Cement-Treated Base Reaches New Heights on South Carolina Road

The latest equipment, materials, and methods for building cement-treated base will save 20% in costs and shave five months off of construction time for the expansion of South Carolina Route 5 (SC-5).

Funded by a county transportation tax program known as “Pennies for Progress” as well as state transportation funds, SC-5 in York County is being upgraded to a four-lane road from the current two-lane route.  The original pavement design called for 8 inches of graded aggregate base course topped by 3.5 inches of asphalt base and a surface course. A local contractor proposed a type of cement-treated base (CTB) called cement-stabilized aggregate base course as an alternative. Because only 8 inches of CTB is equal to the original design, the alternative was accepted and will save 20% in cost. In addition, the use of a high-density paver to lay the base course speeds production and reduces construction time.

To showcase the project, the Southeast Cement Association presented a seminar and site tour on April 24 along with contractors Site-Prep, Inc., Monroe, N.C., and Eagle Construction, Newberry, S.C. More than 100 people attended the one-day seminar, which consisted of presentations in the morning followed by a tour of plant mixing and paving in the afternoon. Vogele America and ABG America demonstrated two new models of high-density pavers.

PCA’s Tim McConnell will present a case study of SC-5 to participants at the International Center for Aggregates Research 16th Annual Symposium in Austin, Texas, May 12-14.

2008 Report on Sustainable Manufacturing Tracks Advances in Environmental Performance

PCA has released its 2008 report on sustainable manufacturing. The fourth annual report tracks industry progress in environmental performance and sustainable practices. The report chronicles progress in reducing emissions, energy use, and waste as well as advances in resource efficiency and alternative fuels and raw materials.

Included are updates on voluntary goals, contributions to the community, workplace safety, and the contributions of concrete and other cement-based products to sustainable construction.

View the report online at www.cement.org; it's also available on CD.
Contact Andy O'Hare

Report Tracks 2007 Construction Spending

The Economic Research department recently announced the adoption of a new methodology that will provide more accurate and comprehensive estimates of real construction spending.

In a Flash report on construction spending issued last week, PCA’s new methodology suggests that 2007 put-in-place construction spending declined 5.5 percent, compared to a decline of 3.2 percent using the old methodology.  Nonresidential and public sectors displayed weaker growth than previously calculated. 

PCA relies on the calculation of real put-place dollars to assess the level of construction activity, absent inflation, that is taking place in the market.  The new method incorporates 16 construction sector specific deflators, giving a highly detailed picture of the industry.
Contact Mike Howard

California Takes the LEED on Earth Day

Los Angeles became the biggest metropolis in the United States to mandate green building practices

On April 22, Earth Day, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed the Private Sector Green Building Plan into law at a ceremony held in the shadow of Luma and Elleven, two new concrete condominium towers that will be LEED Gold certified.

The ordinance will require new commercial buildings and high-rise residential structures with more than 50,000 square feet or 50 units to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED standards.  In exchange, the City will work with builders to speed up approvals and to remove obstacles in the municipal code for elements of sustainable building design such as green rooftops, cisterns, and permeable pavement.

The City claims the ordinance will reduce carbon emissions by more than 80,000 tons by 2012, the equivalent of taking 15,000 cars off the road.
Contact Attila Beres

eco-structure Announces Evergreen Awards

eco-structure magazine announces a call for entries for the inaugural 2008 Evergreen Awards.  The awards recognize architects, developers, contractors, and other building professionals for outstanding work in improving the environmental performances of buildings and their surroundings.

The awards will judge four categories:

• Ecommercial—An environmentally responsible commercial project.
• Greenhouse—A high-performance residential project.
• Flashback—Demonstrate a project’s performance by submitting 12 months of energy- and water-consumption data and total building square footage.
• Perspectives—Individuals who are moving the green-building industry forward.

Early registration, with a discounted entry fee, is May 31, 2008.  The final deadline is July 14, 2008.
More information at eco-structure.com

Helmut S. Erhard, Former Lehigh President, Dies

Helmut S. Erhard, former member of the managing board of Heidelberg Cement and president/CEO of Lehigh Cement Company died on April 25, 2008.

Erhard joined the company in 1971 as kiln engineer. In 1987, he became senior general manager of Heidelberg and in 1996 was appointed managing director of the Heidelberg Technology Center.

In 1999, Erhard was named president/CEO of Lehigh Cement Company. He served on the PCA Board of Directors from 2000 until his retirement in December 2007.