BUILDING THE FUTURE CANADA NEEDS, SUSTAINABLY
Canada’s concrete and cement industry has developed an action plan targeting net-zero by 2050.
BY ROB COONEY
Canada’s housing shortage and the need to reduce carbon emissions and enhance resiliency in the structures we build are major challenges facing the construction sector, including Canada’s cement and concrete industry.
The national housing shortage is well-documented. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation estimates that the country needs about 3.5 million more housing units by 2030 to restore affordability. Meanwhile, the Canadian Table for Harmonized Construction Code Policy (CTHCCP) has identified climate change mitigation and adaptation as part of its key priorities for the development cycle of the 2030 editions of the National Model Codes. These priorities reflect the CTHCCP’s efforts to ensure new construction is lower in carbon emissions and resilient to climate change.
The Canadian cement and concrete industry, which supplies the most used building material in construction, is well-positioned to do its part to help address these challenges as it continues its carbon-reduction journey. The concrete industry’s products and solutions are known for their versatility, durability and resiliency, but our industry is only beginning to highlight our commitment and achievements in sustainability, innovation and transparency.
A CONCRETE PLAN
In 2023, the Cement Association of Canada (CAC), together with our members and partners in the concrete sector, released
Concrete Zero, Canada’s Cement and Concrete Industry Action Plan to Net-Zero
Our action plan shows that carbon emission reductions of 40 per cent by 2030, 59 per cent by 2040, and net-zero by 2050 are achievable using today’s technologies and based on our 2020 baseline.
This action plan is based on the cement and concrete value chain, identifying where emissions reductions will come from at each
stage. The plan focuses on five C’s: Clinker, Cement, Concrete, Construction and Carbon Uptake. There is also a sixth bonus C where more research and development is needed: Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage.
Clinker is the most carbon-intensive component of cement. Its emissions are lowered through the use of alternative fuels, improved efficiency and lowercarbon chemistries. Cement's emissions are lowered by producing blended cements like Portland-limestone and increasing the use of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs).
Concrete puts focus on optimizing mix
designs, incorporating recycled materials and improving plant energy efficiency.
Construction highlights material efficiency, waste reduction and more innovative designs that minimize overbuilding. Finally, Carbon Uptake recognizes concrete’s ability to reabsorb CO2 over its lifecycle, offering a long-term climate benefit.
Canadian cement manufacturers have taken significant, coordinated steps to improve sustainability across their operations. They have transitioned many facilities to produce Portland-Limestone Cement (PLC), which reduces CO2 emissions by up to 10 per cent. Others are investing in using low-carbon fuels like biomass and construction waste to replace higher-carbon fuels.
One specific example of low-carbon fuel use is an investment in a low-carbon fuels facility at the Amrize Canada (formerly Lafarge) Exshaw plant in Alberta. The facility replaces up to 50 per cent of natural gas with low-carbon fuels, primarily wood-based construction demolition waste.
St Mary’s Cement is also piloting alternative fuels, at an Ontario plant.
Across the country, producers are partnering with Canadian cleantech firms to pilot and scale up innovative carbon reduction solutions. For example, Ash Grove Cement formed a partnership with Carbon Upcycling to produce a high-performance cementitious material from a locally sourced byproduct and to permanently sequester CO2 emissions from the cement kiln at their plant in Mississauga, Ont. This low-carbon material is being used to reduce the clinker ratio,
CONCRETE ZERO
significantly lowering the associated carbon emissions with the cement.
Heidelberg Materials is developing the world’s first full-scale carbon capture project at its Edmonton cement plant. This is expected to capture over 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually from its cement production and integrated combined heat and power facility.
VERIFYING CARBON CLAIMS
Carbon reductions across the cement and concrete value chain are measured, tracked and verified through Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs). These are standardized, third-party documents offering transparent, science-based data on a product’s impacts throughout its life cycle.
Much like a nutrition label or an appliance energy rating, EPDs make it possible to understand and compare the environmental footprint of building materials. For cement and concrete, they report key metrics such as Global Warming Potential (GWP), a critical indicator of embodied carbon emissions.
