: Air Infiltration The intent of this credit is to minimize energy consumption caused by uncontrolled air leakage into and out of conditioned spaces. To meet the criteria of this credit, the air leakage rate for the home must be CONCRETE

in focus

ı

5

in the range of 1.5 to 7.0 depending on the IECC climate zone as specified in Table 17 of LEED-H. Concrete forms an integral wall which is often solid and airtight, which can help meet the criteria of this credit.

Materials and Resources Credit 2: Environmentally Preferable Products The intent of this credit is to increase the demand for environmentally preferable products or building products that are extracted, processed, and manufactured within the

region. To achieve credits, 90% of the building materials must meet one or more of the following criteria: • Environmentally preferred products.

• Low emissions.

• Local products. Use products that were extracted, processed, and manufactured within 500 miles of the home.

Based on the table provided in the LEED-H, concrete using cementitious materials with 30% fly ash or slag, would qualify towards a low emission material for residential foundations. In addition, ready mixed concrete almost always qualifies for the local products portion of this credit because it is produced, extracted and manufactured within the 500 miles of the home. If a portion of the material is not manufactured or processed within the 500-mile radius, an assembly calculation can be performed that would allow partial credit.

Materials and Resources Credit 3: Waste Management The intent of this credit is to reduce waste management below the industry norm. To achieve this credit, waste must be diverted or reduced from new construction activities to levels below the industry norm. Since concrete is a relatively heavy construction material and is frequently crushed and recycled into aggregate for road base or construction fill, it can contribute to this credit.

Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 1: ENERGY STAR with Indoor Air Package

All you need to know about concrete color.

Just one call is all it takes to learn how Davis Colors can provide you with the number one concrete color brand in America, the most widely used automatic dosing systems, and the personalized marketing tools that will help you build your business.

Call 800-356-4848 ext. 323 or visit www. daviscolors.com.

Awareness and Education Credit 1: Education of Homeowner or Tenant

# 1 I N S Y S T E M I N S TA L L AT I O N S W O R L D W I D E Tel: 800-356-4848 Fax: 323-269-1053 www.daviscolors.com © 2008 Davis Colors, a brand of Rockwood Pigments, Inc.

ı

6 421384_DavisColors.indd 1

MARCH/APRIL 2010

The intent of this credit is to improve the overall quality of a home’s indoor environment by installing an approved bundle of air quality measures. To achieve this credit, the home must complete the all the requirements of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR with Indoor Air Package (IAP). Concrete construction provides a durable exterior envelope that is mold and moisture resistant. The concrete exterior envelope reduces air infiltration which aids in improving the overall indoor air quality of the home.

PIGMENTS

5/8/09 8:38:57 AM

The intent of this credit is to maintain the performance of the home by educating the occupants about the operations and maintenance of the home’s LEED features and

equipment. To achieve this credit, the homeowner should be provided with basic training on the home features. Concrete homes provide the homeowner with years of trouble-free durable, low maintenance living.

Benefits of LEED-H Certification Certification using the LEED for Homes Building Standard demonstrates a positive environmental image to the community. Implementing green building practices can result in energy and cost savings over the life of a building. Other advantages include better indoor air quality and thermal comfort. Natural resources such as building materials and water are conserved. LEED certified homes can often command a premium price and resale value over conventional construction.

Using concrete for homebuilding can provide solutions to many of the green building practices specified in LEED-H. Table 3 provides a summary of credits where concrete contributes to credits for residential buildings.

■

Table 3. Concrete’s Potential Contribution to LEED for Homes Credit Category Innovation in Design (11 Points Available) ID Credit 2: Durability Management Process Location and Linkages (10 Points Available) LL Credit 3: Site Selection Sustainable Sites (22 Points Available) SS Credit 1: Site Stewardship SS Credit 3: Local Heat Island Effects SS Credit 4: Surface Water Management SS Credit 5: Nontoxic Pest Control Water Efficiency (15 Points Available) WE Credit 1: Water Reuse Energy and Atmosphere (38 Points Available) EA Pre-Requisite 1: Optimize Energy Performance EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance EA Credit 2: Insulation EA Credit 3: Air Infiltration Materials and Resources (16 Points Available) MR Credit 2: Environmentally Preferable Products MR Credit 3: Construction Waste Reduction Indoor Environmental Quality (21 Points Available) EQ Credit 1: ENERGY STAR with Indoor Air Package Awareness and Education (3 Points Available) AE Credit 1: Education of the Homeowner or Tenant Total

Points for Concrete Required 2 1 1 5 1 4 Required 34 2 3 3.5 3 13 1 73.5 possible points

Detailed information on the LEED program and project certification process is available on the USGBC Web site, www.usgbc.org. More information about the environmental benefits of concrete can be found at www.nrmca.org/greenconcrete.

Your Concrete,, Our Passion!

Concrete Admixtures, Synthetic Fibers and Masonry Products

19218 Redwood Rd. Cleveland, OH 44110 [800] 321-7628 www.euclidchemical.com

381442_Euclid.indd 1

in focus

ı

1/20/09 5:54:46 PM7

CONCRETE

feature

Visualizing the

State of the Union’s Infrastructure

By Ashraf Ghaly, Ph.D., P.E. Professor of Engineering, Union College, Schenectady, NY 12308, ghalya@union.edu

I

n 2009, The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) published its highly anticipated and widely publicized Report Card on America’s Infrastructure. A collective grade is given to all infrastructure facilities and individual grades are also given to various categories. The comprehensive report that followed the report card lists the top three infrastructure concerns for all fifty states and details many aspects of these needs. The elements addressed in the report are percent of bridges that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, number of high hazard dams, number of dams in need for rehabilitation, percent of high hazard dams with no emergency action plan, drinking water needs in dollars, tonnage of port traffic, need for outdoor recreation facilities in dollars, percent of roads in poor condition, percent of congested roads, percent of traffic increase between 1990 and 2007, waste water infrastructure needs in dollars and transportation expenditure needs in dollars.

The wealth of information documented in the report is very useful in illustrating the scope of infrastructure needs. Some of the information, such as the percent of deficient bridges for example, sheds the light on the urgency of that need while other information, such as the percent of congested roads for example, focuses attention on the depth of a problem that can be a continuous drag on economic activities and can also be damaging to the environment.

A careful reader of the report will get the impression that the need is great in almost every state in the nation and the task is multidimensional. However, it is rather hard to form a global picture of that need only based on the figures given in the report. The absence of a visual aspect to “view” the information is probably a hindrance to appreciating the depth and breadth of the problem. As the wise saying goes “a picture is worth a thousand words,” the writer believes that a map is worth a million words. Most of the data in the ASCE report has been compiled for the purpose of illustration as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) maps. The aim was to produce a photo reportage that will help the reader make spatial conclusions based on color-coded maps. These maps can also help in comparing the needs of different states or of different regions in the country.

Each of the following maps displays data for a certain attribute distributed over five classes using the same set of colors in all maps.

For the sake of consistency, these classes are divided equally based on the range of the data under consideration, and this explains why in

8

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010

some maps a certain color may not be visible in the map although it exists in the map’s legend. If data is unavailable for a state, an additional sixth class (dark blue) appears in the legend, which signifies no data exists. It is also worth noting that all states are proportional in terms of the selected scale except for the state of Alaska which is displayed at a smaller scale of almost half its would-be size if proportioned to the same scale used in plotting the rest of the states.

Figure 1.

Top three infrastructure concerns. Figure 1 shows the top three infrastructure concerns in every state in the nation. It is remarkable that roads are one of the top three concerns in 49 states, followed by bridges that are a top concern in 34 states.

Figure 2.

Percent of structurally deficient or functionally obsolete bridges. Figure 2 shows the percent of bridges that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete in every state. On average, almost all states have a quarter to a third of their bridges in a deficient condition. This percentage approaches or exceeds 50% in three states.

Figure 3.

Figure 7.

Figure 4.

Figure 8.

Figure 5.

Figure 9.

Figure 6.

Number of high hazard dams. The number of high hazard dams is shown in Figure 3. A high hazard dam is defined as one whose failure would cause a loss of life and significant property damage. It is rather troubling that the numbers shown on the maps are in the hundreds and approach or exceed a thousand dams in a few states.

Number of dams in need for rehabilitation. Figure 4 shows another map concerning dams in need for rehabilitation. Again, many states have hundreds of dams that are in need for rehabilitation, and if these numbers are proportioned to the total number of dams in their respective states, the percentages could be significantly high in many states.

