The American Society of Concrete Contractors has published Troubleshooting Newsletter #47, which provides answers to questions typically asked by concrete contractors. Questions regarding such issues as providing a hand-troweled surface with silica-fume concrete, guidelines for rebar temperature, checker-boarding elevated slabs, and ACI tolerances for curb and gutter construction are covered in the newsletter. Contact: ASCC (800/877-2753).

Rubber Commerce

Rubber Commerce LLC is a neutral business-to-business online marketplace with over 1,700 pre-registered members from over 60 countries. The Rubber Commerce Exchange proactively advises members of new business opportunities. Members can also receive personalized daily news feeds, price indices, directories, publications, technical and commercial papers, and notification of specific industry events. Services include online technical advice from a leading rubber technologist, and job listings for recruitment purposes.

Construction Study—Collaborations Yield Big Dividends

A study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Office of Applied Economics, shows that the past, present, and future collaborations between the NIST Building and Fire Research Laboratory and partners, including two private-sector organizations—the Construction Industry Institute and the new Fully Integrated and Automated Technologies Consortium—will accelerate the industry’s plans for commercial deployment of builder-relevant information age products by at least four years. NIST economists credit the partners’ work—particularly the contributions of BFRL—on key enabling technologies, standard communications protocols, and advanced measurement techniques for the expected advance in product and services marketplace readiness. The analysts estimate the product and service availability in 2005, rather than 2009, will represent a cost savings to industrial facility owners, managers, and contractors approaching $150 million. For a copy of NIST Interim Report 6501, Benefits and Costs of Research: A Case Study of Construction Systems Integration and Automation Technologies in Industrial Facilities, are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.

Biopolymer Web Site

biopolymer.net is a starting point for information regarding biopolymers and related information. Go to the site to get news and information on lactic acid, polyvinyl, and other materials; fibers; products; design; injection molding; printing; coatings; and resources for finding consultants, certification, research, and more. //

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