Adding Water to Concrete: What’s a little water going to hurt?
By Bill Meek and Jim Turici From: Concrete Construction April 2013
Have you ever been at a concrete placement when someone said, “How about adding some water to that load?” But is it acceptable to add water on site? Water addition to a load of concrete may or may not be acceptable depending on the parameters that need to be met. ASTM C94, “Specification for Ready-Mixed Concrete,” states the following regarding water additions:
If the desired slump or slump flow is less than specified, and unless otherwise stated, obtain the desired slump or slump flow within the tolerances stated in [applicable sections] with a one-time addition of water. Do not exceed the maximum water content for the batch as established by the designed mixture proportion. A one-time addition of water is not prohibited from being several distinct additions of water provided that no concrete has been discharged except for slump or slump flow testing. All water additions shall be completed within 15 min. from the start of the first water addition. The drum shall be turned an additional 30 revolutions, or more if necessary, at mixing speed to ensure that a homogenous mixture is attained.
This article will give you a better understanding of how performance of the concrete may be affected by water additions.
Irving Equipment Sells Largest Concrete Pump in North America During WOC 2013
This year’s World of Concrete in Las Vegas was a highly successful event for Irving Equipment. Irving once again proved to be one of the dominant forces in the industry, with the sale of the largest concrete pump in North America; a Concord 65-meter, which sold during the show. In addition, our display was complete with quality equipment and an ideal booth location. We would like to say thank you for visiting our booth and for your loyal support of our company.
Once again, we have expanded our product offerings, to include our latest addition of equipment: PM Cranes. This line offers a wide range of knuckle-boom cranes in more than 50 sizes, with over 350 possible configurations to suit all of your form-handling needs.
The highlight of our concrete pumping equipment display was a 38-meter unit; configured to operate legally, in any state, with no overweight permits. This is significant because it helps contractors avoid the added expense of special road permits required in most states. This unit is equipped to operate on natural gas (American).
The CIFA PC40 trailer pump unit was also on display, with its newly designed frame and pump cell. The units have been updated in order to operate more optimally within the American industry. Our customers can look forward to seeing updated CIFA boom pumps in the near future, as well.
Remember, Irving Equipment is your supplier…not your competitor. We are continuing to build on our years of experience in order to offer you more support, innovation, and capabilities.
8 Steps To Prevent Construction Site Theft
by Kimberly Hegeman, originally published on ForConstructionPros.com
Theft and vandalism account for $1 billion a year in losses and other costs to contractors; here’s how to prevent it from happening at your jobsites Construction equipment and material theft is big business, and it’s growing. Estimates say that theft and vandalism account for $1 billion a year in losses and other costs to builders, a number that steadily rose 10 percent since 1996 and is expected to continue growing.
Construction jobsite theft losses are more than just the costs of losing expensive equipment and materials. Contracts have to pay to replace or rent equipment to finish the job. There’s also the costs of downtime and project overruns if the missing equipment and materials delay a project. Plus, insurance premiums may increase.
According to LoJack’s 12th annual Construction Equipment Theft Study (http://bit.ly/X6CfDI), construction sites can be easy targets because:
- Most job sites have poor security
- Open cabs are easy to access
- One key can fit all pieces of equipment
- Jobsites are often left unsecured at night or over the weekend
- There is a general lack of product identification numbers/records in the industry
Thieves target more than just construction equipment. Materials, especially copper and other metals, are targets of construction jobsite thefts. The construction industry is not only a main target for theft, but specifically theft of copper and other metals (http://bit.ly/10ZDwRG).
According to an Unclassified Intelligence Assessment by the Federal Bureau of Investigation that was modified in 2010, “Copper thieves are threatening US critical infrastructure […] targets have increased since 2006 […] and present a risk to both public safety and national security.”
Here are some tips for securing your jobsite and prevent equipment
and material theft.
- Increase lighting during off hours
- Let employees know the boss is paying attention
- Schedule supplies as needed
- Keep good records
- Practice effective inventory management
- Secure your perimeter
- Review your current security plan
- Use theft deterrents and proven recovery systems
For more information on preventing theft, consider the vast resources found in membership with the CFA. Join the CFA Members group at LinkedIn and start or join a discussion on this topic or contact CFA Staff to find out what has been published or researched in the past. Aluminum forms have been one of the most regular technology stolen from concrete companies. Find theft prevention products (http://bit.ly/100DR7A) on the ForConstructionPros.com Buyers Guide.
