Concrete Contractor AMERICANVOICE SOCIETY of CONCRETE CONTRACTORS 2025 S

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The of the Concrete Contractor AMERICANVOICE SOCIETY OF CONCRETE CONTRACTORS 2025 S. Brentwood Blvd., Ste. 105, St. Louis, MO 63144 Website: www.ascconline.org OCTOBER 2011 Tel: 314-962-0210 Fax: 314-968-4367 E-mail: [email protected] PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Clay Fischer Industry Calendar Attending this year’s 10th anniversary Annual Conference really illustrated to me how important the personal interaction is between members. It was good to get together with a November 8 – 9, 2011 lot of old friends and acquaintances, to see how their families and businesses were doing. Regional Event, Spokane, WA When I think back on the positive impact these relationships have had on our business and December 1 – 2, 2011 Sealer Workshop, St. Louis, MO my personal life, I thank my lucky stars that we joined ASCC. Between the events and being a member of a MIX Group, I can’t think of another place where I could have learned January 24 – 27, 2012 more about not only our industry, but life itself. World of Concrete, Las Vegas, NV It is extremely comforting to know that if I have an issue or just need to bounce an idea July 26 – 29, 2012 off someone, I can pick up the phone or shoot out an email (I am not a Tweeterizerer) and CEO Forum, Coeur d’Alene, ID talk to the smartest, most experienced people in our industry. Where else are you going to find that? NEW MEMBERS Another benefit is that we help each other.

Welcome to our newest members. We have sent crews to Detroit and Boston to help our fellow contractors with tilt-up projects. I saw in the e-mail forum that somebody was looking for some Georgia Buggies and Arizona Chapter ACI, Phoenix, AZ Tommy Ruttura offered his. There have been joint ventures formed to help guys out of a bit of trouble. Where else can you get this? Arrowhead Concrete, Inc., Austin, TX Jones Concrete Inc., Tulsa, OK It isn’t all business related. The friends I have made through ASCC have allowed me to experience a lot of things I otherwise wouldn’t have. Things like going to Maui, whale Southern California Chapter ACI, Santee, CA watching, getting hit with a golf ball, and having a barbeque on a secluded beach. Or going to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, boating, getting Jeeps stuck in butt–high mud and learning how NOT to burn down a beaver dam. Or going to New Hampshire and seeing prototype #1 of the Somero Laser Screed sitting in the weeds. Or going to Yakima, Washington and taking a personal wine tour, imbibing on said wine and being harassed about my golf game. Where else can you get a taste of these things? For those members who don’t participate, you don’t know what you are missing. Be careful out there! EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE Bev Garnant It’s time again for the ACI fall convention. At the spring convention the ASCC/ACI task force – formed to help contractors play a more sig- nificant role in ACI and have a larger impact on ACI products – was discharged, it’s recommendations assigned to ACI’s Construction Liaison Committee and to ASCC. It’s time for us to step up and put these ideas into play. Several things have happened already: At our Annual Conference last month, Ward Malisch and Wayne Walker, SSI, and chair of ACI-360, gave a presentation on changes in 301, 360 and 117 documents that impact contractors. An article written by Ward, on how any contractor, even if you’re not a member of an ACI committee, can have input into ACI documents, was published in Concrete International. We will be posting this on the ASCC website. (webinars begin at 3:00 p.m. CST) Upcoming Webinars All ACI technical committee chairmen have been asked if they Date Topic Presenter would like more contractor participation. This is a big one. We need Nov. 9, 2011 Silica Task-Exposure Assessment, Michael Ladd, to be ready with contractors to fill those seats. Interpretation of Results, and CNA The ACI Construction Liaison Committee makes available docu- Effectiveness of Various Dust Controls ments out for review that are of most interest to contractors. ASCC Dec. 14, 2011 Co-worker Safety Around a Pump Rob Edwards will be emailing these to all contractor delegates. It is in your best interest to have someone in your company review them. 1 ACI’s member profile is being revised to better identify concrete contractors. This will allow ACI to improve communication with this segment of the membership. Ron Burg and Ken Hover attended the CEO Forum, and Ron, Ken, Mike Tholen, Rex Donahey, and Jim Wight attended the Annual Conference. We’re off to a good start. Making contractors more effective within the ACI process will be a long road and the responsibility is equally shared by ACI and ASCC. We have to prove that we have the people who are willing to attend conventions, speak up in committee meetings, and do the hard work of document writing and critique. If you’re not the right person in your organization to become involved in ACI, find someone who is. We either put up or shut up.

