NPCA Committee Round-Up

Below, snapshots of the work being performed by NPCA Committees is presented. Utilize the links below to jump to a specific section.

• Building Product Committee
• Education Committee
• Manhole Product Committee
• Precast Concrete Paving Slabs Product Committee
• Quality Assurance Committee
• Safety, Health and Environmental Committee
• Stormwater Management Product Committee
• Sustainability Committee
• Technical Committee
• Utility Product Committee
• Wall Product Committee
• Water & Wastewater Product Committee

Building Product Committee

Reaching Out to Specifiers

The Building Committee has been busy spreading the word to specifiers on the versatility and durability of precast concrete building elements. This has been a primary mission of this committee since its inception. AIA courses that offer learning units to architects have been offered at The Precast Show every year for the past eight years. Now the committee is working on a self-guided course in which a specifier can read a paper related to precast concrete building structures, take an exam and obtain a professional development hour (PDH), learning unit (LU) or continuing education unit (CEU).

The committee is also working on an award program that would spotlight the architects and engineers behind “amazing precast concrete building projects.” The committee has been hard at work on promoting the use of precast concrete on residential building projects, and it presented a course at The Precast Show 2014 on opportunities in this market. In line with these efforts, the committee has been developing a website project for precast.org. where a website visitor could navigate through a rendering of the inside and outside of a home to discover all the possible precast elements – from foundation walls to fireplace surrounds. 

Building Committee Facts

Products represented include: Wall Panels, Foundation Panels, Hollow Core Alabs, Spandrels, Columns, Beams, Stairs, Veneers, Pavers, Basement Entries, Countertops, Architectural Finish Pieces

Chairman: William Love, Arto Brick California Pavers, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Ashley Smith, Smith Midland Corp., [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Kayla Hanson, P.E., NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• Architectural Connections Guide
• Architectural Repair Guide
• White Paper on Ultra High Performance Concrete

Web page: Building Products Page

Education Committee

Bolstering an Educated Workforce

The Education Committee works to develop a vision and framework for education throughout the precast industry and oversees programs and courses, including PQS and Precast University, webinars, live courses at The Precast Show and Annual Convention, and courses for university students throughout North America.

Precast University has come a long way since its inception a decade ago, becoming a robust program with six PQS courses that include more than 72 hours of combined education. Completing the curriculum qualifies individuals for the Master Precaster designation. A program of this scope requires constant monitoring and revision to ensure the information is relevant and accurate, and that responsibility belongs to the Education Committee.

The committee is currently reviewing courses potentially to be offered at Annual Convention 2014 and the Precast Show 2015. The committee is also looking at webinar programming for 2015. This includes finding qualified presenters and approving the course content.

Committee members are focused on expanding NPCA’s educational outreach to specifiers with more AIA (American Institute of Architects) and PDH (professional development hours) courses for engineers and architects. Committee members are also targeting students in universities and colleges by offering live courses to spotlight precast concrete.

Education Committee Facts

Areas represented include: PQS and Precast University, Webinars, Live Education, Specifier Education

Chairman: Lisa Roache, Gainey’s Concrete Products Inc., [email protected]

Board Liaison: Greg Roache, Gainey’s Concrete Products Inc., [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Marti Harrell, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• Lunch & Learn templates on septic systems, stormwater management, utility structures and transportation products
• Precast University
• Online Learning Center

Web page: Education Page

Manhole Product Committee

Everything from ‘Cut and Paste’ to Eccentric Design

After successfully presenting its first manhole education course to specifiers at The Precast Show 2014 in Houston, the Manhole Committee is back to work in its ongoing quest to create new technical papers related to a variety of aspects of precast concrete manholes. These include papers on manhole inverts, steps, watertight joints, coring and cast-in-place penetrations, drop manholes and lift stations. The committee is also in the final stages of creating the first Manhole Best Practices Manual and is starting on a manhole guide specification. The concept is to develop a large, encompassing specification as a standard template in specifier language in an editable Word document that can be used by members to “cut and paste” an appropriate manhole standard for their specific regions.

Committee members are also working on a design guide for eccentric and concentric reducer cones. Eccentric cone sections have unique challenges due to variable dimensions and geometry. The committee hopes to address design method questions that may arise for special considerations such as high live-load conditions (railroad, airport), deep-bury reducer cones, and load and resistance factor design analysis (LRFD).

The committee wants to publish as much information as possible on the proper installation of manholes. A manhole installation guide was created a couple of years ago, and the next step will be a manhole installation video that would demonstrate the best practices in installation. The committee is also planning to work with ASTM International to create a standard for manhole installation.

