Conco is Committed to Meeting All New Requirements and Regulations

Safety is always in the forefront at The Conco Companies, and in that effort, we recognize the importance of keeping up with any new changes in safety procedures and regulations.  One important update occurred this past March with the publication of ASME’s B30.27-2014 Jobsite Responsibilities for Material Placement System that outlines specific responsibilities on the jobsite. 

The American National Standard’s most notable change came with the addition of language that was taken from the mobile crane standards to now use in concrete placement.  The new regulation includes a translation requirement for companies that import equipment into the U.S. and a clear description of responsibilities for general contractors, pump operators, and concrete mixer truck drivers as well as for anyone else that is a part of the process. 

The publication, Concrete Facts, explains the new regulation as such, “If specialized training is required, it is shown. Expectations of setup locations are spelled out. What an operator should know, and the items a contractor should consider when ordering a machine are listed. The only way everyone can go home safely after the pour is if everyone knows their piece of the safety puzzle and works to accomplish it.”

The new regulations will go into effect next year but the American Concrete Pumping Association (ACPA) has already stepped up to make sure their safety training programs comply with the new regulations.  Their goal is to see to it that concrete pump operators and ready mix drivers meet the safety training and competency requirements spelled out in the ASME B30.27-2014.   

At Conco, we continue to work at creating the safest work environment for all employees, fellow contractors, customers, and the general public.  As one of the largest pumping and belting companies in the U.S., we implement the highest safety standards in the industry.

Sources:

cfawalls.org/concretefacts/2014/06/30/a-new-american-national-standard-for-material-placement-safety/

mydigimag.rrd.com/publication/?i=216900

Conco is one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in the Western United States.  We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado and are experts at creating cost-effective solutions that take advantage of the most up-to-date techniques.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

Conco’s Concrete Pumps Available Throughout California

The Conco Companies have owned and operated one of the largest concrete pumping companies in the United States for over 40 years.  To remain a leader, we continue to invest in new concretepumps to provide customers one of the most modern, state-of-the-art operations on the West Coast. 

In fact our concrete pumps helped us to successfully undertake the largest continuous mat pour for the new Wilshire Grand tower this past February to break the Guinness World Record.  Also on this project, we will use our equipment to pump concrete to reach the top floors of the 1,100 ft. tall skyscraper that is scheduled to become the tallest building in the West once it is completed.

To serve our customers, we have a large fleet of 27 concrete pumps that are located in Northern California (12 pumps) and Southern California (15 pumps).  Our pumps are manufactured by two of the top names in the industry.  Putzmeister America, Inc. is the North American division of one of the most recognized and respected manufacturers of concrete and material placing equipment.  Schwing America is a member of the SCHWING Group, a worldwide designer, manufacturer and distributor of premium concrete production and handling equipment that is headquartered in Herne, Germany.

Both our Northern and Southern California locations have a Schwing 58SX long boom concrete pump that meets the latest emissions standards and is helping to reduce emissions at our jobsites.  With a 4-Section Overhead Roll and Fold, the innovative boom design works well on bridges, commercial and industrial work and has a reach of 175 feet. The versatile boom has a main section that articulates 180-degrees, which allows it to be angled away from the pour and then guided horizontally into enclosed areas, positioned vertically for elevated work, and stretched out over the cab for flatwork.

Another impressive pump we have available in both locations is the Putzmeister 36Z.  With its detachable Putzmeister Z-Fold boom, the 36Z has great reach.  It is the only four-section, 116-foot 10-inch boom on the market using X-style outriggers. The powerful pumping performance with a small footprint makes it perfect for restrictive job sites.

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States.  We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

What Goes Into Determining the Best Pump to Use?

As we discussed in a previous blog post, the Conco Companies have owned and operated one of the largest pumping companies in the Western United States for over 40 years.  Our overwhelming success and continued expansion has put us in a leadership role in the commercial concrete industry.   We have an impressive fleet of concrete pumps with eleven of them conveniently based out of Washington State to handle the needs of our customers in this area. 

So what are the actual criteria that we take into account when determining which concrete pumps to use on a particular job?  One of the first things we need to know is the concrete output required to get the job done and the delivery output needed in cubic yards per hour that will meet the specifications of the job.  Having this information, now the engineer knows the pumping volume that the boom truck must deliver to accomplish the task.  The cubic yard per hour output for each boom truck is provided by the manufacturer as well as other features and capabilities of each pump. 

Next the layout of the pumps at the jobsite needs to be figured out and how long of a boom will be required to reach all of the work areas.  A boom’s maximum reach is really 10 to 20 feet shorter as the boom travels horizontally as well as vertically (the reach is not directly straight out or straight up).  Furthermore properties of the concrete mix such as the type of aggregate or sand used have to be evaluated as some concrete designs require more pressure to pump.  

Other factors taken into account are conditions at the jobsite including the size, any overhead obstacles, amount of congestion on the site, and any obstacles along the sides of the area.  Also how much room is there to get concrete trucks on and off the site?  These are but a sampling of the many dynamics that experienced concrete contractors use to determine the size of the pumps and how many to use.  

Sources:

concreteconstruction.net/Images/What's%20New%20in%20Truck-Mounted%20Boom%20Pumps_tcm45-342799.pdf

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We got our start in the Bay Area in 1959 by offering clients the best value on a wide range of concrete services and products.  Since that time, we have taken a leading role as one of the top concrete contractors in the region. We have four regional offices serving California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado.