SAFETY & RISK MANAGEMENT COUNCIL

Limit Use of Stickers, Paint on Hard Hats Think twice before adding stickers, decals or paint to your hard hat. Doing so may compromise the shell’s protective capability. Personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements are outlined in 29 CFR 1910.132(a). Specific requirements for head protection are in 29 CFR 1910.135, which incorporates by reference American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Z89.1-1986, Z89.1-1997 and Z89.1-2003. 29 CFR 1910.135 doesn’t contain wording that explicitly prohibits painting or the placement of adhesive stickers on hard hat shells. ANSI’s latest edition of standard Z89.1-2009 references painting in Appendix A4. The appendix recommends caution should be exercised if shells are to be painted and, if so, to consult the helmet manufacturer. As for stickers or decals, ANSI states in Appendix A7 that helmet decorations should not be used to obscure dents, cracks, nonmanufactured holes, other penetrations, burns or other damage. Consult the helmet manufacturer before applying any stickers or decals. OSHA has issued an interpretation letter regarding the use of adhesive stickers or paint on hard hats, warning they can interfere with an employer’s ability to comply with impact, rough treatment or wear that might reduce the degree of protection. Paints and stickers may eliminate electrical resistance and, depending on the location and quantity, hide defects, cracks, penetration and any damage that otherwise would be readily identifiable during the employee’s inspection. Another concern is that paints, thinners and solvents can attack or damage a hard hat’s shell and reduce protection. The OSHA letter further explains that painting or applying stickers must be performed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Hard hat manufacturers usually provide very specific instructions regarding paints, stickers or decals that will not negatively affect a protective helmet’s performance. MSA instructions According to MSA Bulletin Number 0600-43, it is permissible to use pressure-sensitive stickers or tape with self-adhesive backing as long as they are not closer than ½” from the edge of an MSA helmet. MSA recommends refraining from painting helmets. Paint may attach and damage the helmet’s shell, reducing the degree of protection originally provided. Bullard instructions Two Bullard letters state the use of self-adhesive stickers to personalize its hard hats or for other marking or identification purposes is a common practice. Adhesive stickers should be placed at least ¾” away from the edge of the helmet. The area of the helmet that’s covered should be kept to a practical minimum to permit regular inspection of the helmet shell for signs of damage from use or aging. Avoid painting hard hat shells in all cases. North instructions According to North, the use of self-adhesive stickers for identification purposes is a common practice. There is very little or no interaction between the adhesive on pressure sensitive stickers and the shell of the hard hat because of the type of adhesive or glue used. Fibre-Metal instructions North warns against painting, imprinting or applying decals or stickers without written permission of North Safety Products. Paint can attack the shell and cause degradation while stickers can cover cracks or damage. Sperian instructions Sperian’s hard hat care sheet notes that stickers and labels may be added to the hard hat shell, as long as none is over ½” from the bottom of the hard hat. Paint contains chemicals that will interfere with the performance and integrity of the hard hat. Do not, under any circumstances, paint the shell of a Sperian hard hat. “Courtesy of Lab Safety Supply, Janesville, WI, Reproduced with Permission”