Number of dams with no emergency action plan. Figure 5 shows the number of dams with no emergency action plan in every state. Where data is available, almost all states have significant number of dams with no emergency action plan.

This is a dangerous situation that can lead to regrettable consequences considering the scale of damage should an emergency situation arises.

Drinking water needs in millions of dollars over the next 20 years. Figure 6 shows drinking water facilities need in millions of dollars over the next 20 years.

This map illustrates that there is a universal need for drinking water facilities, and that states with high population density, the need for such facilities is in billions of dollars.

Waste water facilities need in millions of dollars. Figure 7 shows waste water facilities need in millions of dollars. As is the case with drinking water need, one can see a similar pattern of need for waste water facilities. In almost all denselypopulated states, these needs are estimated in billions of dollars, and reach tens of billions of dollars in a few heavily populated states.

Percent of roads in poor condition. Figure 8 shows the percent of roads considered to be in poor condition. Considering that roads are one of the top three concerns in 49 states, it comes as no surprise that the percentage of roads that are in poor condition is almost universally high throughout the United States and is reaching or exceeding almost three quarters in a few states. This has direct impact on the transportation of people and goods, on the rate of wear and tear of the vehicles using the roads, and on the maintenance cost of these vehicles.

Percent of congested roads.Coupled with road-related issues is the percent of congested roads as shown in Figure 9. For almost all states where data exists, the percentages range from a third to over a half, and exceed two thirds in a couple of states. The problem of congested roads is directly related to wasted time on the road, fuel consumption, air pollution, waste of productive time, and vehicle operating expense. All these factors negatively impact the economy and the environment.

CONCRETE

in focus

覺

9

Figure 10.

The ASCE report has other attributes that can be used in creating more maps but there are too many states with missing data to make the illustration meaningful. From the plotted maps, one can easily see the usefulness of GIS in visualizing large bodies of data. It is gratifying that the ASCE report has received considerable attention from politicians at all levels of federal, state, and local governments. It is also fitting that concrete in its many forms is a major ingredient in almost all types of infrastructure projects outlined in the report. Our industry participants have been active in making the case for America’s infrastructure. This is a good promotion because it benefits our industry, maintains efficient systems that strengthen our economy, and enhences the quality of life that every human deserves. Every tool in our disposal should be used toward achieving this goal. It is extremely sad that it took such a severe recession for various levels of government to conclude that America is in need for rejuvenation of its infrastructure facilities after a long period of neglect. Now that this realization has been reached, it is time for the concrete industry to lead in sustaining America’s infrastructure. ■

Figure 11.

Percent of traffic increase between 1990 and 2007. Figure 10 shows the percent of traffic increase between 1990 and 2007. Except for a few states, these increases have been considerable in almost all states and exceed 100% in one state. This further complicates the problem of poor road conditions and increases the percentage of congested roads.

Outdoor recreation facilities need in millions of dollars. Figure 11 shows the need in millions of dollars for outdoor recreation facilities. Except for California and Florida where the needs are significantly great, this need is almost uniform in all other states.

THE BOND OF

Strength AND

5XThgl

In a world where strength and durability count, we’re adding a new dimension of profit and performance with our alliance. perform Both Bo Bot h lleaders ead e d in their industries, Buckeye UltraFiber 500® and Solomon Colors, Inc. are proud to be joining forces to provide he e best be estt ssolutions for delivering more durable concrete and the sus u tai t nab nab blle e pro ofits fitts to to pr produ od odu o du du ucer cer ce ers a e nd dc sustainable profits producers and contractors in the concrete ind nd n dust u ry. us ryy Th The he rres esult? esu ult? lt? Bu lt B ulld ldog og--ttou to oug ou gh hc co o industry. result?

Bulldog-tough concrete, finished beautifully wit w ith valu vvalue-added alu a lu ue-a e--a adde ed fibers fiber be b e s and er ers and d consistent co co con on nssis isten te en color for happier e with cus cu cus ustom om omers mers e an nd a healthier he healt ealt all hie hiier b otttom ot ott om lin lline. in ne customers and bottom s Buckeye UltraFiber 500® is the greenest fiber on the market s Dramatically reduces shrinkage cracks s Finishes perfectly Magnification shows UltraFiber 500® with concrete literally bonded to it.

Fiber bonds with cement paste and easily absorbs pigment.

solomoncolors.com 800-624-0261

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010 10458446_Solomon.indd 1

s Beautifully absorbs Solomon Colors pigments s Get the best dispensing equipment from the leaders in automation, with no capital investment

ultrafiber500.com 866-663-8999

12/22/09 5:24:08 PM

tech talk

Concrete Then and Now – Has much changed?

T

he National Ready Mixed Concrete Association and the National Sand and Gravel Association initiated the Stanton Walker Lectureship at the University of Maryland in 1962 to honor Mr. Walker on his retirement as Director of Engineering of the Associations. Several prominent people were invited to provide the distinguished lecture. It is interesting to read those lectures and consider that almost 50 years later, we seem to be discussing the same issues.

The first lecture was presented by A. Allan Bates, then the Chief of the Building Research Division of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS), now National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Below are some excerpts from the lecture by Mr. Bates delivered on November 20, 1963 at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland. The complete lecture is available on request from NRMCA. The title of the lecture:

COMPOSITES IN CONSTRUCTION: PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES A composite implies the act of composition. Man’s earliest structures were necessarily simple and made use of natural materials, stone, wood, reeds and mud. He found out at a very early stage, however, that each material had its strengths and weaknesses, its advantages and disadvantages. By shrewdly combining two or more materials he could frequently augment the advantages and offset the disadvantages of each. Straw fibers added to clay resulted in a composite plastic mass which made a superior sunbaked brick.

It was the Romans, the greatest builders of antiquity, who first extensively developed CONCRETE

in focus

ı

11

HOWTO combat global warming,

reduce the

production of greenhouse gases, and

builda

stronger infrastructure.

SPECIFY FLY ASH (a recovered resource)

as a replacement for cement in concrete.

When you specify fly ash as replacement for cement in concrete, you help reduce CO2 emissions from cement production, conserve landfill space, and decrease water usage. You also enhance workability and chemical attack resistance, increase strength and produce more durable concrete.

Contact Headwaters Resources for free technical literature and information on how fly ash use benefits the environment and produces better concrete.

MEMBER

www.flyash.com

I 1-888-236-6236

373895_Headwaters.indd 1

3/13/08 4:32:44 PM

1/4 v

late sale

12

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010

that composite of composites which today has become so infinitely varied as to defy definition even though we vaguely use the one term, concrete, to cover all of its forms and manifestations. As has recently been said, concrete is not a material, it is a process. Perhaps it may even more usefully be regarded as a concept, which any interested party may alter to suit his purposes-and almost everyone does.

Therein lies a host of challenges and an equally numerous array of problems. Since “concrete” is not only so many things to so many men but is made of so many things by so many men the assignment of responsibility for it can become extremely tenuous. By contrast, a fairly definite group of companies which comprise the “steel industry” can reasonably be held responsible, in a general way, for quality, availability and progress in steel. …

Anyone who has had much to do with portland cement concrete is aware of the peculiar vulnerability of that complex mixture to damage by irresponsibility. But there has, perhaps, been an inadequate analysis of, and emphasis upon, the nature of that irresponsibility.

There have indeed been too many cases of flagrant dishonesty and deliberate malpractice on the part of producers of concrete and concrete components which have caused disastrous failures and required expensive repairs. Nevertheless, the total number of major failures so caused has been extremely small in proportion to the number of concrete structures built. Viewed in these terms the record of concrete is good. …

Originally hidden from view in its ancient uses and still destined to continue its career as a brute working material in many of its modern tasks, concrete has understandably been very often looked upon as a crude concoction which could be made quite well enough by unskilled and careless workers. Fortunately or unfortunately, this has been true much of the time. A great deal of the ancient Roman concrete, for example, which has endured for two thousand years was actually pretty poor stuff. All too frequently, even today, the same worker who makes crude concrete for low grade uses also makes concrete for refined and exacting applications. Nor from where he stands in the ranks of the construction crew is he apt to see much reason for differentiating the low grade from the high.

But responsibility for good or bad quality concrete does not rest principally on the laborer. The architect, the design engineer, the specifications writer, the many materials producers, the admixture suppliers, the contractor and subcontractors, the inspector, the testing laboratory, the writers of building codes and standards, the banker, the insurance underwriter, the speculator and the ultimate owner, all share the responsibility in some degree. All, wittingly or unwittingly, have had something to do with the kind of concrete that goes into our buildings. All have put something into the concrete but more importantly, each must get something out of it-a profit.

