Concrete Contractor June/July 2016

7 Coatings for Exterior Decorative Concrete

28 June/July 2016

Now available online and on your iPad!

SPECIAL REPORT: OSHA’s Silica Final Rule

12

Coming Out On TOP:

CFA’s Projects of the Year Elevate Craftsmanship 20

SKID-STEER LOADERS: What

Manufacturers Are Doing to Make These Workhorses Even Better

32 www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete CONC0616_01_CoverFinal.indd 1

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MAPEI takes it to the next level with Mapefloor ™ Parking Deck Systems For standard and heavy pedestrian/vehicular traffic

UV-resistant polyurethane topcoat

Mapefloor Finish 450 Polyurethane intermediate membrane + broadcast with 16/30 mesh sand

Mapefloor Finish 415 NA High-flexibility polyurethane basecoat

Mapefloor PU 400 LV

Epoxy primer

Primer SN ™

Concrete

Mapefloor parking deck systems provide surfaces with the following: • High flexibility with good crack-bridging capacity • High resistance to wear and abrasion for long-lasting performance • Low-odor and VOC-compliant • Excellent resistance to chemical agents, including diluted acids, bases, oil, fuel and salts • Highly attractive wearing surface Ask your local sales representative about our Mapefloor parking deck systems or visit www.mapei.com.

Keyword: MAPEI Americas

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June/July 2016 | Issue 4, Volume 16

WHAT’S INSIDE Cover Photo Credit: Concrete Foundations Association

Departments 4 Editor’s Letter 6 Legal Matters 8 Challenging the System 10 New Products 42 The Last Placement

Cover Story 20 Coming Out on Top: CFA’s Projects of the Year Elevate Craftmanship Each winter the Concrete Foundations Association opens a competition to its membership.

These projects evidence the skill, quality, craftsmanship and at times creativity of today’s cast-in-place contractor.

Features 12 Special Report: OSHA Silica Final Rule — A Manufacturer’s Perspective Manufacturers are here to help work together and move forward with the ruling to support the contractor and the construction industry.

32 Skid-Steer Loaders: What Manufacturers Are Doing to Make These Workhorses Even Better Today there are many decisions to make when you meet with a dealer to buy the machine you want.

16 Special Report: OSHA Silica Final Rule — Using Table 1 to Comply

You have a choice when choosing the right coating for the job. Here are seven common coating chemistries along with their relationship to environcmental conditions and exterior decorative concrete.

A compilation of technical information when choosing your next walk-behind saw.

38 Designing High Modulus of Elasticity Mixes

While the mention of any regulation is enough to inspire groans from employer and workers alike, you may not be as far from compliance as you think.

28 Coatings for Exterior Decorative Concrete

36 Equipment Specification Guides: Walk-Behind Saws

Helping to reduce building sway in super-tall buildings due to wind.

What’s Online

Read these online exclusive articles at www.ForConstructionPros.com/concrete.

Boom Pump Helps Revitalize One of Salt Lake City’s Oldest Neighborhoods Significant efforts to revitalize Sugar House, are underway with construction of Legacy Village, a 10-story mixed-use, senior living complex. Search: 12191446

Ground Penetrating Radar Can Save Money and Avoid Hazardous Conditions on Jobsites A few firms that provide concrete scanning services weigh in on the critical importance of locating embedded and or buried obstructions by scanning for these features using ground penetrating radar (GPR). Search: 12207064

www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete | June/July 2016 | Concrete Contractor 3

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EDITOR’S LETTER

Are you Ready to Polish your Skills?

E

FULL-DAY LEADERSHIP BOOT CAMP

Ryan Olson, Editor ROlson@ ACBusinessMedia.com (800) 538-5544

employee leaders to attend Brad Humphrey’s All-Day Leadership Boot Camp. This exclusive training opportunity drives developing the construction leader from the “inside-out.”

You’ll learn how to...

• Improve and refocus your personal leadership vision • Develop the confidence to take on the toughest on-the-job situations • Engage in a positive manner with the most challenging people Contractors, material providers, and equipment manufacturers need leaders who are confident in their leadership and can lead others to greater performance. This seminar will benefit anyone in a leadership role!

Brad Humphrey, is co-founder of Pinnacle Development Group and is known as The Contractor’s Best Friend. He is sought after as a speaker, trainer and coach for contractors of all sizes and specialties.

For more information on CP&S and the Full-Day Boot Camp with Brad, visit www.cpsconference.com.

We look forward to seeing you in Milwaukee in October!

On Wednesday, October 19, we invite all contractor owners and

Advisory Board

Follow us @ Concreteinsider

Kim Basham KB Engineering Cheyenne, Wyo.

Jim Cuviello Cuviello Concrete Polished|Stained|Crafted Stevensville, Md.

Jim Baty Concrete Foundations Association Mt. Vernon, Iowa

Chris Klemaske T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc. San Diego, Calif.

Search: Concrete Polishing

Dennis Purinton Purinton Builders, Inc. East Granby, Conn.

Joe Reardon Diamatic Orlando, Fla.

4 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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201 N. Main Street, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538 (800) 538-5544 • www.ACBusinessMedia.com

www.ForConstructionPros.com/Concrete PUBLICATION STAFF

arlier this year, we announced the launch of CP&S – the International Concrete Polishing and Staining Conference and Expo. Now, we’re excited to announce attendee registration is open!

The conference will take place October 20-22 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. CP&S offers something for all industry manufacturers and polishing professionals – including 20+ seminars, exhibits, product demonstrations and great networking opportunities.

The CP&S conference brings together a segment of the industry to discuss trends and techniques, allowing the industry to grow in a united direction. Whether you’re new to the industry or an experienced concrete polisher, CP&S is THE place to learn about the latest and greatest in the concrete polishing world.

For more information or to register to attend, visit http://www.cpsconference.com/#!registration/cnav.

If you are a manufacturer of products related to polished concrete, please contact me to learn how you can reserve your exhibit space. I can be reached at Rolson@ ACBusinessMedia.com.

Facebook.com/ ConcreteContractor

Published by AC Business Media Inc.

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Contributing Writers Senior Production Manager Art Director Audience Development Director Audience Development Manager

Vaughn Rockhold, (800) 538-5544, ext. 1248 vrockhold@ACBusinessMedia.com Ryan Olson, (800) 538-5544, ext. 1306 rolson@ACBusinessMedia.com Kim Basham, Jim Baty, Brad Humphrey, David C. Whitlock, Joe Nasvik Cindy Rusch April Van Etten Wendy Chady Angela Kelty

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PO Box 3605, Northbrook, IL 60065-3605, Phone: (877) 201-3915 Fax: (800) 543-5055 • circ.ConcreteContractor@omeda.com REPRINTS Vaughn Rockhold, (800) 538-5544, ext. 1248 or vrockhold@ACBusinessMedia.com LIST RENTAL Elizabeth Jackson, Account Executive, Merit Direct LLC, Phone: (847) 492-1350 ext. 18 Fax: (847) 492-0085 • ejackson@meritdirect.com AC BUSINESS MEDIA INC.

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Published and copyrighted 2016 by AC Business Media Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

CONCRETE CONTRACTOR (USPS 021-799, ISSN 1935-1887 (print); ISSN 2471-2302 (online) is published 7 times a year: January, February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November and December by AC Business Media Inc., 201 N. Main Street, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. Printed in the U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Fort Atkinson, WI, and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Concrete Contractor, PO Box 3605 Northbrook, IL 60065-3605 June/July 2016. Issue 4, Volume 16 One year subscription to nonqualified individuals: U.S. 1 year: $35, 2 years: $70. Canada & Mexico 1 year: $60, 2 years: $105. All other countries 1 year: $85, 2 years: $160 (payable in U.S. funds drawn on U.S. banks). Single copies available (prepaid only) $10.00 each (U.S., Canada & Mexico), $15.00 each (International).

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Concrete Contractor is the Official Media Sponsor of the CFA Foundation Company Certification Program

®

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WHY DO THE MOST SUCCESSFUL CONTRACTORS CHOOSE SCHWING?

Count on lowest cost of ownership with a Schwing truck or trailer mounted concrete pump. With the highest residual of any brand, you are making the right business decision while expanding your capabilities as a contractor. From residential concrete work to the tallest skyscrapers and largest commercial pours, Schwing Concrete Pumps mean business.

More Models Choose from 8 boom types including Roll and FoldÂŽ and Z-type in 14 lengths from 20 to 61-meters and stationary pumps with output from 25 to 150 cubic yards per hour. Supporting this line-up is a worldclass parts and service department developed over 45 years at our plant in Minnesota. Now that business is back, call us to find out how a Schwing can help grow your business.

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LEGAL MATTERS

David C. Whitlock has over 25 year’s experience in business immigration, compliance, employment counseling and training. He is the founding attorney of Whitlock Law LLC and can be reached at (404) 626-7011 or at davidcwhitlock@gmail.com.

By David C. Whitlock

New Overtime Rules to Take Effect December 1

For some contractors, it is a blessing as they will be done placing concrete for the year, but even those lucky few will want to prepare for next year.

A

s previously announced, the Department of Labor (DOL) will revise the salary test used to treat certain executive, administrative, and professional employees as exempt from overtime. The new regulations will be effective December 1, 2016.

The new minimum salary will be $913 per week or $47,476 per year.

According to the DOL, this figure represents the 40 th percentile of earnings of full-time salaried workers in the lowest wage Census region (the South).

The minimum salary will be adjusted (presumably upward) every three years beginning January 1, 2020 using the same 40 th percentile formula. This makes the minimum almost certain to rise as workers fall out of this group because of the new regulation and the earnings of the remaining group of workers go up.