Manhole Committee Facts

Products represented include: Manholes, Lift Stations, Inlets, Catch Basins

Chairman: John Dutschmann, Hanson Pipe & Precast, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Leo Feuerstein, Western Precast Concrete Inc., [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Eric Carleton, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• PDH Course (presented in conjunction with The Precast Show 2014)
• Tech Notes on Inverts, Steps, Drop Manholes and other topics
• Manhole Pipe Entry Calculator

Web page: Manhole Products Page

Precast Concrete Pavement Slabs Product Committee

Paving the Way

Precast concrete pavement slab technology is quickly gaining acceptance with federal, state and municipal authorities due to its proven ease of installation, quality and durability. The PCPS Committee has been hard at work reaching out to specifiers about this product. The latest project in development is the Guide to Jointed Precast Concrete Pavement, which will be a technical document intended as a resource for specifiers. Members are also involved in the creation and presentation of webinars in partnership with ACPA (American Concrete Pavement Association). So far, four webinars have been presented with one more scheduled for May 2014. Watch for more information and a link to the webinar in the NPCA Precast Express email newsletter.

Another way the committee achieves its outreach goals is by participating on other applicable committees and task groups. Members of the PCPS Committee, for example, have been selected for the FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) Expert Task Group for Precast Concrete Pavement Product Implementation.

Turning its focus to NPCA members, the committee is discussing a possible PCPS Lunch and Learn template that precasters could use as a guideline for developing their own presentations. The committee is also continuing to address construction-related issues and educate NPCA members on the correct approach to installing and handling PCPS.

Precast Concrete Pavement Slabs Product Committee Facts

Products represented include: Jointed Precast Concrete Pavement Slabs (used for curves, intersections, bridge approaches, runways and straight highways)

Chairman: Warren Taylor, Pro-Cast Products Inc, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Terri Rondeau, Besser Company, [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Evan Gurley, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• Jointed Precast Concrete Pavement Systems Brochure
• Precast Concrete Paving System Installation Videos
• PCPS Web Explorer

Web page: PCPS Product Page

Quality Assurance Committee

Raising the Quality Bar

The QA Committee provides oversight and guidance in the administration of NPCA’s Quality Assurance Programs. This includes updates and approval of standards contained in the NPCA Quality Control Manual for Precast Concrete Plants, which serves as the basis for the NPCA Plant Certification Program. The content of the manual and requirements of the program are reviewed each year by the committee. When new content is developed for the manual, it is first presented to members during an open comment period before the changes are incorporated into the new version. The 11^th Edition of the NPCA Quality Control Manual is available at no charge in the Plant Certification section of precast.org.

The QC Committee also oversees the NPCA Plant Certification Program, which includes responsibilities such as auditor training, compliance with ANSI requirements and dispute resolution. The NPCA Plant Certification program is the only industry certification that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Accreditation by ANSI signifies that the procedures used by NPCA meet the Institute’s requirements for openness, balance, consensus and due process.

Members of the QC Committee are also part of a task force of NPCA leadership that is working with a team from the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute to harmonize the NPCA and PCI certification programs and the QC manuals for both associations.

Quality Assurance Committee Facts

Areas represented include: QC Manual, ANSI Compliance, Auditor Training, Quality Control Program Management

Chairman: Richard Alvarado, Western Precast Concrete Inc., [email protected]

Board Liaison: Greg Stratis, Shea Concrete Products, [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Phil Cutler, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• 11^th Edition of NPCA Quality Control Manual
• ANSI Accreditation
• NPCA Plant Certification Deficiency Response Form

Web page: Certification Page

Safety, Health and Environmental Committee

Resources to Educate and Protect Your Employees

The SHE Committee focuses on providing guidance to enable NPCA member companies to achieve excellence in safety programs by developing resources that help plants integrate safety, health and environmental practices into everyday business operations. It all starts with the NPCA Guide to Plant Safety. This valuable resource was developed over the years by the SHE Committee, and it continues to review it and update it as needed.

It is important to inform members of impending regulatory changes that may impact their businesses. In addition to monitoring the regulatory environment, the committee also supports NPCA by communicating the association’s stance on new proposals such as the current OSHA proposed rule on the Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of silica and the boom truck operator certification and training.

The committee publishes bimonthly safety program materials on the safety page of precast.org (precast.org/safety). Nearly 30 different topics, ranging from respiratory protection to lifting safety, are listed with accompanying PowerPoint presentations and printable materials to aid in employee training. Many plants use these free resources for toolbox talks or regular safety training of plant personnel. The committee also publishes a quarterly Safety Express newsletter that is free to all NPCA members. An archive of previous newsletters is also available at precast.org/safety.

