The Minnesota Fire Safe Construction Advisory Council, which is comprised of the Aggregate and Ready Mix Association of Minnesota; Minnesota Concrete Masonry Association; Minnesota Concrete & Masonry Contractors Association and the Midwest Precast Association, is pleased to announce that a Wall Cost Comparison Study Seminar will be held March 13^th in Minneapolis and March 14^th in St. Cloud.

The study, which was commissioned by the Minnesota Fire Safe Advisory Council and was originally designed for the Pennsylvania, New York/New England and Mid-Atlantic Fire Safe Construction Advisory Council groups, was undertaken to address the initial cost of construction for multi-residential structures using concrete based products versus wood/gypsum and steel.

The seminar will highlight the results of the study for Minneapolis.  Attendees will be educated in the advantages of balanced design for fire safe construction and become aware of the cost competitive nature of this type of design approach.  The seminar will be presented by Dr. Walt Schneider, PhD, PE who was the author of the report and who led the team that compiled the results.  He is Principal at John C. Haas Associates, and architectural and engineering firm located in State College, PA.  He is also a firefighter and FEMA trained rescue team member as well as a Penn State faculty member.

Dr. Schneider will present a two-hour presentation three times over two days.  The session is approved for two AIA CES HSW credits.  Cost to attend the event will be $50 which includes lunch.

Watch for additional information.

Due to increasing interest in pervious concrete, an NRMCA task group has developed a certification program for contractors qualified to place pervious concrete. The goal of this certification program is to ensure that knowledgeable contractors are selected to place the product and thereby minimize the chance for failure.

ARM will hold the program Tuesday, February 13^th at BASF Admixtures in Eagan.  Cost of the event is $185.

Click Here to Download Registration Form

The ACI Concrete Flatwork Finisher Technician Program is designed to provide a basis for certifying experienced concrete finishers, alleviate problems related to improper field practices, upgrade the quality of concrete construction, and prepare the industry for the possibility of mandatory certification in the future. Craftsmen who upgrade their skills and credentials through ACI certification may increase their own opportunities as well as contribute to the advancement of the industry. Before taking this course, students should have a good working knowledge of the proper use of finishing tools, placing, finishing, jointing, curing, and protection.

Those meeting the ACI required work experience (1500 hours per year for 3 years) and passing the written examination, with a score of 70% are certified as a Concrete Flatwork Finisher & Technician.  ACI will also grant certification as a Concrete Flatwork Technician to those who pass the written examination with a score of at least 80%. Upon completion of the required work experience, a Technician can be certified as a Finisher.

The registration fee is $185.  Contact the ARM office for additional information or click here to view the course registration materials online.

Pervious parking areas, plain concrete and ways to contain first-flush stormwater were hot topics on a cold December day in northern Minnesota, reports NRMCA North Central field promoter Jon Hansen. Hosted by promotion partner Jason Kruger, pavement engineer with the North Central Cement Council and other industry participants, a group of 40 engineers, architects, contractors, city and county officials, and property owners attended a daylong workshop addressing these and other environmental issues. Hansen presented a session on the marriage of plain and pervious concrete parking lot applications and the environmental advantages of using concrete in these applications instead of other paving materials.

Dave Ross, the mayor or Superior, WI, commented that his city was like many, no matter where they were located in the U.S. "We are all looking for ways to get our arms around the controlling of stormwater runoff," he said. One of our options currently is to charge business owners an assessment for flat surfaces, be they parking lots or roof area, so the city can build infrastructure to handle the runoff, and that is not a popular option when you are trying to attract new business to your community. We are looking for solutions."

One engineering firm in attendance, with offices located throughout the Midwest, has already requested additional events like the one in Duluth. Four additional firms requested followup meetings to discuss implementing Concrete Pavement Analyst and Pervious Hydrological software, Hansen said.

For more information, contact Jon Hansen at jhansen@nrmca.org

In 2005, concrete homes accounted for 17.9% of all new single-family detached homes, up from 16.3% in 2004, according to recent research from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Portland Cement Association (PCA).

"More than one out of every six new houses built last year utilized an above-grade concrete building system," says Craig Schulz, market research director for PCA.

Source: PCA's U.S. Monitor, October 2006.

The preliminary estimate of US ready mixed concrete production in October 2006 is 41.4 million cubic yards, which is 3.2% less than that produced in October 2005. The estimated production through October 2006 is 388.6 million cubic yards, about 1% higher than for the same period in 2005.

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS), Division of Driver and Vehicle Services, has informed the Minnesota State Patrol that effective January 1, 2008, Concrete Placement Pumper vehicles will no longer be defined as special mobile equipment under Minnesota statute 168.011, subd.22.  ARM has scheduled a meeting with Commissioner Michael Campion to discuss this change in interpretation by DPS and will seek to further clarify the exemption of these vehicles in statute during the 2007 legislative session. Click here to review an enforcement memo from the Minnesota State Patrol which it may be helpful to have available in these vehicles during 2007.

The Concrete Open Golf Outing is scheduled for June 5^th, 2007 at The Legends Club in Prior Lake.  Contact the ARM office at 952-707-1250 for sponsorship information and watch your mail and e-mail for foursome registraions!