DOL states that it will announce the change 150 days in advance of that date. This may become the subject of litigation, as some are predicting that the updates are subject to the Administrative Procedure Act’s Notice and Comment regulations and cannot be implemented unilaterally by DOL. The new regulations will permit you to use a non-discretionary bonus or other incentive to meet up to 10 percent of the salary

requirement, provided it is paid on a quarterly (or more frequent) basis. Really, this only lets you defer payments until the end of a quarter; you still have to meet the minimum salary requirement.

Although very rare, some contractors may employ “highly compensated” workers who do not meet any of the duties tests for an overtime exemption but are exempt based merely on their high salaries.

This test is changing also. The “highly compensated” threshold will increase from $100,000 to $134,004. This figure is based on the 90 th percentile of earnings of full-time salaried employees. This minimum will also be “updated” every three years.

DOL is estimating that over four million workers will no longer be exempt from overtime.

Many contractors have first-line supervisors who presently are exempt as managerial employees but will not be exempt in the

future because of this change in the minimum salary. Also, some contractors may have office workers who may have been exempt as managers or administrative workers but may not meet the new salary minimum. So what do you do?

Increase salary to meet the new minimum requirement.

This only makes sense if a currently exempt employee is making close to the minimum now. Note that this may

1

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require a “raise” every three years as the minimum requirement is adjusted upward.

2

3

Change their status to nonexempt. This strategy, probably best for those who are not presently earning close to the new minimum, requires that you pay overtime for hours worked over 40 per pay period. Remember that the burden is on you to prove that someone did not work overtime.

Also, you need to be concerned about first line supervisors driving time and time spent on their smart phone answering emails. You should consider adding a time clock or some other reliable method to track hours worked.

If someone regularly works more than 40 hours per pay period, consider reducing pay so that regular rate plus “time and a half” for overtime hours comes very close to their present rate of pay. You may also want to monitor closely their actual hours worked because you will be liable for any deviations from the “base salary” you set for these workers.

At the very least, you will need to carefully look at the pay plans for all exempt workers to make certain you are in compliance on December 1. It is also important to start work on these changes sooner rather than later. This is because affected workers may resent the change from exempt to nonexempt status and feel psychologically

that they are being demoted or placed in a “dead-end” job.

Regular communication with affected workers will be essential to preventing morale issues and a negative attitude toward your work or you. Of course, you can always blame the government, but

the reality is that most workers will feel that you are simply saving money at their expense. Still, it will be important for you to explain to workers that the government is compelling these changes and your compliance is necessary to save jobs for everyone.

by

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www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete | June/July 2016 | Concrete Contractor 7

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CHALLENGING THE SYSTEM

Ward R. Malisch, PE, PhD, FACI is concrete construction specialist for the American Society of Concrete Contractors. Reach him at wmalisch@ascconline.org.

Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One…

Bruce A. Suprenant, PE, PhD, FACI, is technical director for the American Society of Concrete Contractors.

Reach him at bsuprenant@ bsuprenant.com.

Anecdotes Masquerading as

I

DATA

n a previous position, Ward was reviewing a document that dealt with slab-on-ground construction.

One of that document’s co-authors—a staff engineer— had included a thickness tolerance of minus ¼ inch, plus 3/8 inch In talking with him, Ward suggested that even though this tolerance was published in ACI 117-90, “Tolerances for Concrete Construction and Materials,” it was seldom met.

That resulted in the following conversation: Staff engineer: “I disagree. Even the ¼-in. tolerance is too big. It should be 1/8-inch.”

Ward: “That’s really extreme.

The available data indicates there is a low probability of meeting the minus ¼-inch tolerance. Based on more than 2,000 core measurements on seven different projects, the average standard deviation for slab thickness is ½ inch. So the target thickness would have to be about 1-1/2 inch (three standard deviation units) greater than the design thickness, far exceeding the plus tolerance.”

Staff engineer: “It can be done!

I’ve done it.”

(End of conversation.)

Ward had just witnessed the use of a result based on one person’s experience: an anecdote. “An anecdote is really a data set with a sample size of only one. You have

no information to compare it to, no statistics to analyze, no possible explanations or information to go on—just a single story.”1 So lets’ examine the use of anecdotes.

David vs. Goliath Hebron win.

And we don’t think any concrete contractor could duplicate the minus1/8-inch tolerance accomplishment claimed by the staff engineer, if indeed there was any proof that it happened.

HASTY GENERALIZATIONS

THE PLURAL OF ANECDOTE IS NOT DATA

If one construction team including this engineer, excavating contractor, concrete producer, and concrete contractor had “done it,” does that mean that any construction team could do it? We think not. As with almost any group of competitors for a project, there are very good, average, and poor companies, with project superintendents that might also fall into those categories.

And within the population of contractors’ trades people— equipment operators, form setters, laborers, and finishers—we also find variations in skills, experience, and knowledge. Just because one group may have done it once doesn’t mean most contractors’ teams can do it.

Here’s a sports analogy to illustrate the point. Can a basketball team from a public school with only 98 students win a state championship while playing against teams from much larger schools? It happened in Illinois, where the term “March Madness” originated.

In 1952, Hebron High School won it all in a one-class tournament. Does that prove that small schools can compete on an equal footing with large schools in basketball? Nope. No small-school team in Illinois ever duplicated the

After Ward’s conversation, he wanted to ask how the staff engineer was certain he had done it—you know, as in “Show me the data.” Most often there is no data and, if there is, the result may be an outlier from the norm.

Don’t underestimate the power of anecdotes, however, especially if one is followed by a similar account in an association’s technical committee meeting. One anecdote from an esteemed industry authority, followed by a confirming eye-witness account from one or more other committee members, often seals the deal. It may be acceptable to make decisions based on anecdotes, in the absence of data, but when data become available these decisions should be based on real data from careful research.

CORRELATION DOES NOT IMPLY CAUSATION In a discussion about the advisability of placing concrete slabs-on-ground directly on a vapor retarder instead of a blotter layer, because the floors would be covered with a moisture-sensitive flooring material, the following discussion ensued:

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Participant 1: “I placed a concrete floor slab directly on a vapor retarder for a job in Colorado, and within hours, there were plastic shrinkage cracks all over the slab.”

Participant 2: “On what day of the week did you place that concrete?”

Participant 1: “Thursday.”

Participant 2: “Don’t ever place concrete directly on a vapor retarder on a Thursday.”

(End of conversation. Problem solved.)

OK. We made up part of that story. But too often people subscribe to the notion that correlation equals causation, based on an anecdote or two that seems to prove their point.

Sometimes the correlation between vapor retarders and plastic cracking is even supported by research2 that later proves to be of doubtful value because of atypical concrete properties.3 Here’s a takeaway, based on just one more example. We can say concrete strength decreases with an increase in concrete slump, but only with the assumption that slump is controlled by water content, and

all other factors affecting slump are unchanged. How likely is that?

There are many variables that affect concrete strength, and attributing a strength decrease to only one variable often masks the effect of a more important variable. Anecdotal information often results in the correlation-causation trap.

Again, data is king. With enough data we can better detect the more important variables that we hope can be controlled.

EPILOGUE In the revisions of the tolerance document following ACI 117-90, published in 2006, 2010, and 2015, the tolerance had changed. There was no plus thickness tolerance for slabs-onground, and the minus tolerance was based on a minimum of four samples per 5,000 square feet of slab. The allowable average thickness of all slab samples was minus 3/8 inch, and no individual sample thickness could be

less than minus ¾ inch of the design thickness. For a six-inch-thick slab the average thickness should not be less than 5-5/8 inch and no individual sample should be less than 5-3/4 inch Even this more lenient tolerance is difficult to meet but at least data, not anecdotes, convinced the committee that a change was needed.

When someone tries to persuade you by telling you an anecdote, just say: “Show me the data.”

REFERENCES: 1. Rumsey, Deborah, Statistics for Dummies, Wiley Publishing, Inc., 2011, pp. 40 and 330.

2. Nicholson, L. P., “How to Minimize Cracking and Increase Strength of Slabs on Grade,” Concrete Construction, Sept., 1981, pp. 739-741.

3. Suprenant, Bruce A., “Vapor Barriers Under Concrete Slabs,” Concrete Construction, April 1992, pp. 292-296.

www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete | June/July 2016 | Concrete Contractor 9

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NEW PRODUCTS Dayton Superior Pro-Poxy 500 Anchoring Gel Pro-Poxy 500 is ideal for anchoring dowels, bolts, threaded rod, pins and reinforcement steel in cracked and uncracked concrete as well as other substrates including stone and solid rock.

It has been tested to ICCES AC308, ESR-3959 and is certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 61 by IAPMO R&T. • Anchoring threaded rod and reinforcing bar (rebar) into either cracked or uncracked concrete • For use in vertical down, horizontal, upwardly inclined and overhead installations • Installs in temperatures between 40°F and 104°F (5°C and 40°C).

• Low VOC, with virtually no odor, styrene free ForConstructionPros.com/12208415

MAPEI Introduces Mapeproof and Mapethene Below-Grade Waterproofing Systems MAPEI Corporation introduced its BelowGrade Waterproofing product line to the North American construction market at the 2016 World of Concrete show.

• Mapeproof membranes are constructed using a layer of woven and nonwoven, puncture- and tear-resistant polypropylene fabrics. Encased within these fabrics is high-swelling, self-sealing sodium bentonite.

Mapeproof membranes are offered in a standard-grade version (Mapeproof HW) and an alternate grade designed specifically for sites where contaminated or salt groundwater is present (Mapeproof SW).

ForConstructionPros.com/12177385 •

PROSOCO Rolls Out a Roller-grade FastFlash A new roller-grade version of PROSOCO’s popular R-Guard FastFlash fluid-applied flashing membrane is now available. The new product features all the same performance characteristics as the original, gungrade version of FastFlash, but with properties that are ideal for rollergrade applications. This advance in the R-Guard line of fluid-applied technology is designed to accommodate customers who prefer roller-grade applications of fluid-applied air and water barriers. Users will notice an improved, streamlined production of waterproofing applications, which in turn can bring down labor costs.

