Building Codes – We can make a difference.
The CFA has been involved in the development of building codes for nearly ten years, beginning with its effort to add input to the ACI Residential Code. The CFA has also been a participant in the ACCS, the Alliance for Concrete Codes and Standards, a group of allied associations that meets biannually to review and propose code modifications to the IRC and IBC.
Code development and modification is a long and often frustrating process. It is never as simple and straightforward as it might seem. While the final decisions for the IRC are made by building officials, there are many competing special interest groups that want to influence the codes in their favor. These interests include masonry, lumber, and manufacturing – all groups with significantly more funding and personnel than the concrete industry – but we can make a difference. These groups are active at the local level in addition to the national level.
A case-in-point is a recent code change in Ohio. Special interests had enacted a code change which prohibited the use of cast-in-place foundations – yes, prohibited their use!! The change went far beyond slanting the code in favor of another building type – in this instance, concrete masonry. The CFA and Ohio Ready-Mixed Concrete Association joined forces to have this provision overturned.
A second initiative, still pending, is the effort of NRMCA and CFA to have separate tables in the IRC for concrete masonry and poured walls. The current (2003) edition of the IRC treats CMU and CIP concrete the same if reinforcement is used when in fact, for the same wall thickness and reinforcement, CIP concrete has more strength. The outcome of this battle is uncertain. A change is submitted to the IRC in writing and after review by the code development committee, it recommends acceptance or rejection. The proponents and opponents have approximately two minutes to state their case at the final action hearings, after which a vote of building officials is taken. We’ll let you know the outcome. This is the first (but not the last) time that the CFA has proposed code modifications.
The final effort is the most comprehensive step in which the CFA participated. The ACI 332 Residential Standard has been nearly ten years in the making. It has just completed the public review period and the 332 Committee hopes to resolve the final differences at the October meeting in San Francisco. Once approved by ACI, the final step will be to ask the IRC to include the 332 Standard either by incorporation or by reference. That process is also lengthy as code modifications are only considered twice within each three-year period.
While the process of providing input to code development is frustrating, lengthy, and often unsuccessful, it is still an effort worth making. Codes are a necessary and positive influence on construction but only by continual vigilance can we ensure that they are fair to all concerns.
Ed Sauter, Executive Director, CFA
esauter@cfawalls.org
Change in Lumber Affects Contractors
New preservative treated lumber requires new fasteners, bolts and anchors for most building applications.
Ohio, as well as other states, recently warned residents and the building industry to be aware of the lumber, anchors, and fasteners used on their construction projects. The preservative-treated lumber used for the last 60 years was deemed unusable because it contains arsenic. It was replaced with a new preservative-treated lumber that contains a chemical commonly used with treated lumber.
“This is a public safety issue and the public needs to understand that if they use the old anchors, bolts and screws with the new pretreated wood, a danger exists that the anchors will corrode and could cause the deck or other structural elements to collapse,” said Joe Busch, Ohio Chief Building Official.
There are two types of anchors that can be used. Hot dipped galvanized or stainless steel will hold up when used with the new lumber. Dissimilar metals in contact with each other will corrode and possibly lead to failure. Also, all fasteners must match connectors, galvanized with galvanized or stainless with stainless.
Production of the CCA preservative- treated lumber stopped earlier this year and a new ACQ preservative-treated lumber is currently being sold at home improvement stores and lumberyards.
“It is imperative to purchase the proper connecting materials in order to avoid a potentially serious problem,” said Busch.
Construction Materials in Short Supply
As the construction season heats up for the summer, the economy improves and slow construction starts begin to turn around, report s are indicating possible cement shortages. In Florida, ready mix companies are on four-day-a-week allocations and California and other U.S. markets are also on or headed toward allocations. The domino effect is that demand is passed outside markets to meet local demand, creating shortages in other local markets.
Several factors converged to create tight supplies of cement, the key ingredient in concrete, and Minnesota will not escape the impact during the 2004 construction season. Strong construction markets exist in the U.S. and overseas. Construction spending reached an all time high in March 2004 according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. An unusually active winter for construction in the U.S. left little opportunity to build a strong inventory for spring when construction activity traditionally increases.
The short-term solution used to meet our local supply needs is to import foreign cement. In the past several years, approximately 25% of the cement consumed in Minnesota came from overseas. We are not alone. According to figures from the U.S. Geological Survey, 2003 U.S. Portland cement consumption was 107.5 million metric tons. Of that total, 23.2 million tons or 22.6 percent was imported cement.
