A publication of the Concrete Foundations Association
Concrete Facts Magazine Online
Feature
Agreements – Changing the “Take It or Leave It” Format
Doug Staebler, Custom Concrete Company, Inc., Westfield, IN In previous articles, we looked at the growing use of Subcontractor agreements by builders. In addition to the typical clauses dealing with schedules, work defects, payment provisions, and other construction related matters, most of these agreements contain extremely potent indemnification clauses, which impose nearly unlimited liability on […]
NAWIC Invites Nominations for 11th Annual Crystal Vision Awards Program
Celebrating the achievements of individuals with vision who helped to promote, expand and encourage to role of women in the construction industry. The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) is accepting nominations for its 11th annual Crystal Vision and Crystal Achievement Awards. The Crystal Vision Awards Program recognizes individuals for their outstanding achievement in advancing the role […]
PCA has a New Tech Brief
The Portland Cement Association recently published a tech brief, Technology Brief: Concrete Basements, to inform the building industry and consumers of the value in having a concrete basement. IS313-Concrete Basements describes why basements are built with concrete, what quality construction practices to look for, and the various types of cement based systems available to build with. […]
Form-A-Drain: A Century of Innovations
Through innovation and creative product design, CertainTeed Corporation has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Company, its slogan “Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed” quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed is a leading North American manufacturer of vinyl and fiber cement siding; vinyl and […]
Cranes & Equipment: We’ve All Come a Long Way
By: Joan E. Ausbury, President Cranes & Equipment Corp. Peoria, IL It was July 18, 1986, Kansas City, Missouri and the vision is still clear in my aging mind. The hole is dug, the footers are in, and there’s a busload of CFA members milling about the typical mounds of dirt around an excavation. The building site […]
Western Forms: Working With the CFA to Help the Industry Grow
ABOUT WESTERN FORMS® What started 50 years ago as a form tie producer has grown into a leading aluminum forming systems manufacturer. Today, Western Forms delivers high quality, high performance form panels, hardware, tools, and accessories. With unique technological innovations, Western Forms continues to improve its position as a leader, in the minds of both […]
Magazine Issues
Summer 2012 —Way Up North
It may be the middle of winter but its time you start making your plans for the CFA Summer Meeting 2012 at the Grand Traverse Resort in Traverse City, Michigan. The dates of the event will be July 26-28. 2012. The water should be warm enough to swim in by then and the frost will be off the greens by […]
CertainTeed® T-Roc™ Foundation Insulation System Achieves ICC-ES Approval
Leading North American building products manufacturer, CertainTeed Corporation, has received an evaluation report from ICC Evaluation Services, Inc. (ICC-ES), confirming that T-Roc™ Foundation Insulation System is building code compliant. T-Roc enables building professionals to bypass several costly, time-intensive tasks required to turn foundation walls into finished walls as part of a livable basement space. Through the analysis of […]
Irving Equipment is the new CIFA dealer
As 2012 begins, Cifa announces its new business strategy for the North American area. The historic Italian concrete machinery company, previously represented by its subsidiary Cifa USA, has appointed Irving Equipment LLC as its new sole dealer for the US market, with the aim of meeting new requirements on a market that is starting to show signs of […]
CFA ANNOUNCES PASSING OF FORMER PRESIDENT
We are saddened about the loss of CFA member and past-president Travis Gene Gloyd, 70, of Fort Wayne who passed away February 27, 2012. Born on December 9, 1941 in Fort Wayne, he was the son of the late Robert and Evlyn Gloyd. He graduated in 1961 from Huntertown High School. Travis worked at GE for 5 years. […]
12 TIPS For Preventing Back Injuries In Construction
25% of construction injuries are back injuries, so it’s worth planning, equipping and staffing sites to preserve back health The Center for Construction Research and Training says the construction industry has the highest incident rate of back injuries of any industry except transportation. Of all the construction-related injuries that occur each year, 25% of them are back injuries. Every […]
PART II: IT’S ABOUT THAT TIME… Taking the next step.
In the last edition of Concrete Facts you were given some simple instructions to some very valuable assets for connecting with your Association and peers during a time when the economy makes travel difficult. Being able to plug in to discussions is the most inexpensive decision you can make to provide tools for progress in today’s market. So, I […]
Our Customers
Spring is in full bloom as you read this (and as I write it, with 65 degree temperatures in February). Hopefully, the phones are starting to ring and work is beginning to pick up for us all. If you recall my last letter, you know I will be elaborating on the second leg of our mission statement […]
Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute Recommends Return to Inch-Pound
At their recent meeting on November 9, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) Board of Directors urged all CRSI producer members to revert to an inch-pound bar marking system for all sizes and grades of deformed reinforcing steel products. CRSI members produce more than 90% of domestic reinforcing steel. The intention of this resolution is for all new rollings of reinforcing steel […]
Fall Protection Systems in Residential Construction:FORMWORK SCAFFOLD BRACKETS – A Feasibility Study
Dear CFA Members- In the wake of last year’s decision by OSHA to rescind the rule allowing residential contractors to walk atop concrete walls, I know that many of you have searched for a feasible way to be OSHA compliant and most have found nothing. Could that be because walking atop formwork is the safest way to accomplish the […]
OSHA Videos Focus On How To Protect Construction Workers
Two- to four-minute videos (English and Spanish versions) cover falls, workers struck by vehicles, sprain and strain injuries, trenching and excavation hazards, and carbon monoxide poisoning Created: November 14, 2011 The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration released 13 educational videos http://www.osha.gov/dts/vtools/construction.html about potential hazards in the construction industry. The educational videos are easy to understand, […]
Why I Remain A Member!
The CFA has been a volunteer choice for our business and my family for 25 years. We’ve been involved as directors on the CFA Board, we’ve been to countless events like the Summer Convention and we put a lot of effort into being a CFA member. For years, we’ve not been shy in stating that we get far more […]
IT’S ABOUT THAT TIME… What are you waiting for?
We’re turning the calendar in less than a month by the time you read this and all indicators point to two things; 1) the market is turning as quickly as a super liner stuck in icefilled waters and 2) companies are trying to find new ways to resource ideas and test possibilities. It is also […]