• Roller-grade FastFlash will be available in two-gallon pails, while the standard gun-grade FastFlash will continue to be sold in sausages and cartridges.

• The roller-grade version of FastFlash will also be distinguishable by the label, which will be clearly marked, “Roller-Grade.”

ForConstructionPros.com/12204160

KEMPEROL Cold Liquid-applied Membrane Waterproofing Systems Kemper System offers high-performance solutions for new and existing concrete projects including: Roof decks, parking decks, basements, balconies, terraces, planters and walkways. The liquid-applied KEMPEROL reinforced waterproofing membrane systems can conform to any shape, making it easy to seal around multiple penetrations, curbs and perimeters. They can also perform below grade and even under ponding water.

• Systems include the solvent- and odor-free KEMPEROL 2K PUR, ideal for most applications including occupied buildings, “green roof” gardens and “blue roof” rainwater detention systems.

• The new KEMPEROL Reflect 2K FR “cool roof” system, ideal for concrete roof decks, helps manage building energy from the top.

• Designed for extended life, KEMPEROL systems offer proven performance for commercial and residential properties, schools and universities, healthcare facilities, and government buildings and projects.

ForConstructionPros.com/12164078

New Tomography Software for Cross Hole Sonic Logging: PDI-Tomo Pile Dynamics has released the new PDITomo software for analysis of Crosshole Sonic Logging (CSL) data. The program replaces an older tomography program, with significant advantages. Crosshole Sonic Logging evaluates the integrity of the concrete of drilled shafts and other bored or cast-in-place deep foundations. Ultrasonic transmitters and receivers are inserted in the foundation and an instrument such as the Pile Dynamics’ brand CHAMPXV collects the data.

Its software CHA-W analyses the propagation of the waves emitted by the transmitters, indicating potential concrete problems.

ForConstructionPros.com/12201889

AC•Tech Epoxy Primer Cartridges for Moisture Mitigation AC•Tech, a manufacturer of specialty epoxy primers for commercial floor prep, debuted a plural component cartridge/static mixer kit for its moisture mitigation systems at World of Concrete 2016.The Moisture Mitigation epoxies are available in easy to use cartridges that can be used with either a manual or electric caulk gun.

• Eliminates the need to “short-mix” a larger bucket of material ForConstructionPros.com/12178088

10 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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KEEP DUST UNDER CONTROL WITH THE DEX SYSTEM DEX is a dust management system developed by Husqvarna Construction Products to control water and dust created while cutting concrete, asphalt and other materials. The DEX system uses a progressive water valve that is fitted with distinct end positions, making it easy to set the exact water flow for any application, which minimizes water consumption and slurry. The DEX system allows contractors to use portable water tanks, such as the 4-gallon, battery operated WT 15, for much longer and therefore increasing cutting time while still controlling dust.

To learn more, contact your Husqvarna sales representative or visit our website www.husqvarnacp.com.

facebook.com/husqvarnaconstruction

youtube.com/husqvarnaCP

Copyright Š 2016 Husqvarna AB (publ.). All rights reserved. Husqvarna is a registered trademark of Husqvarna AB (publ.).

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SPECIAL REPORT

By Mark Michaels

OSHA Silica Final Rule: A Manufacturer’s Perspective Manufacturers are here to help work together and move forward with the ruling to support the contractor and the construction industry.

“O

SHA”, “PELs”, “Silica” and “Final Ruling” are major buzz words right now in the construction industry.

Since OSHA released the final ruling on crystalline silica exposure on March 24, 2016, the industry has been buzzing with questions about whether or not it is fair to contractors and other “what if” questions.

The existence of crystalline silica and the hazards it can cause to a worker’s body—lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease—has been known for decades. The OSHA ruling is revising the amount of crystalline silica a worker should be exposed to. The key takeaways of the ruling include: • The permissible exposure limit will be set at 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, averaged over an eight hour shift.

• Employers will be required to take measures to control silica, either through using water, ventilation or providing respirators. Employers will also be required to limit the amount of time a worker can be exposed to hazardous environments, write an exposure control plan,

offer medical exams to highly exposed workers and train workers on the risks and how to avoid silica dust.

• OSHA will provide help to employers.

The OSHA ruling places a lot of weight on the contractor’s shoulders, but manufactures are here to step in to help. As a manufacturer of products that cut concrete and brick, two major sources of crystalline silica, we are always trying to find the best solution for our customers—from both an efficiency standpoint and from a worker’s view. Husqvarna Construction Products along with other manufacturers in the industry

The recently introduced MS 360 masonry saw is also equipped with a water system. The patented water containment system keeps water, slurry and debris controlled; resulting in a nearly dry block or brick for faster utilization.

Photo Credit: Husqvarna Construction Prodcuts

have been working to develop ways to suppress the silica and keep workers more safe. The OSHA ruling gives a more precise indication of just how much dust will need to be reduced with the established permissible exposure limit (PEL) and microns of silica dust per cubic yard of air.

12 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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We build more than a brand We build quality equipment.

MK Diamond Products manufactures a full line of professional concrete saws.

SRX-150 Early Entry

CX-3® Series 14” Walk-Behind

Honda Engine Depth of Cut: 1-1/8”

Honda, Kohler or Subaru Engine or Leeson Motor Depth of Cut: 5-1/2”

FEaturES: • “Upcut” blade rotation facilitates in keeping the debris out of the joint • Triangular shaped arbor • 4-inch wide, polyurethane wheels for nonmarking • Skid plate minimizes joint chipping and spalling • Lifting point for easy transport

MK-1600 Series 18” Walk-Behind Honda, Kohler, Subaru, Vanguard Engine or Baldor Motor Depth of Cut: 6-5/8”

FEaturES: • One-piece box construction chassis made from 3/16” hot-rolled steel will not flex during operation • Blade guard mounts on both left or right side and cuts within 2” of wall • Cast-aluminum hinged blade guard

Phone: 1.800.421.5830 MADE IN USA

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• www.mkdiamond.com

FEaturES: • Compact, lightweight, engineered for maneuverability and reliability • Can be used for wet or dry cutting • Corrosion resistant cast-aluminum blade guard • Built-in water distribution system supplies water to both sides of blade

MK-3000 Series Gas Saws 20”, 26” or 30” Self-Propelled

Vanguard, Kohler or Subaru Gas Engine Depth of Cut: 20” Blade: 7-1/2”, 26” Blade: 10-1/2”, 30” Blade: 12-1/2” FEaturES: • Totally enclosed and sealed blade shaft with continuous oil bath lubrication system • Quick release, auto-latching bayonet mount blade guard • Three position adjustable solid steel handlebars • Blade guard uses “ride on the blade” water tubes for superior water delivery and blade cooling

• An American, family owned company since 1868

© 2016 MK Diamond Products, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Images and specifications are subject to change without notice.

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SPECIAL REPORT EQUIPMENT FEATURES First, let’s explore suppressing dust with water. Workers cutting concrete or brick are the ones most affected by the OSHA ruling and handheld power cutters or masonry saws are used for this type of work.

On handheld power cutters, a lot of manufacturers use water to reduce dust. The trick is to use just enough water to bind the dust, but not so much water as to create a lot of slurry.

If workers are cutting pavers or bricks, you also do not want a lot of water saturating the piece to the point that the mortar won’t adhere properly.

This is why manufacturers try to control the amount of water, for example: Husqvarna Construction Products’ power cutters are equipped with a dust management system called DEX. DEX features a progressive water valve that is fitted with distinct end positions, making it easy to set the exact water flow for any application, which minimizes water consumption and slurry. The main benefit to contractors may be in the use of portable water tanks, such as spray bottles. Husqvarna also has a battery powered four-gallon tank, the WT 15, that provides continual pressure for water delivery. Traditional watering systems use a lot of water and portable tanks run out too soon, but the DEX system allows for much longer use with portable systems.

The recently introduced MS 360 masonry saw is also equipped with a water system. Its patented water containment system keeps water, slurry and debris controlled; resulting in a nearly dry block or brick for faster utilization. The water used is stored within the saw, so workers do not have to carry multiple pieces of equipment.

The use of vacuums to reduce dust before it spreads into the air is another popular way to remove the crystalline silica from the environment. Vacuums are one of the best solutions when workers need to operate without water – such as when grinding concrete in surface preparation applications. Vacuums

Husqvarna Construction Products’ power cutters are equipped with a dust management system called DEX. DEX features a progressive water valve that is fitted with distinct end positions, making it easy to set the exact water flow for any application, which minimizes water consumption and slurry.

Photo Credit: Husqvarna Construction Prodcuts

are equipped with multiple filters to take care of small particulate matter and collect it for easy removal.

TRAINING MATERIALS Another way manufacturers can help workers is through training. Training and teaching workers how to be safer with silica and why it is important to use equipment that suppresses dust is important for their safety. Operator’s manuals that accompany equipment are useful tools for safety and training.

Documentation includes information on dust levels and how specific levels have been identified.

In addition to the operator’s manual, online user guides for handheld power cutters and other equipment are excellent for tailgate training session on location. Both professional concrete cutters and masons as well as the rental customer can understand and benefit from these guides.

Contractors can also reach out to the manufacturer or their dealers who offer training and can usually accommodate individual contractors with on-site demonstrations and safety tips.

WHAT CAN CONTRACTORS DO NOW? Before the ruling is fully implemented, there are several items contractors can start doing now to help with the transition.

The first is to take a step back and start observing how you or your operators are working.

• Are you cutting dry? If so, is there

a lot of airborne dust generated?

• What can you do with your current equipment to reduce dust?