The booming Asian economies have let to an increased local demand for the foreign-produced cement that was filling the gap in our domestic production. In addition, the demand for all consumer good in Asia and other parts of the world has put a strain on the availability of transport ships and caused shipping rates to escalate. These factors have caused imported cement to become more expensive and difficult to acquire.
The length and severity of the shortages of cement in the U.S. depends on the region and on the cement companies serving that region. To me the increased demand, cement companies plan to expand manufacturing capacity totaling more that 15 million tons between 2003 and 2010. Zoning laws, permits activity, and regulatory roadblocks have long been a problem for heavy industries such as cement and will continue to limit the actual realized amount of expansion.
While there is guarantee of market certainty, some analysts are predicting further volatility throughout the year as seasonal cycles for construction continue. The fluctuating price of raw materials has resulted in a commercially impractical situation where suppliers of raw materials cannot reliably anticipate materials costs. However, it should also be noted that the price of concrete products has been and will continue to be among the most stable of all construction products.
The goal of the ready mix industry is to serve the state of Minnesota with an adequate and steady supply of concrete. Local ready mix concrete producers will continue to be the best source of information for current market conditions and its impact on concrete supplies.
For more information, please call Fred Corrigan, Executive director, Aggregate & Ready Mix Association of Minnesota at 952-707-1250.
For additional information, visit http://www.cement.org/pca/shortageQA.asp.
MTSU Unveils Degree in Concrete Construction
Where does one go to learn how to run a concrete construction business? Not the nuts and bolts of building a footing or wall, those are still best taught on-the-job. I’m talking about finance, estimating, managing personnel, marketing… the things that can make or break a business even if you pour the best wall in town. Sadly, the options are few. You can learn the way most contractors do – from their boss (who is often a parent) or from the School of Hard Knocks. There is a new, attractive alternative.
Situated 30 miles southeast of Nashville, Tennessee, in the quiet (relatively quiet) city of Murphreesboro, is Middle Tennessee State University. A rapidly growing university, MTSU is home of the nation’s only four-year bachelors program in Concrete Industry Management (CIM). Launched in 1996, this program provides a well-rounded, yet focused, education for management personnel in the concrete industry. This year, the total enrollment is estimated at 300 full-time students and MTSU’s 100th CIM student will graduate.
CIM is offered by the Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies Department in the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. This program attracts students from over 20 states, Beliz and Guatemala and its graduates are employed in over 17 states.
Until recently, the program was designed to prepare graduates for entry in areas such as the ready-mix industry, supplier industries, admixtures and chemicals, and concrete plant and manufacturing operations. In the fall, the University’s CIM program will be the first to offer a concentration with coursework focused on concrete contracting.
The new Concrete Contracting concentration in the CIM program is flexible in terms of its ability to accommodate students. Candidates can attend directly out of high school or they can obtain their degree while employed. Second year CIM students intern to gain supervised, practical work experience in their particular field of interest within the industry. CIM is working to accommodate nontraditional students who already have jobs but want to broaden their education. The first two years of concrete coursework will be available by correspondence by 2005. Students can attend a nearby community college or university and complete their general studies and business courses, along with the concrete correspondence coursework. This will allow working students to finish their degree with one or two years of fulltime study on campus.
General required courses include English Literature, writing and research courses, history, math courses (i.e. algebra and trigonometry), sciences (i.e. geology and chemistry), economics and psychology. Requirements for the minor in business administration include accounting, management, marketing business law, and finance courses. Concrete coursework includes industry courses, blueprint reading, fundamentals of concrete, materials and methods, concrete problems, and other concreterelated courses.
The concrete contracting concentration adds site planning, layout and preparation, formwork design and computerized drafting, concrete project estimating, advanced concrete project management, design and construction issues, concrete contracting personnel management, field management and supervision.
There are numerous individuals whose vision and tireless effort created this Program but it would not have been a success without the insight and guidance of Austin Cheney, the program Director, Dr. Heather Brown (formerly Heather Sauter – but no relation to Ed), the first tenure-track faculty hired for the program, and Debbie Londre, Marketing & Recruiting Coordinator. Staff was added as the program grew and now includes Joe Fulks, a full-time instructor, and two new tenuretrack faculty to begin in fall, 2004. The staff and steering committee for the CIM program have their sights set even higher. In the next two years, they plan to expand the program, using the MTSU success as a model, to one or two additional universities in the United States. The steering committee also supports the development of a Masters Degree program for Business Management, with an emphasis on concrete. Future plans also include creation of a separate department at MTSU and eventually construction of CIM’s own building (concrete of course).