Solomon, in his wisdom, found it rather easy to determine which was the mother of the little child. But fortunately for his reputation, in Solomon’s day it was never necessary for him to decide who was the father of a concrete beam cast in place. …

The opportunities for accident; miscalculation, irresponsibility, incompetence or downright dishonesty to intervene between the gravel pit and the structural formwork are greater than we like to admit. It is fortunate indeed that most concrete mixtures can suffer

grievous abuse and still retain enough strength and virtue to serve us well. …

Relative to concrete, one of the early and still very important manifestations of this revolution is that homely monster, the readymix truck. It is an itinerant factory into which go controlled streams of raw materials and out of which comes a new plastic product with unique and wonderfully useful qualities. Primitive as it is, the ready-mix truck embodies most of the fundamental advantages and purposes of industrialization. It uses standardized materials, treats them by standardized processes, employing machine power instead of muscle to manufacture a standardized product for which the producer can, up to a point, be held fairly responsible. From a single source it delivers its product to a widely scattered and diversified lot of consumers who are usually in a position to buy from alternative competitive sources if they wish.

The average contractor, who once set up a mixing plant of sorts on every concrete job he undertook, could not afford to do research work on the theory, mechanics and efficiency of the mixing operation. But the average ready-mix producer can usually exert at least a little effort on such studies; and, if he combines his resources with those of many other ready-mix operators in a voluntary common pursuit of technical progress, the result may be very far-reaching.

This is the ultimate expression of responsibility in our free enterprise system. Without an adequate exercise of such responsibility free enterprise as we know it will not long endure. …

The very fact that the ready-mix operator has a closer control over his product also means that he is subject to greater temptation to turn out concrete which barely meets specifications.

Furthermore, since he delivers a complex product in which the ingredients are difficult to measure and identify, he is always vulnerable to doubts about the strict necessity of adhering to the exact letter of the specifications.

Under the hot breath of his aggressive competitors for the elusive profits which are his only means of survival the ready-mix producer must at times be a modem St. Anthony. The devil may appear to him in exceedingly strange forms, such as an extra gallon of water or as a vanishing half sack of cement. Such temptations can sometimes look like the only alternative to

Call in the reinforcements.

We’re a leading provider of reinforcing fibers and accessories for just about every concrete and asphalt application.

Choose from our comprehensive line of reinforcing fibers including green, nylon, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, glass, cellulose and steel.

Call 800.456.9266 or visit www.nycon.com.

Helping you build smarter and better.™ New Nycon, Inc., Subsidiary of Pure Earth, Inc. One Neshaminy Interplex Suite 201, Trevose, PA 19053

418205_New.indd 1

268678_Coast2Coast.indd 1

9/4/09 11:48:19 AM

in focus

ı

13 AM 7/28/06 10:42:32

CONCRETE

economic extinction. A stern sense of responsibility can then seem too much of a burden to bear. …

The society which has developed in North America is profoundly different from any other in human history. It began in a new world essentially untouched by man. This new world was immensely rich in natural resources. … Rapid change and growth became the most characteristic features of the new nation. … During the last seventy five years it has been the exploitation of science and technology which has most profoundly affected American society. The continent had limits. Science has none. Science is a self-fertilizing plant.

The bigger it grows the faster it grows. There is no way of declaring a moratorium on science because it has become man’s most inexorable and commanding activity. The American nation cannot impede its constantly increasing rate of economic and social change without becoming a fundamentally different nation. … The more America changes the more it stays the same. The final responsibility for any industry is to make up its collective mind concerning the extent to which it will participate in the processes of change and help guide them to the benefit of the nation. …

The magnitude of the concrete industries in the United States can be only very roughly stated but, as a sufficient first approximation for our purposes, annual sales of some five billion dollars may be taken as a very conservative measure of their size. It is doubtful whether these industries spend as much as five million dollars a year on research, even when “research” is generously defined. This is onetenth of one percent of sales budgeted for technical improvement by an industry of immense importance and of great future promise. No other industry of consequence spends so little for this purpose. …

The problems that need solving are big, complex and urgent.

Concrete buildings continue to crack much too frequently. Concrete surfaces continue to deteriorate too soon too often. We know that concrete can and probably should be much stronger than it is. Yet

STOP

LOSING BUSINESS!

we do not even have a useable theory as to why concrete has strength at all or why it fails. The basic research which might provide this fundamental information limps along on miserly budgets. Probably less than one-hundredth of one percent of the concrete sales dollar is spent on finding out why concrete is concrete. Will we know how to make superior concrete … in 1985-or even in 1975? The answers to these formidable questions will be discovered in such excellent laboratories as those founded here at the University of Maryland by the two great industrial associations which Stanton Walker served so well. I would suggest that if by 1975 those laboratories were ten times as big and productive as they now are the sand-gravel and the ready-mix concrete industries would thus make Stanton Walker even happier than he may be with the tribute paid him through these lectures. Furthermore, these industries would thus be doing themselves and the nation the greatest service of all - that of providing assurance to the men and women living in America that this will remain a land of change and growth and opportunity.

■ And so it goes…

Dr. A. Allan Bates’ career involved academic, industrial and organizational achievement. He received a degree of Doctor of Science in 1931 from the University of Nancy, France. Honorary degrees of Doctor of Science were awarded by Stevens Institute of Technology and Rose Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Bates was a President of ACI and ASTM. He served on the advisory board of the National Academy of Sciences. He was vice president of research and development for 15 years at the Portland Cement Association and Director of New York University’s University Valley Project, before he served as at NBS. He carried out assignments for industry and the government in Latin America and Europe. He served as Chairman of an American Delegation to the Soviet Union for the US Department of State and the National Academy of Sciences.

Kemco Systems is a proud member and supporter of the NRMCA

Don’t let hot water shortages slow you down, ensure your hot water supply keeps up with YOUR demand.

The RM99 Direct Contact Water Heater • 99.7% fuel efficient • Instantaneous hot water • Stainless steel, non-pressurized unit • Convenient 4-point connection

As has recently been said, concrete is not a material, it is a process

Stephens Manufacturing Co., Inc. P.O. Box 488, Tompkinsville, KY 42167 (270) 487-6774 • Fax: (270) 487-8368 dproffitt@stephensmfg.com • www.stephensmfg.com

RM99 Direct Contact Water Heater

BMH Systems KEMCO SYSTEMS

To schedule an on-site plant analysis or for information contact Kemco Systems 800.633.7055 www.kemcosystems.com sales@kemcosystems.com

ı

14 254429_Kemco.indd 1

MARCH/APRIL 2010

We have been in the concrete plant manufacturing business since 1957. We can custom build a plant to your specifications. Each plant conforms to CPMB (Concrete Plant Manufacturing Bureau) criteria.

7/31/06 9:38:12 AM

71 du Tremblay, Boucherville, QC J4B 7L6 (450) 449-4770, F: (450) 449-4898 info@bmhsystems.com, www.bmhsystems.com BMH Systems is a North American leader in the design, engineering and manufacturing of custom concrete batch plants. BMH Systems brings together best of breed equipment from the world’s leading suppliers with in-house design, engineering and drafting, state of the art manufacturing facilities, quality controls and project management to ensure their customer’s strategic business goals are met. BMH Systems RollMaster® reversing drum mixer is the most profitable type of concrete mixer for the ready-mix industry. It provides you with an edge over your competition by offering superior consistency, low operating cost, durability and reliability.

feature

IFCs Go To School

By Amy Miller, P.E., National Resource Director, NRMCA

A

unique window of opportunity has opened for states and districts to finance school construction and renovation. Through the Qualified School Construction Bond (QSCB) program, created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARR A), the federal government will provide tax credits, in lieu of interest paid by the state or district, to bondholders. As a result, schools districts throughout the states are evaluating use of these bond programs to purchase land and construct new buildings. Since the states and districts that issue the bonds will be responsible only for paying back the principal, the savings reaped can be up to fifty percent.

With the buzz of school funds available and an ever-growing concern for sustainable efforts in construction, school districts are looking for cost-effective, environmentally viable construction solutions. One state that has created a name for itself in these efforts is the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

Kentucky is home to the largest Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) school in the nation and has recently adapted a state wide mandate to construct to the United States Green Building council (USGBC) Leed Certified level. ICF construction uses insulating Styrofoam filled with concrete. This method of construction offers high R-values that ultimately allow for drastically reduced energy usage through thermal mass cooling along with the ability to downsize HVAC units. ICF construction is quick and

creates a safe-haven in the event of natural disasters.