EPDs play a pivotal role in building
supply chain transparency. They serve as a trusted, objective tool for manufacturers to quantify and demonstrate reductions in greenhouse gas intensity. For building owners, developers and infrastructure clients, EPDs support more informed material selection, procurement alignment with low-carbon goals and project-level carbon accounting. You can’t reduce what you don’t measure. EPDs are how the industry ensures progress is visible, verifiable and actionable.
The Canadian cement and concrete industry is a leader in the building materials industry on EPDs. Concrete producers have developed regionally specific EPDs for a range of products, including readymix, precast, masonry and pipe, and some producers have product specific EPDs. Cement producers have also developed a regionally specific EPD, but all manufacturing facilities have published facility-specific EPDs. The combination of all these declarations forms a foundational step in establishing accurate carbon baselines and mix-specific emissions profiles.
WORKING WITH SUPPLIERS
Following the five Cs to look at concrete and construction, engaging concrete suppliers early is essential for lowering carbon emissions. Design and procurement decisions made in the early stages of a project, long before concrete is poured, directly affect the embodied carbon of the final structure.
Involving concrete suppliers early allows project teams to explore innovative mix designs, agree on performance requirements, and identify opportunities to reduce carbon through cement substitution, admixtures or optimized curing strategies.
Concrete Carbon: A Guideline for Specifying Low Carbon Ready Mixed Concrete in Canada reinforces this point. The guide introduces the idea of a concrete carbon budget, which helps specifiers balance performance and constructability with climate goals. It also stresses that concrete suppliers are vital partners in identifying suitable, lower-carbon solutions, particularly when using regional EPDs and industry average self-declarations to inform procurement.
This guideline is also a great reference to support any construction professional who is working on a federal government construction project subject to the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat’s Standard on Embodied Carbon in Construction, or other jurisdictions that have adopted a similar approach.
Engaging suppliers during the design and specification phase allows project teams to unlock flexibility and avoid overly prescriptive language that could unintentionally limit low-carbon options. Whether it involves adjusting strength development timelines, selecting SCMs, or incorporating recycled concrete aggregate, early collaboration ensures that low-carbon targets are achievable, and that the final product meets structural, durability and scheduling requirements. Ultimately, early engagement isn’t just a best practice; it’s a competitive advantage.
Rob Cooney is the vice-president of construction innovation at the Cement Association of Canada. With two decades of experience in project leadership and strategy, he advances sustainable construction through collaboration and innovation.
The Worldwide Leader in Concrete Paving Technology
GOMACO offers the full range of concrete slipform pavers, curb and gutter machines, trimmers, placer/spreaders, texture/ cure machines and bridge/canal finishing equipment. GOMACO equipment features our exclusive and proprietary G+® control system, created in-house by our software engineers from the wants and needs of contractors paving in the field. At the heart of GOMACO equipment is our passion for concrete and our commitment to our customers. We look forward to visiting with you about your upcoming paving projects and your concrete paving equipment needs. Our worldwide distributor network and our corporate team always stand ready to serve and assist you.
SUSTAINABILITY
CONTRACTORS AS TECHNICAL LEADERS
How the circular economy is reshaping the future of concrete in Canada.
BY MICHAEL MAHONEY
As Canada’s heavy construction industry adapts to the realities of climate responsibility, resource scarcity and increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks, concrete contractors are finding themselves at the centre of a profound transformation. The circular economy — a model that emphasizes keeping resources in use for as long as possible, minimizing waste and designing for lifecycle resilience — has been gaining traction across Canadian infrastructure and building projects.
While the spotlight often falls on cement producers and material manufacturers, it is the contractors on Canadian job sites who are uniquely positioned to turn circular principles into practice.
With the federal government committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, provincial regulations tightening embodied carbon thresholds and owners increasingly demanding sustainability performance, concrete contractors are now becoming the catalysts behind an industry-wide shift.