• What (if any) additional new equipment may be needed to comply? This could be the addition of a portable water tank, vacuum, etc.

• Are you using any type of protective equipment – safety glasses, hearing protection, respirators?

• How long are your operators working?

By critiquing current methods and environments now, contractors can start to see where the OSHA ruling might affect a typical workday.

Contractors can start taking steps to reduce the amount of dust by perhaps introducing equipment that helps protect the worker from silica exposure – by using water, ventilation and respirators. Another option would be to limit the amount of time operators are exposed to a dusty environment. If contractors start now to test some solutions for productivity, and find what works for them business, they will be ready for full implementation in 2017.

OSHA’s silica website, www.osha. gov/silica, is another resource available to learn more of the specifics on the ruling and the available assistance OSHA is providing construction businesses.

Ed. Note: Mark Michaels is the Director of Product Management – Equipment at Husqvarna Construction Products.

14 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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SPECIAL REPORT

By Ben Kruse

OSHA’s New Rule for Silica Dust and Using It’s here, OSHA has issued their new rule for silica dust. While the mention of any regulation is enough to inspire groans from employer and workers alike, you may not be as far from compliance as you think. In fact, some equipment already commonly used may help get you in compliance if you keep one thing in mind — Table 1.

W

hat is Table 1? First it’s important to understand that the rule lays out two options for controlling dust.

Option 1 is, in short, control silica with your own methods and then

PulseBac Dust Grabber

Table 1 to Comply

measure your employee’s silica exposure through medical testing and other methods, which can be complicated and expensive. If exposure is at or above OSHA’s requirement, you have to find better methods. Option 2 is to follow the dust control methods in Table 1 of the new rule. With Option 1, you’re basically saying, “I’ve got my own way to control silica dust” and you’re going to take the time and expense to test your idea. If your idea works you are set, but if not, you do it again until you’re in compliance. For many businesses this isn’t going to be very practical making Option 2 (Table 1) the better choice. Plus, according to OSHA’s fact sheet, those who follow Table 1 correctly

are not required to measure workers’ exposure to silica and are not subject to the PEL. Table 1 shows dust control methods for many common operations. For stationary masonry saws, hand saws, walk-behind and drivable saws as well as rigmounted core saws/drills, these tools must be equipped with an integrated water delivery system that continuously feeds water to the blade or bit.

Many models of saws and drills include this feature from the factory and aftermarket kits can be purchased for older models. This makes compliance on these operations pretty straight forward. However, other operations have different requirements.

HEPA filters provide the best protection.

16 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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SPECIAL REPORT Things like cutting fiber cement board, tuck-pointing, dowel drilling and using handheld and standmounted drills require a dust shroud and a connection to a dust collector.

Jackhammers and chipping tools like hammer drills as well as handheld grinders and walk-behind floor grinders can use water or a dust collector.

An interesting point are the requirements Table 1 places on handheld grinders for tuck-pointing and for “other purposes”. It states the vacuum should have 25 cfm per inch of blade diameter. So for example, Pulse-Bac recommends a 550 model vacuum that produces 124 cfm for tuck-pointing with a four to five inch grinding wheel, meeting the Table 1 standard. That same 550 model previously worked great for a grinder with a seven inch cup wheel.

However, according to the new rule, the seven-inch grinder would now require 51 more cfm for a total of 175 cfm, even though before the 550

Pulse-Bac 550

had been a very effective solution. Now the user must move up to something like a Pulse-Bac 1150 model, which is not only more powerful, but larger overall.

Along with the requirement for using a dust collector, Table 1 also places requirements on the dust collector itself. The following appears almost everywhere a dust collector is called for.

“(The)dust collector must provide the air flow recommended by the tool manufacturer, or greater, and have a filter with 99 percent or greater efficiency and a filter-cleaning mechanism”.

To better define what this means we’ll look to the text preceding Table 1. First let’s address filter efficiency. The text shows that OSHA had originally considered requiring HEPA filters like those used with lead paint & asbestos, which provide 99.97 percent filter efficiency at .3 microns, since they provide better respiratory protection. However, OSHA found that many HEPA filters clog quickly and that there were more filter options close to HEPA available, allowing the standard to be more easily implemented. This is why OSHA went with a lower filter efficiency of 99 percent. However, vacuums like Pulse-Bac feature HEPA filters to provide the best protection and with the automatic pulse cleaning, filter clogging is a nonissue regardless of filter efficiency.

So, when you’re looking at filtration

Pulse-Bac 1150

from a compliance standpoint, while a HEPA filter will provide better protection, you’re only obligation is a filter that provides at least 99 percent filtration(X). The table is ambiguous as to the particle size(Y) to be filtered (filter efficiency = X% at Y micron), but to be safe it may be good to find something in the 0.3-0.9 micron range, as this would fit what is discussed in the preceding text.

Now let’s look at the second part of the requirement, that the dust collector be equipped with a filter-cleaning mechanism. A “filtercleaning mechanism” could mean a lot of different things, so we need to interpret what the expectation may be. Here again we turn to preceding text. There we find OSHA saw that fine silica dust would quickly clog standard vacuums. They looked at data from NIOSH:

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“NIOSH pointed out that a reverse pulse feature on a dust collector should preclude the need to remove filters for cleaning. OSHA agrees and has included the specification for a filter cleaning mechanism”.

Other statements provide further insight “The filter(s) on the

vacuum must be cleaned or changed as frequently as necessary in order to ensure they remain effective (it may be necessary to activate a back-pulse filter cleaning mechanism several times during the course of a shift).” and “ regular stops to conduct the proper reverse air pulse filter cleaning procedure were crucial ...”.

This makes it clear that filter cleaning is an important part of the requirement of Table 1 and the filters will need to be cleaned frequently to be in compliance. While this may slow work down, a vacuum with an automatic pulse cleaning feature will eliminate the need for monitoring and work stoppage for manual cleaning.

Table 1 seems to show, although now regulated, a lot of these requirements can be met with fairly common practices. For example, many people already use a vacuum with a concrete grinder. Now they just need to make sure it has the right filter efficiency, a filter cleaning mechanism and the correct cfm. They might want a vacuum that does the

work of filter cleaning automatically to avoid frequently stopping work to push a button, shake or change a filter; or the convenience of a water recycling system for operations with water system requirements. However, these are things that provide benefit and convenience regardless of the rule. So although the change may seem big on the surface, the reality is many items that previously just made work healthier may now make compliance easy as well.

Ed. Note: Ben Kruse is the marketing director for Pulse-Bac. He can be reached at BenKruse@ cdclarue.com.

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www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete | June/July 2016 | Concrete Contractor 19

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COVER STORY

By James R. Baty II

Coming Out On TOP:

CFA’s Projects of the Year Elevate Craftsmanship Each winter, the Concrete Foundations Association opens a competition to its membership for a broad spectrum of cast-in-place concrete projects. These projects evidence the skill, quality, craftsmanship and at times creativity of today’s cast-in-place contractor. This year’s Grand Project of the Year sets new standards for aesthetic value in residential structural concrete work.

T

he “Great Recession” now firmly in the rearview mirror has left an indelible fingerprint on today’s concrete contracting company. This fingerprint evidences the extreme resiliency of the American concrete contractor when everything is on the line. It also evidences, through such resiliency, the creativity to apply experience and ability toward new, unique work when necessary. In the end, it is often this uniqueness that becomes a new expertise and ultimately supports

20 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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Photo Credit: Concrete Foundations Association

GRAND PROJECT OF THE YEAR The Nowak Residence – SCW Footings & Foundations Single Family Residence Foundation > 5,000 sq.ft., Salt Lake City, Utah

new architectural trends.

Taking the top honors in this year’s CFA Projects of the Year competition is a large residential foundation combined with abovegrade concrete features set in the Salt Lake City, Utah region. The project is one in a cascading series of projects evidencing a transformation of style, construction practice and collaboration for the team at SCW Footings & Foundations. President and CEO, Kirby Justesen talks candidly about the maturation of a more architectural trend for the residential concrete in his market.

“This residence is really one of a great many we’ve had our hands in over the last several years,” states Justesen. “The architecture in our market has changed to a contemporary or more modern style. We have been working hard to transform our business to be responsive to the desires of the

home owners and collaborative with architects to achieve constructions we believe are much more timeless.”

Natural concrete, while easily considered a more brutal or raw form of architecture from the Post Modernism period, is proving to be the signature form and finish to simplify residential structures and create a strong, warm and aesthetic framework for the living spaces. Justesen and the team at SCW have delved into the forming and patterning of concrete in new ways to remain economical with their modular forming systems while optimizing the architectural creativity of concrete.

“The Nowak residence implemented board form as a selected concrete finish,” continues Justesen. “This is one finish we have put considerable effort into since the recession to achieve greater variety and creativity.” After much work developing the technique and perfecting the process of selecting and preparing the wood for the forming process, they began small and have progressed to some very impressive concrete works with an exposed board form texture on the interior as well as exterior, below and above grade.

“This was certainly a complex job this past year based on sheer size and square footage alone,” states John Graber, estimator for SCW. “However, when you add in the board formed concrete throughout the entire project, it more than doubles labor time for the project and is complicated by things like wood source and quality. The best way to overcome these challenges were to make sure everything and everyone was on the same page regarding schedule,

final expectations as well as communication.”

The Nowak Residence consists of technical challenges including multiple footing steps accounting for a total of 34 feet of vertical change in footing elevation throughout the project.

These footings total 1,024 linear feet of continuous ranging from 24 inches to 48 inches wide and many 36 inch square up to 96 inch square footing pads, all with cast-in-place moment frame baseplates.

Not surprisingly, due to the extreme elevation changes, this project has 15 different wall heights and six different wall thicknesses throughout.

With these walls, the biggest factor by far for complexity, was the application of the architectural board form finish. All exterior exposed faces of the foundation wall were designed to receive the board form finish. SCW individually stapled over 3,000 square feet of 4-inch, 6-inch, 8-inch and 12-inch wide pine planks to achieve an enhanced wood grain texture in the concrete. The finished aesthetic became the signature statement in the interior design for the home owner.

When asked about the approach to this project specifically coming from the culture of their company, Graber had this to say; “When we were awarded the job, we immediately placed one of our best project managers in charge of the project, one with a vast knowledge of complex jobs and who was instrumental in our board form application. We assigned our best crew leader and crew to the job to

THE NOWAK RESIDENCE PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS: • Size (Total Lin.Ft.): 1,082 • Size (Total Sq.Ft.): 8,408 • Walls (Total Yds.): 450+ • Footings (Total Yds.): 200+ • Walls (Total Steel): 450+ • Footings (Total Yds.): 200+ • Walls (Total Steel): 47,000 lbs.

• Footings (Total Steel): 5,700 lbs • Wall Heights (Ft. and In.): 4’ – 20’ • Wall Thickness (Ft. and In.): 8” – 24” Continued on page 24

www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete | June/July 2016 | Concrete Contractor 21

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COVER STORY ensure consistency. Technically, the project was re-drawn in house in CAD, per the architect’s plans, in order to prepare for layout; determine wall heights; and create schedules for all bucks, blockouts and any straps, bolts, embed plates, etc. out the top of walls. When we got into the field, this CAD preparation led directly to extremely accurate layout using the Leica Geosystems (CFA Member) iCONstruct robot/software.

The project was scheduled weeks in advance to ensure that all parties were prepared and ready.”

The Nowak Residence was selected as the Grand Project of the Year by popular vote through CFA’s website at www.cfawalls.org. It also was the winning entry in the Single Family Foundations > 5,000 sq.ft. This project was also selected at the World of Concrete as the Best in Show for 2016 by visitors to the CFA booth.

HOWELL MILL – HERBERT CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Commercial Structure — Atlanta, Georgia Since 2010, companies have been submitting commercial projects to the CFA’s annual Projects of the Year competition to evidence the growth that has occurred of cast-in-place foundation technology and expertise throughout those larger or broader markets. Often awarded are very large and deep, as well as challenging foundation systems in urban settings.

This year, popular vote has selected

HOWELL MILL PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS: • Size: (Total Lin.Ft.): 219 • Size: (Total Sq.Ft.): 1,800 • Walls: (Total Yds.): 106 • Footings: (Total Yds.): 25.5 • Total steel (Footings and Walls): #4 – 9,303 lin. ft.; #5 – 8,975 lin. ft.; #6 – 305 lin. ft.

• Wall Heights: (Ft. and In.): Five total from 9’-3” to 18’-6” (sloped down to 6’-4”) • Wall Thickness: (Ft. and In.): Four total from 8” to 16” a strong architectural application for cast-in-place concrete for Howell Mill. Submitted and constructed

by Herbert Construction Company of Marietta, Georgia, the project consisted of concrete work on two separate buildings within a retail and restaurant complex, including an exposed concrete wall with a challenging arched opening.

The first building required highly technical work from the Herbert Construction team to achieve an architectural concrete wall serving as the focal point of the entire project.

“The architect and owner were very specific about the look they wanted for the architectural wall,” states Amanda Morris, Vice President of Operations for Herbert Construction Company.

“We chose an MDO plywood forming system to form the wall and accessed the experience of our fir’s Vice President. of Construction, Mike Herbert, to lead this method. Forms for each wall section were built on

the ground and tilted up into place with our boom truck. A form tie hole pattern was selected to provide an aesthetic, uniform appearance.”

One side of the concrete wall will be experienced as shoppers ascend a stairway attached to the wall. The other face of the wall will be seen at the pedestrian level by visitors to the complex. A large, 12-foot-2½inch radius opening was created in the 18 foot-six-inch tall architectural wall, which restaurant-goers will walk through to enter the trendy restaurant on the ground floor.

Squeezed into a very tight location, the second building involved concrete footings and walls to create a Terrace Level foundation.

Herbert Construction was required to shore the existing soil to allow for a safe working area for crews. The main level floor itself consisted of concrete placed on metal decking. This floor is supported by 168 linear feet of continuous angle cast-in the top of the 12-foot tall wall. The wall also contained 18 embedded beam plates in the face of the wall, and 80 anchor bolts in the top of the wall for steel columns as well as a cast-in door frame and three window openings.

Placing the concrete for these walls was challenging as both consisted of double mat steel reinforcement bars and vertical contraction joints with waterstop. “We consulted with the general contractor through several variations of this project over the course of two years,” states Doug Herbert, President of Herbert Construction Co. “Once the development was finally released for construction, he knew we were the ideal concrete contractor for this type of project.”

The hard work paid off and while not as large as some commercial projects receiving recognition in The Nowak residence implemented board form as a selected concrete finish. The contractor has put considerable effort into this type of finish to achieve greater variety and creativity.

Photo Credit: Concrete Foundations Association

24 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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this program or seen throughout the industry as a whole, this was a highly technical project. “This project required more pre-planning than projects we’ve done that were many times larger,” states Morris. “The general contractor, architect and owner were all extremely happy with the appearance of the architectural concrete wall that we constructed.

The architect stated that it was the best architectural concrete wall he has seen, and asked us to look at other projects in his pipeline, including a project in Florida,” states Herbert.

DELP FOUNDATION – CUSTOM CONCRETE COMPANY Single Family Residence Foundation 2,000 to 5,000 sq.ft. — Greenwood, Indiana The average size home in the United States last year reached 2,600 square feet according to the Census Bureau. Receiving the popular vote for

top residential foundation in this size range, however, was a project that certainly can’t be considered average or ordinary, the Delp Residence completed by Custom Concrete Company out of Westfield, Indiana.

The signature for this foundation project is quickly evident in the four walls with radius sections, all having significant dimensions, the largest radius which was 270 degrees. “The biggest challenge we face on these projects is always the difficulty of the layout and forming for the radius walls,” states Jason Ells, Executive Director of Operations for Custom Concrete. “We find it essential to start with good, consistent communication on the project and developing our own thorough CAD drawings. These allow us to communicate any issues effectively with the project team and ultimately send clean CAD prints and points for the robotic layout system out to the field.”

The walls for this residence were

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“We were referred this job based on our commitment to quality and consistency,” states Ells. “We

DELP FOUNDATION PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS: • Size (Total Lin.Ft.): 841 • Size (Total Sq.Ft.): 4,846 • Walls (Total Yds.): 136 • Footings (Total Yds.): 68 • Walls (Total Steel): 3,300 lbs.

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www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete | June/July 2016 | Concrete Contractor 25

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COVER STORY The Howell Mill project consisted of concrete work on two separate buildings within a retail and restaurant complex, including an exposed concrete wall with a challenging arched opening.

Photo Credit: Concrete Foundations Association

approached it with the same scrutiny and quality control that we do each and every project. When we were all taught to ‘measure twice and cut once’, we take that to heart and make sure that every move is planned, calculated and double-checked to make sure it is delivered intentionally for a satisfied customer.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS This year, two additional projects were selected to receive honorable mention from the popular voting taking place at both the World of Concrete and online through the CFA’s website. Those projects were both single-family residential foundations in the > 5,000 sq.ft. category submitted by Doggett Concrete (Kingswood) and Herbert Construction Company (Private Residence).

MORE INFORMATION “CFA Projects of the Year” is an exclusive and free opportunity for members of the Association to submit and display their pride in quality of design, craftsmanship and achievement. Projects are submitted each winter for presentation by popular vote at the World of Concrete and online. For more information on these projects, visit the “CFA Projects of the Year” at CFA’s website, www.cfawalls. org under Recognition, where you will find more images and facts for this year’s winners, the historical archives for the competition and information on the competition itself including voting basis and entry guidelines.

If you would like more information, please contact CFA Executive Director, James Baty, phone (866) 232-9255 or jbaty@ cfawalls.org.

The Delp Foundation Project featured four walls with radius sections. The largest radius was 270-degrees.

Photo Credit: Concrete Foundations Association

26 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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DECORATIVE CONCRETE

7

Coatings for Exterior Decorative Concrete

You have a choice when choosing the right coating for the job. Here are seven common coating chemistries along with their relationship to environmental conditions and exterior decorative concrete.

I

By John Fauth

am a golf enthusiast, which seems completely unrelated to the coatings industry. But if we take a closer you’ll see they actually have quite a lot in common.

To begin, every golf course is unique and so is every concrete substrate. Different designs, different finishes, different hazards… you can’t expect to treat them all the same. Even when playing the same course or coating the same substrate, environmental conditions impact our expectations and outcomes. Humidity and precipitation, air movement, temperature, whether the substrate/turf is wet or dry.

. .these are variables that change day by day, or even hour by hour.

When golfing, I make choices about techniques that optimize my chances for a successful shot. . .a higher or lower ball flight; adjusting my alignment; cutting distance off a dogleg. Those choices might be analogous to coating applications that avoid high winds or temperatures; conditioning my product to an acceptable temperature; waiting until the temperature is sufficiently above the dew point. These are accommodations we make because we can’t control the environment.

But there is something we CAN control. There are 14 clubs in my golf bag that I can choose from to optimize my results based upon the conditions of the course and the environment. If I dropped a ball in an identical spot on three consecutive days, it’s quite possible I might choose three different clubs based upon those changing conditions.

No golfer can play consistently well using only one club, and no contractor can consistently produce acceptable outcomes using only one coating.

WATER-BASED ACRYLICS Water-based acrylics form harder, more chemically resistant coatings, are more tolerant of higher temperatures, and not prone to bubbling as compared to their solvent-based offsets. They are good choices for decorative concrete that may be exposed to various automobile fluids or foods and beverages that may cause staining, or for use on hot, windy days.

Those qualities must be weight against their reduced gloss levels and color development integral colors and stains, and inability to easily

wet out antiquing releases used on stamped concrete. Some clients will appreciate those characteristics and others won’t. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Their solvent resistance means they are not easily recoatable or “repairable” and traditional repair techniques using xylene are not effective. This chemistry is also impacted by high humidity and/ or low temperatures, which delay evaporation and coalescence, which can result in a lack of film formation and complete coating failure if coalescing solvents evaporate before the water.

SOLVENT-BASED ACRYLICS The solvent component in these products help produce unique aesthetic qualities often preferred on decorative concrete. They wet out antiquing release agents, deepen and enrich integral colors and/or stains, and can produce satin/matte to very high gloss finishes. Those are qualities that will appeal to many decorative concrete clients, but not all of them.

These are lacquer systems that will re-solvate when exposed to solvents. That’s a desirable quality when re-applying sealer or repairing damaged sealer, but can be a problem if installed in an environment prone to frequent solvent exposures.

Solvent-based acrylic products, particularly those that use exempt solvents to meet state VOC limitations, can be tricky to use in hot and windy conditions. Exempt solvents evaporate rapidly which can increase the likelihood of bubble formation (immediately following application, or overnight) and excess film thickness that leads to “whitening” or delamination.

28 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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DECORATIVE CONCRETE NON-YELLOWING ACRYLICS The term “non-yellowing” is based upon ASTM C1315 references to the Gardner Scale as a means of rating the color stability of resins that undergo 336 hours of accelerated UV exposure. Following the test, products are categorized as Class A (non-yellowing), Class B (moderate yellowing) or Class C (unrestricted yellowing).

Unfortunately, it’s common for manufacturers to use styrene-acrylic blends when formulating acrylic cures and sealers. The styrene component lowers costs and improves curing efficiency, but also yellows/browns with UV exposure. Added UV inhibitors act as sponges to absorb UV and delay yellowing. But just like sponges that absorb water, these UV inhibitors can only absorb so much before they become ineffective and the styrene resin begins to yellow/brown.

If they make it through 336 hours of UV exposure, they’re Class A

non-yellowing and whatever happens at 337 hours or beyond does not change that designation. This is a real deficiency in the ASTM C1315 specification as it relates to decorative concrete, where color shift is unacceptable and sealers are applied more frequently.

As a result, it’s advisable to use a fully non-yellowing resin (pure acrylic, siliconized-acrylic or methacrylate) rather than a resin that’s formulated to “beat the test” (styrene-acrylic blend).

recoatable on decorative concrete, and require an abraded, roughened surface prior to reapplication. This isn’t always possible or desirable on decorative concrete, particularly profiled versions such as stamped or exposed aggregate.

They’re also not very “breathable” chemistries which is a real problem on exterior concrete that is characterized by plenty of subsurface moisture transmission that needs to pass through the coating. Although these products bond tenaciously to the concrete and are not likely to “whiten” or delaminate, they can trap moisture that will place stresses on the substrate surface.

If the surface is weak, or exposed to freeze/thaw, this can result in spalling or delamination of the substrate itself.

All things considered, polyaspartics and polyureas may be good choices for use on vertical decorative concrete in exterior applications and less so for horizontal.

POLYASPARTICS & POLYUREAS These chemistries are very durable and UV stable with excellent aesthetic qualities. Like solventbased acrylics they will wet out antiquing release agents use on stamped concrete, deepen and enrich the appearance of integrally colored or stained concrete, and can produce matte to high gloss finishes.

Regrettably they are not easily

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30 Concrete Contractor | June/July 2016 | www.forconstructionpros.com/concrete

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EPOXIES Epoxies are hard, durable and very attractive coatings. When used in the proper environment they look great and perform well for a long time. But this chemistry is characterized by the same re-coatability and breathability issues as polyaspartics and polyureas.

More importantly, epoxies are not typically UV stable and are likely to yellow/brown when used on exterior decorative concrete. Consequently, epoxies are good choices as primers for pigmented top coatings on exterior concrete, rather than the top coat itself.

URETHANES Urethanes are very UV stable, durable, aesthetically attractive and available in a wide variety of pigments.

Their deficiencies include an intolerance for the high alkalinity of concrete and need for a primer such as epoxy.

Although urethanes are very breathable, the epoxy primer is not.

This system will also require abrasion prior to re-coating.

Epoxy/urethane systems work well on vertical decorative concrete in exterior applications, but would not often be a good choice for horizontal use.

SILICONES/SILANES/ SILOXANES/SILICATES Products using these chemistries can have marvelous protective characteristics and breathability, making them ideal for use on concrete exposed to freeze/thaw cycling and deicing chemicals. However, penetrating chemistries do not possess the aesthetic qualities often desired for decorative concrete. They will not deepen/enrich integrally colored or stained concrete, do not produce a gloss, and provide no stain resistance. As a result, they are better suited for use on broom or trowel

finished concrete in freeze/thaw environments.

EDUCATE YOURSELF Always consult the manufacturer’s technical data sheets to be certain the product you’ve chosen is recommended for use in your intended application and service environment.

Pay particular attention to any limitations or cautions. Don’t hesitate to consult directly with the manufacturer’s technical service department if you have any questions or concerns.

These are a few of the chemistries in common use today. Some or all of them should be in your “bag”, available to use as the situation dictates.

Ed. Note: John Fauth is Vice President, Marketing & Business Development at ChemMasters, Inc. He can be reached at jfauth@ chemmasters.net.

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PRODUCT FOCUS

GRADING AND SITE LAYOUT EQUIPMENT

By Joe Nasvik

Skid-Steer Loaders:

What Manufacturers Are Doing to Make These Workhorses Even Better Today there are many decisions to make when you meet with a dealer to buy the machine you want.

W

hen skid-steer loaders started out they weren’t very complicated.

They were fourwheel drive machines that allowed the operator to operate wheels on one side of the machine slower or faster than the other side as a means of turning it, causing the wheels to skid on one side of the machine.

A bucket in the front mounted on arms that could be lifted allowed operators to dig dirt, haul material, and fine grade. But in more recent years, skid-steers have become a lot more complicated and useful for a wider range of activity. Cost is always important and contractors don’t want to buy technology that isn’t used but when they periodically trade in their machines for newer equipment there is also the need to include options that increase trade-in value. In order to help you with your decisions here is a rundown of what’s available today.

OPERATOR COMFORT Mike Fitzgerald, loader product specialist with the Bobcat Company, Fargo, North Dakota says there is a new emphasis related to operator experience. Cabs are much quieter and

Bobcat

may have features like Blue Tooth for better sound and communication. The industry also recognizes that several operators might use a skid-steer during the course of a day, each having their preferences for steering and controlling the machine. So today most companies offer several steering and bucket control systems to accommodate operator preferences. Options include steering with levers, joysticks, “T-Bars” and foot pedals or electronic controls for operating attachments. You can also adjust what each control does. In the past operators learned how to control machines using a system specific to a brand—what they learned is what they want to continue using. But Brad Stemper, Solutions Marketing Manager for CASE in Racine, Wisconsin, says there is an increasing shift to electronic controls over mechanical or hydraulic ones as younger generations become operators. These electronic controls reduce operator fatigue after long hours of operation and provide a wider opportunity to customize control response and function.

With the shift to electronic control systems there is also the opportunity

John Deere

Kubota

Once an uncomplicated machine Skid Steer loaders have become sophisticated machines that can handle a wider range of work tasks than another construction machine. for both the office and the operator to know more about the performance of the machine and how productive it is. Fitzgerald says Bobcat is beginning to offer deluxe instrumentation panels that provide information about actual work time, engine fluids and maintenance needs, and gallons of fuel consumed per hour. Operators can also adjust how attachments are used, such as changing elevations for level grading operations without getting out of the cab. Electronic packages also make it possible for companies to set permissions for who is allowed to operate their machines, adding a measure of theft protection.

All skid-steer manufacturers offer enclosed cabs with HVAC packages for greater operator comfort. Also available are cab air protection systems—filtered pressurized air in cabs that prevents dust from getting in to create a safer work environment.

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Heated seats are even becoming an often selected option too.

Manufacturers are also designing cabs with greater fields of vision— including cameras, sensors and light packages that show what’s behind and around the machine increase safe operation.

UNDERCARRIAGES There are two types of undercarriages on the market; wheels and tracks. Brian Rabe, the Senior Product Manager for Skid Loaders

TELEMATICS AND MACHINE CONTROL Gregg Zupancic, Product Marketing Manager for John Deere, Skid Steers & Compact Track Loaders, Moline, Illinois, says machine control technology allows instruments such as robotic total stations, laser levels, GPS, and sonic systems to control machine applications. At present skidsteer manufacturers either produce the control packages that are added to the hydraulics of the machine or they are working with third party

Mustang

CASE

and Track Loaders for Mustang, West Bend, Wisconsin, says track systems significantly add to the cost of a machine. But track loader sales continue to increase, currently being about 50 percent of the concrete contractor market. They offer much better traction in soft, wet soils but experience greater track wear on hard surfaces—a more bumpy ride for operators too.

ENGINES The industry change-over to Tier 4 technology for diesel engines is complete. Stemper says the addition of fully electronic “common rail” technology—high pressure fuel (as much as 30,000 psi) waiting to be injected—increases engine efficiency and provides cleaner exhaust. With this technology engines can also develop more horsepower. Going hand-in-hand with common rail technologies are the emission control solutions. A primary goal for CASE is to impact the operator less with simpler-to-use systems with little-or-no change to maintenance needs on the machine.

companies to make and install them.

Either way, machine control systems make it possible for skid-steers to quickly complete level fine grading for floor construction, excavate to a precise elevation, or even grade three-dimensional shapes automatically.

