Blended Cements

The American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) Cement and Concrete Terminology, defines blended cement as “hydraulic cement that is produced by intergrinding portland cement clinker with the other materials or by blending portland cement with the other materials or a combination of intergrinding and blending.”  As recently as 2012, there were changes made in blended cements that have been approved by the ASTM for both special applications and general use.   

 

From the ASTM’s C595 abstract on hydraulic blended cements, they describe Type IS as Portland Blast-furnace Slag cement and Type IP as Portland-pozzolan cement.  They state that, “They can also be described according to air-entraining, moderate sulfate resistance, moderate heat of hydration, high sulfate resistance, or low heat of hydration properties.”  Type I (SM) Slag-modified Portland cement has a standard that contains less than 25% slag by mass of the cement.  The ASTM’s C595 permits Type IS Portland Blast-furnace Slag cement to contain between 25 and 70% by mass of the finished cement. 

Blended cements are used to prolong the life span of concrete as it reduces the concrete’s permeability to water.  Whereas concrete mixes made of portland cement are more porous and are susceptible to cracking during freeze/thaw cycles.  It can even be a cause of deterioration in the rebar as moisture can seep in over time.  Another benefit to blended cements is they reduce the water-cement ratio (w/c), which is one way to produce high-strength concrete. 

Blends can be customized by varying the proportions of the mix and be produced to meet the demands of a specific project.   Most importantly the ASTM dictates that, “cement shall undergo different tests to determine the following properties: chemical analysis, fineness by sieving, fineness by air-permeability, autoclave expansion, time of setting, air content of mortar, compressive strength, heat of hydration, normal consistency, specific gravity, water requirement, mortar expansions of blended cement and pozzolan, drying shrinkage, activity index with Portland cement, and sulfate resistance.”

* ACI 116R-00, Cement and Concrete Terminology, American Concrete Institute, Farmington Hills, Michigan, 2000

* http://precast.org/2012/12/new-astm-blended-cement-types/

* http://www.astm.org/Standards/C595.htm

 

When your project demands exceptional services and the best value, Conco can deliver.  We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have a regional office in the Seattle area.  With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.

Exciting Career Opportunities for Carpenters

 

If you are a skilled carpenter looking to make a career move, you may want to consider the Conco Companies.  As one of the premier commercial concrete contractors in the country, we are currently offering great career opportunities for the right candidates.  You will have the chance to work with some of the finest professionals in the field and to be a part of a company that continues to bring a standard of excellence to each job we undertake.  We have locations in Northern California, Southern California, Washington State and Colorado.      

Our carpenters are expected to perform all of the carpentry work on a construction project including, but not limited to: erection, alteration, repair, modification, demolition and addition or improvement of or to a building or any other structure or construction.  These are union positions with the exception of those in Colorado.  Furthermore we pay competitive wages as well as offering employees great medical and retirement benefits.

Conco is an exciting place to work as we continue to be involved in some of the most high-profile projects in the country.  We are finishing up the concrete work for the San Francisco 49ers new Levi Stadium, which is scheduled to open in August, 2014.  In 2013, we successfully assisted on repairs of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco.

Currently we are providing concrete services on the new Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles where we recently broke the Guinness World Record for the largest continuous mat pour.  We are proud to report that the 21,200 cubic yard pour was completed without a single injury to a worker. 

We know you will be impressed with our credentials as well as our impeccable reputation.

To apply to a Conco job opening, please refer to our website for contact information.

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We have built our reputation with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

Great Job Opportunities for Backhoe and Crane Operators

The Conco Companies is currently seeking Operating Engineers for backhoes to excavate and load loose materials.  All applicants must have prior experience with both cranes and hoisting equipment.  The Conco Operating Engineers are responsible for operating the hoist and swing equipment that is used to move machinery, materials and other large objects.

We have positions open at all of our locations that include Northern California, Southern California, Washington State and Colorado.  These are union positions (with the exception of Colorado), and Conco offers competitive wages along with medical and retirement benefits.

As one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in the country, Conco is an exciting place to work.  Our extensive portfolio includes providing concrete services on many notable projects throughout the Western United States.  We recently did the extensive concrete work for the new 49ers Levi Stadium and assisted on the repairs for the Bay Bridge in San Francisco.  We are currently working on the Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles where we just completed the world’s largest continuous mat pour!     

For anyone who may be starting a career or seeking a new direction, the construction industry has a lot to offer and is currently experiencing an increase in jobs.  The United States Bureau of Statistics reports that employment for construction equipment operators is projected to grow 19% during the period from 2012 to 2022.  The demand for workers is a result of the construction industry rebounding now that the worst of the recession is behind us.  Operators that are trained on multiple types of heavy machinery will have the best opportunities open to them.

If you are interested in a job operating a crane or backhoe, contact your local trade union to find out how to become an apprentice or get information about trade schools in your area.  A heavy equipment training school can teach you everything from operating the equipment to emergency response training, hazardous waste operations, and OSHA regulations.

To apply for a job opening with Conco, please see our website for more information.

Discover the experience of working with one of the top professional commercial concrete contractors in the Western United States.  Conco has been in business since 1959 delivering first-rate concrete services and has all the experience and expertise to handle even the most challenging projects.

What is Building Information Modeling?

According to the National Institute of Building Sciences’ National BIM Standard Committee, Building Information Modeling (BIM) is defined as, “a digital representation of physical and functional characteristics of a facility.   BIM is a shared knowledge resource for information about a facility forming a reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle; defined as existing from earliest conception to demolition.”*

The concept behind BIM is to have an integrated digital file that is created or gathered on a structure that contains coordinated, reliable information about the project from design and construction through to operations.  While the information may be proprietary, it can be shared with others who are responsible for planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining similar facilities.  BIM in itself is not propriety software but a standardized format used for storing digital files.  Although the term dates back earlier, it was widely introduced into the industry when Autodesk, a company that specializes in 3D design and engineering software, published a white paper on “Building Information Modeling” in 2002.

Wikipedia states that BIM is more than 3D visualization, but also “covers spatial relationships, light analysis, geographic information, and quantities and properties of building components (for example, manufacturers' details).”  As such, BIM is a tool for not only architects but also for engineers and contractors as it helps to connect design, analysis, and documentation together.  In the early design stages, it aids in increasing performance and efficiency of a structure and allows changes to be made that are less costly than further along in the construction process. 

Since creating the BIM on a project starts from the earliest planning stages to completion of the facility, it is a time-consuming job and an expert may be brought in to manage the task.  This person is in charge of coordinating all of the processes and information that takes place throughout construction to fully represent a horizontally integrated building.

1.     http://academics.triton.edu/faculty/fheitzman/NBIMSv1_ConsolidatedBody_11Mar07_4.pdf

2.     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Building_information_modeling

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We have built our reputation in the Los Angeles area with superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

Architectural Concrete Design

An important element in building design is the use of architectural concrete.  It permits a broad versatility of design that could not be achieved without it.  It has the ability to provide an aesthetic finish while still retaining all of the structural properties of the concrete.  Whereas the term decorative concrete applies to design features that are used to simply enhance the look of the concrete in areas such as floors, walls, driveways and patios.

Architectural concrete can take on a variety of forms, textures, and colors and uses several different methods to create the desired effect.  Formwork systems and form-lining molds concrete into just about any kind of shape or size as well as textures or patterns.  The concrete can be simulated to look like brick, stone, or wood and is often used in projects such as retaining walls, exteriors of building, and bridges. 

Poured-in-place architectural concrete integrates the structure requirements of the project design in a cost-effective manner.  The results can be a modern, finished concrete that offers more precision and control over the process.  Since the finished surface is the prominent feature, the type of aggregate, sand, and cement selected are very important as they impact the outcome. 

Color can be adding to the concrete using mineral oxide pigments that are put directly into the concrete mix or with chemical stains and varnishes applied to the surface.  When a project demands a large quantity of raw materials to achieve a specialized look, it is a good idea to secure the available material in advance so the finish of the concrete remains consistent throughout the job.  Beyond adding color, other methods of architectural concrete finishes include surface techniques such as sand-blasting, water-blasting, sanding, polishing, and acid-etching.   

 



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 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.

Methods to Measure Sustainability

The growing demand for green buildings has been invigorated by green building programs such as the LEED rating system.  With new construction projects, owners and builders alike are looking for materials that offer reduced operating costs, improved health benefits, and perform better environmentally throughout the life-cycle of the products. 

Although this can result in some confusion in assessing the impact of such materials on all of these aspects, there are many good resources being developed to assist in making informed decisions.  Experts working in the field of sustainable design are improving the methods that are used to more accurately measure the value of the return on the green investment. 

One of these tools is called a Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and is used in determining the actual performance of green building materials.  This cradle-to-grave assessment starts with a product evaluated by the impact of extracting the raw material, to the manufacturing process and distribution, to the durability and performance.  Additionally the ease of reusing or recycling the material is judged and taken into account. 

When considered early in the planning and design stages, sustainable criteria offer the greatest cost-efficiency as well as the best ability to influence design. Therefore, it is important that architects and owners have the most up-to-date information available right from the start of a project. 

Green products are typically made from reused or recycled-content or from renewable resources.  The EPA says the goal should be to promote clean air and reduce the emissions of VOC (volatile organic compounds) and formaldehyde.  They should not contain CFCs, HCFCs or other toxic substances and need to promote practices that conserve energy and water.  Furthermore they should offer good durability and ease of maintenance, and aid in reducing a building’s overall operating cost.   

The EPA concludes that green buildings should be designed to reduce the environmental impact on human health and the natural environment by:

·         “Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources

·         Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity

·         Reducing waste, pollution and environment degradation”

 

 

 

 

Conco is a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States.  As one of the leading commercial concrete contractors in the San Jose area, we have been involved with large-scale projects in the area including the Mineta Airport.  Our concrete services include commercial, educational, parking and other construction development as well as public works projects.

 

 

 

How Telebelts and Portable Belts Assist in Projects

As highly experienced commercial concrete contractors, we recognize the need for projects to finish on time and on budget.  This is why we continue to purchase and utilize the most up-to-date equipment, which helps us to successfully fulfill our commitments. 

One kind of timesaving equipment we use is telebelts and portable belts that are designed to move heavy materials on or off a jobsite quickly and easily.  A telebelt is a mobile telescopic belt conveyor that is highly versatile and available in a variety of sizes.  They are used to place a high volume of concrete, gravel, rock, and backfill fast and efficiently and are a great way to save time and labor costs.  The set-up on a telebelt is easy to do, and since it is mobile, provides the option to move it around the jobsite as needed. 

Moreover they are a very reliable, well-built piece of equipment.  Putzmeister, a leading manufacturer, states, “The main conveyors and feed conveyors of Telebelts are two separate hydraulic circuits.  Each has their own pumps, control valves and motors and they are hydraulically independent of each other.”  Putzmeister offers the industry’s only line of truck-mounted telescopic belt conveyors and an outrigger design that permits set-up in congested areas and on rough terrain.

Telebelts are fast and efficient with outputs up to 5 cubic yards per minute.  They are ideal for use in low clearance areas or under bridges and into limited access structures.  To give you an example of the type of reach a telebelt may have, the Putzmeister TB 130 has a horizontal reach of 126’ 6” and a maximum rated capacity of 360 cubic yards an hour.  The unit has a 360 degree hydraulic rotation and a variety of hopper options. 

Portable belts are ideal for jobs that seem to offer few options but to wheelbarrow the material by hand.  These belts are specifically designed for just such situations and are built to be linked together to transport materials in tight spots and around corners.   They are also easy to set-up and maneuver around the jobsite. 

When your project demands exceptional services and the best value, Conco can deliver.  We have been offering premium concrete services throughout the Western U.S. since 1959, and have a regional office in the Denver area.  With state-of-the-art equipment and modern facilities, we work diligently to meet goals and stay within budget.