The CIM program is also unique because it is supported, in great part, by private industry. Yearly tuition at MTSU is less than $4,000 for in-state and for 12 southeastern states in the Academic Common Market, and less than $12,000 for those who must pay out-of-state rates. To help offset the cost of attending college more than 15 scholarships are available each year and supported by companies and associations throughout the country. A support group called the CIM Patrons, which consists of representatives from industry manufacturers, concrete associations, and other interested parties, provides guidance, funding, and most importantly, job opportunities for graduates. The Program has the full support of the University from the college dean through the president and it receives high praise form the industry and graduates alike.
CIM offers an excellent opportunity for contractors to hire quality, well-rounded, and knowledgeable people to help run businesses. Educating those already employed by your company is also feasible with the remote learning option of the program. For more information, contact Austin Cheney at acheney@mtsu.edu. For general information about the program, visit www.mtsu.edu/~concrete.
CFA Announces 2004 Basement of the Year
Wendy Ward, Constructive Communication
Today’s homeowners are constantly pushing the envelope to ensure their home meets their needs, which has caused concrete foundation professionals to respond with inventive techniques and employ new technologies. Such is the case with the Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) 2004 Basement of the Year competition (sometimes referred to as the Basement from Hell competition). The 2004 winner overcame rocky site conditions and a complex design to ensure that the homeowners received the home of their dreams.
According to Ed Sauter, executive director of CFA, the Basement of the Year competition enables foundation contractors to display the wide range of projects completed today. “The technological advancements made in the poured wall industry allow contractors to complete complex projects more efficiently, which ensures homeowners’ dreams are realized,” said Sauter. “Each year the projects submitted to this competition get more complicated and demonstrate the diversity afforded through poured wall foundations.”
The winning structure is a more than 4,000-square-foot basement for a 7,000-square-foot home in Newburgh, N.Y. The foundation boasts a circular front porch, brick ledge around the perimeter and 39 corners that are at a 45-degree angle. Adding even more complexity to the project, there were a variety of wall and ledge elevations.
According to Van Smith, President of Smith Bros. Concrete Contractors, Inc., the foundation contractor for the project, the other foundation contractors in the area did not even quote this project because of its degree of difficulty. “I have been in this business for more than 29 years and this is most challenging project that I have encountered,” said Smith. “The architect even commented that he did not think it was possible to do the job, which made us determined to tackle this tough project successfully.”
The recipient of the Basement of the Year competition is selected by a vote at the World of Concrete each year. More than 120 votes were cast this year between Tuesday and Thursday in the CFA booth. The formal award presentation is made at the Awards Banquet Luncheon during the CFA’s Annual Summer Meeting held at the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, Colo on Friday, July 16, 2004.
Smith Bros. began working with the owner and architect in the fall of 2002 on the complex project. Before construction commenced, the foundation team uncovered a four-inch error in the architect’s plan they were able to correct. Smith Bros. inputted the architect’s print into their Trimble® LM80, which alerted them of the discrepancy. An example of the innovative technologies that foundation contractors employ, the LM80 is a layout manager construction software program that attaches to the Total Station and electronically lays out a project. This ensures precision accuracy on every project, no matter how complex. Exactness was even more critical on this project because the layout for the excavation, footers and wall were conducted as three separate evolutions.
This job would not have been feasible without the Total Station,” said Smith. “With this technology, I am as confident in my 21-year-old son’s ability to layout the project accurately as I am my own, even though I have considerable more experience than him. My crew that has been on the job for more than 25 years waits for him to arrive before beginning layout, because they recognize the tremendous value that these new technologies bring to a project.”
With more than 605 lineal feet of wall, the project required 232 yards of concrete. Smith Bros. supervised the excavation to ensure that it met their requirements. Walls were formed and poured in eight days. The site made it difficult to maneuver panels around the site and the rough terrain created hardships in squaring out the job.
“It was difficult to see all the points for layout from one spot, so we had to create numerous control points to help us layout the job properly,” said Smith.
