Arizona Chapter
American Concrete Institute

News 

<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 
  • 25 Oct 2017 7:52 AM | Beth Britt (Administrator)

    ACI 318-14 Building Code references ACI 301-16 which is the Specification for Structural Concrete.  This code requires certified finishers.  Please be sure your project specifications are up to date!  Certified finishers add quality and value to your projects.    Here is how the revised code reads:

    ACI 301-16 5.3.4.1. Finisher Qualifications - Unless otherwise specified, at least one finisher or finishing supervisor shall be a certified ACI Flatwork Concrete Finisher/Technician or a certified ACI Flatwork Technician or equivalent. 

    For more information regarding this issue, you can contact the National Institute thru:  www.concrete.org or this local office at: 480-966-2213 or email us at:  azaci@outlook.com


  • 28 Aug 2017 12:32 PM | Beth Britt (Administrator)

    Thanks to ALL who came out to our 2017 Bowling tournament!
 Caruso Turley Scott Took the Trophy! Congrats!

    Thanks to ALL our Sponsors: Sundt Construction, SRMG, CEMEX, BASF, Brycon Construction, CalPortland, Hardrock Concrete Placement, Ninyo & Moore, Euclid Chemical, GCP Applied Technologies and ABC Polymer!  You guys ROCK!  Special thanks to Hardrock and Brycon for donating door Prizes!

  • 11 Aug 2017 11:56 AM | Beth Britt (Administrator)






    The topic of relevance is a core aspect of ACI's strategic plan. Actually, the first task assigned to new ACI Board of Direction members is to read Race for Relevance by Harrison Coerver and Mary Byers. Questions about relevance impact all standards development organizations (SDOs) like ACI.

    In a world driven by a superfast technology train, how can SDOs be as impactful tomorrow as they have been in the past? Isn't it easier to find a quick (and free) answer on Google, YouTube, or Wikipedia, rather than purchase and dive into hundreds of pages of codes and standards?

    The new dynamics of unpredictable technology change prompted ACI in 2015 to assign a task group the mission of developing an outlook for ACI in 2030. The result was ACI Vision 2030, which identified the megatrends in the world and our industry and recommended responses and actions ACI should take to maintain its relevance in the future.

    In discussing the current and future roles of ACI, we need to consider data, information, and knowledge and the relationships between them. The following chain from Making Sense of Data and Information (Elsevier, 2007) explains it best:

    Let's apply this to the data, information, and knowledge developed around properties of concrete production and supply. As shown in the table below, data are finite descriptions of the concrete delivered to the project, and information includes the application and the interpretation of the data. Knowledge results from the processing of the information as needed to manage or enhance the project schedule, cost, and quality.

    ACI has been developing consensus-based documents to equip the concrete industry with the tools to structure the data, transform it into useful and reliable information, and finally, and most importantly, model the information to develop consensus and universally trusted knowledge. While data is precise, information can take different shapes or forms, whereas useful knowledge must be based on consensus for it to be a universally accepted agent for improvement. Because of its rigorous consensus-based system, ACI provides a unique platform to build trusted and assured knowledge, something that Internet search engines fall short of guaranteeing.

    Having random information does not necessarily lead to correct knowledge. Knowledge implies deep understanding of data and information, experience in using and developing them, prior research, and continuous validation. This is exactly what our volunteers and staff bring to the industry. And that is how our Institute brings tremendous value in different critical areas of concrete construction, whether that value is life safety, durability, or constructibility.

    While this noble mission will surely survive the test of time, as validated by ACI Vision 2030, it may still not address tomorrow's requirements. The industry also needs quick access, smart and customized information, and direct answers—not just consensus-based documents, as valuable as they will always be.

    ACI has over 200,000 Facebook followers and around 60,000 members on its LinkedIn page, with most of our 21,000 active members participating. There are huge numbers of people on ACI social media channels who are not only seeking information, but also yearning to enhance their knowledge of concrete and its applications.

    ACI is therefore evolving from disseminating consensus-based knowledge to empowering a global concrete community, able to successfully address the challenges of concrete construction. Assuming this new responsibility will maintain ACI as one of the most relevant associations on concrete and its uses.

