• CFA Tech Note 014: Interpreting Nominal Concrete Wall Thickness

    Wednesday, April 1, 2026

    Introduction  A frequent point of discussion between contractors, designers and code authorities involves the interpretation of “nominal” versus “actual” concrete wall thickness. This technical note provides clarification on this topic by examining relevant building codes and industry standards. Understanding the code-defined relationship between nominal and actual dimensions is essential for ensuring compliance and project continuity.  Analysis of Code Requirements  The International Residential […]

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  • Volver a construir mejor: Resiliencia

    Friday, March 13, 2026

    Cuarto artículo de la serie  De Joe Nasvik  Una vez que se toma la decisión de construir una casa, la siguiente cuestión que hay que resolver es cómo se debe construir. El mejor sistema de construcción es aquel que sea más adecuado para los ocupantes actuales y futuros. El uso de pautas de sostenibilidad y resiliencia […]

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  • Building Back Better Resiliency

    Friday, March 13, 2026

    BY JOE NASVIK  This is the fourth and final article of the Building Back Better series.  After the decision is made to build a house, the next issue to resolve is how it should be built. The best building system is one that will be best for the current and future occupants. Using sustainability and resilience guidelines is […]

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  • 2025 CFA Consulting Members Directory

    Friday, March 6, 2026

    CFA works with many great consultants. If you are looking for consulting services, visit one of the companies below: BIC bicauctions.com BIC is a used concrete equipment specialist serving contrac­tors, manufacturers and lenders nationwide. The company helps industry professionals unlock value from idle or un­derutilized assets—whether it’s a single unit or an entire fleet. Their […]

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  • Interns posing in front of Custom Concrete building

    We See You: Custom Concrete Shouts Out Their Interns

    Friday, October 3, 2025

    Custom Concrete recently took time to celebrate the next generation of industry leaders by highlighting the contributions of their interns.

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Feature

Jun
6

Thermally Efficient Walls

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania – CertainTeed Corporation is pleased to enter the insulated concrete wall market with the patented ThermaEZE® Thermal Insulation System. ThermaEZE is an innovative technology that provides a cost-effective means for building thermally efficient above-and below-grade poured concrete walls. ThermaEZE insulation panels, which consist of expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, are set within the […]

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Jun
6

LIFELINES™ EGRESS WINDOW WELLS

Many homeowners who use their basements as furnished, livable space are unaware of the importance of a secondary escape route in the event of a fire, tornado or other life-threatening emergency. Every year people lose their lives simply because there is no way for them to get out. These are the facts that led Mar-fl […]

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Jun
6

SCHWING ANNOUNCES THE LONGEST BOOM ON THREE AXLES

Schwing America, Inc announces the longest concrete placing boom available on a three-axle truck – the S 41 SX truck-mounted concrete pump with placing boom. With a horizontal reach of 120 feet, vertical reach of over 134 feet and 740 degree boom rotation, the S 41 SX was designed with operators and owners in mind. […]

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Jun
6

Schwing Announces Breakthrough with New Vector Control System

Schwing’s continuous commitment to advancing concrete pumping technology has produced the new Vector Control System. This breakthrough in data retrieval is the only system that allows two-way communication between the radio remote box and the concrete pump. Even higher productivity is now available on all Schwing boom pumps because the operator can retrieve important information […]

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Jun
6

Concrete Construction: Using Today’s Technology to MakeYesterday’s Dreams Come True

Think of today’s technology and maybe your mind jumps to iPods or Blackberries. (Then again, perhaps you’re still trying to figure out how to attach a document to an e-mail and send it to a colleague.) Suffice it to say, we all have different levels of understanding when it comes to the technologies that have […]

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Jun
6

Putzmeister Introduces New BSF 61-Meter Concrete Boom Pump

STURTEVANT, Wis. – Putzmeister America introduces the latest truck-mounted concrete boom pump model to their product range – the BSF 61-Meter. To accommodate customer reach and weight requirements, the unit is strategically positioned in size between the BSF 58-Meter and BSF 63Z-Meter Putzmeister models. The BSF 61-Meter features a four-section roll-and-fold boom to provide a […]

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Magazine Issues

Jul
19

THE UN-COMFORT ZONE: Defeating the De-Motivator

with Robert Wilson The sweet strains of a Puccini aria cut through the Saturday night clatter of the busy Italian restaurant in New York City, but it wasn’t coming from the aging voice of the Sicilian baritone who was hired to belt out favorites like Funiculi- Funicula. It was a soprano whose crystal clear voice filled the room. Within moments all the ambient noise came […]

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Jun
30

YOU NEED TO BE THINKING CERTIFICATION RIGHT NOW…

Imagine yourself on the phone tomorrow bidding for a foundation contract, but you tell the general contractor “I am a CFA Certified Contractor”. His response will be one of surprise and admiration. Ten years from now his response will be “I only hire Certified CFA Contractors.” Get in on the ground floor of a new […]

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Jun
30

The Road That Lies Ahead

2013 CFA Convention Theme The Road That Lies Ahead ‘The Road That Lies Ahead’ is the theme of the CFA Annual Summer Convention this year. Hopefully you have already made your plans to attend because this year’s event promises to be the best line-up for education we have ever presented. To use Scott Smith’s words, […]

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Mar
28

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 […]

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Mar
28

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 […]

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Mar
28

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 […]

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Mar
28

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 […]

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Mar
28

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 […]

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Mar
28

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 […]

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Mar
1

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 […]

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Mar
1

Garland Industries Acquires DryDog Barriers, Expands Line of Waterproofing Products

Garland Industries, Inc. recently acquired DryDog Barriers, LLC, a manufacturer of waterproofing products and related accessories for the residential and commercial marketplace, expanding its line of high-performance, below-grade waterproofing solutions for the building envelope. The DryDog line of products and services will be integrated into GMX, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Garland Industries and a leading manufacturer of waterproofing solutions […]

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Mar
1

2013 International Concrete Sustainability Conference Co-Sponsorship Agreement

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA) and Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) are co-sponsoring the upcoming 2013 International Concrete Sustainability Conference scheduled for May 6-8, 2013 in San Francisco at the Hotel Sofitel. The Conference is designed to bring researchers and practitioners together to exchange the latest ideas, knowledge, and tools to build the future of concrete construction as it relates […]

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