To add one more challenge to this project, foundation forming occurred during the hottest two weeks of the summer with temperatures in excess of 90-degrees Fahrenheit. “With both the complexity and the temperature, we knew that we truly were constructing the ‘Basement from Hell’ with this project,” said Smith.
Smith Bros. Concrete Contractors, Inc. has served the Lower Hudson Valley area of New York for more than 29 years. Experienced with both residential and commercial construction, Smith Bros. has completed more than 5,000 projects. They have been a member of CFA for four years.
The benefits of poured concrete walls include greater fire resistance because the increased density and joint-free construction offers twice the resistance when compared to a hollow core block wall, resistance to rot and decay, water tightness, design flexibility and ease of maintenance.
For more information on the CFA, attending the Summer Meeting and entries for the 2005 competition visit the Association’s website at www.cfawalls.org, contact the headquarters at 319-895-6940 or send an email to info@cfawalls.org.
From the Executive Director
The Concrete Foundations Association Board of Directors and several members met in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Friday, April 16th for a strategic planning session to chart a course for future growth of the CFA. The most recent meeting of similar scope occurred in 1998. Membership in the CFA is at a record high of 347 members (261 contractor members) but for the past four or five years the number of members has slightly grown.
The debate during the daylong meeting included discussions as to how we overcome the “good ole boy” stigma (this is hardly an accurate description); whether or not we truly represent the industry; to whether or not we really want to grow. The consensus of the board was that we should be the representative of the poured wall industry. Some estimates put the total number of potential contractor members in the thousands. If this is truly the case, a total contractor membership of 261 members hardly constitutes a good representation.
We are extremely proud of our existing members. When CFA members spoke at ACI code development meetings over the past years telling of how contractor members perform their work, many of the ACI committee members echoed that they wished foundation contractors in their area were members of the CFA. Therein lies the constant challenge. How do we get members to join the CFA if they are not involved in our national activities?
We think we finally have the answer. The national CFA was approached, almost simultaneously, by two groups in different parts of the country who either had, or were planning, local poured wall associations. Both would like the national CFA to add programming, publications, and many of the other benefits.
The Board of Directors approved the development of local Chapters to the CFA. Local chapter members will have all benefits of CFA national members and the CFA will develop programs and support the efforts of the local group. Many details have yet to be worked out but the first two CFA affiliates, Minneapolis and Atlanta, could pave the way to make the CFA a truly national representative association.
Concrete — A Century of Innovation
American Concrete Institute Celebrates its Centennial Anniversary with a Year Full of Special Activities
The American Concrete Institute is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary throughout 2004 with a series of special activities. These Centennial activities include celebrating and commemorating accomplishments through special events and books, as well as congratulating those who have helped make this century of concrete innovation possible. The concrete industry and concrete supporters are encouraged to join in.
Founded in 1904, the organization – then called National Association of Cement Users – provided a forum to discuss better concrete for more durable, maintenance-free structures. The name was shortly changed to the American Concrete Institute to be more indicative of its work, but the mission – to develop, share and disseminate the knowledge and information needed to utilize concrete to its fullest potential – has remained the same for all 100 years.
Thousands of American Concrete Institute members and non-members from throughout the world are already planning to commemorate this special year by participating in a series of special events including:
• Centennial Celebratory Dinner – March 15, 2004 – Washington, D.C.
• “Concrete of the Future” Mixer – October 26, 2004 – San Francisco, CA
• International conferences in India (February 24-26, 2004), Brazil (April 26-27, 2004), Australia/ New Zealand (September 16-23,2004) and France (December 6-7, 2004)
Additionally, CONCRETE: A Pictorial Celebration, a limited edition, coffee-table-style book will be made available for purchase. This high-quality, hardcover book will feature photographs that highlight innovations in concrete design, production, construction and repair, and will be cherished long after the celebration ends. The book will be available the summer of 2004, and those interested are encouraged to reserve their copy at pre-production prices now by contacting the American Concrete Institute before supplies are limited.
The American Concrete Institute has 17,000 members and 97 chapters worldwide and produces technical documents, code requirements, specifications, and guides for the best uses of concrete. The Institute also conducts seminars and manages certification programs for concrete practitioners.
To register for any of the special Centennial activities, learn more about becoming a member, or reserve your copy of CONCRETE: A Pictorial Celebration, contact the American Concrete Institute at 248-848-3800 or visit www.concrete.org.