Kentucky began its first ICF job in Warren County with Alvaton Elementary School. ICF was designed on the recommendation of Sherman Carter Barnhart, PSC (SCB) an architectural firm that had worked with the school board for over twenty years.

“We had provided school projects with geothermal heating and cooling and the school board was interested in taking energy efficiency to the next level. ICF was a natural next step. ICF is one system that provides thermal properties, quick construction and a solid wall system for protection,“ according to Kenny Stanfield, Principal with SCB. Since this project was a first in the nation, there was initially trepidation about proper installation and increased costs. Those fears were put to rest when an experienced concrete contractor was awarded the job and the increase in initial cost of ICF over traditional building methods was relatively low. Once the school was up and operating the school district was able to recognize immediate energy savings as compared to other schools similar in size in the region.

According to Stanfield, Alvaton consumes 35 kBtu/sf/year. This is less than half the energy consumed when meeting the national energy code standards. Since Alvaton, SCB has done many other school projects and with each project the energy efficiency is approved to the point of the latest “net zero” energy school, Richardsville Elementary.

South Warren Middle and High School

With the buzz of school funds available and an ever-growing concern for sustainable efforts in construction, school districts are looking for cost-effective, environmentally viable construction solutions.

will be completed in May and is the largest ICF structure in the US. Stanfield adds, “ICF is a standard component of our design to achieve energy efficient schools.” The energy savings estimated for these schools are staggering. When converted to dollars the numbers range from $134K - $223K per school. “Using ICF construction is the gift that keeps giving. The energy savings will allow Kentucky to use money on other projects including new schools, retrofitting of old schools or other projects that better our state,” says Kentucky Ready Mix Association Executive Director Finley Messick. “I see the broadening of ICF construction with the initiatives of Governer Steve Beshear. He has a vision to make Kentucky a “greener” state.

In the process, taxpayers have saved tremendous money in terms of energy savings and this has offered the opportunity to teach our children that sustainable efforts can be met without breaking the bank. In this case, becoming more sustainable has saved money for our state and ICF construction has been a key part of this effort. This has certainly put Kentucky on the forefront and made our state a leader in these sorts of initiatives.” ■ Note from author: If you are interested in having school district officials view this type of construction or discuss the benefits with Kentucky school officials, please contact Finley Messick, Kentucky Ready Mix Executive Director at finley@krmca.org.

CONCRETE

in focus

ı

15

Your company’s reputation – and future orders – are depending on your performance today.

Buying only equipment with TMMB rating plates ensures that your equipment will perform up-to-spec

T M M B Mixer Manufacturers Bureau

capacity, accurate water control, precise mixing speed and uniform mixing performance to ensure quality concrete is delivered that way.

In fact, in many states TMMB rated equipment is required on state jobs.

Contact us to learn more about the TMMB advantage.

confidence Beck Industrial CBMW/Continental Manufacturing Co., Inc. Con-Tech Manufacturing, Inc. Housby Mixer Group Kimble Mixer Company London Machinery McNeilus Companies Oshkosh Truck Corp.

Schwing America Summit Performance Systems Terex®

900 Spring Street r Silver Spring, MD 20910 Tel: 301 / 587 - 1400 r Fax: 301 / 587-1605 www.tmmb.org

feature

Common Issues that Keep Businesses from Being Exceptional

By Brad Dawson

T

he owner of a ready mixed concrete business was struggling to find ways to increase revenues. In the last three years he had invested in aggressive business development and public relations efforts, hired senior-level employees to bring “instant” experience to his team and kept current on every new management theory that made it into print. The net results, however, were incremental improvements, at best. His investments in growth far surpassed his expected returns.

Does this example sound familiar? Most owners are seeking “extraordinary” solutions to solve business growth issues when, in fact, there are a series of simple corrective actions that will substantially increase business revenues, profits and corporate value. These growth issues are so common that I have

labeled them “business truisms” – as they seem to appear at nearly every business.

Avoid the Inverted Pyramid An ideal organizational structure reflects a pyramid – with a large, strong base of junior employees topped off by significantly fewer senior leaders. The logic is that profit margins (as a percentage) are much higher for junior employees than margins associated with senior managers. As a result, pyramid organizational structures may yield lower gross revenues but significantly higher profits – the real objective for any owner.

Unfortunately, the economic downturn has forced many owners to cut-back on staff.

Owners will often eliminate junior positions prior to cutting senior level individuals creating an inverted pyramid structure.

Once inverted, senior-level employees start to do tasks that were, in previous periods, being done by junior employees. As chargeable rates for senior level managers are not consistent with the actual lower-level work being accomplished, firms are forced to cut rates and, as a result, erase any form of profitability.

Don’t Give It Away As a business owner you scrutinize the chargeable (or productive) levels of every employee. It is your objective to squeeze out every possible level of productive value from every resource. But, do you hold yourself to the same level of accountability? Oh sure, you may work long hours (as every owner can attest) but are you charging your customers for your contribution to their projects?

In general, most business owners only bill 25% of their chargeable client efforts – allowing the client to receive their talents at a 75% discount! Business owners are, typically, the most expensive and talented resource in their business. Reasons for not charging clients directly appear to mask themselves behind arguments of “meeting client budgets” or “maintaining high levels of quality control”. Regardless, business owners should charge for their efforts. Not doing so is the same as giving your skills away.

Measure “Real” Corporate Chargeability A regional ready mix concrete firm was convinced they were achieving an alltime chargeability record – with sustained chargeability levels in excess of 95%. As CONCRETE

in focus

ı

17

project work continued to go out the door, the owner was dismayed that record chargeability had not yielded higher levels of owner compensation. There had to be a problem – after all, how could they work so hard and have so little to show for their efforts?

The problem was in the calculation of corporate chargeability. The firm had calculated their chargeability based only on those individuals that had an ability to generate chargeable hours – leaving behind the large (and somewhat bloated) administrative and marketing structure.

When the full firm was included in the calculation, the corporate chargeability rate dropped to 54%! The non-chargeable contingent was dragging down the effectiveness of the firm. It should be no surprise that the administrative and marketing positions were soon trimmed to accommodate the real needs of the firm.

Too Many Customers If you are like most businesses, approximately 20% of your customers generate over 80% of your revenues – the familiar 80/20 rule.

But why does this phenomenon occur? The answer is usually found in two places: either your firm has several customers that are woefully under-performing or, more than likely, you have customers that should not be customers. How can you tell the difference?

Look at your largest revenue generating customers. What common characteristics do they share (i.e., industry, revenue size, decision-making process)? These common characteristics form an ideal customer template – literally a predictive pattern that allows you to measure the potential of your existing (and future) customers. For customers that meet the “ideal” characteristics aggressive efforts should be made to increase the revenue per customer metric, thereby, elevating these entities to higher levels of performance. Conversely, those customers that do not meet the “ideal” characteristics should be eliminated.

advertisers’ index ADMIXTURES BASF Construction Chemicals ........................................ inside front cover The Euclid Chemical Company ...............................................................7 Solomon Colors ...................................................................................10 BATCH PLANTS BMH Systems......................................................................................14 Stephens Manufacturing Co., Inc. .........................................................14 CONCRETE CHIPPNG Coast 2 Coast .....................................................................................13 CONCRETE COLORANTS Davis Colors ..........................................................................................6 CONCRETE CURING EQUIPMENT Kemco Systems, Inc. ...........................................................................14 FIBER REINFORCEMENT New Nycon, Inc. ..................................................................................13 FLY ASH Headwaters Resources ........................................................................12 MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS/INVESTMENT BANKING FMI Corporation.............................................................inside back cover MIXER TRUCKS Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau .......................................................16 WATER HEATING EQUIPMENT Heatec, Inc. .................................................................outside back cover Kemco Systems, Inc. ...........................................................................14

Too Many Industries or None at All Finally, in how many industries do you claim expertise? Unless you are a large, multinational firm, the answer should be in the single digits. For most firms, the cost of effectively penetrating any industry is a costly, intensely labor-oriented activity – not something that can be accomplished by shot-gun marketing approaches.

Of greater concern, however, are those firms that claim expertise in horizontal capabilities - mistaking that knowledge for industry intelligence. Far too often, firms identify areas such as technology and government as industry classifications only to find that multiple industries occupy these horizontal designations. As a result, firms that practice this “no industry” philosophy are branded generalists making low-cost the primary basis for customer selection.

Good News The good news is that all the “conditions” mentioned in this article as easily fi xable. They do not require high levels of outside intervention or the implementation of the latest management theory. They require good old-fashioned management common sense. Are you ready to make your business exceptional?

