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NEED A FAST FLOOR FACELIFT
Pigmented concrete is also becoming a popular option in precast panels. John Vettergreen, director of sales for engineered solutions for the prairie region at Armtec, points to a recent combined library and rec centre project in Calgary in which pigmentation was used for the cladding of panels, both integrated and non - integrated. "Were also seeing pigmented concrete panels on big box stores. These quasi - warehouse type buildings can have panels of 30 by 10 foot or more. They are pre - stressed and their biggest benefits are durability, controlled quality production, theyre erected fast, and theyre cost - competitive. Whats new is that the concrete cladding is pigmented. Its becoming more in vogue," says Vettergreen. In Alberta, where much of its oil and gas development is in remote locations, Armtec is seeing demand for custom kits for short - span bridges. These consist of precast components with box girders up to 18 metres in length. They conform to government specs and are designed for the heavy loads of trucks and equipment in the oil patch. Another trend, stemming perhaps in part form the push to greener buildings, has been marked by more demand for polished concrete flooring, especially in the institutional sector. Government buildings, schools and university residences are sources of demand for this type of floor, says Casey Klassen, president of Mardina Construction Ltd. Noting that the process requires expensive, high - quality equipment, he says, "Its comparable in cost to some ceramic tile, but lasts a lifetime if done properly. Its a niche market. We do it as a sideline." Servicing the niche requirements of a region or sector is one way to boost a companys product offer and retain or improve market share. Another way is through acquisitions. Partly via the latter, Euclid Admixtures added macro - and micro - fibre reinforcing and a stamped concrete system that duplicates natural textures to its product line. "It rounds out the product offering in admixtures. Synthetic reinforcing fibres are used to replace wire mesh and light steel reinforcement. Its less labour intensive and so you dont need an extra crew. Slab on grade is the biggest application for fibre reinforcement. Also, it eliminates the risk of rust," says Brian Salazar, national business development manager at Euclid Admixture Canada. Dealing with moisture - and speeding construction by eliminating a step - are the focus of a new product from Maxxon. Introduced about a year ago, Maxxon MVP - MVP stands for moisture vapour protection - is a two - component, moisture - tolerant, high - density epoxy designed to prevent the passage of water vapour through concrete floors and walls at or below grade. "Within 24 hours of application, you can install flooring," says David Nicholson, international technical manager at Maxxon. He says that use of MVP entails one less step than an earlier anti - moisture product called Damp Proof Membrane. The Perma - Crete line is another concrete protector designed to repel water to reduce cracking, spalling, freeze/ thaw, chemical damage, mildew growth and dirt pick - up. The line is a perfect fit for tilt - up construction projects where panels are used for envelopes of big box stores, says John Fierheller, sales manager for high - performance coatings at PPG Canada Inc. "These buildings lend themselves to elastomeric coatings, concrete stains and texture finishes," he says. They are part of the Perma - Crete line of masonry coatings.
A new product called MICRO - LITE enables a lighter - weight concrete with the use of particles made from an expanded polystyrene. It replaces a lighter, porous aggregate that is no longer commercially available, says Randy Gifford, manager of marketing and technical services at Inland Cement, a division of Lehigh Hanson materials Ltd. Though strength is reduced with EPS, it has advantages over porous aggregate. Because EPS doesnt absorb moisture, pumping any time and placing in cold weather are easier than with MICRO - LITEs porous antecedent. Gifford notes another advantage. "The cushioning effect of the EPS particles seems to reduce the potential for cracking. It has the same fire rating as regular concrete." The product was first used at Calgarys Canada Olympic Park where about 1,500 cubic metres of light concrete were poured for four new arenas last year. RCS P Climbing Protection Panel from PERI Formworks is another product geared for large projects. It is designed to support the highrise construction process and was used on the Trump Tower and the Ritz - Carlton in Toronto. With this system, the slab edges of the upper floors are completely enclosed. Site personnel are secure against falling and are protected from strong winds. "The panels backbone is the rail, which enables the hydraulic - supported climb. The hydraulic system lifts four panels at a time to the next level, and requires a crew of just two people," says Mike Guindy, product manager for PERI. The protection panels envelope the top four floors, protecting workers and preventing debris falling. The system is especially useful at 15 floors or higher, where wind speeds are more likely to cause work stoppages. "Theres no stoppage due to high wind and no fall protection harness is needed. RCS P is a rail - climbing system with protection. RCS includes several systems, each with a specific function," says Guindy.
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