The committee educates employees through the use of webinars and live courses during NPCA events. For a schedule of upcoming live webinars and a list of recorded webinars, visit the NPCA education page at https://precast.org/education/online-education/

The SHE Committee also recognizes member companies every year through its annual Safety Awards. The list of plants earning safety awards is published at precast.org, in Precast Inc. magazine and in other industry publications.

Safety, Health and Environmental Committee Facts

Areas represented include: Plant Safety, Training and Orientation, Workplace Violence, Fleet Management, Environmental Compliance, OSHA Compliance

Chairman: Donald Graham, Jensen Precast, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Jennifer Burkhart, Arrow Concrete Products, [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Evan Gurley, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• Back to Basics Video
• New Hire Training and Orientation
• NPCA’s Guide to Plant Safety

Web page: Safety Page

Stormwater Management Product Committee

Producing a Constant Flow of Information

The Stormwater Management Product Committee held its second Stormwater Symposium in Baltimore last November and is now developing the 2014 seminar. The daylong professional education course is aimed at local engineering, regulatory and design professionals, and covers stormwater-specific topics important in each region. It also serves to promote the industry and to provide interaction between the engineering/specifying community and local precast manufacturers. This year’s event will be held in Raleigh, N.C., this fall. Committee members are also writing articles on underground storage structures and precast concrete fish jumps.

In addition, the Stormwater Management Committee is writing a document on advantages of watertight stormwater structures and discussing the development of a document on boxless stormwater units. Also on the to-do list: a quarterly stormwater related blog. See the first blog of 2014 here: NPCA Stormwater Blog.

Stormwater Management Committee Facts

Products represented include: Stormwater Treatment Systems, Retention/Detention Structures

Chairman: Mark Wieser, Wieser Concrete Products Inc, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Paul Heidt, Garden State Precast Inc., [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Eric Carleton, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• Stormwater Detention Calculator
• Stormwater System Management – Best Practices Manual
• Precast Concrete: The Stormwater Management Solution PDH Article

Web page: Stormwater Products Page

Sustainability Committee

Preparing NPCA Members for Greener Pastures

The Sustainability Committee focuses on emerging issues in sustainability and resilient construction, and develops resources that enable NPCA members to build sustainable practices into their manufacturing processes. The committee researches LEED codes and develops materials to assist members in calculating the benefits of using precast concrete on projects seeking LEED credits.

The committee is currently focusing on educating members about sustainability in precast manufacturing and on the benefits and ease of adopting sustainable practices in manufacturing. This includes live courses and webinars. The committee is currently developing a sustainability track to be submitted for inclusion in the PQS curriculum. The committee also writes a column in Precast Inc. magazine entitled Green Piece, which spotlights relevant topics in sustainability and resiliency. Committee members are also developing a tool that would enable plants to benchmark their energy use and carbon emissions and to measure improvement.

The committee organizes the Sustainability Awards each year and honors entrants at The Precast Show. The competition recognizes the sustainability practices of NPCA producers and associates, and is publicized throughout the industry.

The committee continues to educate specifiers on the sustainable and resilient benefits of precast concrete through membership in CJSI (the Concrete Joint Sustainability Initiative) and participation in other meetings and conferences.

The Sustainability Committee is currently working with industry partners to develop a North American Precast Concrete PCR (product category rule). This will enable producers to create their own EPDs (environmental product declarations) so they can compete in a construction industry that is quickly heading toward environmental transparency.

Sustainability Committee Facts

Areas represented include: Sustainability Promotion, Education and Outreach, Sustainability Awards

Chairman: Armen Alajian, Arto Brick California Pavers, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Stewart Luckman, Skako Concrete Inc., [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Claude Goguen, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• LEED Calculator
• NPCA Sustainability Awards
• LEED Reference Guide

Web page: Sustainability Page

Technical Committee

Relevant Topics and Emerging Technologies

The Technical Committee oversees the technical content of all NPCA technical publications and writes articles and papers related to aspects of precast concrete production that may not fall under the responsibility of a particular product committee. Self-consolidating concrete, for example, is a global technology that crosses committee boundaries, so the Technical Committee produces education and information on SCC. The committee also reviews documents created by other committees for technical accuracy, conformity with NPCA formats and compliance with industry standards and technologies. Committee members are currently reviewing documents from the Manhole and Utility Structures product committees.

The Technical Committee has also been focusing on writing TechNotes and TechBriefs on a variety of relevant topics from form release application to air-entraining admixtures. It is currently working on topics such as ASR (alkali silica reactivity), vacuum testing and 28-day strength. The committee is also working on educating members about emerging technologies in precast concrete production, such as portland limestone cement and macro fibers.