    Khaled W. Awad, Current ACI President


  • 13 Jul 2017 9:15 AM | Beth Britt (Administrator)

    News Detail


  • 05 Jul 2017 8:21 AM | Beth Britt (Administrator)

    ACI is incorrectly perceived sometimes as a U.S.-focused association, or more generally as a North American Institute. It is very true that the American Concrete Institute, as the name and the history suggest, has strong roots in the United States and North America, but it is equally true that ACI is a global organization.

    The facts and numbers corroborate this.

    The ACI 318 Building Code is adopted, either directly or as a main reference, in the national code of more than 30 countries, representing around 45% of the world gross domestic product (GDP) and 30% of the world population.

    Our Institute has around 21,000 members, including corporate and sustaining members. Out of these, 30% are from outside the United States, and ACI also has just over 3600 international student members in more than 30 countries.

    ACI has a total of 43 international chapters in 31 countries. In parallel, ACI has 39 international agreements with regional partners in six continents.

    In addition to ACI chapters involved in certification, the Institute has 17 international local sponsoring groups organizing ACI certification programs in more than 20 countries. ACI certification has been recognized as an essential tool to assess the competence of concrete professionals, even in some countries that adopt different standards than ACI and ASTM International.

    All these numbers clearly underline the global influence of ACI. Still, given the pace of concrete construction around the world, especially in Asia, it is fair to say that the Institute must be even more present internationally to fulfill its mission of disseminating knowledge globally and achieve the vision where "everyone has the knowledge needed to use concrete effectively to meet the demands of a changing world."

    How? There are several initiatives currently underway at ACI aiming to increase our global clout. I am confident we will start seeing some results very soon. At the ACI Concrete Convention and Exposition – Spring 2017 in Detroit, I cited three targets for 2021 that should reflect increased international engagement for ACI in the next 5 years. They are called the 100,000, 10,000, and 1000 milestones.

    By the end of 2021, ACI will have 100,000 student members around the world. Students and Young Professionals define the very future of the Institute. Being able to attract them is an insurance for ACI relevance. Not all civil engineering students end up in concrete construction but for those who will, ACI must be the preferred platform for professional networking and career development. We will work with ACI chapters around the world to encourage local and regional student competitions and develop a career support center for young professionals.

    Secondly, by 2021, 10,000 projects around the world will be linked to the ACI Manual of Concrete Practice (MCP), the Institute's largest knowledge source. This resource is still so untapped nationally and internationally. We will find innovative ways to communicate to the world the technical, practical, and commercial value of the tremendous intellectual capital our volunteers bring to ACI.

    The MCP is invaluable for every concrete construction project. The wealth of information that it encompasses can undoubtedly help address the challenges and opportunities concrete presents around the world. We will design different tools and means to make the ACI MCP accessible to projects, with hands-on guidance provided by ACI staff and intelligent workflow solutions available in ACI publications.

    Finally, the third goal is that by the end of 2021, ACI will process 1000 international certification exams every month. This is around 10 times what the Institute does today. By recognizing the local standards of different nations and regions in ACI certification programs, ACI will become the global enabler for assessing the competence of technicians, inspectors, quality control managers, and other levels of concrete practitioners and professionals.

    These are hard numbers, in every sense of the word. But with the energy and dedication of ACI staff and volunteers, these milestones can become very achievable targets in 5 years.

    Khaled W. Awad

  • 29 May 2017 12:51 PM | Beth Britt (Administrator)

    Hot Weather Concreting—Methods for Success

    04/28/2017


    Injection of liquid nitrogen into concrete truck

    As a global leader in advancing concrete knowledge, ACI’s goal is to keep concrete industry professionals up to date with the latest information.

    For example, here’s a recent exchange from ACI’s Q&A section:

    Q. “What are the ACI building code requirements for placing concrete in a tropical climate? Some people in our office say we should specify a maximum permissible concrete temperature of 90 ºF (32 ºC). Others say a temperature higher than 90 ºF (32 ºC) is allowable if the concrete contains a set-retarding admixture.”

    A. ACI 301-16 “Specifications for Structural Concrete” and ACI 305.1-14 “Specification for Hot Weather Concreting” limit the maximum concrete temperature to 95 °F (35 ºC) at the time of discharge. This limit is for general types of hot weather construction such as pavements, bridges, and buildings, not mass concrete.