■ Brad Dawson is an internationally-recognized business strategist and growth-oriented financial management consultant. He is a frequent speaker at business events and serves as a contributing writer to several international management and leadership publications. He can be reached at BLDawson@LTVdynamics.com.

18

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010

advertiser.com BASF Construction Chemicals www.masterbuilders.com ........................................ iinside fornt cover BMH Systems www.bmhsystems.com ..................................................................14 Coast 2 Coast www.C2C-chipping.com.................................................................13 Davis Colors www.daviscolors.com.......................................................................6 The Euclid Chemical Company www.euclidchemical.com .................................................................7 FMI Corporation www.fminet.com ......................................................inside back cover Headwaters Resources www.flyash.com ............................................................................12 Heatec, Inc www.heatec.com ...................................................outside back cover Kemco Systems, Inc. www.kemcosystems.com ...............................................................14 New Nycon, Inc. www.nycon.com ............................................................................13 Solomon Colors www.solomoncolors.com................................................................10 Stephens Manufacturing Co., Inc. www.stephensmfg.com ..................................................................14 Truck Mixer Manufacturers Bureau www.tmmb.org ..............................................................................16

C a l l F M I To d a y f o r Yo u r M e r g e r a n d A c q u i s i t i o n N e e d s MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS | FINANCIAL ADVISORY SERVICES

2

2

The assets, barging, quarry and construction aggregates operations of Jim Smith Contracting

has been acquired by

2

has been acquired by

•Superior Asphalt & Concrete 2 •Western States Asphalt •Transtate Asphalt •Mid Columbia Asphalt •Blue Mountain Asphalt •Basin Asphalt have been acquired by

The assets of 2

and Mirimec Trucking Inc. have been acquired by

has been acquired by

The stock of

2

2

has been acquired by

Gibraltar National Corporation2

has sold its Gunnison County Colorado operations to

2

and

2

(a subsidiary of Triss Corporation)

Tom Brook, Inc.

Elmer Larson, LLC

has been acquired by

were acquired by

has been acquired by

Oldcastle Materials, Inc. (a U.S. subsidiary of CRH, Dublin, Ireland)

2

has been acquired by

Florida Rock Industries, Inc.

Nally & Haydon, LLC 2 and its affiliates

FMI Corporation is the premier investment banking

sold its Eastern Kentucky operations to a subsidiary of

and management consulting firm serving the worldwide engineering and construction industry. For

(a Rinker Group Limited company)

more than 55 years, FMI has built a reputation for Selected assets of 2

2

J.C. Compton Company (dba Riverbend Sand & Gravel Valley Concrete & Gravel and Salem Road & Driveway)

Heavy Civil Division have been acquired by

assisting our clients in the creation and realization of value in their firms.

has been acquired by

Oldcastle Materials, Inc. (a U.S. subsidiary of CRH, Dublin, Ireland)

2 Company

noted has been represented by FMI Corporation

For more information, visit our website at www.fminet.com, or contact: George Reddin at 919.785.9286 / greddin@fminet.com Will Hill at 303.398.7237 / whill@fminet.com

FIRESTORM HEATER

U R O D CT FOR

S

P

FUEL TANK

HOT OIL HEATER

CONCRETE PRODUCERS

HOT OIL PIPE COILS

CHILLER E offer a number of products for concrete producers.

W

FIRED TANK

Our heating products enable you to extend your working season into cold-weather months by making concrete mixes that are much warmer than ambient temperatures. This is achieved by heating mix water.

Or by heating stock piles. Or both.

Our Firestorm heater is our most popular water heating product. It is a direct-contact water heater with extremely high thermal efficiency: up to 99 percent.

Our fired tank is an economical alternative to the Firestorm heater. It combines a burner and fire tube with a fully insulated storage tank.

H E AT E C , I N C .

Our hot oil heater can be used to heat mix water stored in tanks that have hot oil pipe coils.

Or it can preheat stockpiles of sand or aggregate. Or it can do both.

Our chillers, which are made by Carrier, cool mix water during hot summer periods.

We also make fuel tanks that meet UL-142 standards.

And we make hot oil pipe coils that can be embedded under stockpiles or installed in tanks.

Please contact us to discuss products most suitable for your heating and cooling needs.

HEATEC

an Astec Industries Company

5200 WILSON RD • CHATTANOOGA, TN 37410 USA 800.235.5200 • FAX 423.821.7673 • heatec.com

®

safety first

3-Points of Contact

By David Ayers, CHMM, CSP, MS, NRMCA Managing Director of Compliance

M

ixer drivers and concrete plant personnel climb into trucks and up silos everyday. Slips, trips & falls can result from these activities, especially when the employee is not using 3-points of contact for climbing up or down. Mixer drivers are especially vulnerable and face an increased frequency of these injuries due to the nature of climbing into and out of the mixer multiple times a day while also climbing the ladder for hopper access.

Nationwide, falls accounted for about 15% of all workplace deaths and is second only to automobile accidents. As far as injuries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were about 400,000 injuries from falls nationwide last year. A mid-western ready mixed concrete producer analyzed their accidents and on average; 8.5 days were lost due to fall injuries. Not only does this cost the company with a loss of employee productivity, there is a tremendous cost to the injured employees family, friends and co-workers.

Common injuries from falls include cuts, bruises, sprains, strains, back injuries and broken bones. Nationwide – simple falls on to the same level are the second-leading cause of workplace injuries.

Nationwide – falls to a lower level are the fourth-leading cause of workplace injuries and 70% of all falls from equipment occurred at the bottom step. Never jump off the ladder or jump from the last step.

Always look at the ground before stepping down. You can never tell when the surface below might be slippery, snowy, uneven or contain construction debris.

Getting on and off the truck safely, each and every time, is not always as easy as it sounds. Rain, snow, ice and sometimes limited visibility (darkness) all can play a part. Mixer drivers increase their chances of falls due to their frequency in which they mount and dismount the mixer cab as well as to the hopper areas for activities such as rinsing and cleaning or the addition of fibers or color. The mixer driver is frequently alone and will need to transfer materials from ground level (color, fiber, brushes, hose, etc.) to the hopper for loading or cleaning.

An Ohio Ready Mixed producer performed a company wide analysis and found that, with their mixer fleet of 300 drivers, there were 24,000 potential mixer truck climbing accidents everyday. The driver mounts and dismounts the cab and ladder to discharge hopper an average of 10 times per load. Drivers average six loads per day and there are 300 drivers. Here is the math: • 10 times per load x 6 average loads x 300 drivers = 18,000 potential climbing accidents.

• Factor in 20 times per day for additional climbing (moving truck, fueling truck, adding color or fibers, pre-trip and post trip inspections, etc.). These 20 additional climbs/driver x 300 drivers = 6,000 potential additional climbing accidents.

• 18,000 + 6,000 = 24,000 potential climbing accidents daily associated with mixer truck drivers alone. This is not even factoring in the loader operators, cement tanker deliveries and personnel at the plant climbing ladders and silos.

Simply put, 3-points of contact is defined as always having one foot and two hands or one hand and two feet in contact with a handle, ladder or piece of the equipment at all times. This is a tried and true method to safely mount and dismount the cab as well as access the hopper of a mixer truck or whenever you are climbing or descending from one level to another.

Do not try and walk down the stairs with your back to the mixer truck. Always mount and dismount facing the equipment. Never try and mount/dismount the equipment when it is moving. Ensure the mixer truck is stationary with the parking brake set, before any mounting or dismounting. Inspect the climbing surfaces often and keep clear of mud, ice, grease, snow and any other hazards that may be present.

It is important to use the items designed by the manufacturer for mounting and dismounting. Do not try and modify steps,

»28

CONCRETE

in focus

ı

21

corporate suite

How to Resolve Workplace Conflict

By Gregory P. Smith

C

onflict in the workplace is a painful reality and a key reason for poor productivity and frustration. Do you have people in your workplace that cause problems for everyone else? Do they create additional work for others? One point is clear: conflict does not magically go away and only gets worse when ignored.

Certain types of workplace conflict are readily identified. Other forms of conflict may not be so easily detected. Small, irritating events such as negative attitudes occur repeatedly over time and can cause people to strike out at each other. In many cases, conflict occurs at the senior level of the organization. In these situations some kind of intervention is needed.

What type of workplace conflict requires intervention? Anything that disrupts the office, impacts productivity or poses a threat to other employees needs addressing. The degree to which you tolerate a situation before intervention may vary. A manager may not feel it necessary to intervene when a minor exchange of words occurs between employees, unless such an incident becomes a daily occurrence and expands beyond the employees initially involved. However, a situation where one employee threatens another requires immediate action. When handling conflict, some basic guidelines apply.