BEYOND THE POUR
Traditionally, Canadian concrete contractors operated at the application stage: mixing, pouring, finishing and curing in line with project specifications. Today, they are integral to design-stage decision-making. During pre-construction planning and submittal reviews, contractors influence material selection, mix design and even
lifecycle strategies. Their input is critical in advancing low-carbon alternatives that reduce embodied carbon while maintaining constructability.
This shift requires not only practical experience but also technical fluency in material science. Contractors must understand the performance of Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) like fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag and silica fume. They must also evaluate the properties of Recycled Concrete Aggregate (RCA), which is gaining increased acceptance in provinces like Ontario and British Columbia. By integrating these materials into project specifications, contractors can help Canada meet environmental targets and infrastructure durability requirements.
EXTENDING SERVICE LIFE
In Canada’s diverse and often extreme climates, from freeze-thaw cycles in Quebec to coastal chloride exposure in British Columbia, extending the useful life of concrete structures is perhaps the most direct way that contractors can contribute to circular economy objectives. Instead of defaulting to demolition and rebuild, Canadian contractors are increasingly turning to advanced repair and protection systems that maximize durability and reduce waste.
High-performance mortars, polymermodified overlays and fibre-reinforced repair products allow concrete contractors to restore structural capacity with precision.
Carbon fibre strengthening systems are now being used in bridges across Ontario and Alberta to extend service lives without costly replacement. These interventions often rely on advanced diagnostics such as ground-penetrating radar, corrosion mapping or half-cell potential testing — technologies that are now widely available to Canadian contractors through specialized service providers.
Protective technologies are equally important. Silane-based sealers, epoxy coatings and chemically resistant surface treatments defend against de-icing salts, sulfates and alkali-silica reactions, all of which are common deterioration mechanisms in Canadian infrastructure.
By integrating protection strategies into maintenance programs, concrete contractors shift from reactive repair to proactive preservation, aligning with public asset management policies and circular economy goals.
CLOSING THE LOOP
More than just extending service life, circularity is about recovering resources from existing structures. Across Canada, municipal and provincial governments are encouraging the recycling of demolition debris into usable aggregate. Contractors in Metro Vancouver, for example, increasingly repurpose crushed concrete as road base or reintroduce it into structural mixes when quality standards are met.
The technical challenge really lies in
ensuring grading consistency, contamination control and performance compliance.
Canadian contractors who partner with certified recyclers and understand the nuances of CSA standards for RCA can deliver structural mixes that meet both engineering and sustainability criteria. In dense urban centres like Toronto and Montreal, where virgin aggregate is scarce and costly, RCA presents a cost-effective and environmentally sound alternative.
Similarly, the use of SCMs diverts industrial byproducts from landfills while reducing the demand for energy-intensive Portland cement. In Alberta, fly ash from coal-fired power plants has long been used in concrete mixes, and as Canada transitions away from coal, other SCMs like slag and natural pozzolans are increasingly important.
Contractors who understand the hydration kinetics, durability impacts and admixture compatibility of these materials are at the forefront of circular practice.
EMBRACING INNOVATION
Canadian contractors are also beginning to integrate emerging low-carbon innovations into their workflows. Carbon mineralization technologies, now available through several Canadian ready-mix producers, allow captured carbon dioxide to be injected into fresh concrete, where it is chemically bound as stable calcium carbonate.
This not only permanently sequesters carbon but also enhances compressive
strength. That is a win-win for both sustainability and performance.
At the same time, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are becoming the gold standard in Canadian procurement, particularly for projects seeking LEED, Envision or CaGBC Zero Carbon Building certifications. Concrete contractors must now evaluate embodied carbon metrics alongside traditional parameters like slump, setting time and durability. Those who can successfully interpret and communicate EPD data gain a competitive edge in bidding for government-led infrastructure projects, where carbon disclosure is increasingly a requirement.
ECONOMICS OF CIRCULARITY
For circular strategies to achieve mainstream adoption in Canada’s competitive construction market, they must deliver economic as well as environmental value. Canadian contractors are increasingly demonstrating through practice that sustainability can align with financial realities.