What Does the Future Hold?
The following article is a synopsis of the January 16, 2013 PCA Market Intelligence Residential Construction Outlook. For a pdf of the full report, contact Ed Sauter (esauter@cfawalls.org) or Jim Baty (jbaty@cfawalls.org).
RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION OUTLOOK
Conditioned pessimism. That is the term Ed Sullivan, chief economist for the Portland Cement Association, used to describe the attitude and outlook of citizens, businesses and the public in general regarding the economy. News channels, conservative and liberal, are constantly bombarding us with negative news and asking us to worry about impending or possible disasters. If we base our decisions on the concept that something bad is just around the corner we will never get out of our recession. Our decisions must be supported by the facts.
Mr. Sullivan has been an accurate forecaster of our economy, and the construction economy in particular, for the past decade or longer. He cites underlying information as the basis for his optimism for our economy. His outlook goes against the pessimism (conditioned or otherwise) expressed by some economists. His forecasts aren’t just wishful thinking, they are based on underlying conditions that have been building since the downturn began.
PCA economists expects housing starts to reach 954,000 units in 2013 with one million an outside possibility. The first half of 2013 will be mired with residual fallout of the fiscal cliff fiasco (and sequestration) but job creation and improved consumer sentiment should make for a strong the second half of 2013. Even stronger growth in homebuilding is expected in 2014 with new starts topping 1.1 million units.
PCA Chief Economist, Ed Sullivan, speaks to a captivated crowd during the 2013 World of Concrete in Las Vegas.
GENERAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS
Why the optimism. Three factors are cited. First, private debt has been declining as a share of disposable income since 2005. Consumers are paying down their bills and taking advantage of historically low interest rates refinancing everything from credit cards to homes. The net result is that the cost to service this debt has reached an 18-year low, which in effect, gives consumers more disposable income. This is a benefit to economic growth.
Second, private businesses (O.K. not your concrete construction company but bigger businesses) are flush with cash. Businesses exist to make a profit and the low interest rates earned on that cash are not conducive savings. This gives them the means and incentive to fuel recovery. Third, banks are healthy again. Depository institutions have raised hundreds of billions in new capital. Tighter underwriting since the recession has improved credit conditions and the number of one and two month delinquencies is at a record low.
The economy is positioned for strong growth but a trigger is needed to get businesses and consumers to spend again. Consumer and business attitudes appear to be focusing on positive economic fundamentals rather than the adverse political uncertainty. No one knows what that trigger is but the anticipated growth should materialize by the second half of 2013. Our economy can’t wait on a dysfunctional congress.
SINGLE FAMILY SALES OUTLOOK
The single family sales outlook is the sector that most of CFA contractors are dependent upon. PCA’s assessment of this sector is based on lending standards, home prices, and mortgage rates as well as income and job growth. Home sales increased by roughly 10% in 2012 and stood at 60% of pre-recession levels. During 2013, PCA expects home sales will increase nearly 18%.
PCA bases their outlook on at least 4 indicators. First, the combination of low mortgage interest rates and declining home prices has dramatically improved home affordability. Declining unemployment and gathering economic momentum will enable these factors to be realized later this year and into 2014.
Second, job growth is expected to continue. The U.S. added 1.835 million jobs in 2012, a slight increase over 2011 but looking ahead, PCA expects this figure to jump to 2.1 million jobs this year and roughly 2014 million jobs in 2014.
Third, lending standards, while still tight, should ease gradually when the perceived lending risks subside. They will likely tend toward the longterm standards that existing before the bubble.
Lastly, consumer attitudes are increasingly focusing on the positive economic fundamentals rather than adverse political uncertainty. In addition, rising home prices should entice people to act sooner rather than waiting.
There are other economic issues to be concerned about including the inventory of existing housing and regional growth but overall, the word is positive. PCA feels that while there is a tremendous pent-up demand that demand will be released gradually over the next 3-4 years. Our recommendation is stay-the-course. Better times await us and they will begin this year.