Understand the situation. Few situations are exactly as they seem or as presented to you by others. Before you try to settle the conflict insure you have investigated both sides of the issue.

Acknowledge the problem. I remember an exchange between two board members. One member was frustrated with the direction the organization was taking. He told the other, “Just don’t worry about it. It isn’t that important.” Keep in mind what appears to be a small issue to you can be a major issue with another. Acknowledging the frustration and concerns is an important step in resolving the conflict.

Be patient and take your time. The old adage, “Haste makes waste,” has more truth in it than we sometimes realize. Take time to evaluate all information. A too-quick decision does more harm than good when it turns out to be the wrong decision and further alienating the individual involved.

Avoid using coercion and intimidation. Emotional outbursts or coercing people may stop the problem temporarily, but do not fool yourself into thinking it is a long-term solution. Odds are the problem will resurface. At that point not only will you have the initial problem to deal with, but also the angry feelings that have festered below the surface during the interim.

Focus on the problem, not the individual. Most people have known at least one “problematic individual” during their work experience. Avoid your own pre-conceived attitudes about individuals.

Person X may not be the most congenial individual or they may just have a personality conflict with someone on your staff. This does not mean they do not have a legitimate problem or issue. Focus on identifying and resolving the conflict. If, after careful and thorough analysis, you determine the individual is the problem, then focus on the individual at that point.

Establish guidelines. Before conducting a formal meeting between individuals, get both parties to agree to a few meeting guidelines. Ask them to express themselves calmly—as unemotionally as possible. Have them agree to attempt to understand each other’s perspective. Tell them if they violate the guidelines the meeting will come to an end.

Keep the communication open. The ultimate goal in conflict resolution is for both parties to resolve the issue between themselves. Allow both parties to express their viewpoint, but also share your perspective. Attempt to facilitate the meeting and help them pinpoint the real issue causing conflict.

Act decisively. Once you have taken time to gather information, talked to all the parties involved, and reviewed all the circumstances, make your decision and act. Don’t leave the issue in limbo.

Taking too long to make a decision could damage your credibility and their perception of you. They may view you as either too weak, too uncaring, or both, to handle the problem. Not everyone will agree with your decision, but at least they will know where you stand.

■ Greg Smith’s cutting-edge keynotes, consulting and training programs have helped businesses improve communication, reduce turnover, increase sales, hire better people and deliver better customer service. As President and founder of Chart Your Course International he has implemented professional development programs for thousands of organizations globally.

He has authored nine informative books including 401 Proven Ways to Retain Your Best Employees. He lives in Conyers, Georgia. Sign up for his free Navigator Newsletter by visiting www.chartcourse.com or call (770) 860-9464.

22

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010

feature

RMC Research & Education Foundation and Portland Cement Association Co-Fund a Concrete Sustainability Hub at Massachusetts Institute of Technology CIF: What is the Concrete Sustainability Hub at MIT? JG: The Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSH) is a research center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) that is being co-funded by the RMC Research & Education Foundation and the Portland Cement Association (PCA). Each organization is committing $1 million a year for the next five years, for a total of $10 million, with the goal of accelerating emerging breakthroughs in concrete science and engineering and transferring that science into practice. As the call for an increased emphasis on environmental issues grows louder, this is a chance for the concrete and cement industries to be proactive in establishing a CSH that will focus on quantifying and enhancing the sustainable nature of concrete.

CIF: How did the RMC Research & Education Foundation (RMCREF) and Portland Cement Association (PCA) select MIT as the university to host the CSH? JG: MIT is the number one engineering school in the country. It is also the number one graduate school for economics. We wanted an interdisciplinary approach with the CSH, and we were also looking for the country’s best and brightest researchers to contribute to this effort. Researchers from MIT’s School of Engineering, School of Architecture and Planning, and the Sloan School of Management will all participate in the CSH’s research activities. It is a unique opportunity to pull together all the concrete sustainability research that already exists, and to fill in the gaps. Working together with the experts at MIT, we’ll be able to better understand the sustainable nature of concrete as it

Photo courtesy L. Barry Hetherington

Concrete InFocus interviews Foundation Executive Director Julie Garbini on the newly established CSH at MIT

Sitting L to R: Julia Garbini, executive director, RMC Research & Education Foundation; Brian McCarthy, CEO and president, Portland Cement Association; Gail Powderly of MIT’s Office of Sponsored Programs; Standing L to R: Professor Andrew J. Whittle, head of the MIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Professor Franz-Josef Ulm, director of the new center, the Concrete Sustainability Hub; Professor John Ochsendorf, co-director of the Concrete Sustainability Hub; and former New Hampshire governor and MIT alumnus, John Sununu.

is produced now, and develop economical, common-sense technological approaches to making it even more environmentallyfriendly in the future. Special thanks must go out to Frank Craddock with Cemex, and the joint industry task group he led, to spearhead the effort to identify and engage MIT in establishment of the Hub. It was a great collaboration between the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, PCA and the Foundation, along with the support of former New Hampshire Governor (and MIT graduate) John Sununu, that got us to this point so quickly with MIT.

CIF: What work products do you expect from the CSH? JG: The CSH’s research will initially be organized around three focus areas: concrete materials science, building technology, and the econometrics of sustainable development. The first two projects, “Green Concrete Science,” and “The Edge of Concrete: A Life-Cycle Investigation of Concrete and Concrete Structures” are already underway.

It is really an exciting prospect to have the top researchers in the country from materials and civil engineering, architecture and building technology, and economics and CONCRETE

in focus

ı

23

management all working together through the CSH. MIT has already assembled a dream team of researchers to lead the Hub and carry out the work. However, we were careful to develop specific work plans for the first two years of our five year agreement with MIT. We are all excited about working together, but we also want both industry and the researchers at MIT to have clear expectations for the work performed by the CSH, so that we all stay focused and ensure that we benefit from our collaboration.

CIF: How will the governance for the CSH work?

JG: There is a four person Research Advisory Council with voting rights. Half the council is made of up industry representatives – right now Brian McCarthy, PCA President and CEO, and me on behalf of RMCREF. The other half of the council includes the two lead researchers at MIT – Drs. Franz Josef Ulm and John Ochsendorf.

Because we each retain half of the votes, neither can move forward without agreement on the work plan and focus. On the industry side, there will be many technical and management experts providing input to Brian and me. We will be guided by our respective Boards and probably a CSH steering group in terms of vision. We will tap into the technical expertise of groups like the Foundation’s existing Advisory Council, which is made up of industry experts from both the concrete and cement industries, for review of research progress and development of future work plans for the CSH. CIF: What does this mean for the relationships RMCREF has established with other universities?

JG: We certainly plan to maintain the terrific relationships we’ve formed with other universities interested in doing concrete research. With the CSH, there should be even greater opportunities for collaboration and leveraging resources outside the industry for investment in concrete-related research. The researchers at MIT are interested in working with other universities, as well as industry experts, to maximize the opportunities and avoid duplication of efforts.

There is no question that $10 million is a big investment on behalf of the industry.

That may limit some of the other things we can fund independently in the future.

24

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010

However, part of the idea with the CSH is to pull together a lot of the things we’ve all done independently in the past. Working together with MIT, and our other university and industry partners, we can leverage all those relationships to make real breakthroughs in concrete science and research, and hopefully get more outside dollars to match our investments. We see this as an opportunity to take concrete industry research “to the next level” for all involved.

CIF: The Foundation has already sponsored a great deal of concrete research, and several projects are still underway. Will the major investment in the CSH disrupt anything you are doing now?

JG: RMCREF’s Board of Trustees carefully contemplated this investment, and looked at it in the context of commitments we’ve already made. All of the research projects currently underway will be completed, and of course, we already have a great deal available now, most of which can be downloaded directly from our website at www. rmc-foundation.org. We will continue to distribute the research we’ve done and use it as a basis for work being performed through the CSH. We will also continue to support efforts like the Concrete Industry

Q

Management (CIM) program, started at Middle Tennessee State University and now at Arizona State University, California State University – Chico, New Jersey Institute of Technology and Texas State University.

We’ve made a big investment in CIM, and it has paid off with a great pool of talented, educated individuals entering into the industry. We hope that collaboration with MIT through the CSH will ultimately enhance the research opportunities for the CIM universities, and other universities we work with through the American Concrete Institute, the Concrete Pavement Technology Center, the Concrete Pavement Roadmap, and Transportation Road Research & Engineering Alliance, among others.