Change is Coming
J. Edward Sauter, CFA Executive Director
The Board of Directors had a busy schedule during their meeting, Saturday, April 17th, especially with the discussion that ensued the prior day regarding membership and growth. Below are the highlights of action and discussion:
NEW DUES STRUCTURE
Dues for the association have not changed in several years while benefits and expenses continue to increase. There are also several levels of contractor membership, which is quite confusing. The new simplified structure includes two levels of contractor membership. Contractors with gross revenues over $1 million will pay $600 and those with gross revenues under $1 million will pay $400. Management and the board are still discussing the rates for introductory memberships and professional firms. Members of the Associates Council will determine their new dues structure in the next 30 days.
LOCAL CHAPTERS
The full board endorsed the concept and authorized management to establish local chapters for Minneapolis, Minnesota and Atlanta, Georgia. Minneapolis has an established poured wall association in existence for several years. Atlanta is in the formation process for its local chapter. Staff will look at prototypes of other associations as a model to ensure proper procedures are followed. The local chapter initiative has the potential of greatly expanding the size of CFA membership. The larger membership will give us a larger, more representative voice in the industry and allow us to add more member benefits.
REGIONAL MEETINGS
The CFA will develop regional meetings beginning in 2005. These meetings are a cross between the summer meetings and the current foundation fundamentals seminars. The format, as it currently stands, includes a full day of concurrent meetings, one session for field personnel (presentations such as Foundation Fundamentals I, II, or III) and a session dealing with management topics for office and management personnel. The regional meeting concept allows members to travel to the venue, meet, and return to their jobs in a single day or day and a half. This makes the CFA programs more accessible to a greater number of members.
MANUAL OF PRACTICE
The board gave approval to proceed with the development of a “Manual of Practice” for concrete foundations. Jim Bartley heads this project. An outline of contents is currently being developed.
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
A comprehensive list of foundation contractors throughout the United States and Canada was approved. Attempts were made in the past for such a development but the advent of the Internet makes compilation of such listings more practical. CFA will develop of the list and ask for confirmation and additions from members, national suppliers, and others living and working in the target areas. Atlanta and Philadelphia were targeted as the first areas for list development.
CRUISE IN 2006
Plans are moving forward for the 2006 summer meeting five-day cruise. Management is researching cruise ship lines, destinations, meeting space availability, and other specifics needed for planning this unique event.
PEER GROUPS
Sharing of information between non-competing members is often cited as one of the chief benefits of membership in the CFA. This free flow of information occurs at the summer and winter meetings as well as a board and committee meetings. Members who are unable to attend these venues, however, miss out on this valuable forum. Peer groups of non-competing members in relatively close proximity to one-another will be developed in the near future. The National Association of Home Builders has a program called “Builder 20 Club” and the ASCC has Concrete Mix groups. CFA Peer groups will follow these models. The NAHB and ASCC groups will be evaluated for format and operations and the first model for the CFA will be established. Contact the CFA if you are interested in participating in this program.
NEW & UPDATED PUBLICATIONS
A final updated version of the Lower Level Living brochure is scheduled for printing late this spring. It combines the information from the original brochure with the three tri-folds that have been in our inventory for several years. The CFA Standard will also be reprinted later this summer. A final draft of the revised document, incorporating some of the latest information from the ACI 332 Standard, as well as corrections and comments received from users of the document, will be reviewed at the summer meeting.
A Passing of an Industry Legend
It was with deep sadness that I learned last week of Bob’s illness, and deeper yet that I heard today of his passing. What a great friend we have lost.
I first met Bob in about 1978, at one of the early meetings of the original Poured Concrete Wall Contractors Association (later renamed the Concrete Foundations Association). It was very clear to me at that first meeting, that here was a man whose goal was to improve an industry.
Many years later, Bob was trying hard to get me to update my forming system. I had talked to many people, looked at many types of forms, read lots of propaganda. Bob had been so very helpful with ideas and most of all straight answers. I remember telling him that I wasn’t sure which brand of forms I wanted, but I knew that I wanted to purchase them from Bob Sawyer. While finally closing the deal, Bob gave me an additional $150 discount that we had not discussed, I asked him what this was for, and he said “that is your first years dues in the Concrete Foundations Association, ..join it!” I did, and have continued my membership since, it has been the single best thing I have ever done for our company. Without Bob’s gift and stern “urging”, I doubt that it would have happened.