2 DECORATIVE CONCRETE COUNCIL Frank Lewis, DCC Council Director ASCC Annual Conference Recap I attended the ASCC Annual Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan in September and came away with a huge amount of new information to help me grow - including everything from safety program implementation to moisture problems in concrete floors. The seminars were presented by some of the best minds in our industry. If the great seminars were not enough, a smart contractor could get the straight skinny on a wide variety of meaningful topics during a productive afternoon of roundtable discussions. What better way to get eyeball to eyeball with the very folks who are having some of the same issues you are or maybe have them solved by experienced people who are at the table to share with their fellow contractors? Here’s the list of the roundtable topics: Marketing and Business Development - Succession and Exit Strategies - Managing Debt – Mix Design and Tolerances for Polished Floors - Maximizing Manufacturer Relationships - Keeping Up Morale in Tough Times – Estimating Strategies. What business doesn’t need help in these areas? Participation in any one of these seminars or roundtables was worth the time and money to make the trip to Grand Rapids. By the way- Michigan and the people are incredible. If you take all the educational value that a smart contractor would get out the Annual Conference and put it off to the side, the really deep, core value in attending the Annual Conference is the incredible networking that takes place throughout the entire event. Networking is a contact sport- that means if you are going to meet and connect with folks that can help you grow your business, you have to be willing to reach out and share your stories. The networking opportunities were everywhere–from the evening receptions–to the golf excursion–salmon fishing on a chartered boat on Lake Michigan–enjoying a great breakfast every morning–right down to the totally entertaining awards dinners–all wrapped up in the ambiance of the beautiful Amway Grand Hotel. This is the ultimate networking venue–besides you might make a bunch of great friends and visit with old ones as well. I have attended all ten of the Annual Conferences since Nashville in 2001 and still I have to ask myself why wouldn’t a savvy contractor or manufacturer not attend an event like this and get all of the educational value and the incredible networking that takes place there - to say nothing of the outright fun and entertainment that comes along with the deal? You sure get a lot more “bang for your buck” than walking around all day at most trade shows. At the ASCC events you have an entire hotel populated with men and women who live, breath and think concrete. Something else I have noticed over the years is that the more successful concrete contractors are actively involved with the ASCC / DCC, while those that go it alone always seem to be struggling. I am a firm believer that the men and women who are the small contractors have their own personal board of directors, willing to step up and help their fellow member with growing their business. How do you put a dollar sign on that kind of support? If you are putting together your strategic business plan for 2012, put in an expense for ASCC membership dues and a trip in September to the next Annual Conference in Chicagoland – you won’t regret it. UNCLEAR F-NUMBER REQUIREMENTS Ward Malisch, Technical Director Q. We’re looking at a specification that includes a random traffic F-number requirement of FF35/FL20 for the concrete floors, as mea- sured in accordance with ASTM E1155. Most jobs we bid cite two numbers—overall and minimum local values. Is there a standard way of interpreting specifications that include only one FF/FL combination so we can tell if the requirement applies to overall or minimum local values? A. There isn’t a standard way of interpreting only one FF/FL combination in a specification. You should ask for clarification of the FF35/ FL20 requirement in the specification to verify that it does refer to the specified overall values (SOFF, SOFL). If it is, the minimum local values for flatness (MLFF) and levelness (MLFL) would be 3/5 of the SOFF and SOFL values as required by Section 4.8.5.3 of ACI 117-10. Thus the complete specification would be: SOFF/SOFL 35/20 MLFF/MLFL 21/12 The clarification is important because after the job is bid, if it’s claimed that the cited 35/20 F-numbers are minimum local values, the corresponding overall values would be SOFF/SOFL 58/33. This indicates flatness and levelness requirements that will be more difficult and possibly more costly to produce. As stated in the Commentary for Section 4.8.5.3 of ACI 117-10: “The specified MLFF and MLFL values establish the minimum surface quality that will be acceptable anywhere on any of the concrete placements... Because MLFF and MLFL, in theory, define the minimum usable floor, MLFF/MLFL defects normally require physical modification (that is, grinding, topping, or removal and replacement) of the entire affected minimum local area.” 3 SUSTAINABILITY BASICS: DURABILITY CONCRETE HOTLINE Emily Lorenz, CTL Group 800-331-0668 SAFETY HOTLINE When we think about the characteristics of concrete, one of its fore- 866-788-2722 most attributes is durability. Ask most concrete enthusiasts about the benefits of concrete and it won’t take long before they are expounding ASCC members have access to these toll-free numbers for assistance. on the wonders of the Roman viaducts or the Pantheon. And although sustainability-related concrete talk typically surrounds recycled content and regional materials, most green-building practitioners will agree that there is a fundamental need for durability in all our materials. This article will explain how the durability of concrete contributes to a more-sustainable project. DURABILITY Much of the solid waste going to landfills comes from construction and demolition debris.1 Durable building materials reduce waste and minimize repair and replacement impacts, as well as reducing the amount of virgin materials required to be extracted from the earth. Manufacturing new materials also creates environmental impacts—including air and water pollution—that are less necessary if in-place materials last longer. Concrete structures can be designed for services lives in excess of 100 years. Many times, however, concrete structures are demolished prior to the end of their service lives.2 Reasons for premature demolition could be changes in functionality or use of the space, or simple economics. With the raised awareness of sustainability, owners and developers are increasingly moving toward reuse or repurposing of spaces rather than demolishing structures. A concrete shell can be left in place if a building use or function changes or when a building interior is renovated. Concrete, as a structural material and as the building exterior skin, has the ability to withstand weathering, chemical attack, and abrasion while maintaining its desired engineering properties. Concrete must be proportioned, placed, cured, and maintained to resist the antici- pated deterioration it will encounter in its service life. High Humidity and Wind-Driven Rain Concrete is resistant to wind-driven rain and moist outdoor air in hot and humid climates because it is impermeable to air infiltration. Moisture that enters a concrete building must come through joints between the concrete elements. Annual inspection and repair of joints will minimize this potential. More importantly, if moisture does enter through joints, it will not damage the concrete. Good practice for all types of wall construction is to have permeable materials that breathe (are allowed to dry) on at least one surface and not encapsulate concrete between two impermeable surfaces. Wall paper, polyethylene sheets, and some coatings are examples of impermeable materials that are best to avoid with concrete. Coating manufacturers will generally provide permeance ratings on request. Inedible Vermin and insects cannot destroy concrete because it is inedible. Some softer materials are inedible but still provide pathways for insects. Due to its hardness, vermin and insects will not bore through concrete. Gaps in exterior insulation to expose the concrete can provide access for termite inspectors. More-Severe Conditions Unlike the previous deterioration mechanisms which concrete easily resists, the exposure conditions and deterioration mechanisms in this section require more thoughtful consideration during concrete design. Although it is common to design to properly account for these conditions and mechanisms,3 it is not possible to discuss in detail in this column. Moderate to severe conditions for concrete include: Freezing and thawing Seawater exposure Alkali-silica reaction Chemical exposure Chloride ingress and steel corrosion Abrasion Sulfate attack CONCRETE’S DURABILITY Concrete can contribute to more sustainable projects by helping to reduce environmental impact from demolition of structures and subsequent reconstruction. Concrete can resist weather and vermin easily, and can be designed to resist much more severe conditions. Durability is one of concrete’s most sustainable attributes and helps ensure that the structures we build now last for generations to come. REFERENCES 1. EPA solid waste reference. 2. Portland Cement Association, 2011. Durability, accessed October 6, 2011, www.concretethinker.com 3. American Concrete Institute (ACI) Committee 201. 2008. Guide to Durable Concrete. ACI 201.2R-08. Farmington Hills, MI.