During these operations, operators typically only steer the machine.

The cost of adding machine control technology can be high and operators need additional training so the added expense can cause contractors to hesitate. But on a jobsite productivity is greatly increased and initial costs are quickly recovered.

Telematics refers to the exchange of information about engine performance, maintenance condition, and run time.

HYDRAULICS An increasing list of attachments such as cold planners and snow blowers require higher hydraulic flow (high-flow), an option has been available for some time. But high-pressure hydraulics are also beginning to be used to power

some attachments. Zupancic adds that electro-hydraulics technology is being introduced. For example, operators can set a “creep mode” that allows a machine to travel very slowly but with full power. Bucket speed and rise can also be regulated for safer repetitive operations.

ATTACHMENTS When Louis and Cyril Keller built the first skid-steer in 1957—later to become the Bobcat Company—it had only one attachment, a bucket. Today there are perhaps hundreds of attachments available, making skid-steers the most widely adaptable machine in the construction, landscaping, and farming industries. Buckets are still the most popular attachment but there are many to choose from depending on the intended use.

Increasingly attachments also require skid-steer add-on features such as high-flow or high-pressure hydraulics, machine control connectivity, and engine horse power, another reason to consider what you intend to use a machine for when you are deciding what to buy.

WHAT YOU SHOULD INCLUDE IN YOUR PURCHASE Contractors are naturally concerned about initial cost and not buying more than what they need for their intended work—extras can quickly add up. But there are some good reasons to include features beyond the basic machine.

When asked about features that should be included in a new machine purchase Zupancic suggests having a joystick (electronic) control system installed because future improvements will build on this technology.

Cab improvements continue to be more important too. If you work in a freeze-thaw climate an enclosed cab with heat becomes important and the same is true for hot sections of the country where air-conditioning

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PRODUCT FOCUS can reduce cab temperature. Dust control in the workplace and worker health is increasingly important so think about including a positive air flow option for cabs. Stemper says accident avoidance should be on your list of priorities too. Adding cameras, sensors, and work light packages—especially LED lights— extend an operators knowledge of the space around his machine.

GRADING AND SITE LAYOUT EQUIPMENT Though you might not need a highflow hydraulic system for the attachments you currently use, it’s a feature that can’t be added at a future time and might be worth the investment.

Rabe suggests adding “powered attaching” technology too. It permits operators to quickly change attachments without getting out of the cab.

Kubota, Fort Worth, Texas, has been a trusted manufacturer of

engines serving other equipment manufactures for many years. Two years ago they entered the skidsteer market with their own model.

Jorge DeHoyos, their Senior Product Manager, says they decided to start with a more basic offering. Their basic machine includes a range of controls including hand and foot controls and hydraulic pilot joystick controls, an option to include cabs (which are included on half their sales) with pressurized and filtered air and HVAC, suspension seats for comfort, and good sound systems.

FUTURE TECHNOLOGY The industry is already discussing Tier 5 engine technology and although no one is quite sure what this will include, increased fuel economy and less exhaust emissions will probably be the greatest emphasis.

Skid-steers in the future will offer more machine control and telematics options, further reducing the role and skill requirements of the operator. They will also be able to set more auto features for repeat operations.

Job costing in real time is a current goal for many contractors and this will drive the further development of skid-steer electronic packages that connect of the office to the jobsite, providing information about machine use and the progress of the construction.

IS NOW A GOOD TIME TO BUY? The answer is yes—you are no doubt surprised to hear this! But the construction industry is busy now; contractors have resisted buying new equipment during the downturn and are more willing to do that now. Tier 4 technology has become a stable engine platform and combined with common-rail injection offers greater fuel economy. Skid-steers have significantly improved over the past few years, and interest rates are currently good.

Skid-steer loaders are safer and more productive than ever before.

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SPECIFICATION GUIDE: WALK-BEHIND SAWS

Walk-Behind Saws A compilation of technical information when choosing your next screed.

1 Allen Engineering APS20H Compact Saw

The Allen APS20H is a compact saw with powerful attributes. It features a highhorsepower engine with deep-cutting abilities, and is highly maneuverable.

ForConstructionPros.com/12213528 Model

Product Size (LxWxH)

Weight:

Arbor Size

Blade Diameter Range, min-max

Diamond Blade, max

Max Cutting Depth

Power (electric or gas)

APS20H

62 “ x 22” x 43”

348 lbs.

1”

12” – 20”

N/A

7”

Honda GX390 (389 cc) Engine

2 CS8 Random Crack Saw from General Equipment

The CS8 Random Crack saw uses 8-in.-diameter dry cut-type diamond blades to produces smooth-sided cuts for proper crack filling.

• 1/2-in. maximum cutting width and 1 1/2-in. maximum straightline cutting depth • 11-hp Honda engine with Cyclone-type air filter system • Center-mounted blade configuration minimizes undercutting • Infinitely adjustable blade height control ForConstructionPros.com/10078454

Model

Product Size (LxWxH)

Weight:

Arbor Size

Blade Diameter Range, min-max

Diamond Blade, max

Max Cutting Depth

Power (electric or gas)

CS8 Random Crack Saw

52” x 27.5” x 43”

290 lbs.

1”

8”

Dry, 8”

1.5”

13 HP Honda 4-stroke gas engine

3 Husqvarna FS 3500 G Flat Saw

Husqvarna launches an updated version of the FS 3500 G - a self-propelled walk-behind flat saw with a 37 hp (27.5 kW) Kohler gasoline engine. After listening to customers’ needs on the job, Husqvarna presents a contemporary work horse - a much wanted 37 hp (27.5 kW) mid-range flat saw.

• Cutting depth capacity of up to 12-3/8” (311 mm) with a 30” (750 mm) diamond blade • Easy to maneuver and ideal for small and medium patch or service jobs cutting in concrete or asphalt • Poly-V bladeshaft belt drive system with an automatic tensioner that helps reduce vibrations and increases production by transferring more power to the bladeshaft.

ForConstructionPros.com/12172453 Model

Product Size (LxWxH)

Weight:

Arbor Size

Blade Diameter Range, min-max

Diamond Blade, max

Max Cutting Depth

Power (electric or gas)

FS 7000 D

67” x 38” x 57”

2,417 lbs.

1”

20” – 42”

42”

“42

Diesel

Model

Product Size (LxWxH)

Weight:

Arbor Size

Blade Diameter Range, min-max

Diamond Blade, max

Max Cutting Depth

Power (electric or gas)

FS 5000 D

56” x 33-1/4” x 51”

1,843 lbs.

1”

20” – 42”

36”

15”

Diesel

Model

Product Size (LxWxH)

Weight:

Arbor Size

Blade Diameter Range, min-max

Diamond Blade, max

Max Cutting Depth

Power (electric or gas)

FS 3500 G

56” x 32” x 45”

943 lbs.

1”

20” – 30”

30”

12-3/8”

Gas

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4 Multiquip SP118 PRO Street Saw

The SP118 has been designed for general and industrial wet/dry sawing applications and features: • • • • •

A reinforced steel box frame Heavy-duty front/rear axles and undercarriage Industrial blade spindle assembly Adjustable vibration dampening handle A left and right side sawing option

ForConstructionPros.com//10784580 Model

Product Size (LxWxH)

Weight:

Arbor Size

Blade Diameter Range, min-max

Diamond Blade, max

Max Cutting Depth

Power (electric or gas)

SP118

46” X 24.5” X 43”

270 lbs.

1”

12” to 18”

18”

6.5” w/18” Blade

HONDA GX390 Gasoline Engine w/Cyclone Air Filtration

5 U.S. Saws’ Early Entry Saw

U.S. Saws’ Early Entry Saw is an electric powered, portable, and lightweight saw for cutting green concrete.

• •

Spring-loaded skid plate that allows the saw to cut new control joints in green concrete without making an impression in the concrete.

Wide wheels and thick axles make the saw durable and allow it to track straight

ForConstructionPros.com/12025473 Model

Product Size (LxWxH)

Weight:

Arbor Size

Blade Diameter Range, min-max

Diamond Blade, max

Max Cutting Depth

Power (electric or gas)

Early Entry Saw

36” x 10” x 42”

48 lbs.

7/8”

7” - 8”

250”

2”

Electric

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CONCRETE SCIENCE

By Joe Nasvik

Designing High Modulus of

Elasticity Mixes Helping to reduce building sway in super-tall buildings due to wind.

W

hen the new Wanda Vista Towers building is completed in Chicago it will be 1,140 feet tall with 95 floors.

The footprint of the building will be approximately 350 by 150 feet and will feature a hotel on the first 11 floors with condos occupying the floors above. An unusual aspect of the structure is that floor plate sizes change with each floor, the smallest being 82 feet square and the largest being 92 feet. Additionally, most of the columns will not be aligned from the bottom floor to the top floor. The core of the structure— where elevators, emergency stairs, and utilities are encased by concrete walls—will be engineered to provide primary strength for the structure and minimize building sway due to the wind. For the concrete mix used in the core, the modulus of elasticity (also referred to as Young’s modulus or the letter “E” or “MOE”) is a more important consideration than the compressive strength. Here’s why.

WHAT IS MODULUS OF ELASTICITY? Increasingly, engineers are specifying MOE requirements for concrete for super-tall buildings, bridge piers, and other structural applications where the stiffness of

The construction of the new 1140 foot high supertall Wanda Vista building will start in the summer of 2016. Wind sway for buildings this tall can be a problem so engineers turn to high modulus of elasticity concrete mixes to increase the stiffness of a building.

Photo Credit: Magnusson Klemencic Associates

the material is of central concern.