CIF: The initial agreement with MIT for the Hub is five years. What happens after that?

JG: We will have an opportunity to renew our agreement for the CSH after five years if all parties find it as valuable as we expect. With specific work plans, research progress reports, milestone payments on a percent complete basis, and constant communication between researchers at the Hub, industry experts and our other partners, we certainly expect to have a long and fruitful relationship.

■

I understand that another lawsuit has been filed to overturn the current Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. Is this true?

A

The correct answer is yes and no. On August 27th, 2009 public safety advocates and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters filed a petition in the Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the current HOS rule. The petitioners filed the suit on grounds that the rule is unsafe. The legal challenge would have marked the third time the current rule has become subject to dismissal. However, on two months later on October 26th, 2009, amidst pressure from those same groups, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) decided to reconsider the current HOS rule.

FMCSA’s decision has effectively put on hold the current court case.

FMCSA has until July 2010 to propose its changes, if any, to the White House and another 21 months at most to issue a new final rule.

Currently, all provisions within 49 C.F.R. 395 that regulate HOS remain in place. The provisions important to the ready mixed concrete industry, such as the once a week 16-hour short-haul exception, the short-haul (100 air-mile) logbook exemption, and the 24-hour clock restart exemption for construction material deliveries remain unchanged.

Please note: The column contained here should in no way be considered a substitute for competent legal counsel. It is only meant as a guide to help employers know when it is necessary to consult an attorney on issues pertaining to labor-management relations and other workplace issues.

environmental scene

Process Water or Stormwater?

Is rainfall on a concrete plant Process Water or Stormwater?

The answer may surprise you!

By Douglas Ruhlin, Principal Environmental Consultant, Resource Management Associates

P

reviously, the difference between stormwater and process water relative to aggregate stockpiles under the Clean Water Act and its implementing regulations (the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System or “NPDES” regulations) was discussed (Concrete Infocus, Fall 2007). That article attempted to dispel the misconception that rain falling onto aggregate stockpiles was automatically considered to be process water (or “non-stormwater” or “process wastewater”) and instead should be treated as stormwater under the NPDES regulations. While there may be specific state regulations that may change this interpretation, this is the commonly accepted view and one that most concrete producers would likely operate under.

This misconception is based on the idea that rainfall hitting a stockpile picks up pollutants prior to runoff and discharge and somehow is no longer suitable for treatment as stormwater. In fact, this is exactly what the NPDES stormwater regulations were created to address – rainfall that comes into contact with “source materials” at an industrial facility (such as a ready-mixed concrete plant), receives a pollutant load (such as fine aggregate material) and is then discharged to waters of the US / waters of a state. The fact that the stormwater has picked up a pollutant load from the source material does not render it a non-stormwater/process water but,

instead, is what the stormwater provisions of the NPDES regulations were meant to address and deal with via stormwater treatment and /or the use of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to reduce pollutant loads prior to discharge.

But often, this argument is extended beyond stockpiles to other materials on a concrete plant. For example, consider a stockpile of brought-back concrete or concrete fine material removed from a settling basin that is present at a concrete plant in a predominantly dry state (more on wet material later in this article). Contact between rainfall and this material will undoubtedly result in an elevated pH and solids content of the resultant runoff, which might be considered significantly polluted. Is this stormwater or runoff ? There is no distinction in the Clean Water Act as to the “level” of pollutants in runoff in making this distinction – in this case, it would simply be contaminated stormwater runoff (likely requiring some form of stormwater treatment or use of BMPs to reduce the pollutant load to acceptable levels before discharge). The fact that the pH is elevated or that there is an enhanced solids load is not relevant to the distinction between stormwater and process water.

The picture changes somewhat if the material in question is either in a wet or plastic state, such as excess concrete materials that have been discharged from a mixer

barrel through the addition of additional water. If there is a wet discharge associated with the material, obviously not stormwater, this is process water. If it rains onto this material, the resultant is a commingled discharge or process water. However, if the material is dry or relatively dry (i.e., no discharge off the material is evident), a good argument can be made that any resultant discharge that occurs when it rains is only stormwater. Some concrete producers try to avoid this issue altogether by placing plastic returned concrete or very wet fine material from a settling basin within a contained “commingled/process water” area, thereby ensuring that any discharge, regardless of classification, is treated as process water.

Bear in mind however that this conservative approach can result in the generation of more commingled/process water than necessary, which all has to be treated as process water (such as not normally being allowed to be discharged).

This interpretation is not always rocksolid, however. Some states have specifically identified materials that, upon contact with rainfall, are no longer treated (by the state regulations) as stormwater, but are instead then treated as a non-stormwater/process water. If unsure, always check first with your applicable NPDES permit at the concrete plant (likely a stormwater discharge permit).

If you cannot find any distinction made, the

»26

CONCRETE

in focus

ı

25

capitol comment

The Clean Water Restoration Act: A Misguided Attempt at Keeping America’s Waters Clean

By Kevin Walgenbach, Director, Government Affairs, NRMCA

O

ver the past decade the ready mixed concrete industry has made tremendous strides with its attention to the environment. Everyday ready mixed concrete plants are greening themselves, making their operations more sustainable and reducing their carbon footprint. One piece of this process is the industry’s water use, storage and disposal. Currently, the storage and disposal of water used on ready mixed concrete plants is closely monitored and in many different ways regulated by the federal government, states, counties, cities and/or municipalities. One example could be the need to obtain a state permit for releasing water used to wash out a mixer drum into a storm drain, which is generally illegal. But what if every time you washed out a truck, didn’t cover a washout pond or settlement basin on the plant site or drove over a rain puddle in the road you were fined for polluting? What if scheduled deliveries were cancelled or rescheduled on a more regular basis because you had to obtain a permit to transport your load to a site where you could potentially come in contact with groundwater? Or, because a construction site contractor didn’t obtain a permit before mapping out a building foundation which just happened to sit next to a seasonal creek that wasn’t made known? Unfortunately, if a few members of Congress have their way this could become a reality for ready mixed concrete companies.

Introduced in the U.S. Senate in April 2009, approved by the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in June 2009 and currently stalled in Congress is a bill titled the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787) – the intent of which is to clarify the scope of jurisdiction the United States government has over water located in the United States and to restore the so-called original intent of the Clean Water Act. The measure attempts to do this by changing the government’s current jurisdiction of “navigable” waters, to “waters of the United States.” As defined in S. 787, “waters of the United States” means “all waters subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial seas and all interstate and intrastate waters, including lakes, rivers, streams (including intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, playa lakes and natural ponds, all tributaries of any of the above waters and all impoundments of the foregoing.” As well, the bill provides that if there are any questions as to the meaning or reach of any terms contained in the definition, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers will have sole discretion over those determinations.

Here-in lay the problem: the ambiguity of some of these terms raise questions about their effect on ready mixed concrete plants, trucks and operations. Potentially these terms could include all wet areas such as groundwater, wash-out ponds, settlement basins and 26

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010

water reclaiming facilities located on ready mixed concrete plants.

Regulation of such implies a whole slew of new burdensome permits that would have to be obtained in order to maintain status-quo operations just in case an employee or truck comes in contact with “waters of the United States.”

In addition to self policing, the ready mixed concrete industry is already subject to numerous regulations which include water storage and disposal. Additional, overlapping controls will only result in regulatory overkill, an increase in the cost of doing business, no certainty of reducing pollution, and certainly many legal challenges.

Although the Clean Water Restoration Act might mean well; instead of reducing pollutants in our waterways, its passage will only result in overreaching regulatory implications pre-empting state and local governments and private property owners, and adversely affecting ready mixed concrete plants, trucks and operations. A better way to address the problems ailing America’s water ways should be through surgically pointed amendments to the Clean Water Act, not through regulatory heavy-handedness.

■ For more information, contact Kevin at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org or 240/485-1157.

Process Water or Stormwater? from page 25 presumption of an interpretation as given above is a reasonable one, although you may have to argue the point with state regulators. As in all cases, check first with your applicable state regulations, which must be followed without exception!

This interpretation does not provide a “free pass” to concrete producers when evaluating stormwater discharges at a concrete plant and choice of BMPs. While contact between source materials such as returned concrete, concrete fines from settling basins, etc. may be treated as stormwater runoff from a regulatory basis, it is clear that the resultant discharge may require a substantial amount of effort to return it to a state capable of being discharged. However, the distinction between process water and stormwater and the resulting discharge requirements, from a regulatory and permitting standpoint, can be significant. Make sure you know where you stand under your applicable regulations!