Emily Lorenz, LEED AP, is an engineer in building science and sustainability at CTL Group. Please feel free to comment, ask questions or suggest topics at [email protected] or 847-972-3180.

4 Annual Conference 2011 AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CONCRETE CONTRACTORS Enhancing the Capabilities of Those Who Build With Concrete

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3. 1. The number one benefit – networking! 4. 2. The members were the decor at the Safety Awards Dinner. 3. Jim Wight (right), vice president, ACI, attended the Annual Conference along with ACI president Ken Hover and several ACI staff members. 4. What an opportunity for sponsors to connect with numerous contractors. 5. Who knows what earth-shattering decisions come from these innocent looking discussions?

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8. 6. The nation’s foremost BIM contractor, Bill 9. Klorman, holds his audience’s attention. 7. The best attended seminar – Tommy explains how to analyze your compe- tition. 8. Coming together with the National Tile Contractors Association to discuss Div.3/Div. 9 issues. 9. More networking with some fun mixed in – time for golf.

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10. Seven companies were recognized for having sponsored all ten Annual Conferences. 14. A standing O for da man – Ward Malisch 11. The roundtables never fail to generate excellent sharing and solid information. 15. Ward receives a Lifetime Achievement Award from president Clay. 12. President Fischer declares the Conference a rousing success! 16. Okay, okay – the frozen desserts were a little difficult. 13. The loyal, crazy band of 5 a.m. walkers. 17. What other organization has its own – amazing – band?!

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