A few years ago, Bob shared some criticism of the CFA, that we weren’t doing enough for our members, that we should be researching and tackling the issues that confront his friends, the poured wall contractors of the country. He was absolutely right! We decided to set up an Education and Research Foundation, and request funding for special projects. We had no more than let Bob know about this action, and the needed monies started coming in. In no time at all, Bob had almost single handedly raised over $100,000.
Bob’s spirit will live on as the Concrete Foundations Association continues to help the poured wall contractors and as it bestows the award named after him to worthy recipients. We will be hard pressed however, to find candidates as worthy as the original, Bob Sawyer, our friend.
Bob Sawyer was a part of the CFA before it was the CFA (formerly known as the Poured Concrete Wall Contractors Association). The first Executive Director of the Association, Bob spent his life as a loyal member and exhibitor, and worked hard to encourage other poured wall contractors to join as well. When the CFA decided to form an Education and Research Foundation, Bob was highly influential in getting other CFA Associates to contribute. In the end, approximately $100,000 was raised for research such as the recently completed cold weather concrete study.
A Distinguished Service Award is named after Bob Sawyer and given to members whose contributions to the industry merit recognition. These members tirelessly give their time and resources to serve the poured wall industry, as Bob Sawyer did for the Association.
The Bob Sawyer Award is presented during an Award Luncheon at the Summer Meeting. This year’s Award Luncheon is at the Beaver Run Resort in Breckenridge, Co. on Friday, July 16, at 1:00 PM.
Hurry hurry hurry, “click” right up and see the most amazing feats of engineering and information technology unfold at your very finger tips…
Jim Baty, CFA Technical Director
Do I have your attention now? I bet I do. The time you were hearing about and waiting for is at hand. The collaborative effort from the CFA Board of Directors, CFA Staff and the software engineers at Consulting Engineers, Corp. produced the most convenient way of analyzing and designing concrete basement walls – the final public/membership version of wBaseConc1.1.
Let me give you a tour of this software and explain how you can incorporate it into the work you do on a daily basis as well as in the event you encounter more unusual design requirements. In our quest to provide the easiest way to solve engineering problems, the CFA and CEC now offer the use of wBaseConc1.1. Simply, it is an online program for the design and analysis of concrete basement walls. This software package allows you to analyze and design “plain” and “reinforced” concrete basement walls from easily-recognized and understood input data according to your choice of CABO95, IRC 2000, BOCA 97 or ACI 318-99 design codes from multiple locations without incurring expensive overhead costs.
This software was primarily developed for the residential foundation contractor member of the CFA. However, an introduction offer is available to non-members so they can put their hands on one of the many benefits CFA members have come to know. This software was modified to make it user friendly and easily adjusted to the majority of residential foundation conditions. Users may include builders, structural engineers, geotech engineers, architects and designers as well as concrete foundation contractors.
wBaseConc1.1 is accessed quickly and easily through the Resources tab at www.cfawalls.org (see figure 1). Once you select this tab, another window opens (figure 2) requesting you to provide you User I.D. and Password. This information was sent to you previously, but if you misplaced it or do not remember receiving it, please contact CFA headquarters. Note: Please make sure your web browser and add-on software is set to allow pop-ups or your computer will not allow the window to open. Finally, you will see a welcome screen and another menu. By selecting Resources and Software (figure 3) from the accompanying pull-down menu you are taken to the online software.
The wBaseConc software must first check your system. This happens each time you use the program but should only require additional effort the first time. The engine for this software is based on the common web language Java and must verify that your version is current. Once you install the updated version (figure 4) or if you are returning, your current version is verified, a message will indicate that you passed and may proceed with your design (figure 5). Select BaseConc from the menu on the left and you will see the first input screen for your project (figure 6).
Basic project information is entered on this screen so you have a way of filing and referencing your design when you print out your results. Next, you will notice a tab that is labeled “General Data” (figure 7). This page is used to select:
• the type of wall you are interested in designing
• the building code used for your design
• and depending on the code allowances, the thickness and height of your wall.
This software is and advantageous tool for finding the wall design based on one of the general building codes because of its speed and efficiency. It offers a comprehensive coverage of CABO 95, IRC 2000 and BOCA 97 design tasks. The input and interaction with all of the code options are rather limited until you select ACI 318-99.