Repairing rather than replacing bridges, parking structures or industrial floors avoids demolition costs, hauling fees and downtime expenses. Incorporating RCA reduces reliance on imported aggregates, which are particularly costly in Atlantic Canada.
To add to this, using SCMs not only stabilizes mix costs against cement price volatility, but can also qualify projects for federal and provincial green building
incentives, tax credits and preferential procurement programs.
A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT
Circularity requires collaboration. Contractors must work closely with producers to test low-carbon mix designs, coordinate with designers to ensure constructability, and educate owners on lifecycle benefits. This alignment is critical as Canada moves toward performance-based building codes emphasizing durability, embodied carbon limits and long-term serviceability.
Concrete contractors also play an important role in shaping industry standards in Canada. Participation in CSA committees, pilot programs and continuing education ensures that their perspectives influence the regulatory frameworks that will define the next generation of Canadian construction.
By engaging in these dialogues, contractors help Canada transition from voluntary adoption of circular practices to widespread regulatory integration.
BUILDING RESILIENCE
Ultimately, the circular economy in Canada is not only about sustainability; it is about resilience. Concrete will remain the backbone of Canadian infrastructure, from urban transit systems to remote northern highways. The question is how effectively the industry can deploy it to conserve resources, adapt to climate change and extend the usable life of critical assets.
Canadian contractors are uniquely positioned to lead this transformation. By championing circular principles through smarter material selection, advanced repair systems, resource recovery and the adoption of emerging low-carbon technologies, they can deliver resilient concrete structures that are not just built to last, but built to evolve with Canada’s changing needs.
Michael Mahoney is the central region manager of the National Business Development Group at Euclid Chemical. A fellow and member of the American Concrete Institute, he has served on committees for the National Pre-Cast Concrete Association and American Society for Testing and Materials, and holds a master’s degree from Dalhousie University.
Testing concrete at a jobsite.
SUSTAINABILITY
CARBON REDUCTION AT DANIELS ON PARLIAMENT
Advanced concrete mixes reduce carbon footprint of Toronto condo project.
BY ADAM FREILL
When the residents of Daniels on Parliament take occupancy early next year, some may not know just how much of a role their building has played in illustrating the potential to reduce the carbon footprint of building materials without making sacrifices in the structure or the building process.
Located at 365 Parliament Street in Toronto’s Regent Park, the condominium project consists of a 25-storey tower and a 10-storey tower, offering 642 residential units ranging from studio units to three-bedroom suites and two-storey walkouts. Once complete, the building will include underground parking, as well as retail units at ground level.
With sustainability in mind, the developer, The Daniels Corporation, worked with building materials supplier Amrize (formely Lafarge) through its subsidiary Innocon to employ carbon-smart design principles, optimizing concrete mix designs to minimize embodied carbon within the project.
As with most residential builds of this nature, concrete plays a significant role
in the construction of the condominiums and represents the largest carbon footprint of any of the building materials used, so reducing the embodied carbon became one of the goals.
“Innocon, a subsidiary of Amrize in the Greater Toronto Area, supplied ECOPact concrete, an advanced branded solution designed to deliver high-performance while significantly reducing embodied carbon,” explained Innocon president David Kelly. “At Daniels on Parliament, approximately 31,000 cubic metres of ECOPact, representing 75 per cent of all concrete pours, were deployed across foundations, structural columns, shear walls, slabs and other core building elements.”
Kelly reports that 38 tailored mix designs were developed for the project, the largest high-rise condo deployment of ECOPact in Canada thus far.
“Concrete is the single largest contributor to embodied carbon in new construction. Our goal at Daniels on Parliament was twofold: to significantly cut the project’s carbon footprint by using ECOPact low-car-
bon concrete at scale, and to gather practical knowledge that we can apply across future projects,” explained Meghan Wilson, Daniels’ senior manager of sustainability. “ECOPact mixes replace a portion of cement, the most carbon-intensive ingredient in concrete, with recycled or byproduct materials from other industries, like fly ash from steel production.”
