Concrete Construction articles from June 2006

Concrete Construction archives from June 2006

Perfect vision.(Editorial Comment)
June 1, 2006... A strategic plan always sounds like a good idea. Where do we see ourselves in five years or twenty-five years? But how many companies actually have a plan? And do those who do have one use it as a real guide, or does it just sit on a shelf? I'm...

Safe apparel.(Reader Response)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... When reading about residential concrete installations in the April issue of CC, I noticed a lot of safety concerns. Please consider an article pertaining to safety on sites, including what a concrete subcontractor in the field should wear for...

Front cover, Feb. 2006.(Reader Response)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Interesting front cover. Shows an experienced finisher operating a troweling machine. Also shows him doing two things that I was taught never to do. 1) Never, ever take your eyes off the machine, Be alert. Spinning blades seek and find any...

Iowa bridge marks technology milestone.(News & Events)
June 1, 2006... A four-year research partnership between the Iowa Department of Transportation (IDOT), Iowa State University (ISU), and Lafarge North America has lead to the opening of an innovative concrete bridge. The Mars Hill Bridge in Wapello County,...

Holcim Awards honor sustainable construction.(News & Events)
June 1, 2006... Holcim awarded one million dollars in prize money to the best sustainable construction projects entered in the first global Holcim Awards competition. Joint winners of the Holcim Awards Gold were an urban integration project in Caracas,...

Memorial to Katrina victims.(News & Events)
June 1, 2006... On February 15 and 16, volunteers from the ASCC's Decorative Concrete Council (DCC) installed 3000 square feet of decorative pavement in Tchoupitoulas Triangle Park, a small park owned by New Orleans and located near the Convention Center....

Record U.S. tilt-up sales in 2005.(News & Events)
June 1, 2006... With more than 753 million square feet of buildings (approximately 301 million square feet of wall panels) constructed using tilt-up in 2005, and approximately 664 million square feet of buildings (approximately 265 million square feet of wall...

New ACI officers.(News & Events)
June 1, 2006... The American Concrete Institute (ACI) has elected Thomas D. Verti as president of the Institute, Luis E. Garcia as Vice President, and Kenneth B. Bondy, S.K. Ghosh, Myles A. "Tony" Murray, and Eldon G. Tipping as directors to the board of...

Water and concrete--Part 1.(Erlin & Hime on Concrete)
June 1, 2006... We arise from tranquility to once again write a column or two, or three, that we hope will provide some helpful information about concrete. This time, we have a two-part column, unceremoniously named Parts 1 and 2, about water and some of its...

Are you investing in your most valuable asset?(The Business of Concrete Contracting)
June 1, 2006... "Our people are our greatest asset!" This often-heard statement has become little more than a tired cliche. While most business managers believe the principle to be true, few do much to build its value. It should, however, be a high priority...

Silicosis prevention policies.(Safety)
June 1, 2006... Concrete cutting, coring, drilling, and quarrying can create air-borne silica exposure and potentially cause silicosis. Cutting wet or using engineering controls such as ventilation are the most effective methods of reducing employee exposure...

Concrete California style: high-rise construction in a seismic region.(Cover story)
June 1, 2006... Speed is often one of the defining factors in today's construction. In the June 2005 issue of CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION, we reported that New York City concrete contractors had taken this to the extreme--building high-rise concrete structures on a...

Lithium-ion batteries--changing the jobsite: going beyond where your extension cord can take you.
June 1, 2006... You have been using lithium-ion (LI) batteries in your cellphones, digital cameras, and laptop computers for almost 10 years. And now, after 10 years of research and development, major tool manufacturers are introducing LI batteries for your...

Tips on post-tensioning elevated slabs: knowing what to expect helps keep the job on track.
June 1, 2006... Post-tensioning of elevated slabs is a construction process that requires experience, coordination, knowledge, and preparation. Choosing an experienced post-tensioning (P/T) material supplier and installer will help ensure a smooth construction...

Computers: a new frontier: boldly going where no contractor had gone before.
June 1, 2006... It is difficult to imagine operating a contracting firm today without computers, but 50 years ago few could predict the impact this business tool would have on every industry. CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION first mentioned computers in a November 1962...

Eliminating joints in stamped concrete.(Decorative Concrete)
June 1, 2006... Two things that owners really don't want to see in their decorative concrete work are joints and cracks. The average concrete mix design with a reasonable water-cement ratio (w/c) shrinks 5/8 to 3/4 inch in 100 feet during its curing period. To...

Sealer incompatibility.(Reader response)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... A decorative problem clinic (p. 64) in the March 2006 issue, concerned a decorative concrete slab resealed with a clear acrylic sealer that later turned white after it was rained on. The reader was concerned about possible incompatibility...

Selling tilt-up.(Tilt-Up)
June 1, 2006... One of the most fundamental components of owning and operating a business is being able to sell your services or products. Key to success is having a detailed understanding of what you are selling and being able to educate others about its...

ACI encourages student interest.(Problem Clinic)
June 1, 2006... ACI posted the following problem to students in engineering and construction management programs around the country. In all, 38 teams of 146 students from 10 colleges and universities entered the competition. The top three won a trip to the ACI...

Multipurpose rotational lasers.(Surveying Equipment)
June 1, 2006... The Mikrofyn ML 10-15 lasers can be used for just about any need. They can function as automatic self-leveling lasers, semi-automatic dual grade laser, or for machine control, along with many other purposes. Operators can select the rotation...