    Hot weather concreting is defined by ACI as “one or a combination of the following conditions that tends to impair the quality of freshly mixed or hardened concrete by accelerating the rate of moisture loss and rate of cement hydration, or otherwise causing detrimental results: high ambient temperature; high concrete temperature; low relative humidity; and high wind speed.

    Various adverse effects on the properties and serviceability of concrete are brought on by hot weather. Just one of those is the effect on strength—concrete mixed, placed, and cured at elevated temperatures normally develops higher early strengths than concrete produced and cured at lower temperatures.

    To connect to ACI International's website to see more on this document, click here


  • 12 Dec 2016 10:30 AM | Beth Britt (Administrator)

    YOU CAN’T COMPETE WITH THE REAL THING This is World of Concrete—a firm foundation for the entire concrete and masonry industries and the first and most important annual international event of the year. It’s everything you need and nothing you don’t. Put in four high-efficiency, low-cost, smart-work days at WOC 2017 and you’ll see your bang/buck ratio go through the roof.

    2017 WOC Exhibit Hall Hours
    Tuesday, January 17-Thursday, January 19
    9:30 am -5:00 pm
    NEW! Friday 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

    Exhibits Only
    $70 by 12/1/16; $85 after 12/1/16
    Exhibits Only Spouse
    $70 by 12/1/16; $85 after 12/1/16
    Shuttle Bus (If NOT booking hotel through WOC Housing)
    $30 by 12/1/16; $40 after 12/1/16
    WOC 3-Hour Seminars
    $145 by 12/1/16; $175 after 12/1/16
    WOC 90-Minute Seminars 
    $105 by 12/1/16; $135 after 12/1/16
    WOC 4-Hour Certification Seminars
    $190 by 12/1/16; $225 after 12/1/16
    Super Pass 1
    $425 by 12/1/16; $550 after 12/1/16 (Incl. FREE Exhibits-Only)
    Super Pass 2
    $425 by 12/1/16; $550 after 12/1/16 (Incl. FREE Exhibits-Only)
    Super Pass 3
    $525 by 12/1/16; $650 after 12/1/16 (Incl. FREE Exhibits-Only)

    2017 WOC Education Program Hours:
    Monday, January 16 (Pre-show Education all day)
    WOC 3-Hour Seminars: 8:00 am - 11:00 am; 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
    WOC 4-Hour Certification Seminars: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm; 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    WOC 90-Minute Seminars: 8:30 am - 10:00 am; 10:30 am - 12:00 pm;
             1:30 pm - 3:00 pm; 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm

    Tuesday, January 17 - Thursday, January 19

    WOC 3-Hour Seminars: 8:00 am - 11:00 am
    WOC 4-Hour Certification Seminars: 8:00 am - 12:00 pm; 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm
    WOC 90-Minute Seminars: 8:30 am - 10:00 am; 1:30 pm - 3:00 pm

    Friday, January 20
    WOC 3-Hour Seminars: 8:00 am - 11:00 am
    WOC 90-Minute Seminars: 8:30 am - 10:00 am

    Something for everyone:

    WOC will once again feature special product and action areas, including The Producer Center, a marketplace of materials, equipment, demos, and seminars for concrete producers; Material Handling, offering trucks, excavators and more for material delivery, distribution, concrete placement, and earth moving; Concrete Repair & Demolition, housing a display of surface preparation equipment, scarifying, grinding, sawing equipment, and other demolition products; World of Masonry, showcasing products, tools, information, and technology for masonry professionals; Technology for Construction, featuring the newest products and tools for the commercial construction industry from top information technology and systems providers; and Concrete Surfaces & Decorative showcasing the popularity of decorative concrete for both commercial and residential applications. Precast was launched in 2016 and highlights the latest products and technologies in the precast/prestressed sector.