The use of these Supplementary Cementitious Materials (SCMs) can have a significant impact on the carbon footprint of concrete, while admixtures can assist with desired concrete specifications.
“State-of-the-art admixtures were utilized to maintain the desired performance characteristics,” stated Andy Unger, regional president for Aggregates and Construction Materials (ACM) for Central Canada at Amrize. "As a result, the ECOPact mixes achieved up to 25 per cent less embodied carbon than traditional concrete."
After calculating all concrete use on the site, Wilson said the use of these new mixes reduced the average carbon footprint across the two towers by more than 15.7
per cent per cubic metre of concrete, representing a significant potential for carbon reduction for the buildings sector. Those figures are good for the environment, but
they also resonate with residents as well.
“While location and affordability remain top priorities, today’s buyers and renters are increasingly factoring
sustainability into their decisions. Green building features not only signal trust and forward-thinking but can also help with long-term affordability, especially when it comes to utility costs,” said Wilson.
“At Daniels, we’ve also introduced carbon labels on our floorplans — a firstof-its-kind tool designed to make embodied carbon more visible and help buyers understand the impact of their choices,” she added. “It’s part of our effort to increase education and transparency, and to give residents the confidence that their home is a smart investment for both the environment and their future.”
Within the construction industry, the inclusion of these new concrete products is gaining traction, especially as municipalities become more familiar with the newer materials. “While some building departments still approve on a project-by-project basis, codes and specifications are gradually evolving, and many jurisdictions, especially in major urban centres like Toronto, are increasingly comfortable approving low-carbon mixes when backed by engineering certification,” said Unger.
That learning curve is to be expected when using any new materials, and it is not just the building departments that are navigating these new materials. Contractors want to ensure that the concrete performs as expected as well.
“The building industry is traditionally cautious when it comes to adopting new materials, so committing to a large-scale ECOPact pilot required close collaboration with our suppliers and project teams to get buy-in,” stated Wilson. “That said, because ECOPact is a drop-in product that meets standard concrete requirements, no additional city or permitting approvals were needed beyond typical compliance.”
According to Wilson, Toronto has policies that encourage innovation in reducing embodied carbon, setting performance targets and offering incentives.
“While the policies don’t explicitly make ECOPact easier to implement, they do provide developers with flexibility to explore solutions that reduce carbon,” she said.
Daniels had previously tested the brand
SUSTAINABILITY
of concrete on a smaller scale, but Daniels on Parliament was its first deployment of this volume of carbon-reduced concrete, and project timing meant navigating a greater variety of ambient conditions.
“The main challenge came during winter. During cold weather, concrete requires special additives to ensure it cures properly. While we successfully used ECOPact with these additives in many areas, for certain critical structural elements we reverted to conventional concrete to avoid any risk of schedule delays,” she said. “It was a balancing act between innovation and maintaining construction timelines.”
That’s where the expertise of a supplier can be invaluable.
When working with a variety of mixes, or across different seasonal weather patterns, Innocon’s Unger provides advice that is similar to any project with specific performance requirements of its concrete: “Engage early with the concrete supplier to align mix designs with performance requirements; train crews on any slight differences
in workability or setting time; and document results — tracking performance helps build confidence in future projects.”
Unger says that his company has a trusted team of industry experts more than willing to serve as technical consultants to partner with customers to ensure that scheduling, mix selection and curing practices are all addressed and integrated into the construction process so that the potential for surprises is minimized.
For the Daniels on Parliament project, the companies found that curing times and performance of the ECOPact mixes were comparable to traditional mixes, as each mix had been carefully engineered to meet the specific demands of its application. “Through tailored mix designs, we ensure strength, durability, and workability align with project requirements,” said Unger.
“Daniels on Parliament demonstrates that large-scale innovation and sustainability gains are achievable without sacrificing performance or timelines,” stated Kelly. “It also shows the value of collaboration
between supplier, contractor and developer in embedding advanced, high-performance solutions into design decisions from the outset.”
“The experience was invaluable,” added Wilson. “It gave us real-world insight into how low-carbon concrete performs on a fast-paced construction site in a climate as variable as Toronto’s. That hands-on learning is what allows us to push the industry forward.”