Post-Injury Testing
To efficiently and effectively manage workers’ compensation claims, many companies have implemented a program for injured workers to undergo a physical capability evaluation and functional assessment of the major muscle groups of knees, shoulders and low back along their entire range of motion in both extension and flexion. This evaluation will show the injured worker’s current physical abilities and aid the doctor and physical therapist in their objective diagnosis and treatment plan. The evaluation will document musculoskeletal weaknesses to aid in responding to insurance inquiries, assigning work modifications, creating a responsive and efficient rehabilitation plan, and making return-to-work decisions.
Isokinetic testing was developed in the 1960s and uses accommodating resistance, which measures the amount of force a person can produce. This measurement creates a torque curve providing information as to the validity (consistency of effort), range of motion, and peak torque of the patient. The isokinetic test is unlike traditional subjective testing methods because it is standardized, defensible, non-discriminatory, reproducible, safe, predictive, and totally objective. The test results (testing knees, shoulders, trunk and functional movements) encompass over 83% of the muscle groups in the body required to perform physical activities. By obtaining objective data during the testing, Cost Reduction Technologies (CRT) can determine the pre-injury baseline of each individual joint of the employee. In the event an employee is injured, baseline levels are critical for the rehabilitation and reimplementation of the employee to daily living activities, recreational activities, and job task duties. Isokinetics is the only form of testing that can determine a person’s pre-injury level as a matter of scientific fact. All post-injury evaluations (i.e. joint comparisons, return-to-work) result in objective data that can be utilized by a treating physician to better facilitate the care of the patient.
The CRT post-injury test can determine severity of injuries, improvement/ progress of rehabilitation, when an employee can return to work with specific restrictions, return without restrictions, or help identify malingering (faux claims or claims where the employee was injured but is hesitant to return to work). In a case where the employee may not regain pre-injury level, the test is used as one of the evidential pieces to measure the percentage of disability.
When selecting a post-injury testing process, employers should determine the amount of risk they are willing to assume as part of the return-to-work process or the post-injury rehabilitation process. The EECO and Workers’ Compensation laws always hold the employer accountable for all employment practices. Employers should select only those test providers or processes that will protect then in the event of litigation against the Company. If their testing methods cannot be admitted in Federal Court they have little or no value to the employer.
CRT has testified in State and Federal court cases to defend the outcomes based on the objective isokinetic testing. In every case we were successful in our testimony that the outcomes we determined were accurate, objective and provable as such.
In Federal court cases there is a standard which any scientific evidence introduced must adhere to, the Daubert Standard. If the evidence does not comply with the Daubert Standard it will not be introduced into testimony. CRT has passed the Daubert Standard. Below is a brief explanation of the Daubert Standard:
- The Daubert standard is a legal precedent set in 1993 by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding the admissibility of expert witness’ testimony during federal legal proceedings. The citation is Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579 (1993).
- A Daubert motion is a motion, raised before or during trial, to exclude the presentation of unqualified evidence to the jury. This is a special case of motion in limine, usually used to exclude the testimony of an expert witness who has no such expertise or used questionable methods to obtain the information.
The reason CRT is admissible and passes each of the points is that Isokinetics is a world wide science with thousands of peer reviewed articles based on outcomes. It is not just CRT saying we use the following criteria; the criteria are based on decades of scientific research.
Back stress indicated in lifting conditions atop scaffolding. Taken from the CFA’s AFPP Kit 2.0. Contact CFA for info on obtaining this kit for members only.
To summarize, five cardinal points Daubert asks of every technique in order to be admissible in court are:
- Has the technique been tested in actual field conditions (and not just in a laboratory)? [e.g. fingerprinting has been extensively tested and verified not only in laboratory conditions, but also in actual criminal cases. So it is admissible. Polygraph testing on the other hand has been well tested in laboratories but not well tested in field conditions]
- Has the technique been subject to peer review and publication?
- What is the known or potential rate of error? Is it zero, or low enough to be close to zero?
- Do standards exist for the control of the technique’s operation?
- Has the technique been generally accepted within the relevant scientific community?
