TheBirdsNest

NOTICE: "Nebraska's Most Wanted"

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:29:37 PST

The Nebraska Concrete & Aggregate Association presents our 53rd Annual Quality Concrete Conference, "Nebraska's Most Wanted". Co-Sponsor ACI Nebraska

2012 "Line-up"....
Mike Murray - "Sensibility and Sustainability of a Decorative Concrete Floor"
Dave Suchorski - "Effects of Hot Temperature on Concrete Test Cylinders"
Bill Butler - "Cures, Sealers, Cures & Sealers, and Waterproofers"
Joe Clendenen - "Deicers"
Kevin MacDonald - "Investigating Slab Popouts"
Jeff Coleman (KEYNOTE) - "When is a Concrete Crack a Construction Defect?"

January 11th, 2012 - Kearney, NE
January 12th, 2012 - Lincoln, NE

The NC&AA has taken great pride in providing designers, contractors, producers, and installers with critical industry presentations to stay up-to-date with current trends and practices. Don't miss out...get in the mix!

DOWNLOAD THE EVENT FLYER HERE

REGISTER ON-LINE HERE

ASTM Committee C09 Scheduled in Florida

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 08:45:35 PST

The official fall meeting of Committee C09, concrete and concrete aggregates is set for December 4th - 7th, 2011 in Tampa. Information on standardizing our industries materials by continual research and development will be covered over a 4 day stretch. Along with technical subcommittee meetings, symposiums are also scheduled. Of particular interest to me is the symposium on pervious concrete. Regardless of your interest, this event should have something for any concrete guru...even if your not an ASTM Committee member. (click here for registration, agenda, and hotel information)

In other ASTM news.....something new is in the works
A proposed standard, ASTM WK34078, "Specification for Lightweight Aggregate for Internal Curing of Concrete" is currently under development. Funny...didn't the ACI-Nebraska Chapter just conduct a breakfast seminar last month on Utilizing Lightweight Aggregate as an Internal Curing Mechanism? Now that sounds like a Chapter that seems to keep members on the cutting edge!

FUN FACTS (source, www.astm.org):

C09 was formed in 1914
C09 has approximately 1,100 members
C09 governs 155 standards
C09 has 29 technical subcommittees

NC&AA Exhibits at AIA-NE Fall Conference

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 06:36:43 PST

Just a quick announcement of the NC&AA's exhibit during AIA-NE Fall Conference.

This years promotional focus was "information transfer". Our booth displayed innovative ideas such as QR codes and Google TV. Although I believe both are a little ahead of their time the NC&AA promoted concrete applications such as Tilt-up Concrete, Concrete Parking Lots, and Pervious Concrete via the use of these technologies.

First, the QR codes sent attendees to this blog and the NC&AA's new facebook business page. With one quick scan from their smartphone, they were able to stay in the mix regarding activities of the Association. Second, many attendees were interested in the Google TV. So the NC&AA described what Google TV was all about, through surfing the internet showing concrete related youtube videos, websites, and the world of concrete social media.

I have always said that I was "ghetto" when it came to exhibiting. We never have had pricey billboards and banners. A good women once told me that it isn't about the bells and whistles....its about site and sound. Meaning that its how you convey your message is what people remember. Well I think the NC&AA showcased site and sound pretty well.

Special shout out to the professor for stepping in to help at the last minute.

2011-2012 ACI / NDOR Training Season is Set!

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:19:21 PDT

The Nebraska Concrete and Aggregates Association (NC&AA) once again is administering training and certification programs for concrete technicians and field inspectors in Nebraska. This training is offered in partnership with the Nebraska Chapter of the American Concrete Institute and the Nebraska Department of Roads.

Save your seat today!

Here is the link to the 2011/2012 Training Calendar

Relax....Dont overwork!

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 11:19:55 PDT

I frequently have discussions with ready mix producers and concrete contractors regarding exterior concrete durability requirements. To me, the answers seem simple.

Keep the water as low as possible
Use a mix that has good air "entrainment"
Do not overwork the concrete surface
Properly Cure the concrete

This post focuses on "overworking" the surface. One of the above requirements is using a mix that has good air entrainment. There are two types of air in concrete, entrapped air and entrained air. Entrapped air, is air that naturally gets introduced to the concrete by mixing operations. Different mixes have different percentages of entrapped air. Entrapped air contributes nothing to freeze thaw durability...only entrained air promotes better freeze thaw resistance. And this even gets more complex with proper size of entrained air bubbles and proper spacing of entrained air bubbles.

A improper finishing technique I sometimes see in concrete construction is using machine floating and/or power troweling. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAPPEN! With proper air being critical to the durability of any exterior concrete in freeze thaw environments, why is machine floating exterior concrete being practiced? Answer: Lack of awareness and lack of enforcement.

Overworking the surface not only brings fines (sand and water) to the surface, which weakens the surface...it also damages the "air structure". I have always said less is more. Strike-off, bull float, broom, cure, and cut. If you need to machine float or power trowel exterior concrete...your biting off more than you can chew.

ACI-Nebraska Awards of Excellence

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 10:05:50 PDT

Deadline for project submittal is December 1^st, 2011

The Nebraska Chapter of the American Concrete Institute announces its annual Concrete Awards Program. The purpose of this competition is to recognize outstanding work in concrete construction and practices within the State of Nebraska.

Projects must be noteworthy for their use of concrete. The concrete may be precast, pre-stressed, cast-in place, tilt-up or concrete masonry. Special uses of concrete or innovative concrete construction techniques will be recognized.

In order to be eligible the projects must have been completed before November 2011. Completed applications are due by December 1^st, 2011. Judging is done by a panel of professionals from various disciplines within the concrete industry. Awards will consist of plaques and certificates to be presented to the owner, designer (Architect and/or Engineer), contractor and concrete supplier. These awards will be presented at the Nebraska Chapter Annual Meeting in February, 2012.

So start thinking of unique and innovative concrete projects to be considered

To download the application go to www.acinebraska.org

To view past award winners Click Here. Give the prezi 30 seconds to load and enjoy!

Get a Response...5000 signatures needed

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:40:16 PDT

Source: Citizens for Recycling First

Citizens for Recycling First has placed a petition on a new White House website that promises a response from the Obama Administration if we can get 5,000 signatures in 30 days. You can sign the petition by clicking here: http://wh.gov/gu4

The White House recently launched a program called “We the People” that is designed to “provide you with a new way to petition the Obama Administration to take action on a range of important issues facing our country. If a petition gets enough support, White House staff will review it, ensure it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.”

Citizens for Recycling First’s petition reads: “We believe the Obama Administration should protect coal ash recycling by promptly enacting disposal regulations that do NOT designate coal ash a ‘hazardous waste.’” The 5,000 signatures must be gathered by October 24 in order to compel a response from the White House.

Sign the petition today! Then encourage everyone you know to sign it, too!

2nd Annual Bunyan Pervious Roast

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 14:55:47 PDT

I had the opportunity to attended the 2^nd Annual Bunyan Pervious Roast in Las Vegas. This 3 day event drew over 70 attendees of all the major players in the pervious concrete industry. They dedicated the first day to potential owners, day 2 was dedicated to the producer, and day 3 was geared to the installer. David Mitchell of Bunyan Springs and his team does a great job putting this together. Some of the highlights were:

· Decorative Pervious

· Aggregate Selection for Surface Texture and Porosity

· Aggregate Selection for obtaining final mix proportions

· Decorative Pervious

· “The Mix Kitchen”…examining powder, paste, mortar, fibers and voids

· Two Tier placement sections

· Testing pervious for acceptance / evaluation

· Maintaining permeability with the BIRDVac (Bunyan Infiltration Restoration Device)

The Mix Kitchen

Mitchell Making Muffins

Flood making specimans

Even more important than the highlights was the networking with the pervs of the world and getting their perspective on current trends and practices.

NC&AA Scholarship Fund Shoot - 2011

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:39:17 PDT

The Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association is hosting its annual scholarship fund shoot. This event is a fund raiser to raise scholarship money that goes to three students annually. The funds are dispersed evenly with the Kearney, Lincoln, and Omaha campuses (one cnst management, one architect, and one engineering major).


Max tests his skills on the new Rim Fire Adventure

The event typically hosts 80 shooters and the committee is hoping to break 100 shooters this year. Shoot 100 rounds of sporting clay and your choice of trap or rim fire (a new segment added last year).

So if your a hunter and like to spend your friday shooting guns for a good cause...

Save the date for September 23rd.

For more information...click here!

2nd Annual Bunyan Pervious Roast

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 07:40:06 PDT

The second annual pervious roast is only 2 weeks away. I missed it last year but not this year. This annual event educates pervious owners, producers, and installers on the latest and greatest practices on pervious concrete. Scheduled for September 15th (owners), 16th (producers), and 17th (installers), this years event will cover..

Thursday (Sept 15th)

Michael Bledsoe...negotiating the permit process with city planners in the Seattle, Puget Sound area, how to encounter design conflicts in engineering and municipal ordinance.
Brian Lutey...more on encounters with engineering and municipal ordinance, urban watershed, pointers on permit application for a class 5 injection well, the Darcy Column.
Phil Kresge...integrating pervious into street paving and intersections for cities and the DOT for park & ride facilities.
Lonnie Gray..salt damage and alternatives to deicing salts. (but I thought the deicers just drained through)
And decorative panel placement session

Friday (Sept 16th)

Walter Flood...examine the progress of ASTM in development of testing practices for pervious concrete mixtures. Examine various gradations, their texture, performance and uses.
Lonnie Gray...common quirks of a batch plant and a transit mixer. Typical hazards of producing and delivering pervious materials, what can be saved and what should be rejected.
Jim Miller...common quirks of a batch plant and a transit mixer. Fine tuning a mix
proportion and specific adjustments for various decorative processes.
Two tier placement session - Examine combination of two different mixtures
Wang Lizhong...summary of experience with decorative pervious projects for the Olympic facilities, where China hosted the 2008 games. Examine the progress of mixtures and methods used by Jadescape and Orangestone as well as the performance of their flatwork, in service.
Control Panel placement session
* examine generic mixture
* examine grouted edges
Hexicrete placement session

Saturday (Sept 17)

Brian Lutey...negotiating with the producer, troubleshooting the delivery and placement,the shared roles of targeting moisture content in the pervious mixture and the shared roles of curing.
Lonnie Gray...troubleshooting the delivery and placement. Designing the void content.
Practices for adverse weather, weather information sources, onsite weather station and data logs. Examine curing equipment and practices.
Elkem placement session
Demonstrate vacuum extraction and examine contaminants.
Demonstrate repairs and permeable overlays.

Can't Wait...for more info go to Bunyan Springs

Diamond Grinding Pervious Concrete Pavements - CPR

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:40:57 PDT

Geiger Ready Mix partnered up with Penahall company to restore an old pervious concrete parking lot in Olathe Kansas. As the pavement still was functional, the surface showed signs of raveling. For the first time (at least the first I have heard of) the pervious pavement utilized diamond grinding to grind off the top portion of the slab to get to sound and stable pervious.....what will they think of next? Click here for full article from IGGA..

Support Contractor Licensing

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:35:07 PDT

Join MOBA and the Home Building Professionals of Greater Omaha on August 16th, 2011 at the Omaha City Council Meeting to support the proposed contractor licensing ordinance. Call you local City Council Rep to tell them why this is important to adopt.

Builders Letter of Support

CALL FOR SPEAKERS - 2012 NC&AA Quality Concrete Conference

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 10:46:26 PDT

The Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association is now taking submittals for speakers for their Annual Quality Concrete Conference.

Submittal form can be found here.

The audience for the conference varies from concrete contractors, concrete producers, architects, and engineers. So if you have an exciting presentation to share with Nebraska's concrete industry...click the link above, submit your Title and a short 50-100 synopsis to the Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association.

Fly Ash Bill Clears House Committee

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:37:36 PDT

On July 13th, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act (H.R. 2273) by a vote of 35 to 12. The measure would restrict the EPA from regulating coal combustion residuals (CCR's) as a hazardous waste and instead foster better recycling and management of CCRs, such as fly ash, and a state level. H.R. 2273 now moves to the full House for consideration.

Want to know more on Fly Ash and the beneficial use of Fly Ash in Concrete? Click Here

ACI 332 Proposes Revisions to Strength Requirements

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 07:13:04 PDT

ACI 332-08 "Code Requirements for Residential Concrete" currently requires a minimum compressive strength of 4500 psi for exterior concrete exposed to severe environmental conditions. The proposed change is to remove the 4500 psi strength requirement and to replace with a 4000 psi requirement. Reasons for the change are:

The average strength of a design mixture will be in the range of 15% greater than the specified strength. With a specified strength of 4500 psi, the required average strength for most residential applications is considered excessive and can result in increased potential for cracking. Providing concrete at an average strength of around 4500 psi is considered adequate for most of these non-structural applications. For this reason the f’c for Type 4 concrete is being reduced to 4000 psi.