Technical Committee Facts

Areas represented include: Technical Review, Technical Document Writing

Chairman: Ulrich Kuebler, Con Cast Pipe, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Michael Hoffman, Lindsay Concrete Products, [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Phil Cutler, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• Guide to Implementing SCC
• Buoyancy White Paper and Calculator
• Concrete Sampling and Testing Tech Note

Web page: Technical Page

Utility Product Committee

Taking it to the Streets

The Utility Structures Committee members have good reason to be proud: They just offered their first course focused on precast concrete utility structures to local engineers and NPCA members at The Precast Show 2014 in Houston. This was a result of months of hard work. Chairman Chris Fitzpatrick and members Ron Thornton and Heidi Helmink taught the course. The committee plans to continue offering courses like this in the future, including a webinar version to reach a wider audience.

The committee is on to its next projects, including an online tool that would allow users to quickly find applicable ASTM standards related to different precast utility products. It can be cumbersome and confusing at times to find the right standard that applies to the particular structure, installation, testing or associated materials. This tool would employ a graphic rendering that would be simple to navigate and provide ASTM information quickly. The scope of this project may be expanded to include other products that contain many ASTM standards such as manholes, pipe, box culvert, septic tanks and grease interceptors.

The committee is in the final stages of revising the Utility Structures Best Practices Manual, which has proven to be a valuable source of information for specifiers and members. It is also working on a Utility Vault Guide Specification that could be used and edited to fit any project. In addition, committee members are working on a TechNote devoted to hatches and lids, and another TechNote covering the use of steel fibers in utility structures.

Utility Committee Facts

Products represented include: Utility Vaults, Trenches, Equipment Pads, Junction Boxes, Handholes, Light Pole Bases, Utility Buildings, Wind Turbine Bases, Solar Panel Bases

Chairman: Chris Fitzpatrick, Lindsey Precast Inc, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Jonathan Ohmes, Champion Precast, [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Kayla Hanson, P.E., NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• PDH Course (offered live at The Precast Show 2014)
• Utility Structures Best Practices Manual
• Underground Utility Vault Presentation

Web page: Utility Structures Page

Wall Product Committee

Focusing on Finishes

The types of walls under the purview of this committee include retaining walls and sound walls. Since those walls are often in high visual exposure areas, they often have architectural finishes. It is for this reason that the committee has been focusing on that topic by creating a Sound Wall Finishes presentation and a PMB Finishes presentation. These are currently in the production phase and will be available soon.

The committee is also working on marketing the attributes of precast concrete sound walls and retaining walls by profiling projects from members. It will be soliciting case studies from NPCA members over the coming months. If you have produced a retaining wall or sound wall project that you are particularly proud of, please contact the chairman or liaisons below.

Wall Product Committee Facts

Products represented include: PMB, MSE, Cantilever, Crib Wall and Other Types of Retaining Walls, Absorptive and Reflective Sound Walls

Chairman: Dominic Girotti, Hy-Grade Precast Concrete, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Brian Leary, Reading Rock, [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Evan Gurley, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• Precast Modular Block Retaining Wall Field Installation Best Practices Manual
• Graffiti-Resistant Precast Concrete
• Precast Concrete Absorptive Sound Wall Technical Brochure

Web page:

Retaining Walls: Retaining Wall Products Page

Sound Walls: Sound Wall Products Page

Water & Wastewater Product Committee

Spreading the Gospel of Precast

The Water and Wastewater Committee continues to focus on promotion of precast concrete tanks and grease interceptors. One of the important ways to promote our products is through attending or exhibiting at regional wastewater conferences and conventions around the country, so the committee has posted a listing of those events on NPCA’s website at precast.org. The committee wants to have a presence at as many of these events as possible. In addition, the committee recently updated the Guidelines for Precast Concrete Grease Interceptors, a presentation that NPCA members can use when making presentations to local regulators, specifiers and on-site wastewater associations. The presentation is available in the Resources section of the Water and Wastewater product page.

Water & Wastewater Product Committee Facts

Products represented include: Septic Tanks, Grease Interceptors, Distribution Boxes and Pump Tanks

Chairman: Aaron Ausen, Dalmaray Concrete Products Inc, [email protected]

Board Liaison: Keith Womack, J-K Polysource, [email protected]

Staff Liaison: Eric Carleton, NPCA, [email protected]

Past projects completed:

• On Site Wastewater Tanks Best Practices Manual
• White Paper on Grease Interceptor Design
• Grease Interceptor O & M Manual

Web page: Water & Wastewater Products Page