For this type concrete there is a relationship between high MOE and high compressive strength but the stiffness or the deflection of concrete—its resistance to bending— is more important than its compressive strength, a measure of hardness or brittleness. In simplest terms the modulus of elasticity is a number representing the stiffness of a material.

In the U.S. the number is measured in pounds per square inch (psi) or thousands of pounds per square inch (ksi). ASTM defines MOE as the graphed slope of a cylinders length change when compression up to 40 percent is added to the cylinder.

For example, if a 7,000 ksi MOE concrete shortens a 1-inch specimen by 0.001 inches when a load of 7,000 psi is imposed, and a 3,500 ksi MOE concrete would shorten twice as much with a 7,000 psi compression. For a super-tall building this difference could cause dramatic differences in wind sway.

THE EFFECT OF MIX INGREDIENTS As a composite material all the ingredients in concrete affect its MOE and the task of creating a mix that meets the specified requirements involves researching materials and testing. This process often starts a year or more before construction actually begins.

Kevin MacDonald, president of Beton Consulting Engineers, Mendota Heights, Minnesota, says the large aggregate in concrete is an important first consideration because its MOE is usually higher than cement paste. “Crushed limestone, though plentiful around the country, is often too soft so “trap rock,” basalt or other fine-grained igneous rock, is the more usual choice.” The MOE of trap rock can be as high as 17,000 to 18,000 ksi but how it is mined is also important. Granite, composed of mica, feldspar and quartz, can sometimes be used if the mica content is low. Iron aggregate would have the

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strength needed but it’s too dense and heavy, structures would have to be significantly increased to carry the load, likely negating the benefits of increased stiffness. Whatever choice is made, rock for this kind of concrete is always crushed.

The MOE of both cement paste and large aggregate is all-important.

Cement paste must be present in the right amount in order to achieve proper bond to aggregates and along with the compressive strength of concrete, the proper water-cement ratio becomes a critical element. Other ingredients in concrete can include pozzolans such as fly-ash, silica fume, slag, and admixtures including high range water reducers (super plasticizers), viscosity modifying, and shrinkage compensation admixtures—all can play an important part.

To determine what the MOE is for concrete either, six by 12 or four by eight inch concrete cylinders are cast and cured underwater in a curing tank. Then they are placed in the same machine used for determining compressive strength. Force is

DESIGNING THE MIX

The compression testing machine shown here is used for testing compressive strength and MOE.

TESTING FOR MOE

Photo Credit: Flood Testing Laboratories

applied to the sample to compress it, changing its length and causing the cylinder to bulge at its diameter. This change in length and width is measured and entered into the formula for MOE along with the force applied.

“The best high MOE concrete is the mix with the least space between large and small aggregates,” says MacDonald. Often referred to as “well-graded”, you start with the largest aggregate size and then add the right amount of next-size smaller to fill the void spaces between the larger stones. This “particle packing” process continues down to the small aggregate sizes and can even include using secondary cementitious materials (SCM) such as fly ash, slab, or silica fume of different particle sizes.

The goal is to use the least amount of cement possible to coat aggregates and bind them together.

These mixes are almost always pumped so they must be able to flow through a pipeline and be placeable. In order for this to happen MacDonald says he calculates the optimal amount of cementitious material and adds five percent extra paste to serve as a lubricant for the concrete and facilitate good placement.

Central mix concrete plants are the best way to batch these kinds of mixes.

Flood Testing Laboratories located in Chicago, Illinois is one of four accredited testing companies in the Chicago area to do MOE testing.

Their principal engineer, Walter Flood, says they have been running tests for the Wanda Vista project for the past year. The testing protocol for MOE testing is defined in ASTM C469.

Testing starts with four-inch diameter, eight-inch long cylinders taken from the quarry that produces the proposed aggregate and tested for the project. Sometimes there are defects in the rock that aren’t observable so multiple cores are tested. Trial mixes are constructed based on this information.

Flood says that most of the MOE testing they perform is for readymix producers for development but they are also hired by owners to do testing during production placement. Trial batches are created and tested from mix designs that

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CONCRETE SCIENCE companies submit to them for testing. These batches are created in the lab, cast into cylinders and cured.

Compressive strength and MOE testing are then performed. One set of cylinders is placed in a concrete compression testing machine and tested for compressive strength.

When this strength is known another cylinder is taken from the curing tank and fastened into a cage with pins to the specimen to measure deflection.

Then it’s placed into the same testing machine and stressed to a known force and the amount of deflection in the length of the cylinder is noted.

The test only takes about 15 minutes to run and Flood says they typically run the tests at 28 days and at 56 days, though occasionally 90 and 180 day properties are confirmed.–MOE increases with time but not quite the same as compressive strength. Flood adds that MOE testing is performed on four by eight-inch cylinders mostly

For testing MOE, cylinders are fitted into the frame shown here and the sample is compressed a predetermined amount. The resulting shortened length is measured by the sensor on the right.

Photo Credit: Flood Testing Laboratories

due to capacity limitations in breaking six-inch specimens at 15,000+ psi. Testing is currently under way in cooperation with ASTM to determine whether test results on six by 12-inch cylinders report the same data.

In the process of deciding what mix will be the best on to use for a project such as Wanda Vista, several hundred mixes might be tested.

Flood says transportation and pumping are important issues too.

So self-consolidating concrete (SCC) mixes are often used for super-tall buildings because they must be pumped a thousand or more feet straight up before placement. Spread measurements of approximately

27-inches are needed and admixtures are used to achieve this. Without admixtures these concrete mixes can be difficult to place or shovel.

WHAT WANDA VISTA WANTS David Fields, Senior Principal for Magnusson Klemencic Associates (MKA), Seattle, Washington, is the project manager for the Wanda Vista project. His firm is the engineer of record and is responsible for specifying the concrete requirements for the concrete. He says their specification

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INDEX for the concrete in the core structure is 12,000 psi with a MOE requirement of 7,000 ksi. “All tall buildings fall within this range. Increasing concrete strength by 10 percent can bring about ready-mix cost increases as much as 100 percent,” he says. Some specifications require minimum values, meaning that MOE can’t go below the target value, so MKA decided to specify “average values,” meaning that an occasional load of concrete could fall below the specification by as much as 300 ksi without being harmful to the structure. Their hope is that this change would make it possible for ready-mix producers to provide better pricing.

A key benefit for high MOE concrete is that buildings will sway less in high wind events, building occupants don’t like being in structures that sway very much. With this concrete the Wanda Vista building is projected to sway a maximum of approximately 2.3-feet each way at the roofline for a wind with a 10-year return period.

Fields estimates that 123,000 cubic yards of concrete will be needed for the construction of the building, about 40 percent of which will have a high MOE requirement.

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THE LAST PLACEMENT: BACK TO BASICS

By Jessica Stoikes

How to Keep Construction Workers COOL Construction workers need to protect themselves from extreme heat during the dog days of summer

W

Working on a construction site during the heat of the summer can result in serious illness or even death.

Workers exposed to extreme heat may experience symptoms of heatrelated illnesses (HRI), such as heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion, fainting, heat stroke and other symptoms.

Here are 12 tips to avoid heat illness: • Water, water, everywhere.

Drink plenty of proper fluids the night before a work day and continue to drink fluids (i.e., water or sport drinks) throughout the day.

Remember that we not only need water, but electrolytes, which can be gained from drinking sport drinks in addition to water. Plan to make water easy to reach and keep it at a cool, drinkable temperature. Avoid soda pop and energy drinks.

• Stay in good physical shape.

Extra saddlebags mean more work and more sweat. Hit the gym or walk the oval a few times after dusk to work it off. Cut down on tobacco.

• Eat right. Avoid high-fat, greasy fast food. Try to eat a lighter meal during hottest time of the day.

Half a sandwich, a bag of chips, unsweetened iced tea with a lot of lemon and an apple are the midrange to aim for. Skip the fries.

• Be aware of the ‘post lunch dip’ effect of drowsiness. Circadian rhythms govern our sleep/wake

cycle and this after-lunch interval is a tough one. Minimize fatigue by easing up on the mid-day meal.

• Get your sleep. REM sleep is harder to achieve in hot weather.

Try to keep sleeping rooms cool.

Use low-speed ceiling fans for air entrainment.

• Timing is everything. Whenever possible, plan the job to avoid direct sun or move up the start time. If working in direct sun can’t be avoided, schedule frequent rest breaks in a shaded area. The outdoor tool industry sells a variety of shade umbrellas and portable coverings, if needed.

• Dress to stay cool. Engineered fabric athletic and recreational garments can reduce the heat load on the body. They offer trans-evaporative cooling, UV and insect protection.

• Avoid going in and out of air conditioned climates. That’s a body slam each way in terms of adjusting.

• Be alert for signs of heat stress.

The order of seriousness is: a) Heat cramps - Usually from poor hydration; take it easy, drink water, put feet up. b) Heat exhaustion – Knock off for the day, go someplace cool, rehydrate, rest. c) Heat stroke – Call 911. OSHA has also released a free app for mobile devices that enables workers and supervisors to monitor the heat index at their jobsites. The app displays a risk level for workers based on the heat index, as well as reminders

about protective measures that should be taken at that risk level.

It can be downloaded by visiting http://1.usa.gov/1ig612y.

• Plan for heat stress avoidance.

Heat stress avoidance steps include maintaining proper hydration, pacing yourself and the crew, avoiding prolonged strenuous exertion, staying covered up in direct sun, etc.

• Cover your head. A wide-brim hard hat is actually pretty good head covering against the sun.

Add a nape protector or wraparound sun visor to maximize protection. Use sun block on any exposed skin.

• Cool it down. The neck and head pretty much govern the heat loading on the body, because a lot of blood flows through these parts. That’s why cooling “bandanas” are so effective. If you can keep the direct sun off the head and neck, it will help a lot. If you can add a cooling element to remove some caloric energy from your circulatory piping, better still.

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