The National Research Council (NRC) soundPATHS tool now includes total precast concrete scenarios

We are pleased to announce that the National Research Council (NRC) soundPATHS tool has now been updated to include total precast concrete scenarios. “The National Research Council's (NRC) soundPATHS web application is a prediction tool for the calculation of direct and flanking sound transmission between adjacent rooms. The software uses the calculation procedure outlined in the 2015 edition of the National Building Code of Canada.” CPCI is proud to have contributed to the development of this tool through sponsored research from the CPCI Technical Committee and staff involvement in the multi-sector special interest group.

CPCI Publishes the Self-Consolidating Concrete for Precast Applications: Best Practice Guide

The purpose of this new best practice document is to provide guidance to precasters, designers, specifiers, and owners/agencies on the important characteristics for the design, fabrication, and specification of self-consolidating concrete (SCC). SCC is defined as concrete that flows under its own weight or, with some agitation, spreads readily into place while remaining stable. Get your free copy!

Now Available - FREE Precast Concrete Wall Thermal Performance Calculator

April 2019 - Energy and thermal performance requirements are growing and playing an increasingly significant role in building codes throughout North America. CPCI’s new Web-enabled software provides designers, builders, and owners with a program to ensure compliance options for modern building energy codes, and suitable methods for quickly estimating, at an early design stage, the thermal performance of precast concrete enclosure wall systems

Newly Updated CPCI Curing Technical Bulletin

CPCI recently published an update to the CPCI Curing Technical Bulletin. The CPCI technical committee originally approved the first version of this publication in 2013, and it included the state of the art research conducted by the National Research Council of Canada on behalf of CPCI . This latest version has now been expanded to include the new surface durability research by Professor Hooton, University of Toronto, that was approved for publication earlier this year. Also, where necessary we have also cited the changes to CSA A23.1/2 in the most recent 2014 edition, particularly the changes to RCP and compressive strength requirements from 56 and 28 days to 'within 91 days and 56 days. Finally, we have had the publication professionally laid out to make it consistent with our other CPCI technical publications.

New Updated CPCI Structural Floor and Roof Guide

The CPCI Technical committee has approved a recent update to the structural floor and roof guide. This latest version includes drawings have been revised and updated. It also includes editorial and technical changes throughout to reflect the more current industry recommendations.

CPCI Launches New Certification Website

CPCI is pleased to announce the launch of a new and improved certification website. The new bold site is your one-stop shop for all CPCI certification information. The CPCI certification program is designed to qualify manufacturers who fabricate structural, architectural and specialty precast concrete. We invite you to browse through the pages for all the information on this program and to view the list of certified plants. www.precastcertification.ca.

NEW Research on Durability of Accelerated Cured Concretes

In 2013, CPCI published research, conducted by the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC), on the compressive strength and rapid chloride permeability characteristics of accelerated cured concretes. Recently, CPCI commissioned the University of Toronto and Dr. Hooton, Ph.D., to do further research on surface durability. The data in this new research show that there is no negative impact of omitting additional moist curing for CSA C-XL concrete that has undergone a 16 hour curing regime. CPCI is pleased to announce the publishing of this latest research, Effects of Different Accelerated and Moist Curing Periods on Chloride Penetration Resistance of Precast Concrete Element.

ACI Concrete Field Testing Technicians Certification Course - Grade 1

The RMCAO, with assistance from the ACI Ontario Chapter, is sponsoring a two-day in-depth course and examination, based on CSA A23.1/.2, for this widely accepted certification. The course will take place on January 26th-27th, 2015 at the Four Points Sheraton in London, ON. The ACI Field Testing Technician course is a prerequisite to take the PCI Level I/II school. For more information and to register, click on the link below.

NRCC Completes Apparent Sound Transmission Class Research on Hollowcore Floor Assemblies

CPCI commissioned the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) to conduct testing on two Hollowcore assemblies in order to calculate the Apparent Sound Transmission Class (ASTC). ASTC will replace STC ratings in the next edition of the National Building Code of Canada. Both 203 mm and 305 mm thick hollowcore were tested in order to confirm the characteristics to calculate ASTC.

