This month the Technical Director’s Message will revisit the ongoing Interior Slab Mix Collection research project. Hundreds of newer IL cement mixes and historic I/II cement-based mixes are still needed for an artificial intelligence (AI) platform to look for patterns between the I/II and IL mixes that are performing well. The guidelines are meant to help contractors transition to successfu...

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Question: We were recently declared the lowest responsible bidder on a reinforced concrete mid-rise municipal building project that features varying amounts of reinforcing steel congestion in the walls that comprise the building's structural frame.  Our estimating team bid the job assuming all walls will be formed on both sides and placed from above using the so-called "form-and-pour...

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Question: We are working on a City-funded seismic retrofit project designed to strengthen a large, existing (E) 7-story reinforced concrete mid-rise building. We understand the original structural concrete frame was cast sometime during the mid 1940's. Part of our contract scope includes installing full height reinforced concrete jackets that encase all existing (E) interior concrete columns a...

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A Message from the Board Bill Bramschreiber, Immediate Past President ASCC’s 2024 Annual Conference was Terrific! ASCC’s Annual Conference is held each September and is always a fun few days of networking opportunities, professional development, and access to learning resources for around 300 concrete professionals.  This year’s ASCC Annual Conference was held in Kans...

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Updates from the CPC  Ryan Klacking, Council Director Greetings, CPC Members!  As the vibrant colors of fall start to emerge, we are excited to bring you the October edition of the CPC newsletter. This month, we have a range of updates, events, and resources designed to keep you informed and inspired in the concrete polishing industry.  Industry Insights  1. Concre...

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How Can Technology Change the Way You Work? Mike Hernandez, ASCC Technical Director There are various new and developing technologies on the market that are of use to concrete contractors. ASCC technical staff and Associate Members can assist you with many of them. Members can also ask for feedback from the general membership in the ASCC Forum. Total StationThe most accessible technolog...

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Stay Safe in the Dog Days of Summer, Rich Cofoid, DCC Council Director This month I’ve been thinking about a subject that not only affects decorative contractors but all concrete contractors and that is summertime temperatures. Living in Florida in July and August you can’t help but think about it every time you step outside, day or night. Our concrete construction business requires...

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Question: We are building a shopping mall complex that consists of a large "anchor tenant" store, 3 adjacent "strip mall" type storefronts, and a free-standing convenience store at the end of the property. Our base contract scope of work includes all reinforced concrete foundations, slabs on grade, stub walls, and miscellaneous concrete curbs and mechanical pads that are shown ...

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Interior Slab Mixes with IL Cement Study by ASCC & ACI 302 Mike Hernandez, ASCC Technical Director Surveys collected in 2023 indicate many concrete contractors have had issues with interior slab mixes using ASTM C595 Type IL cement, while many others (~50%) report no new issues. ASCC Members requested through ASCC and ACI 302 committee meetings that there be a project to collect concrete...

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How to Use CPC Classes and Levels to Specify Polished Concrete Ryan Klacking, CPC Council Director The Concrete Polishing Council (CPC) has been setting industry standards for many years now. Defining aggregate exposure and level of sheen in a systematic way has made positive changes and strides within the industry. Prior to this advancement, polished concrete was relayed in a format of s...

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