Why Concrete is so Widely Used

Concrete still remains the building material of choice for most structures and is the single most widely used material throughout the world.  Its properties are such that it resists weathering, erosion and other natural disasters, and requires very little maintenance.  Dating back to early Egyptian times, humans have mixed together the basic ingredients of concrete from sand and gravel, a cement-like binder, and water for thousands of years. 

Concrete’s continued popularity comes from the fact that it is not only economical but it is very strong and durable.  When compared to wood, asphalt or other building materials, concrete outlasts them by decades and even gains strength over time.  Concrete is an extremely versatile material that is used to construct buildings, bridges, dams, tunnels, pavements, runways and roads.  Additionally concrete is extremely fire resistance so it is a safe material to use.

The raw material used to make cement, which is a part of concrete, is limestone, and is the most abundant mineral on earth.  Also concrete can be made from waste byproducts that come from power plants, steel mills and other manufacturing facilities such as fly ash, slag cement, and silica fume.

The concrete industry is very large, and given the nature of concrete, it is locally produced.  It is estimated that the industry provides more than two million jobs to Americans.  Generally the concrete used on a particular project is produced quite nearby and very little cement or concrete is traded or transported internationally.  Most cement travels by trucks and the remainder by barge or train. 

Furthermore concrete is environmental friendly.  Decades later, concrete can be recycled into an aggregate that has a hundred or more different uses.  The concrete is easily crushed and recycled to be used for such things as new concrete pavement, a road base, or backfill. 

Sources:

wbcsdcement.org/index.php/key-issues/sustainability-with-concrete/properties-of-concrete

concretenetwork.com/concrete/greenbuildinginformation/what_makes.html

 

 

The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States serving Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Colorado.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects and highways.

Conco Constructs a Floor Every Week!

As one of the foremost commercial concrete contractors in the business, Conco continues to innovate and develop techniques that allow us to deliver exceptional services to our clients.  Furthermore we fully recognize that extended construction times drive up cost so we have become experts in working efficiently and cost-effectively. 

With a well-earned reputation of meeting or exceeding deadlines, Conco is routinely brought in on projects that have an accelerated timetable.  Such was the case of 815 Pines, a luxury 40-story apartment building adjacent to the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Seattle.  Owned by the Holland Partner Group, they were adamant that the project was finished on time regardless of weather conditions and the challenges presented by the small footprint and minimal lay-down area.

Conco’s task was to construct a complete floor every week.  The time-lapsed video link below demonstrates one week of the activity that took place starting at Level 34 pour-day right through to Level 35 pour-day.  It clearly illustrates how we successfully accomplished this huge undertaking. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGmhEkbNKLk&feature=autoshare

A breakdown of how major tasks were managed throughout the 5-day week:

·         Day 1: Pour slab, core slab, walls, & columns.  Start framing Level 35 deck.

·         Day 2: Jump core form.  Strip columns.  Complete L35 deck. Charge boundary elements.  MEP layout.

·         Day 3: MEP layout.  Edge forms.  PSR rail install.  Core rebar install.  Bottom mat rebar.

·         Day 4:  Perimeter panels jumped.  PT install.  Core walls complete.

·        Day 5: MEP/Pex pipe installed.  Top of slab formwork.  Embed installation.  Charge column rebar cages.  Clear deck, prepped for pour.

 

Throughout the 815 Pine project, the 5-day cycle was accomplished with a single shift that stayed within the construction schedule and exceeded the expectations of the developer.  By consistently collaborating with general contractors and owners, Conco strives to find solutions that meet the demands of each unique project we provide services on.

For over 50 years, Conco has been providing premium concrete services and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in the  Northwest.  We partner with clients on every project from the pre-construction stage right through to final completion to maximize efficiency and ensure goals and budgets are met.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

Tallest Buildings in the U.S.

A debate has recently started over whether the new World Trade Center, at 1,776 feet, will become our nation’s tallest building.  Apparently the controversy stems from a design change in the 408’ communication needle that sits atop the tower.  Without inclusion of the needle, the building will be designated at 1,368 feet, which just so happens to be the height of the original World Trade Center Tower. 

The Chicago based council of architects that officially bestows such titles is expected to rule on a decision in the next week or so.  The problem lies in the definition of what constitutes footage for the tower’s final height.  The criteria states that spires that are an “integral part of a building's aesthetic design count; broadcast antennas that can be added and removed do not.”

In the case of the World Trade Center tower, architectural plans called for the enclosing of the communication antennas with a design element of fiberglass and steel.  At the last minute, the practicality of maintenance became an issue and it was never done.  One of the World Trade Center’s architects, David Childs wants the building recognized for the higher height because of what it signifies.  He states the importance of the number 1776 which symbolizes the birth of our nation and the start of our democracy.

Presently the Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, holds the record for the tallest building in the U.S and was constructed in 1974.  It was the world’s largest until the opening of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1996.

The third tallest building in the U.S. is once again in Chicago.  The Trump International Hotel and Tower was completed in 2009 and comes in at 1,389 feet.  The Burj Khalifa in Dubai became the tallest built structure in 2010 at 2,723 feet.  

For over 50 years, Conco has been providing premium concrete services and is one of the most trusted concrete contractors in Seattle.  We partner with clients on every project from the pre-construction stage right through to final completion.  At Conco we earned our first-class reputation by offering innovative, cost-effective solutions to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry.