Concrete Block

Sydney, Australia-based company says it has developed a sealant that, after being added to concrete or masonry during the mixing process, repels water and protects against efflorescence, salt damage, and moss and algae growth.

Nanovations Pty Ltd says the product, known as 3001, significantly reduces rising damp, thereby preventing paint bubbling and lifting of exposed surfaces, and results in masonry being more stain resistant by significantly reducing the ingress of liquid water and any dissolved salts and dirt that it may carry. It is also designed to protect colored concrete products from unsightly discolorations.

"3001 is completely water-based and VOC free," says Harry Stulajter, director of Nanovations. "This is the long awaited technology to avoid millions of gallons of polluting solvents currently used in penetrating sealers. The product has been tested for salt resistance, efflorescence, water absorption and frost/thawing behavior."

The National Concrete Masonry Association Board of Directors has approved the development of two new membership categories – one for segmental retaining wall contractors and another for individual installers. These membership categories provide NCMA with the opportunity to enhance relationships and partnerships with those contractor companies and installer professionals that play a significant role in shaping the future of the industry.

The membership benefits and programs for the new categories are being developed now in order to be ready for promotion later this year.

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute has updated its guidelines to industry professionals on the use of interlocking pavement in achieving LEED certification.

ICPI has also released new guidelines on the use of bedding sand in segmental concrete paving systems.

The updated LEED guidelines, titled Tech Spec 16 Achieving LEED® Credits with Segmental Concrete Pavement, outlines opportunities offered by segmental concrete paving products and systems to earn points under the U.S. Green Building Council NC version 2.2 and Canadian Green Building Council version 1.0 of the LEED system for certifying new construction and major renovations. The bulletin provides information to design professionals on how to use interlocking concrete pavers to earn points for reducing stormwater runoff and pollution, reducing the urban heat island with high reflectivity surfaces and conserving materials through using recycled materials and local resources.

The new bedding sand guidelines, titled Tech Spec 17 Bedding Sand Selection for Interlocking Concrete Pavement in Vehicular Applications, provides an in-depth review of the performance of bedding sands under interlocking concrete pavers in street applications.

ICPI “tech specs” offer guidance to industry professionals on a variety of subjects.

To learn more about ICPI, visit www.icpi.org.

Concrete masonry professionals in New York state are participating in a quality assurance program designed to establish higher standards for building construction materials and, according to the New York State Concrete Masonry Association, pose “a major hurdle for other products that don’t meet the same high standard.”

Standards under the program, which is known as "F'm2000 -- The NYSCMA Assurance of Quality Program," are designed to exceed those mandated by New York building codes – in the process adding to building security, energy conservation and long-term savings.

Concrete masonry units are pre-qualified for the program through laboratory testing at the National Concrete Masonry Association headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, and submit to regular testing every two years, as well as quarterly tests for randomly selected members.

The NYSCMA hopes to bring benefits to its members by persuading the industry that concrete masonry units made available through the F’m2000 program offer superior quality as a result of testing and pre-certification. The group’s executive director, Nicholas F. Carparelli, said the units also offer advantages for design professionals.

“They will find concrete masonry in this program will provide more efficient design, improved economy of construction, and a level of strength they can count on regardless of the location of their project,” Carparelli said.

“These objectives are easily achievable by specifying F'm2000 certified block. Builders and specifiers can ensure they are building with F'm2000 certified concrete masonry, by looking for the F'm2000 service mark or contacting NYSCMA for a list of producers who are manufacturing block according to these tough standards.”

Cement industry associations have agreed to provide insulated cement-based wall panels for the U.S. Air Force Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, to test the blast-resistance of different concrete building systems.

Included in this research scope are several double wythe insulated masonry wall systems (NCMA and Brick Industry Association - BIA), two precast/prestressed sandwich panel systems (PCI), two tilt-up concrete sandwich panels (TCA), three different insulating concrete form wall systems (ICFA) and an exterior insulated cast-in-place wall (CHC). Predictive analytical models, laboratory testing and full-scale explosive experiments are the primary research components.

Through this study, they hope to be able to predict the blast response of these COTS wall systems for both new construction and retrofit structures. The research program will comprise three phases. The first phase will examine existing COTS insulated cement-based wall systems, designed with standard mix concrete to meet a specified wind load and seismic design. The second phase will examine several unique concrete wall systems. The third phase will look at any modifications that could significantly enhance the blast performance of phase one and two products.

The research began in 2006 with the evaluation of 30-foot precast/prestressed insulated sandwich panels. Although, the blast effects are still being analyzed, the damage observed appeared minimal. The next wall assembly test scheduled in 2007 will be the reinforced masonry systems. A third wall assembly planned later in 2007 will be either an insulated tilt-up sandwich panel wall or one of the three ICF wall systems.