And the industry is beginning to respond to sustainability initiatives like the Cement Association of Canada’s Roadmap to Net-Zero Carbon Concrete, although Wilson admits adoption of low-carbon materials is still uneven.
“Daniels is very much among the leaders, moving early on piloting and scaling low-carbon concrete, embedding lifecycle assessments to measure and track embodied carbon into every project’s design, and aligning with policies such as the Toronto Green Standard’s optional requirements for LCAs and embodied carbon.”
EXHIBITS: JANUARY 20-22, 2026
EDUCATION: JANUARY 19-22, 2026
LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER
Push limits. Smash barriers. Break boundaries. And when you’ve conquered all those obstacles? You discover your full capacity for greatness. World of Concrete delivers all the real-world solutions that will crush your challenges and take your expertise to new heights. Growth opportunities are everywhere, whether you’re getting hands-on with game-changing tools and tech or shaking hands with your future partners. Ready for maximum success? Nothing’s standing in your way.
ACHIEVE PEAK PERFORMANCE VIEW GLOBAL EVENTS
TACKLING CONCRETE
Success requires the right approach, equipment and attachments.
BY MIKE FITZGERALD
Concrete and demolition job sites test both operators and equipment with demanding work conditions and tight timelines. Success starts before a machine even powers up, with walk-arounds and maintenance checks that keep equipment reliable and crews safe. From there, choosing the right machine and pairing it with the right attachment ensures contractors can tackle everything from breaking down structures to hauling debris and preparing new ground.
Operating any equipment requires a proactive, mindful approach to jobsite safety. Continuous awareness of your surroundings and understanding safe machine operation are key components. Performing daily walk-arounds and regular maintenance checks will help keep equipment and attachments reliable, maximizing uptime.
There are a few foundational actions that operators preparing to tackle work should remind themselves about, and these can apply to any machine used on concrete and demolition job sites. One of the simplest ways to stay safe is to always wear a seatbelt. This helps reduce the potential for injuries.
Considering your machine and job site, before you begin your task, perform a walk around to check for any mechanical issues or new obstacles. Sometimes machines have to be moved, so when transporting your equipment, do it safely. Observe local rules and motor vehicle laws and use a transport and towing vehicle of adequate length and capacity.
Above all, stay alert. Remain aware of your surroundings,
equipment and self. Avoid autopiloting familiar tasks, regardless of whether you’ve been on the job for 20 days or 20 years.
MATCH THE EQUIPMENT TO THE JOB
Every job site is different. Smaller interior demolition projects often call for compact machines that can squeeze into tight spaces, while larger outdoor projects may require more horsepower, reach and lifting capacity. Choosing the right equipment should be based on the application and job size.
For instance, mini track loaders are effective for interior or confined or narrow space work. For larger areas like parking lots, road repairs or site prep, contractors often turn to compact track loaders, skid-steer loaders or compact excavators.
Versatility is key. When paired with the right attachments, the correct machine can handle multiple tasks, helping contractors do more with less and keeping projects on schedule.
COMPACT TRACK LOADERS
Compact track loaders have become a go-to choice for many demolition and concrete jobs because of their combination of power, versatility and operator comfort.
Available in a wide range of sizes, models with higher rated operating capacities are well-suited for handling heavy palletized loads like brick, block or bags of cement while their smaller counterparts are great for removing demolition debris and working in tight areas.
Another advantage of compact track loaders is their attachment flexibility. From breakers and buckets to grading tools and grapples, attachments make CTLs adaptable across job sites.
Contractors who clearly communicate their needs with their dealer will get the best machine for the work. Whether the priority is maneuverability in confined spaces or reach and lift for loading trucks, the right configuration will maximize efficiency and uptime.
SKID-STEER LOADERS
Skid-steer loaders remain one of the most versatile tools on any job site. While they share similarities with track loaders, a key difference is their tires, which make them ideal for hard surfaces like concrete and asphalt. They excel in stable and smooth ground conditions.
