Fall Technical Session Available Via Webcast
Those not able to attend the Manufacturing Technical Committee's Fall Technical Session in Chicago can participate via live webcast. The session is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 12, with a 1-1/2 hour lunch break starting at 12:00 p.m. (All times are Central.)

This year's webcast will include the following presentations:

• 9:30 a.m. Dr. Siobhan Matthews, "Use of Super Critical Fluid Processing Technology for Beneficiation of Materials"
• 10:00 a.m. Dr. Fred Lockwood and Tahir Abbas, "CFD: A Powerful Tool for the Cement Industry"
• 10:30 a.m. C. Thom Martin, "Avoiding Corrosion in Baghouses"
• 11:00 a.m. Dr. Michael Silsbee, "Acid Mine Drainage: Waste or Resource?"
• 11:30 a.m. Jeff Bump, Brach Harada, Mike Kenefick, Bruce Shafer, "Panel Discussion on Operational Aspects of Finish Grinding Using Vertical Roller Mills"
• 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., lunch break
• 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. "Panel Discussion on Operational Aspects of Finish Grinding Using Vertical Roller Mills" (continued)

Access the webcast

High-Performance Concrete
Team Plans 2007 Program
PCA represented the concrete industry at the annual meeting of the Federal Highway Administration's high-performance concrete technology delivery team held last week in State College, Pa. The team is charged with promoting the use of high-performance concrete for bridge applications.

In 2007, the team plans to update its Web site, conduct seminars at three state DOT offices, and develop performance specifications. The team visited 10 HPC bridges recently completed under PennDOT’s I-99 HPC Bridge project. The ten bridge decks were built with ten different HPC mixes having the same performance characteristics of strength, low-cracking ability, and long-term durability. The bridges have been instrumented and will be monitored for performance by PennDOT.
Contact Shri Bhide

PCA on the Radio
On August 27, Terry Collins, PCA’s concrete construction engineer, was the guest on the “Home Innovations” show on WMAL-AM, Washington, D.C. Each week the hour-long radio program explores a different home remodeling or building topic. During his segment, Terry discussed the difference between concrete and cement, when to contact a contractor, the ideal conditions for concrete, and the various resources available at www.cement.org.
Play the broadcast.

Results From Last Week:
Codes, Awareness Key to Katrina Rebuilding
Question: One year after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the debate continues on how and where to rebuild. What will it take to convince area residents and local officials to rebuild with disaster-resistant concrete housing systems?
Number of responses (percent)

• Tighter building codes and better enforcement: 52 (29.05%)
• Greater consumer awareness of concrete building systems: 50 (27.93%)
• Less costly concrete housing systems: 30 (16.76%)
• Insurance rates that acknowledge concrete's benefits: 25 (13.97%)
• Education and training for builders: 22 (12.29%)

Notable comments:

"This is a pull-through marketing strategy. Time is of the essence and the South is wood traditionally and the wood industry is very influential. It will be able to exert itself in the marketplace unduly."

"Education and training not only for builders, but more importantly for construction officials who have never heard of ICF's."

"Provide simple designs similar to Florida Building Code and conduct on site builder training and mason training, to show them how to build the improved details".

"Training is vital and this area is getting the attention it has needed for years now. Contractors will use/say anything for the work and owners must be more knowledgeable."

"This region is a gold mine waiting for us. If we don't gain better market penetration because we have a superior product - shame on us."

"The benefits on concrete homes are great, no question, but the high cost will keep many from building one."

Take this week's PCA Poll.