2011 Vision House Completes IBS Concrete Trifecta

As part of the excitement surrounding the 2011 International Builders' Show in Orlando, several show homes were available for viewing.

One such home was the show home sponsored by Green Builder Media. The 2011 Vision House, dubbed the “urban farmhouse” by its architect, is an infill project built with insulating concrete forms (ICFs). ICFs were chosen for their many benefits, including security, protection from storms, and energy efficiency. In addition, the building team for this home believed the foam forms enabled faster building than conventional construction.

To complete the shell of the home and match the insulating benefits of the ICFs, 5 inches of spray foam insulation tightly sealed the framed attic of the house. Together with the insulated concrete walls, it is expected to cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 50 percent. Outside, the metal roof has an acrylic coating and high reflectivity finish. And to demonstrate the versatility of the ICF system, both cement siding and galvanized metal sheeting are used to clad the exterior, furthering the architect’s urban farmhouse theme.

All three of the main show homes at the International Builders’ Show had concrete wall systems (See the January 10 and January 17 Executive Reports).  All the projects were designed to incorporate the essentials of sustainable design and construction and were excellent examples of concrete’s contributions to sustainability.
Photo courtesy of Andy Frame Photography/www.andyframe.com

Congressional Resolution Suspends EPA Funding for NESHAP

Last week’s passage of an appropriations rider halting funding to a recent emission rule-making for the portland cement industry is the first step towards regulations that protect American lives and American jobs.

Introduced by Rep. John Carter (R-TX) and Rep. Mike Ross (D-AR), the rider to the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (H.R. 1) discontinues funding to implement, administer, or enforce the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the portland cement industry.

Although domestic cement manufacturers are among the most highly regulated enterprises in the country, they are currently facing an avalanche of seven separate rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

“The successful passage of Amendment 165 proves that elected officials in Washington can clear the path to restore economic growth and regulatory sanity,” Brian McCarthy, president and CEO of PCA said. “Amendments such as the one introduced by Reps. Carter and Ross can help end the jobs crisis facing our industry.”

With the passage of H.R. 1 by the House of Representatives, the amendment will now be considered for approval by the Senate.

American Cement Company Granted Easement for Relocation of Endangered Species

American Cement Company, LLC illustrated its commitment to caring for the environment by obtaining two permits for relocation of Gopher tortoises and other possible endangered species from its property in Sumterville, Fla., to a 169-acre Conservation Easement.  The Gopher tortoise is classified as a “Species of Special Concern” by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission due to habitat loss and destruction of burrows.

In 2006, the first permit provided for the relocation of up to five Gopher tortoises from a 46-acre area of construction for a new cement kiln.  In 2008, a second permit allowed the relocation of up to five Gopher tortoises from a 24-acre site approximately one mile north of the kiln construction area. 

The Conservation Easement is located midway between the kiln and mining area with a narrow portion running along the east side of the property.  The easement is comprised of natural oak dominated uplands and pure Bahia grass pasture maintained by grazing cattle.

Along with the Gopher tortoises, a kestrel nest box was found and relocated to the eastern portion of the easement nearer an adjoining habitat.  The Indigo snake, Florida mouse, and Gopher frog, communal species of the Gopher tortoise, are protected in the easement, but were not observed during a 2007 survey of the mining area.

January PPI: Steel and Lumber Lead Gains

Steel and lumber logged significant price hikes in January while asphalt and concrete remained flat, according to figures from the Producer Price Index (PPI).

The steel PPI rose 2.0 percent in January over December, and lumber was up 1.9 percent. Both asphalt and concrete increased 0.1 percent.

For the last 12 months, steel is up 11.5 percent, lumber gained 8.1 percent, and asphalt prices increased 3.2 percent. Concrete showed no increase.

Source: Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. PCA provides this information to aid in the promotion of concrete and cement-based products.
More information
Contact Joe Chiappe

Franco Buzzi, 1935-2011

Franco Buzzi, Vice Chairman of Buzzi Unicem SpA and Chairman of the Board of Buzzi Unicem USA and Alamo Cement Company, passed away on February 15, 2011. Born in 1935, he was director of Buzzi Unicem SpA since its beginning in 1999. Previously, starting from the '70s, he served as chief executive of Buzzi Cementi SpA.  He was also Chairman of the Board of Buzzi Unicem USA and Alamo Cement Company.

“Franco Buzzi excelled at business administration and finance, but in reality he had a much vaster and deeper knowledge of the industry in which he was born and raised,” according to a statement released by Buzzi Unicem. “Together with other representatives of the third family generation, he was a main architect of the stunning development our company experienced in the last 15 years, guiding it through the evolution from closely held to listed status and the further international expansion, always with a very clear strategic view.  Franco's human qualities were even more marked than the professional ones: sensibility, humor, courage, morality, just to name a few. We are going to miss him dearly."

2011 IEEE Registration Available

Registration is officially open for the 53rd Annual IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical Conference scheduled for May 22-26 in St. Louis.

The 2011 Cement Industry Technical Conference will include presentations from the industry’s top technical people, addressing the diverse technical issues and proposing potential solutions to the many challenges facing the cement industry. The popular Environmental Workshop will be continued this year with a new set of current topics. Tutorials and technical papers will drill down to focus on topics of most concern to you and your company’s operations.

In addition to networking and educational opportunities, attendees will have a chance to see the best and brightest technology in the form of the newest and largest cement plants. Tours will be available for the new Buzzi Unicem USA Inc., 7,000-tons-per-day Selma plant as well as the Holcim (US) Inc., 12,000-tons-per-day Ste. Genevieve facility. Both plants came on-line in 2009 and feature the latest in large plant equipment and are among the most energy efficient plants in the world today.
Register online at www.ieeepcaconference.org
View more information, including technical papers, tutorials, and the Environmental Workshop presentations

SBIC Podcast Illustrates Benefits of Functional Resilience Design

The concepts and background on the joint PCA and Institute for Business and Home Safety High Performance Building Requirements for Sustainability are highlighted in a podcast hosted by the Sustainable Building Industries Council (SBIC).

Bud DeFlaviis, executive director of SBIC and PCA’s Director of Codes and Standards, Steve Szoke, conduct a ten-minute discussion on the HPBRS. Szoke, who is also an honorary member and past chairperson of SBIC, addressed the need to integrate functional resilience with the other aspects of sustainability, energy, water and material resources conservation and management; indoor environmental quality; and site selection and development.   

 In addition to hosting it on their web site for several months, SBIC plans to upload the podcast on iTunes.  Also posted on the SBIC multimedia page is a PCA PowerPoint video overview of the sustainability of concrete.
Download the podcast at  http://sbicouncil.org/multimedia. 
Contact Steve Szoke

PCA Helps Kick Off 2011 Engineers Week

To kick-off Engineers Week on Sunday, February. 20, the Chicago Architectural Foundation (CAF) held their first ever family engineering day.  Several hundred kids and their parents attended the fun-filled event, which was listed by Crain’s Chicago Business as one of the top 10 things to do in Chicago during the weekend. 

Through hands-on demonstrations and guided tours, kids and their parents were given the unique opportunity to learn about structures and to bring structural principals to life.  PCA’s Lawrence Novak, director of engineered buildings, hosted three fun-filled presentations entitled “Imagine Big!” to standing room only.  His interactive presentations covered the ‘bones of structures’ and sustainability designed to inspire the next generation to study math, science, and engineering. 

Last week, Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL), introduced a resolution on the floor of the House recognizing February 20-26 as Engineering Week and encouraging his fellow Congressmen to support their local events.
View Rep. Lipinski recognition of Engineering Week
Contact Lawrence Novak