We believe the CRT isokinetic testing is superior to any other testing process available today. We do not have a system. We rely on science and technology to protect employers from future work comp injuries and/or return injured employees back to work quicker than subjective testing. We are not affiliated with any medical system, legal system, or insurance program. We are employer advocates. Our stated business objective is to reduce the number of work related injuries and remove associated costs for employers. Our ET 2000 electronic digital dynamometer is state-of-the-art and is 99.9% valid, free of bias, defensible, and over 98% successful in reducing the risk of MSD injuries on the job.
Are We Really A Family?
Dear CFA Brothers and Sisters,
Many institutions claim to have a “family” environment. Is “family” an overused cliché…or is it real?
This March, we at the Bartley Corporation, lost a dear friend and long-time employee. Betty was our dispatcher, also known as “Mother-Central”. Our employees sprang into action to help her, stood beside her, and continue to grieve her loss. We will never be the same without her. She sure feels like family. What is family? To me, it is a closeknit group of people that cares for each other, and works together for a common cause. Family is there when you need help. Each family member gives a little, and receives a lot.
Over the years I have given a little of my time to the CFA and have received a lot in return. We have worked on committees and worked together on construction sites. We have shared ideas and shared forms. We have bought each other a beer and bought product. We have moved industry standards and moved each other’s equipment. And we have enjoyed each other in the process. It sure feels like family.
The key for me has been the “CFA family reunion,” better known as the Summer Convention. Investing a few days and a few dollars has brought hugely successful ideas to our business. By spending time with my CFA peers year in and year out, they have become my CFA family. Now competitors are friends. Now suppliers are partners. Now industry experts are a phone call away. We help each other, work together, agree and disagree…and enjoy each other. It sure feels like family.
If this publication is your primary connection to the CFA, I’m glad you’ve made that connection. I’m here to tell you there’s so much more. I hope to see you at the “family reunion!”
CFA Returns to Tamaya
The CFA will return to the Tamaya Resort at the Santa Ana Pueblo north of Albuquerque, New Mexico for the 2013 Summer meeting. We don’t often return to a prior venue but this is a very special place. Quiet, beautiful, and serene are just a few of the adjectives used by attendees following our stay in 2008. As you will recall, that was at the height of the recession and we wanted to give as many of you as possible the opportunity to return (or visit for the first time) before we cycle to the eastern part of the US for two or three years. In case you haven’t heard, the recession is over.
We have an excellent educational program planned. Our focus continues to be on how to run a better business rather than how to pour walls. We are also increasing networking opportunities – still cited by most CFA members as the primary benefit of our association.
Last year we added a “pre-convention” seminar the day before the primary event. The topic of the seminar was slabs. Several presenters, including Kim Basham, presented and it was very well received. Not everyone is involved with slabs so it was not part of the standard program and fees, but the information provided was excellent. This year, the pre-convention will be on concrete housing. We have three presenters lined up for this segment including Brent Anderson (remember him) as the core presenter. Brent will address the basics of concrete housing including structural performance and methods of construction. Brad Nesset will talk on energy performance and Mike Hancock will discuss mechanical, electrical and plumbing solutions.
The main event has some always-popular and respected presenters along with some of the newcomers to the presentation circuit as well as a new twist. Doug Staebler will address several aspects of risk management in the residential foundation sector; Doug Herbert will share more pointers and tips on marketing on a dime; Scott Carter will cover the latest on robotics; Joan Ausbury will discuss crane safety; and, Jim Wildman of Cost Reduction Technology will present on pre-employment and post-injury physical testing technology. Pre-employment testing was discussed in the last edition of Concrete Facts and in this one you will find content on the post-injury issue.
A new twist from frequent presenter David Whitlock will be a “mock trial” dealing with the subject of sexual harassment. This topic is a time-bomb waiting to go off in many construction companies and this presentation will present a theatrical “real-life” scenario that will be both entertaining and informative. It involves audience participation (the script will be pre-written).
There will also be round table discussions with small groups on most of the main topics as well as Crafting CAD, social media, the CFA insurance captive and a host of other topics.
The dates for this year’s meeting are earlier than the past several years. The housing seminars will be on Thursday, July 11 with the balance of the convention on Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13. Make your plans now and call for your room reservations early.
