The Concrete Corner - March

Welcome to The Concrete Corner! This monthly newsletter highlights Ozark Ready Mix, Fischer Concrete Services, and all things concrete and concrete products. In this newsletter, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at our concrete operations, meet outstanding individuals and businesses, and stay current on concrete news and trends throughout the Midwest and the United States. Hopefully, this will be mildly informative, and a little entertaining. However, just like the ready-mix concrete business, I offer no guarantees!

In this month’s The Concrete Corner newsletter presented by Digital Fleet:

• ICFs in Basehor

• Tech trends

• Field testing accountability

• Piper High School  

• Spring cracks

Insulated Concrete Forms

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) for foundations are hollow interlocking blocks, typically made of lightweight polystyrene foam, that are stacked and braced to create a mold for poured concrete. Unlike traditional steel or aluminum forms, which are removed after the concrete cures, ICFs stay in place permanently. This creates a foundation with a concrete core encased in a thick insulation layer on both sides.

The benefits of ICF foundations can be substantial. They offer superior insulation, leading to reduced energy bills. Additionally, ICFs provide exceptional strength and durability, better resisting hydrostatic pressure from the soil (pushing force of water in the soil) and protecting against foundation cracks and water infiltration. However, there are drawbacks. ICF foundations are considerably more expensive than traditional methods due to the cost of the materials and specialized labor. The thickness of the ICF wall can also eat into valuable square footage and may not be ideal for smaller basements. ICF foundations are ideal for builders specializing in high-performance energy-efficient homes, where the upfront cost is balanced by long-term benefits for homeowners.

Operations Automation and More!

Digital Fleet provides software solutions designed specifically for the ready-mix concrete industry. These solutions go beyond basic GPS tracking by offering a cloud-based platform that integrates with existing dispatch, truck, and plant software. This allows for real-time monitoring of truck location, concrete status (including factors like slump, drum rotation, and returned volume), and driver/truck behavior.

Digital Fleet upgrades ready-mix operations with instant data, driving effectiveness and cost savings. Seamless information keeps dispatching sharp, job sites on time, and fuel consumption optimized. Additionally, truck behavior monitoring can promote safety and reduce maintenance costs. Overall, Digital Fleet helps ready-mix companies streamline operations, enhance performance, and gain a competitive edge.

To unify our ready mix operations under one platform, ORM and Farmer Companies’ West Division are expanding our use of Digital Fleet’s innovative software. This move will improve collaboration across all our ready-mix operations in Missouri, Kansas, Nevada, and California.

Accuracy & Accountability in Fresh Concrete Field Testing

As a ready-mix producer, I’ve observed numerous instances where flawed field testing and improper cylinder sample storage have compromised the reliability of concrete testing data. This raises significant concerns for our customers’ projects and the credibility of our concrete.

Concrete test cylinders must be kept at a certain temperature to ensure accurate results. This follows ASTM C31. Consistent and accurate testing and storage acts as a quality control measure, safeguarding our product integrity, minimizing financial losses, ensuring project timelines, and ultimately, contributing to the construction of safe and reliable structures.

How do we as an industry fix these frequent irregularities? Ozark Ready Mix has collaborated with the Concrete Promotional Group of Kansas City and the Concrete Testing Adherence Collaboration (CTAC). CTAC allows observers to evaluate technicians performing on-site tests, ensuring they adhere to established standards. This fosters trust in the testing process among various parties involved in a project, including contractors, engineers, and producers.

Why has CPG implemented this program and what are the goals?

• Improve quality concrete construction in KC.

• To get testing companies and ready mix producers invited to the pre-construction meeting to discuss who will provide protection and temperature monitoring for job site initial cylinder curing.

• Improve communication about testing, quality control, and cylinder handling on job sites.

Progress made in the first two years:

• One testing company purchased insulated coolers for field use. (none before)

• Another testing company purchased min/max thermometers. (none before)

• Pictures of correct or incorrect practices and job site accountability are getting noticed…

The CTAC reporting system offers valuable insights. Companies can monitor individual technician performance and identify areas for improvement. Additionally, the system allows for observing testing consistency within a specific project area and even across regions. This comprehensive data can be used for training purposes, improving collaboration within project teams, and ultimately, enhancing the overall quality of concrete construction.

Piper High School

Ozark Ready Mix partnered with JE Dunn Construction to bring a brand new high school to the Piper, Kansas community. The project began in the summer of 2023 and is nearing completion. The new high school will occupy the transformed Piper Creek Elementary building, expanding to 115,000 square feet. Students will enjoy new amenities like application labs, a gym, a kitchen, and a commons area. ORM has played a key role, pouring nearly 5,000 yards of concrete on the project thus far. Hats off to JE Dunn Construction and our entire team! We look forward to seeing the positive impact this new school has on the Piper community.

Did you know…Spring brings new beginnings but can also bring challenges for concrete work, especially hairline cracks that appear soon after pouring. This is caused by plastic shrinkage cracking. When spring weather causes rapid evaporation from the concrete’s surface, it dries out faster than the water can rise to the surface (bleed water). This rapid drying can lead to shallow cracks that, while usually not structural, can affect the finished look of your concrete. So what can be done? We recommend some of these options when available:

• Minimize evaporation with shade, and windbreaks, and keep the concrete cool by placing it in the morning or with chilled water.

• Curing should start as soon as possible.

• For even better crack resistance, consider adding set time accelerators or fibers to the concrete mix.

• Use an evaporation retarder. The surface of the concrete can dry prematurely if the evaporation rate is higher than the speed of the bleeding; therefore, an evaporation retarder can reduce the evaporation rate.

See you next month for another peek behind the concrete curtain!

Kenny Jackson!