Concrete Construction articles from November 2003

Concrete Construction archives from November 2003

Inside the industry.(Editorial Comment)
November 1, 2003... Magazines that cover a particular industry, as CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION does, are confronted with a choice: report as an unbiased observer or take part in the industry as an insider. We have taken the latter approach. A valid criticism of this...

2004 basement of the year contest.(News & Events)
November 1, 2003... The Concrete Foundations Association (CFA) of North America has announced the call for entries for its annual "Basement of the Year" competition. In its sixth year, the annual "Basement of the Year" competition recognizes significant...

Suprenant joins SSI.(News & Events)
November 1, 2003... Bruce Suprenant was recently appointed executive vice-president of Structural Services Inc. (SSI). Dr. Suprenant is a fellow of the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and is a member or associate member of ACI 302, ACI 117, and ACI 301. He is...

IPRF manual for airport concrete pavement construction.(News & Events)
November 1, 2003... The Innovative Pavement Research Foundation (IPRF) has released its newest publication, Best Practices Manual for Airport Portland Cement Concrete Pavement Construction. The 159-page manual is a compendium, prepared in a user-friendly...

Initial slab track research yields positive results.(News & Events)
November 1, 2003... Testing is underway on two 250-foot-long sections of slab track in Pueblo Colo., developed under Portland Cement Association's "Cooperative Concrete Slab Track Research and Demonstration Program for Shared Freight and High Speed Passenger...

Joint effort to protect 'forgotten responders'.(News & Events)
November 1, 2003... The National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety and Health Training has joined the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center to Protect Workers' Rights (CPWR) in promoting the efforts of the National Institute of...

The Mesa Arts Center Arizona.(project of the month)
November 1, 2003... Coordinating the construction of seven public facilities on one compact site is beyond challenging. The Mesa Arts Center in Arizona demands high-quality finishes in its many concrete features. Most of its floors will be of exposed concrete,...

Expert information on demand.(Tips & Trends)
November 1, 2003... "A big challenge in any business is capturing information and knowledge, and making it available to others in the company," says Peter Emmons, founder and CEO of Structural Group, a Baltimore-based structural repair and reinforcement contractor...

Extreme crack repair: techniques vary, depending on the problem.(Cover Story)
November 1, 2003... Concrete cracks because it can resist tension only about 1/10 as well as it can resist compression. But the concrete often finds itself in tension as well as compression. This typically happens when the concrete bends, such as in a beam or...

Five guys pointing in a circle: the importance of communication and leadership were emphasized at Concrete Construction' second annual industry trends roundtable.
November 1, 2003... Seldom in this business do we take the time to talk about the issues that are critical. New ideas in how to deliver our product or manage our businesses can be adopted or rejected without a thorough vetting. That's why CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION...

Masonry or tilt-up? New panel facing technique provides appearance of CMUs.
November 1, 2003... Constant innovation has driven the success of tilt-up construction. Currently a lot of the industry's ingenuity is focused on improving aesthetics. As tilt-up seeks to enter new markets, more refined and architecturally appealing finishes are...

Battery battle: tool companies have increased cordless tool voltages, broadened their lines, and fine-tuned their efficiencies. Now they're focusing on battery technologies.
November 1, 2003... Cordless tools do more and do it better every year. Their gearing becomes more efficient, materials get lighter and stronger and ergonomics improve. But engineers know that ergonomics are window dressing compared with performance, and they...

Cordless hammer drill.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... The model 9984 hammer drill/driver runs on 19.2-volt, 2.4-amp-hour batteries and comes with soft, adjustable grip in three sizes. With 470 inch-pounds of torque, a 3-stage planetary gearing system, and an adjustable clutch, it comes with a...

New rotary hammer.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... Bosch introduces its newest and most durable rotary hammer. The 11250VSR Bulldog offers a larger 6-amp motor, which provides 1350 rpm in rotation mode; in rotary hammer mode it produces 6000 bpm at 1.4 foot pounds of impact energy with each...

Cordless impact wrench.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... Milwaukee Electric Tool's new 18-volt, 3/4-inch cordless impact wrench features 325 foot-pounds of torque, a new level of power that allows users to do jobs that were previously impossible with a cordless impact wrench. The tool has a variable...

Cordless combo kits.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... The company is offering two Cordless Combo kits, each featuring a range of 18-volt tools. The R921 kit includes a center handle hammer drill, circular saw, light, two high-capacity batteries, and dual-port charger. The R922 includes the same...

Ergonomic electronic caulking gun.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... The 1000 series cartridge-style, electronic caulking gun is a new battery-powered dispensing tool that is ergonomically designed to reduce hand fatigue. Just a slight squeeze produces a smooth non-stop flow. The preset pressure release and...

Demolition hammer.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... The H45MR SDS-Max Shank demolition hammer offers increased impact energy, reduced vibration, and less tool exertion in comparison with previous models. The company's dual housing design, which features an aluminum housing and injection molded...