Figure 8 shows the difference you see when selecting to design per ACI 318. Walls that are taller than 9-ft require this method for design as well as many other options. You also see there is a much greater freedom in input. Among the additional parameters that may be adjusted using this building code are:
• Concrete strength • Steel strength • Wall Height • Wall thickness • Backfill height • Soil pressure (classification) • Horizontal rebar locationThroughout the code routines, an image of the wall design changes according to your input. This interactive wall diagram shows you how the design will appear. Notice that as you continue to make adjustments to the design parameters when using the ACI 318 mode, the wall color may turn to red. This represents a wall that is not in compliance. Adjustments must be made to validate this wall design and bring it into compliance. Figure 9 shows the switch to a reinforced design as one method of satisfying a “red” wall condition. When selecting to use a reinforced design, a third tab opens for Reinforcement Data (Figure 10). This is your opportunity to make adjustments to the configuration of the horizontal reinforcement and the size of the vertical bars. You need to select As per Design from the box next to Horizontal rebars to change the spacing of those bars.
This software solution allows you to design reinforced walls according to all four of the different design codes. Values are supplied through this simple menu enabled for reinforcement wall types only.
Once you complete a design or at any time you wish to see a more detailed graphic representation of your design, select the output screen information along the top of your window. For instance, selecting the Reinforcement Details tab (Figure 11) opens a sketch of the current wall with the proper reinforcement notations and corresponding wall data. This drawing also shows the project information that you initially provided. Are you ready to print your design? If so, make sure your printer is set to landscape for paper orientation and select the “print” button. Once you finished reviewing and/or printing the Reinforcement Design, you may also review and print the Loading Diagram (figure 12), which provides a more in-depth submittal package for your design approval. The final information to print and attach to your project design is the Text Output (figure 13). This sheet provides the more detailed parameter information that the project design is based upon.
This software package provides a friendly graphical interface throughout design manipulation followed by a high quality graphical output showing the intricate details of the concrete basement wall design. During the design manipulation, when a design value is altered, it is instantly checked at the moment it is inputted into the program. Should a design value be in error to the available parameters, an Alert box opens (figure 14) to make you aware the value must be changed and what the parameters are for that value. This process is designed to eliminate time spent on calculations that don’t hold good according to design code standards.
Are you ready to begin? Many of you are ready to jump right in and begin checking wall designs that you currently view as “standard”. Perhaps some of you have a design or two that is requiring greater attention than a standard wall and can use this to hone in on a particular design solution. Although this article provides a quick tutorial to what you will see and the steps you should take, there is additional help available to you as well. Located on the CFA home page, (www.cfawalls.org) is a quick presentation introducing you to the screens you will use. Once you have accessed the software site, you also have an online help manual available to walk you through the more particular definitions of each piece of input and the exact process to use.
The benefits of getting online with the CFA and CEC are far reaching. You may see the benefits in terms of:
* Instant deployment * No hardware, software and manpower overhead * Controls your cost * Desktop functionality across computer platforms * Automatic access to all future enhancements * 24/7 access from any location * A highly reliable and secure environment * Rapid generation of accurate graphical and text outputsHowever, we saved the best for last. Our partnership with CEC on this software package opened the door to you, as a CFA member, to gain access to economical, professional engineering for any of your designs. If you are in a location or a situation that requires a stamped approval of your design solution, you have a process waiting for you that delivers a response in a matter of hours or overnight depending on the time you provide the information. We negotiated a rate of $125 per stamped design with the engineering staff at CEC. Let’s take a look at the potential timeline and process for a design solution.
* 9:00 a.m. You logon to www.cfawalls.org and the wBaseConc software and begin inputting the data for project design.
* 9:05 a.m. You generate a graphical and text output based on a solution you find desirable.
* 9:15 a.m. You send a fax to CEC from the contact information available on the software’s contact page. This fax contains the three output sheets mentioned previously (Text, Loading and Reinforcement)
* 11:15 a.m. CEC reviewed your data and returns a stamped copy of your design via fax. A hard copy of the stamped design is sent to you as well.
There are factors that may create delays in this process, however, since you are working with virtually the same software that they are using, your output based on your design parameters is identical to the solution they would provide. It is that simple, it is that convenient… it is that ready!
Do you have further questions? Want to be on the phone with someone while you begin your process? Contact me (Jim Baty) at CFA headquarters (866-262-WALLS) and I can walk you through these steps to get you online quickly and conveniently.
