Tough Duty for RCC

Fort Carson, the army’s mountain post located outside Colorado Springs, Colo., is the latest military facility to utilize roller-compacted concrete (RCC) pavement. As part of an expansion program at the post, RCC is being used to pave the tank hardstands of several new maintenance facilities, as well as a 1.6 mile tank trail. A total of approximately 70,000 cubic yards of RCC will be placed at the on the base.

Interstate Highway Construction, Inc. of Englewood, Colo., began RCC placement in April 2008 and the project is scheduled to be completed in September.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been specifying RCC for both dams and paving applications for more than 25 years.In fact, the Corps designed the first RCC dam in the United States—Willow Creek Dam in Heppner, Ore.

The Corps also pioneered the use of RCC for heavy-duty paving applications. Several military bases throughout the U.S. have benefited from the successful long-term performance of RCC projects.
Contact Wayne Adaska

PCA Downgrades 2008 Cement Consumption Forecast

An increasing unemployment rate, higher inflation, and low consumer sentiment will combine to have lingering negative effects on the U.S. economy and, hence, on cement consumption and the construction industry.

The latest Portland Cement Association (PCA) forecast of cement, concrete, and construction predicts a 12 percent decline in cement consumption in 2008, followed by another 6 percent drop in 2009.

The combination of high home inventories, weak economy-wide demand conditions, and poor state budget conditions is expected to hit all sectors of construction—residential, non-residential, and public.

PCA predicts a recovery to begin in 2010, but more modest than previously forecasted.  Total cement consumption in 2010 is expected to increase 2.7 percent from 2009 levels.
Contact Ed Sullivan
Access the Summer Forecast Webcast

Get In on the Ground Floor with PCA's Newest Regional Seminar

Troubleshooting Concrete Floors on Ground is a new PCA regional seminar that goes into depth exploring the Concrete Floors on Ground manual.

This one-day program will cover the design, construction, and repair of concrete floors on ground for residential, light industrial, commercial, warehouse, and heavy industrial buildings. Emphasis will be on attaining the best possible balance among service requirements, costs, and maintenance.

It is ideal for concrete contractors, cement suppliers, ready-mix concrete producers, engineers, architects, and specifiers.

The seminar will be held:
> September 11 — Boise, Idaho
> September 23 — Seattle, Wash.

Cost is $245 for PCA members and $295 for non-members. All attendees will receive Concrete Floors on Ground with additional course notes. The seminar is co-sponsored by the Northwest Cement Producers Group.
More information and to register

Northwest Group Opts for PCA Alignment

The industry moved a step closer to alignment of the Regional Promotion Groups (RPGs) last week when the Board of Directors of the Northwest Cement Producers Group recommended joining PCA as a division.

It’s the third RPG opting to align with PCA. The Great Lakes Cement Promotion Association and the Rocky Mountain Cement Council also voted to dissolve and join PCA.

In February of this year, PCA’s Executive Committee unanimously endorsed a proposal to integrate RPGs into the management and organizational structure of PCA. The goal is to better align national and regional programs in promotion and advocacy. The move will also centralize administrative functions under PCA. Currently, the ten RPGs are affiliate members of PCA and operate under a cooperative agreement that defines the roles and responsibilities of each party.
Contact John Prentice

Additional Pervious Concrete Seminars Scheduled

PCA and the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association will continue their successful series of regional pervious concrete seminars with new dates this fall. Pervious Concrete—A Stormwater Solution has been offered in 28 cities during the last two years.

The new 2008 seminars are scheduled for:
> November 18 — St. Louis, Mo.
> December 5 — Boise, Idaho
> December 10 — San Francisco, Calif.
> December 16 — Albuquerque, N.M.

The course is ideal for civil engineers, architects, and landscape architects looking for the necessary project specifications for pervious concrete pavement systems.  Each one-day session provides detailed instruction on how to implement pervious concrete pavements as a solution for reducing stormwater runoff from building sites and other paved areas. 

Attendees will learn the details of the systems, engineering properties, and construction techniques. 

Attendees will earn 6.0 Professional Development Hours and the seminar is registered with AIA Continuing Education System.
To register visit www.nrmca.org/seminars or contact Jessica Moore.

Bohan Completes Association Management Course

Rick Bohan , PCA's director of construction and manufacturing technology, graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organization Management, completing the program this month.

The Institute curriculum is a four-year course of study designed by experts in association, chamber, and nonprofit management.

Participants take five required core courses each year with the same group of colleagues, creating a learning group that builds upon previous classes.
Contact Rick Bohan

East Coast IEEE Conference Slated for September

The East Coast IEEE cement industry conference will be held September 22-23, 2008, at the Grand Hotel Marriott Resort in Point Clear, Ala.

On Monday, the agenda includes a morning tutorial on fans followed by an afternoon session on lubrication. The Tuesday session includes six technical presentations and a tour of Holcim’s  Theodore, Ala.,  plant.  Topics will include high-pressure roller grinding, use of synthetic gypsum, clinker cooler advances, mercury modeling, dust collection, and hydraulic drives.
Registration at www.ieee-eastcoast.com
Contact Robin Riester, Conference Chairman