Cam-action hammer/drill/driver.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... Equipped with a 1/2-inch chuck, the SF 180-A cordless cam-action hammer/drill/ driver can drill into a range of base materials, include masonry, light concrete, steel, and wood. The versatile tool can handle a variety of anchors and screws,...

Hammer drill with 5.8-amp motor.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... The SBE660 hammer drill--suitable for drilling concrete, brick, steel, and other materials--features a 5.8-amp motor. Its two-speed gear train permits the user to choose the drilling speed appropriate for the material, making a wide range of...

Long-lasting rotary hammers.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... The D25303K and D25304K compact 1-inch SDS rotary hammers are designed to last long and hit hard, while providing favorable control when used to drill and chip concrete, masonry, tile, and asphalt. Rated at 7.5 amps, the heavy-duty electronic...

Demolition hammer.(Special section: hand-held power tools)
November 1, 2003... The HM1304B is a 35-pound demolition hammer that can break, chip, and dig in horizontal and vertical positions. It offers a 13-amp motor delivering 1450 bpm and 27.5 joules of impact energy. The rugged side handle swivels 360 degrees and...

Post tension tendon hydraulic shear.(Products for the Pros Showcase)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... PocketShear[TM] is a hydraulic cold-shearing hand tool for unbonded post tension tendons. PocketShear[TM] is specified by leading engineers across the country and used daily by leading steel placers. At 27 lbs. the unit is lighter than a...

Polyurea for control joints.(Products for the Pros Showcase)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... CCS[TM] Polyurea SWL is a rapid setting flexible joint filler formulated for high durability uses including industrial floors, warehouses, loading docks and freezers. Can open to traffic in ~ 1 hour. Long 12-minute pot life allows for either...

Grouting system.(Products for the Pros Showcase)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... ChemGrout manufactures the world's largest selection of grouting equipment. From high capacity colloidal systems to hand grout pumps. Production rates to 45 GPM and pressures to 2000 PSI. Their patented pumps are industry standards offering...

Commercial Block Systems.(Products for the Pros Showcase)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... Are you looking for the best Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) for commercial buildings? We use real galvanized steel studs, not plastic. We have certified installation crews that will travel throughout the USA installing our block system or you...

KeySaw skid steer attachment.(Products for the Pros Showcase)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... The KeySaw is a skid steer attachment that can saw or mill in both asphalt and concrete. This attachment has a 1" thick housing which encloses the cut, providing excellent dust control, and as overall safer work environment by eliminating...

Vibrator monitoring system.(Products for the Pros Showcase)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... Minnich Manufacturing is proud to offer an innovative vibrator monitoring system. All Auto Vibe monitors are interchangeable or upgradable. All may be installed on any new or old Minnich vibrator. One of the many impressive features of the Auto...

Concrete stamping tools.(Products for the Pros Showcase)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... Scofield announces a new generation of HIGH OUTPUT LITHOTEX[R] Pavecrafters[R] tools for imprinting and texturing. The improved polyurethane composition provides significantly lighter weight without reduction in durability for a longer working...

Conquest.(Products for the Pros Showcase)(Advertisement)
November 1, 2003... Conquest is a subsurface imaging system designed for the safe and non destructive examination of concrete. Conquest can easily locate rebar, conduit and post-tension cables embedded in a suspended slab or slab-on-grade concrete. Contact Sensors...

Division 3 versus Division 9 floor flatness tolerances: ASCC Position Statement #6.(Industry Issues)
November 1, 2003... Division 3 specifications for concrete floor flatness typically include FF requirements. The specifications also require that floor tolerance measurements be taken in accordance with ASTM E 1155-96, "Standard Test Method for Determining FF...

Solving decorative problems.(Decorative Concrete)
November 1, 2003... In the October 2003 issue of CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION magazine, the Decorative Concrete column was about troubleshooting decorative problems. Many of these problems relate to basic concrete issues, although they may appear to be decorative...

Maximum size of framed pour.(Problem Clinic)
November 1, 2003... Q. I am a structural engineer in New York. We generally restrict pour size to 60 feet by 60 feet. The contractor is asking for written documentation, such as from ACI, CRSI or a similar agency, to support this limitation. Do you know any...

Time and cost savings--leading edge fall protection: product case studies.(Product Update)
November 1, 2003... When a portable engineered anchorage system for leading edge work became available last year, safety directors bought more than one unit because they found the new equipment could increase safety, save time, and increase productivity, while...

Company-wide investment yields good return: when you realize how much you don't know, education is no longer optional.(Innovations)
November 1, 2003... In 1994, while sitting in a World of Concrete seminar, Gary Burleson, president of the BBP Companies, had concluded that he and his company's supervisors had a lot to learn about educating, managing, and leading a concrete construction company....