NOTICE: "Nebraska's Most Wanted"

The Nebraska Concrete & Aggregate Association presents our 53rd Annual Quality Concrete Conference, "Nebraska's Most Wanted". Co-Sponsor ACI Nebraska

2012 "Line-up"....
Mike Murray - "Sensibility and Sustainability of a Decorative Concrete Floor"
Dave Suchorski - "Effects of Hot Temperature on Concrete Test Cylinders"
Bill Butler - "Cures, Sealers, Cures & Sealers, and Waterproofers"
Joe Clendenen - "Deicers"
Kevin MacDonald - "Investigating Slab Popouts"
Jeff Coleman (KEYNOTE) - "When is a Concrete Crack a Construction Defect?"

January 11th, 2012 - Kearney, NE
January 12th, 2012 - Lincoln, NE


The NC&AA has taken great pride in providing designers, contractors, producers, and installers with critical industry presentations to stay up-to-date with current trends and practices.  Don't miss out...get in the mix!

DOWNLOAD THE EVENT FLYER HERE

REGISTER ON-LINE HERE

ASTM Committee C09 Scheduled in Florida

The official fall meeting of Committee C09, concrete and concrete aggregates is set for December 4th - 7th, 2011 in Tampa.  Information on standardizing our industries materials by continual research and development will be covered over a  4 day stretch.  Along with technical subcommittee meetings, symposiums are also scheduled.  Of particular interest to me is the symposium on pervious concrete. Regardless of your interest, this event should have something for any concrete guru...even if your not an ASTM Committee member. (click here for registration, agenda, and hotel information)

In other ASTM news.....something new is in the works 
A proposed standard, ASTM WK34078, "Specification for Lightweight Aggregate for Internal Curing of Concrete" is currently under development.  Funny...didn't the ACI-Nebraska Chapter just conduct a breakfast seminar last month on Utilizing Lightweight Aggregate as an Internal Curing Mechanism?  Now that sounds like a Chapter that seems to keep members on the cutting edge!


FUN FACTS (source, www.astm.org):

• C09 was formed in 1914 
• C09 has approximately 1,100 members
• C09 governs 155 standards 
• C09 has 29 technical subcommittees

NC&AA Exhibits at AIA-NE Fall Conference

Just a quick announcement of the NC&AA's exhibit during AIA-NE Fall Conference.

This years promotional focus was "information transfer".  Our booth displayed innovative ideas such as QR codes and Google TV.  Although I believe both are a little ahead of their time the NC&AA promoted concrete applications such as Tilt-up Concrete, Concrete Parking Lots, and Pervious Concrete via the use of these technologies.

First, the QR codes sent attendees to this blog and the NC&AA's new facebook business page.  With one quick scan from their smartphone, they were able to stay in the mix regarding activities of the Association.  Second, many attendees were interested in the Google TV.  So the NC&AA described what Google TV was all about, through surfing the internet showing concrete related youtube videos, websites, and the world of concrete social media.

I have always said that I was "ghetto" when it came to exhibiting.  We never have had pricey billboards and banners.  A good women once told me that it isn't about the bells and whistles....its about site and sound.  Meaning that its how you convey your message is what people remember.  Well I think the NC&AA showcased site and sound pretty well.

Special shout out to the professor for stepping in to help at the last minute.

2011-2012 ACI / NDOR Training Season is Set!

The Nebraska Concrete and Aggregates Association (NC&AA) once again is administering training and certification programs for concrete technicians and field inspectors in Nebraska. This training is offered in partnership with the Nebraska Chapter of the American Concrete Institute and the Nebraska Department of Roads. 

Save your seat today!

Here is the link to the 2011/2012 Training Calendar

Relax....Dont overwork!

I frequently have discussions with ready mix producers and concrete contractors regarding exterior concrete durability requirements.  To me, the answers seem simple. 

1. Keep the water as low as possible
2. Use a mix that has good air "entrainment"
3. Do not overwork the concrete surface
4. Properly Cure the concrete

This post focuses on "overworking" the surface.  One of the above requirements is using a mix that has good air entrainment.  There are two types of air in concrete, entrapped air and entrained air.  Entrapped air, is air that naturally gets introduced to the concrete by mixing operations.  Different mixes have different percentages of entrapped air.  Entrapped air contributes nothing to freeze thaw durability...only entrained air promotes better freeze thaw resistance.  And this even gets more complex with proper size of entrained air bubbles and proper spacing of entrained air bubbles.

A improper finishing technique I sometimes see in concrete construction is using machine floating and/or power troweling.  THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN!  With proper air being critical to the durability of any exterior concrete in freeze thaw environments, why is machine floating exterior concrete being practiced?  Answer: Lack of awareness and lack of enforcement.

Overworking the surface not only brings fines (sand and water) to the surface, which weakens the surface...it also damages the "air structure".  I have always said less is more.  Strike-off, bull float, broom, cure, and cut.  If you need to machine float or power trowel exterior concrete...your biting off more than you can chew. 

ACI-Nebraska Awards of Excellence

Deadline for project submittal is December 1^st, 2011

The Nebraska Chapter of the American Concrete Institute announces its annual Concrete Awards Program. The purpose of this competition is to recognize outstanding work in concrete construction and practices within the State of Nebraska.

Projects must be noteworthy for their use of concrete. The concrete may be precast, pre-stressed, cast-in place, tilt-up or concrete masonry. Special uses of concrete or innovative concrete construction techniques will be recognized.

In order to be eligible the projects must have been completed before November 2011. Completed applications are due by December 1^st, 2011. Judging is done by a panel of professionals from various disciplines within the concrete industry. Awards will consist of plaques and certificates to be presented to the owner, designer (Architect and/or Engineer), contractor and concrete supplier. These awards will be presented at the Nebraska Chapter Annual Meeting in February, 2012.

So start thinking of unique and innovative concrete projects to be considered

To download the application go to www.acinebraska.org

To view past award winners Click Here.  Give the prezi 30 seconds to load and enjoy!

Get a Response...5000 signatures needed

Source: Citizens for Recycling First

Citizens for Recycling First has placed a petition on a new White House website that promises a response from the Obama Administration if we can get 5,000 signatures in 30 days. You can sign the petition by clicking here: http://wh.gov/gu4

            The White House recently launched a program called “We the People” that is designed to “provide you with a new way to petition the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues facing our country. If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.”

            Citizens for Recycling First’s petition reads: “We believe the Obama Administration should protect coal ash recycling by promptly enacting disposal regulations that do NOT designate coal ash a ‘hazardous waste.’” The 5,000 signatures must be gathered by October 24 in order to compel a response from the White House.

           

Sign the petition today! Then encourage everyone you know to sign it, too!