    NEW FOR 2017
    Concrete Masonry (North Hall)
    This area showcases everything for the producers of concrete masonry (block, segmental retaining wall units, veneer, slabs, pavers, and more.)
    • Admixtures
    • Equipment & Supplies
    • Pigments

    Concrete Reinforcement (North Hall)
    Features the leaders in concrete reinforcement showcasing reinforcement bending, cutting, straightening, and fabricating machinery.
    • Reinforced positioners & locators
    • Epoxy-coated, steel, glass fiber, galvanized bar
    • All types of reinforcement accessories


    BENEFITS OF ATTENDING WOC:
    See it all in one place.
    Find everything you need to win more jobs, make more money and streamline your business.
    Get connected.
    Make new contacts and strengthen your industry connections.
    Work smarter.
    Learn how to work leaner, get the safety training and courses you need in today's economy.
    Get hands-on.
    See, touch and test the latest products under real-world, jobsite conditions.
    Find new opportunities. Capitalize on the trends that will drive future markets and provide opportunities to profit.
    Get your questions answered.
    Attend expert-led seminars for the new skills, practical solutions and creative strategies to improve your business.


    Please note: All info is subject to change. During normal show hours, persons 17 years-old and under will be admitted only with parental supervision. THIS RULE IS STRICTLY ENFORCED. Persons 18 years-old and over must register and pay in order to receive a badge.  The use of Segway and Segway-type units are prohibited on the show floor unless the Segway is identified with and ADA placard.

    USE REGISTRATION CODE A21 to receive discounted rate!

    Go to Registration Page

  • 07 Mar 2016 8:20 AM | Beth Britt (Administrator)
    It has been my honor to represent the American Concrete Institute as its 92nd President during the past year. I have interacted with members from across the Institute and met people from around the world, and they all shared a vision for improving our infrastructure, and the overall quality of life, through the use of concrete.

    2015 was a very strong year for ACI, and I am pleased to share with you some key metrics:


    All of these achievements, and many others, are the result of countless hours from our volunteer members. Thank you for your interest in and commitment to the Institute.

    As a member of technical committees for more than 30 years, I was quite familiar with ACI’s reputation as a source of state-of-the-art technical information. The importance of providing unbiased technical information continues to increase with the development of new products and materials. ACI members continue to impress me with their commitment to vetting technical information thoroughly and developing comprehensive design standards to facilitate safe and reliable use of concrete.

    I have also been extremely impressed with the ongoing activities within ACI’s educational committees. ACI is moving from in-person seminars related to a single technical document to a suite of online educational options. This change allows concrete professionals to obtain the technical information that they need in a timely fashion and on a schedule that can be accommodated within their busy careers. By all reports, ACI University and the certificate programs have been extremely well received by ACI members, and I look forward to further expansion of options in this area.

    "ACI members continue to impress me with their commitment to vetting technical information thoroughly and developing comprehensive design standards to facilitate safe and reliable use of concrete."

    Perhaps the thing that surprised me the most was the passion exhibited by ACI members and Chapter members in the area of certification. A severe shortage of workers in the U.S. construction industry is projected within the next 10 years, but through its certification programs ACI is dedicated to ensuring that the concrete workforce of the future is well-trained and ready to move our industry forward. In addition, the development of country-specific certification programs has the potential to improve the quality of concrete construction worldwide.

    I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Past Presidents Jim Wight, Anne Ellis, and Bill Rushing. Each of you has served as a mentor for me. Your advice and insights have been instrumental to me during the past year. Vice Presidents Mike Schneider and Khaled Awad bring new ideas and insights to the executive committee, and I am confident that they will provide strong leadership of ACI. Finally, I want to thank all the ACI staff—an amazing group of dedicated professionals.

    Thanks again for this opportunity. I look forward to seeing many of you at the ACI Convention in Milwaukee, WI, this spring.

    Sharon L. Wood

    Sharon L. Wood

  • 29 Sep 2015 12:46 PM | Beth Britt (Administrator)

    A Performance-Based Approach to Hot Weather Concreting, Part 1 of 2

    Tuesday, November 10, 2015 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM, GOVERNOR'S SQUARE 12

    This session focuses on new developments, common practices, innovative technologies, and challenges related to design, construction, and performance of concrete in hot weather.
    By attending this session, attendees will be able to:
    1. Identify options for dealing with placing, finishing, and curing concrete in hot weather;
    2. Learn about new ideas and innovative technologies available to improve concrete performance in hot weather;
    3. Understand common construction practices and challenges with concrete in hot weather; and
    4. Recognize benefits of knowing ways to optimize design and construction of concrete in hot weather.