Skid-steers also shine in tight quarters where maneuverability is important. Their ability to pivot and maneuver around corners allows operators to navigate small work zones with ease.
If operators are using hydraulically powered attachments like breakers, it is important to make sure the auxiliary flow is within the proper range for that attachment. Doing so ensures the attachment performs as designed without putting strain on the loader.
MINI TRACK LOADERS
Mini track loaders can be invaluable tools for specific demolition and concrete jobs. Their small size and ability to fit through narrow entries or gates make them especially useful indoors or on sites with access limitations. Crews can use mini track loaders to eliminate much of the manual labour that would otherwise be required in tight areas.
These machines combine speed and maneuverability with a compact footprint. For example, Bobcat’s MT120 mini track loader is just under 36 inches wide but can travel nearly five miles per hour. Machines like this show why mini track loaders are becoming more common in interior demo work, where traditional equipment simply cannot fit.
COMPACT AND LARGE EXCAVATORS
Excavators remain one of the most essential pieces of equipment for concrete and demolition work. Whether digging trenches, lifting heavy loads or preparing uneven terrain, excavators deliver the performance needed for demanding jobs. Contractors today can
choose from a wide variety of sizes and configurations, which is a good thing as matching the machine to the environment is critical.
Compact excavators are best for tight job sites where every inch matters. They often come with minimal or zero tail swing, making it easier to maneuver around buildings, fences and other structures. Their lighter weights and narrow profiles also make transport easier. In many cases, compact excavators can be hauled on a trailer behind a pick-up or small truck avoiding the need for special permits.
Larger excavators are designed for heavy-duty applications and can handle much greater loads. They require heavy truck-and-trailer setups and may involve special permits for transport. While they offer unmatched lifting capacity and digging power, contractors need to consider transport costs, bridge and road restrictions and other logistics when deciding if a large excavator is the right fit.
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
The best tool for a job is the one properly matched to the task. A machine that is too big can be just as inefficient as one that is too small. The goal is to choose equipment that fits the work environment, handles the workload and allows operators to work efficiently.
Contractors should also rely on their dealers when making purchase or rental decisions. Dealers can provide valuable guidance on machine performance and attachment effectiveness helping improve return on investment and profitability.
Whether it is a compact track loader, skid-steer loader, mini track loader or excavator, every machine has strengths when matched to the right application. Contractors who carefully evaluate their needs and lean on their dealer’s expertise will put themselves in the best position to succeed on the next job site.
Mike Fitzgerald is the marketing manager at Bobcat Company.
Choosing attachments to work smarter, not harder
Breakers
Hydraulic breakers turn a compact loader or excavator into a powerfully precise demolition machine, breaking through concrete, rock and asphalt effortlessly. The hydraulic breaker’s auto power regulates pressure automatically, ensuring its operation regardless of changes to outdoor temperature. Additionally, the upper and lower shock absorbers isolate the breaker, reducing noise and vibration to deliver operator comfort without sacrificing performance.
Nitrogen breakers are a perfect attachment for breaking reinforced concrete slabs or other tough demolition work. The long piston stroke, combined with a unique valve design, maximizes impact energy and minimizes recoil. The working tool is heat treated to specific hardness targets for low wear in high-impact applications.
Industrial grapples
Industrial grapples are available in bucket or
fork-bottom designs to deliver easy handling of bulky, hard-to-manage materials in industrial and construction settings. A twoarm design provides a strong, even biting force proving its worth time and time again on the toughest of jobs.
Wheel saws
Wheel saw attachments allow operators to cut through a variety of hard surfaces including asphalt, concrete with rebar and wire mesh, as well as frozen ground, which is critical on demolition job sites. Bobcat’s wheel saw can be side shifted to provide a precise cut next to curbs and walls.
Sweepers
Sweepers collect and dump dust, dirt and debris from your construction and demolition job sites. This one tool can accomplish the
work of multiple clean-up attachments with optimal bristle-to-surface contact, making them an excellent choice for site cleanup, daily dust abatement, road construction, airport maintenance, demolition, and more.