Additional requirements for cementitious materials are added to minimize potential for scaling for type 4 concrete.

Match more closely with International Residential Code. Generally the code eliminates any reference to Exterior flatwork that is not part of the residential building.

Match more closely to ACI 330 for parking areas (requires 4000 psi for parking areas exposed to weather).

Click link for additional support.

So if we are producing and placing exterior concrete in Nebraska...test results should meet the required minimum compressive strength of 4000 psi in order to assure the owner that the concrete was placed at a maximum w/c of 0.45. In addition, the concrete better be properly cured to ensure "surface" durability.

Ballot for ACI 332 Committee proposed change closes August 4th.

Another Prezi...presented to NeFSMA's 3rd Annual Conference

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:19:44 PDT

NeFSMA Pervious Concrete Case Studies (online version) on Prezi

One minute clips...

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:12:13 PDT

Just in case you haven't seen this....

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:08:46 PDT

ACI Nebraska Breakfast Seminar

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 20:00:28 PDT

Join the American Concrete Institute - Nebraska Chapter for informational program...

Topic: "New EPA Regulations Impacting Fly Ash and Impacting Future Direction" (click)
Speaker: Benjamin J. Franklin - Headwaters Resources
When: Wednesday, April 27th 2011
Where: Omaha Marriott

Scholar-Peterson Concrete Conference (Kansas State)

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:48:59 PDT

I had the pleasure of speaking at the scholar-peterson Concrete Conference at Kansas State.

I would like to thank Christie Martin with the Concrete Promotional Group for giving us a recommendation. It was the first time I presented on a movie screen!...made the prezi even more interesting.

Troubleshooting Concrete on Prezi

NC&AA Quality Concrete Conference (UPDATE)

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 07:53:48 PST

Total counts for the NC&AA QC conference was
Kearney 160 attendees
Omaha 250 attendees

Quote of the Conference "all they did was talk about curing and water/cement ratio all day...it was great!"

Thanks to all who participated...see you next year.

NC&AA Quality Concrete Conference

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 07:53:12 PST

The Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Association is hosting it's 52nd Annual Quality Concrete Conference. This year's theme is "concrete in practice". Concrete in Practice is 42 topics concentrating on ready mixed concrete. The NC&AA's QC conference will cover 36 of the 42 topics with 12 different speakers at two different locations....January 12th (Kearney) and January 13th (Omaha)

http://www.nebrconcagg.com/assets/qcregistration2011.pdf

See you there!

Another good blog

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 14:00:28 PDT

If you are into learning more on pervious concrete... check out Dale Fishers Blog.

http://dalefisher.blogspot.com/

The Results Are In!

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 20:24:23 PDT

Click here for Nebraska Concrete Parking Lot Market Survey for New Construction in 2009.

Husker Nation welcomes Concrete Nation

noreply@blogger.com (birdman) — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 20:13:27 PDT

The following is an email I received today....

Dear Fellow ASCC Members,
I am pleased to introduce CONCRETE NATION, a new television show debuting this fall on ABC, CBS, NBC, CW, MyNetwork, & FOX. There's a good chance the show is already scheduled in your city. In fact, you may have already received information about the program directly from Wes Vollmer, CONCRETE NATION's founder and decorative expert. The following is a message from Wes:

" I am sending the link for the promotional announcement featuring Bev Garnant, Executive Director of the ASCC, introducing our new fall show, "Concrete Nation". The program will feature the construction of an 'all concrete' home and all of the decorative concrete features that we will employ in the development of this project. Please watch the video and visit our website www.concretenation.com and please contact me with any questions or sponsorship inquiries. We are here to make concrete beautiful.

I have attached a letter from our Executive Producer and distributor, Ernest Cartwright, which provides a brief overview of the program as well as sponsorship opportunities. For more information of the television show, please visit the website of our distributor, wwwescartwright.com and click on the "Concrete Nation" icon. You'll be able to view a demo of the TV show (still titled 'Architectural Concrete Jungle' - the original title) and more information about the Fall 2010 debut. Thank you again, for the interest and please don't hesitate to contact me if you should have any questions regarding this or any other matter."

Sincerely,
Wes Vollmer
(210)771-7451

Sponsorship Opportunities CLICK HERE