    Model for Early-Age Rate of Evaporation of Cement-Based Materials

    Presented By: Mehdi Bakhshi
    Affiliation: AECOM
    Description: Early-age cracking affects the structural integrity of concrete structures and, if not inhibited, would lead to a reduction in service life. Plastic cracks are observed in the first few hours after placing the concrete, a time period well within the initial stages when the drying process is controlled by the rate of evaporation of concrete surfaces, which is roughly constant and similar to the rate of evaporation from water surfaces. In the absence of a theoretical method, this rate is commonly estimated using a nomograph based on Dalton’s law. A fluid mechanics-based approach for water evaporation based on the boundary-layer theory, mass transfer, diffusion, and convection is presented. A parametric study is conducted on the effect of boundary-layer temperature, wind speed, relative humidity, and evaporation characteristic length on the calculated evaporation rates. Predicted evaporation rates are verified by recent experiments. Results show that given appropriate environmental parameters, evaporation rates can be predicted with a good degree of accuracy.

    Dealing with Hot Weather Concrete: Specifications, Materials, Operations and Other Challenges

    Presented By: Oscar Antommattei
    Affiliation: Kiewit Corp - Kiewit Infrastructure Engineers Co
    Description: Placing concrete in hot weather conditions is known to pose unique challenges. Specifications can include restrictive and prescriptive requirements that result in additional challenges to the field operations. Technologies available to the concrete industry facilitate concrete construction in hot weather. Recent developments in admixtures can also be beneficial in improving concrete performance in hot weather. Concrete mixture proportions must be designed to meet specified requirements, but also to properly perform in the field and meet construction demands. This presentation provides fundamental knowledge and experiences to consider for concrete in hot weather.

    Specifying, Proportioning and Producing Rapid Strength Concrete with Consideration for Ambient Conditions

    Presented By: Boris Stein
    Affiliation: Twining Inc
    Description: Proper preservation and rehabilitation strategies extend service life of concrete pavements and structures and are essential for enhancing sustainability of concrete transportation infrastructure. The use of rapid strength concrete (RSC) for these purposes allows for minimizing the impact on traffic. Acquired experience suggests that for the best quality and longevity RSC must be designed for: (i) constructability; (ii) required rate of strength gain; (iii) ambient conditions during construction and exposure conditions in-service; (iv) early age volume changes; (v) permeability; and (vi) durability. The paper discusses (i) principles of specifying , proportioning and producing of RSC with consideration for the impact of ambient conditions on constructability and pace of construction, (ii) summarizes laboratory and field data addressing impact of ambient conditions on performance of RSC; (iii) discusses best practices; and (iv) illustrates recommended approaches with case studies of specific projects.

    Using Workability Retaining Admixtures in Hot Weather Concreting

    Presented By: G Terry Harris
    Affiliation: W R Grace & Company
    Description: Historically increased dosage rates of Retarding or Extended Set Control admixtures were used to extend slump life in hot weather. Now, workability retaining admixtures allow us to extend the slump life in concrete mixtures without extending the set time significantly. Recently these workability retaining admixtures were used in drill shaft concrete to extend the slump life without excessive retardation.

    How Does Hot Weather Placement Impact Transport, Durability, and Performance Specifications

    Presented By: W Jason Weiss
    Affiliation: Purdue University
    Description: High temperature curing (at 50 ± 2 °C) was evaluated in comparison to conventional curing for use in a Nernst-Planck service life prediction model (Stadium®). Curing at 50 °C accelerated the hydration reaction as expected. When the samples were stored in lime water, the microstructure formed at the higher temperature showed an increase in total porosity, chloride diffusion coefficient, and permeability at the same maturity. The impact of these inputs was assessed for service life prediction for the example used here resulted in a prediction of corrosion initiation times that were approximately 30 % earlier than those predicted using samples moist cured at 23 ± 2 °C. The results indicate however that the moisture conditions dramatically impacted the influence of temperature as samples with a higher degree of saturation were more prone to damage caused by high temperatures presumably due to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the water.

     

    To Register:  www.concrete.org

<< First  < Prev   1   2   Next >  Last >> 

 

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software