We actually have a room rate that is $15 lower than the last time we were at the resort. Watch for more information on the web site and in this publication.
CertainTeed Enhances Commitment to Innovation, Appoints New Vice President of Research & Development
(Valley Forge, Pa.) – CertainTeed Corporation is bolstering its capacity for industry-leading innovation through the appointment of Minas Apelian as vice president of research and development (R&D). In this newly established position, Apelian will lead the design, development and execution of next generation products and technologies across all CertainTeed business units, which includes siding, ceilings, pipe, foundations, roofing, gypsum and insulation. Apelian will also engage in global collaboration through CertainTeed’s parent company, Saint-Gobain, which was recently recognized as one of Thomson Reuters Top 100 Global Innovators.
“This appointment signals an important milestone in collectively leveraging our robust technical expertise and strengthening collaboration with Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building materials company,” said John Crowe, president and CEO of CertainTeed Corporation. “With Minas at the helm of our R&D strategy, CertainTeed is well-equipped to meet the growing demand for forward-thinking solutions that maximize performance, comfort and sustainability in the built environment.”
Prior to joining CertainTeed, Apelian served as vice president and general manager at J.M. Huber Corporation. He has also held positions of increasing responsibility in the areas of engineering and innovation at Mobil Oil Corporation. Apelian holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Columbia University and a master’s degree and doctorate in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
About CertainTeed
Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm’s slogan “Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed,” quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America’s leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.
A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world’s largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates have more than 5,700 employees and more than 60 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. Recognized as a 2009 and 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CertainTeed earned the 2011 and 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award, the highest level of recognition for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. The group had total sales of approximately $3.3 billion in 2012. www.certainteed.com
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Website: www.certainteed.com
Blog: http://blog.CertainTeed.com
Twitter: @CertainTeed
Saint-Gobain sells its PVC “Pipe & Foundations” business to Westlake Chemical for US$175 million
PARIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Saint-Gobain signed an agreement for the sale of its U.S.-based PVC Pipe & Foundations business to North American Pipe Corporation, a subsidiary of Westlake Chemical Corporation (NYSE:WLK) of Houston, Texas, for a total price (enterprise value) of US$175 million (around €135 million), representing 7.2 times 2012 EBITDA(US$24 million). Manufactured by Saint-Gobain’s Exterior Products Division within the Construction Products Sector and marketed under the CertainTeed brand, these polyvinyl chloride pipes and fittings are used in various agricultural and industrial applications. The business employs close to 200 people and has two production sites in the United States, in Lodi, California and McPherson, Kansas.
With this divestiture, Saint-Gobain’s Exterior Products Division is contributing to Saint- Gobain’s strategic refocusing on the Habitat market. CertainTeed, with its insulation, wallboard, roofing, siding and ceilings products designed specifically for North American homes and buildings, will then be fully focused on the construction market (especially residential), allowing it to fully benefit from the further upturn in this market.
The sale proceeds will be used primarily to pursue the Group’s acquisition strategy, focused on small- or medium-sized acquisitions.
This transaction is expected to close in the 2nd quarter of 2013, subject to standard closing conditions including US regulatory review.
About Saint-Gobain
Saint-Gobain, the world leader in the habitat and construction markets, designs, manufactures and distributes building materials, providing innovative solutions to the challenges of growth, energy efficiency and environmental protection. With 2012 sales of €43.2 billion, Saint-Gobain operates in 64 countries and has nearly 193,000 employees. For more information about Saint-Gobain, visit www.saint-gobain.com.
About Westlake Chemical
Westlake Chemical is a manufacturer and supplier of petrochemicals, polymers and building products. The company’s range of products includes: ethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene, caustic, VCM, PVC resin and PVC pipe, windows and fence. For more information about Westlake Chemical, visit www.westlake.com.
Custom Concrete Makes Promotion
Jason Ells has been promoted to executive director of operations at Westfield, Indiana, based Custom Concrete.
Ells, who launched his career in 1998 at Custom Concrete as a Quality Control Tech, will oversee the sales force and production departments, establishing processes that produce both quality and efficiency. He will also continue to work closely with customers to ensure the individualized attention they expect from Custom Concrete.