By Jacob Stoller
Interest is growing in sustainable building materials
How committed are owners to reducing their carbon footprint?
As the construction industry grapples with new ways to move forward on the path to net zero, concrete presents a massive target. The second-most widely used material in the world next to water, if concrete were a nation, its carbon footprint would be third in the world behind China and the U.S.
Accordingly, carbon-reduced concrete is part of the game plan for Edmonton International Airport as it strives to meet the requirements of Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge. Working with its contractor PCL Construction, the airport selected EvoBuild, a low-carbon concrete product from global building materials provider Heidelberg Materials.
Dallas Fraser, project manager at PCL, estimates that this reduced embodied carbon by 30 per cent compared with the conventional product. And, according to Shane Mulligan, sustainability market manager for Canada at Heidelberg, using carbonreduced concrete on the project saved 200 tonnes of CO2
Embodied carbon, it should be noted, is not a physical characteristic of the concrete itself, but a proxy for the amount of carbon dioxide emitted in the manufacture of the product. Such indirect influences on the environment are classified as Scope 2 emissions by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, the international body that establishes and tracks such metrics.
Traditional concrete’s carbon problem is that the process for manufacturing clinker, the primary binding agent in Portland Cement, requires kilning at approximately 1,500ºC. Reducing the proportion of clinker and replacing it with limestone or other materials reduces the energy and carbon emissions associated with a concrete mix.
“Generally speaking, for most of our markets, we’re able to achieve somewhere in the range of up to 30 to 50 per cent carbon reductions versus industry benchmarks,” says Mulligan.
The carbon reductions that are possible with a concrete mix varies on a project-by-project basis depending on the owner’s sustainability objectives and the structural and constructability requirements of the project. “As you start to get more aggressive with your carbon reductions, there can be some trade-offs, particularly where schedule is concerned,” he says.
The product also requires some adjustments in the field.
“Like any new product, there’s a bit of a learning curve there,” says Kyle Russell, construction superintendent, civil projects at PCL. “We had QC people from our supplier out on site during some of our pours, and they were able to tweak a few things in their mix design that definitely made it easier for the crews to place. And as we progressed our way through the job, we got to the point where it was pretty much like working with any other concrete.”
He points out that the need to make adjustments is not unique. “There’s no true normal when it comes to concrete,” says Russell. “In the particular job that we used this on, we have something called corrosion inhibitor in our concrete mix. And this just by itself in a regular, conventional, non-carbon-reduced mix makes concrete very difficult to work with.”
CHANGING ATTITUDES
The adoption of carbon-reduced concrete is being driven primarily by voluntary pursuits of green building rating systems and standards.
“We have a lot of design teams and owners that are looking to get the LEED green building certification, or are just doing low-carbon construction based on their own environmental, social, and governance principles,” says Mulligan.
The Edmonton airport was a prime example. “The owner, being the airport, was interested in green initiatives and green materials,” says Fraser. “They were willing to pay for eco-friendly concrete because they saw it as a good selling point for the airport.”
While momentum for eco-friendly projects is strong at the federal and provincial levels, many local jurisdictions have yet to catch up. “The National Building Code, for example, adopts a lot of the lower carbon solutions that are available, whereas on the public infrastructure side, it’s much more local,” says Mulligan. “The municipal specifications are all independent, and often more prescriptive and difficult to navigate.”
While attitudes are changing, there’s still work to be done. “There are some mindsets that need to be changed,” says Mulligan. “Lower carbon doesn’t mean lesser performance. Performance remains the guiding principle for all the mixes we’ve designed. We’re just doing it with optimizing carbon in mind, as opposed to only optimizing economics, which has been the traditional model for most concretes.”
Jacob Stoller is principal of StollerStrategies. Send comments to editor@on-sitemag.com.
Aktion Associates is a leading North American Value-Added Reseller (VAR) and trusted technology partner. We help construction businesses modernize their operations with ERP, managed IT services, and secure cloud hosting. With decades of experience in the construction industry, we deliver solutions that reduce delays, improve forecasting, and connect field to office.