■ For further information on any of the issues in this article, Doug Ruhlin can be contacted at Resource Management Associates, PO Box 512, Forked River, NJ 08731; (609) 693-8301; www.resourcemanagementassoc.com; or via email at druhlin@resourcemanagementassoc.com.

Best Sellers

from the NRMCA Bookstore Technical Related Publications 1. 2PCIP100 – Concrete In Practice Package - Concrete in Practice Sheets are short 1-page discussions on various concrete topics and are written in a “What? Why? And How” scheme and are intended to provide information on a non-technical format. The CIP topics are researched and written by members of NRMCA’s Research Engineering and Standards Committee.

These are a great resource to give to your contractors and customers. English CIP Full Set 2PCIP100 - contains 20 sets of each CIP topics 1-42. Spanish CIP Full Set 2PCIP100es - contains 20 sets of each CIP topics 1-42. ($220 members, $320 non-members); English Single Set 2PCIPS & Spanish Single Set 2PCIPSes ($27 members, $110 non-members) 2. 2PE003 – Guide to Improving Specifications for Ready Mixed Concrete – This publication uses Master Specification CSI format, Section 03300 for Cast-in-place concrete to propose specification clauses and provides accompanying commentary as guidance.

The publication evolved by a compilation of comments provided to actual specifications used for commercial projects. The commentary essentially emphasizes the fundamental concepts of specifications for ready mixed concrete addressed in industry standards published by ACI or ASTM International. ($25 members, $40 non-members) 3. 2PE001 – Pervious Concrete: Mixture Proportioning CD – This software program helps the user to establish mixture proportions for pervious concrete for a design void content and optimum consistency. Along with the software two documents are included. The first document is a guideline that details the pervious concrete mixture proportioning methodology. The second document is a research report that provides experimental validation of the mixture proportioning methodology based on testing conducted at the NRMCA Research Laboratory. A special feature of this software program is that the mixtures can be designed for a void content that is close to that measured by the newly standardized ASTM C1688 Standard Test Method for Density and Void Content of Pervious Concrete. ($35 members, $55 non-members) 4. 2PE004 - Thermal Measurements of Hydrating Concrete Mixtures: A Useful Quality Control Tool for Concrete Producers - Hydrating concrete materials generate heat, and the profile of the resulting thermal history can provide a useful indication of setting time, early hydration efficiency, and various other aspects of performance. Specific SAC applications of interest to the ready-mixed concrete producer include evaluating the setting time influences of changes in admixtures, dosage rates, cementitious component proportions, and mixture temperatures; tracking materials variability in routine

SAC testing for QC; comparing candidate materials or sources in typical mixture proportions; verifying seasonal adjustments to mixtures; and troubleshooting abnormal hydration behavior or “incompatibility” tendencies that cause certain concrete field problems. This publication introduces readers to SAC equipment, applications, and basics of how to plan and conduct an effective SAC testing program.

Interpretation of SAC thermal profiles are also discussed.

The publication was prepared

by Tim Cost and has been reviewed and approved by the NRMCA Research Engineering and Standards Committee. (Member Price $35, Non-members $60) CONCRETE C ONCRETE

in focus

ı

27

Environmental Related Publications 5. 2PEMRM - Environmental Management for the RMC Industry - With more than 250 pages, more than 125 full color images and input from nearly all the major ready mixed concrete companies in the US this document presents the environmental issues that surround the manufacture of ready mixed concrete.

The document describes best industry practices for water management, air quality management, admixture, chemical and fuel storage issues, noise management, hazardous waste management, best management practice for fleet maintenance shops, plant aesthetics, plant closures, environmental security and sustainability issues. The publication also describes the organizational makeup of regulatory bodies (Environmental Protection Agency and state and local Environmental Departments) that govern the ready mixed concrete industry and describes agency inspection and tips for preparation of EPA audits. ($75 members, $350 nonmembers)

Safety & Operations Related Publications 6. 2P188 – Truck Mixer Driver’s Manual – This manual educates truck mixer drivers about concrete and customer relations.

This booklet also highlights driver duties, safety precautions, equipment inspection and maintenance procedures, and what the driver should do in case of an accident. Also available in Spanish – 2P188S; ($14 members, $54 non-members); (20 or more copies $12 ea. members, $54 ea. non-members.)

7. 2PENZ02-CD – Jobsite Chute Rinse-Off - Available as a CD-based PowerPoint presentation with instructor notes, the presentation is designed to teach employees the importance of jobsite chute rinse-off. Different chute rinse-off techniques are discussed along with the communication that must take place between the drivers and plant managers/supervisors, dispatchers and concrete salesmen to ensure the correct chute rinse-off technique is used.

Finally, a training documentation form is enclosed to help keep track of personnel training. Buy one and make sure your rinse-off techniques respect the environment and applicable laws. (Member Price $75, Non-members $350) 8. 2PSS2 - Backing Accident Prevention Program - This CD-based PowerPoint presentation and instructor notes illustrates the causes of Truck Mixer backing accidents and the measures to take to prevent them. The kit also comes with training documentation forms, backing accident investigation form, standard truck mixer backing hand and arm signals (English and Spanish) and also handy reference cards that can be given to contractors at construction sites that assist in backing truck mixers.

(Member Price $75, Non-members $350) 9. 2PPGSPB50 – Green Schools Promotion Brochure (Pkg. of 50) – With attractive, colorful images and informative, comprehensive text detailing the many green qualities that concrete applications and solutions offer, this brochure supports the use of ready mixed concrete as an important part of sustainable (“green”) school design. In the short term, this brochure was created with the expectation that the Federal government’s $72 28

ı

MARCH/APRIL 2010

billion in stimulus investments for education would result in opportunities to increase concrete’s share of construction for new schools and facilities. Support your efforts to grow our business by making these brochures part of your promotion arsenal. Also sold in packages of 1000, 500, 250, and 100. ($52.50 members, $52.50 non-members)

Antitrust Related Publications 10. 2PG001 – Plain-talk about Anti Trust Compliancee DVD - NRMCA presents this DVD to give you an overview of federal antitrust laws and how they apply to the ready mixed concrete industry.

(Member Price $55, Non-members $220)

FEATURED PRODUCT 2PCAL01 - 2010 NRMCA Antique Truck Mixer Calendar - Keep track of the year with NRMCA’s NEW 2010 Antique Truck Mixer Wall Calendar.

Each month showcases a different antique mixer truck, each submitted by a NRMCA member.

This is a great calendar for your office, as a special gift to your coworker, and great for your customers. (1-9 copies Member Price $15, Non-members $75); (10 or more copies Members $10, Nonmembers $50)

3-Points of Contact from page 21 running boards, footholds and handgrips unless you are working specifically with the manufacturer. Should modifications be needed, always check with your company management before making the modifications.

Never attempt to climb or descend from a mixer truck with anything in your hands. All mixer truck drivers have certain items that have to be moved to the platform such as hoses, brushes, color or fibers. Always have a co-worker help you with this task or use a bucket and rope or other mechanical device for lifting items to the platform. There are many times when a mixer driver is alone and must get these items from one level to another. All items will need to be safely lifted to the next level to keep your hands free.

Some Ready Mixed Concrete producers have installed warning decals and signs in the cab and on the door to help remind employees to use the 3-points of contact rule. Many mixer drivers work long and hard at their profession. The daily stress can cause drivers to feel they need to take shortcuts to get the job done. Never shortcut the 3-points of contact rule. Inspect vehicles and provide additional steps, non-slip surfaces and hand grips where necessary.

Take the time to train the 3-points of contact principles along with observing employees in action. Immediately correct your fellow employees if they break the 3-points of contact principle.

■ For more information, contact Mr. Ayers at 240/485-1155 or via e-mail at dayers@nrmca.org.

infocus Concrete

March/April 2010

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL READY MIXED CONCRETE ASSOCIATION

Visualizing the

State of the Union’s

Infrastructure Using Concrete to Achieve Credits in LEED for Homes Concrete Then and Now – Has Much Changed?

IFCs Go To School

Presorted Std. U.S. Postage PAID FARGO, ND PERMIT 43

Common Issues that Keep Businesses from Being Exceptional

infocus Concrete

March/April 2010

A PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL READY MIXED CONCRETE ASSOCIATION

Visualizing the

State of the Union’s

Infrastructure Using Concrete to Achieve Credits in LEED for Homes Concrete Then and Now – Has Much Changed?

IFCs Go To School Presorted Std. U.S. Postage PAID FARGO, ND PERMIT 43

Common Issues that Keep Businesses from Being Exceptional