Lasers for large-scale projects.(Surveying Equipment)
June 1, 2006... The RT-5SW is a new long-range, dual-slope laser for large-scale earthmoving operations. It features remote control that enables operation from distances up to 1000 feet, yet it still retains five-arc-second accuracy. It also includes the...

For next-generation grade control.(Surveying Equipment)
June 1, 2006... The MS990 Smart Antenna for satellite positioning tracks next generation GPS L2C and L5 signals, as well as GLONASS, so contractors can work at longer ranges with faster initialization times. The positioning sensor works with the GCS900 3D...

Laser level for indoor and outdoor use.(Surveying Equipment)
June 1, 2006... The LAR100 is a fully automatic self-leveling, rotating laser kit with receiver for indoor and outdoor applications. It has a 980-foot-diameter range and an accuracy of 1/8 inch at 100 feet. Other features include remote control, an...

Electronic level has new capabilities.(Surveying Equipment)
June 1, 2006... The Sprinter 100M electronic level now features new line-leveling capabilities covering most of the common field leveling procedures. The new onboard commands facilitate two-way communication between the instrument and the PDA or data...

Grading and excavation lasers.(Surveying Equipment)
June 1, 2006... The new Pro Shot AS2 and AS2 Magnum lasers are designed for grading and excavation contractors who need slope capability, long range, and high accuracy. Upgraded electronics provide better performance, improved battery life, and easier use. A...

Laser level.(Surveying Equipment)
June 1, 2006... The Strait-Line X3 laser level sticks easily and cleanly to virtually any surface. It features a micro-adjust knob that allows the user to adjust the laser line up and down after the laser is adhered to the wall. It also has three bubble vials...

Laser for high-accuracy leveling.(Surveying Equipment)
June 1, 2006... The Hilti PR 25 rotating laser features an all-in-one remote control/receiver and components to reduce errors. With a touch of a button, the auto alignment function aligns the beam to a specific point for the highest accuracy every time....

FRP forms two-way joists for clean room floor.(Products Solving Problems)
June 1, 2006... Construction specifications for the 200,000-square-foot clean room at Texas Instruments's (TI) new $3 billion semiconductor manufacturing facility in Richardson, Texas, (RFAB) mandated strict indoor air quality and structural requirements....

Letters from manufacturers.(Products Solving Problems)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... In the article "Using High-Volume Fly Ash," by Richard Szecsy (January 2006), the author focuses on the positive contributions of HVFA as a green material. I agree with this assessment but also wish to raise the issue of when an HVFA...

Airplaco Handy-Grout[R].(Products for the Pros showcase)
June 1, 2006... The Handy-Grout[R] model HG-9 is a durable, portable grout pump. A hand-operated, self-priming positive piston pump, the Handy-Grout pumps grouts up to 15 cubic feet per hour. The HG-9 features a lightweight cast assembly, five gallon...

No more capping every rebar.(Products for the Pros showcase)
June 1, 2006... Carnie Cap[TM] is the most effective way to cap exposed rebar and the danger it can create at your job site--worker impalement. When subject to impact, the weight is distributed over the entire protective system. Works with horizontal,...

DITEQ ARIX diamond blade technology.(Products for the Pros showcase)
June 1, 2006... ARIX diamond technology from DITEQ provides 50% to 100% improvement in blade life AND cutting speed. Precise diamond arrangement throughout each segment maximizes cutting efficiency and provides un-heard-of performance levels. Throw out the old...

Gates stadium riser and stair form.(Products for the Pros showcase)
June 1, 2006... Finish your job ahead of schedule. Let Gates custom design and build gang forms for your next riser job. Gates can build straight or radius forms for a small set of stairs up to a large stadium. Forms can be designed to be moved and placed...

Gates steel frame form gang adapter.(Products for the Pros showcase)
June 1, 2006... Now you can gang form with your steel frame hand set panels. Lower your labor cost with Gates Gang Form Adapter System's fast assembly of large or small gang panels making it economical for you to gang and crane set projects you may have...

Grout pumps.(Products for the Pros showcase)
June 1, 2006... Kenrich Products grout pumps are ideal for grouting metal door frames and for placing grout anywhere that high pressure is not required. Their lightweight design (19 to 32 pounds) allows you to take the pump to where you need the grout. One air...

Molecular cement dissolver.(Products for the Pros showcase)
June 1, 2006... "Back-Set" Molecular Cement Dissolver is a unique acid alternative formulated by RoMix, Inc. "Back-Set" works on the molecular level breaking down the ionic bond of the portland cement, turning it to a rinse free mud! "Back-Set" is...

Yanmar industrial engines .(Products for the Pros showcase)
June 1, 2006... Yanmar offers 10 compact TNV model Tier II Compliant liquid-cooled diesel engines stepped in horsepower from 13.7 to 83.5 hp. New design features result in gains in combustion efficiency, startability, noise and emission reduction. CAE...

Contractors to watch: Mitch Kueckelhan president and CEO, Mitchell Foundations O'Fallon , Mo.
June 1, 2006... In 1990 I was working for a contractor, but work became slow. So I went to the bank and borrowed $75,000 and bought a set of aluminum forms, a couple of old trucks and went into business. I guess I was sort of pushed into it, but I had always...