ACI Offers Updated Code Requirements for Determining Fire Resistance of Concrete

Fire resistance of building elements is an important consideration in building design. While structural design considerations for concrete and masonry at ambient temperature conditions are addressed by ACI 318 and TMS 402/ACI 530/ASCE 5, respectively, these codes do not consider the impact of fire on concrete and masonry construction. This standard contains design and analytical procedures for determining the fire resistance of concrete and masonry members and building assemblies.

Latest NPCA load test on Double Tees

On April 17, 2014, the northern division of the Structural Engineers Association of Colorado hosted a double tee load test event at Colorado Precast Concrete in Loveland, Colorado. A full-size double tee designed for a typical parking garage floor member was load tested to determine performance, and reached a deflection of 1.1 m(44 inches) before failure! Stresscon of Colorado Springs supplied the 10-ft-wide, 60-ft-long double tee for the demonstration. Click on the link below to read more on the test and the results.

CSA A23.1/.2-14 Standard Published

The new CSA Standard, CSA A23.1/2-14 was recently published. The standard, entitle "Concrete materials and methods of concrete construction/Test methods and standard practices for concrete" has many new changes and additions. Follow the link below to the presentation by Chris Rogers, Chair of the standard for an overview of the recent changes.

Public Review on Proposed Changes to the 2010 National Model Construction Codes Now Open

The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes (CCBFC) is inviting your company and its members to take part in the fall 2014 public review of proposed changes to the 2010 National Model Construction Codes. The public review is one of the principal steps in the process for updating national code documents, providing a nation-wide forum where anyone can review and comment on the changes proposed. Following the review, CCBFC Standing Committees will consider all comments and make final recommendations on each proposed change.

PCI Announces New Blast Design Manual

PCI’s Blast-Resistant Design Manual, First Edition (MNL 141-12) is now available. This manual describes the basic process of blast-resistant structural design for precast/prestressed concrete components. It includes calculating blast loads on the component, determining the dynamic response of the component, checking the response against specified performance criteria, designing the component connections, and checking the component for adequate shear capacity. The emphasis in this manual is on blast loads from exterior explosions and the dynamic analysis of blast-loaded structural components idealized as equivalent single degree of freedom systems. These assumptions simplify the blast-resistant design procedure discussed in this manual, but they apply to many cases of practical interest for anti-terrorism and force protection design. For more details and purchasing information, click on the link below.

Surface Absorption of Chlorides of Accelerated Cured Concretes

As a supplementary study to the curing research that was recently published by the National Research Council, CPCI has engaged the University of Toronto, Dr. Doug Hooton, to conduct testing on accelerated cured concretes to evaluate their surface absorption characteristics. Ultimately, the research is aimed at demonstrating that 16 hour accelerated cured concretes that are air dried thereafter will have durable surface characteristics. For more information contact Robert Burak at robert.burak@cpci.ca

National Research Council Curing Research Completed

Although low-pressure live steam curing has been accepted as a standard method of accelerated curing, throughout the world, some specifying agencies require girder manufacturers to “secondary cure” (“wet cure”) for a period of three, five or seven days after having completed steam curing. Recent research conducted by the National Research Council (NRC) on behalf of CPCI (2014) describes the results and analysis of a CPCI/ NRC project to determine the appropriate length of accelerated curing for precast concrete.

CPCI Fifth Edition Design Manual Development is Underway

The CPCI Design Manual is the flagship design aid for the Canadian precast prestressed concrete industry, used for teaching prestressed concrete in Universities across the country and also used by design professionals every day. The Fifth Edition editorial committee has met several times this year and are working towards a published electronic revision in 2015. This project is under the leadership of Editor-in-Chief Dr. Paul Gauvreau, University of Toronto. For more information contact Robert Burak at robert.burak@cpci.ca

Apparent Sound Transmission Research - Hollowcore Slabs

The simplest approach to sound transmission (STC) between adjacent rooms in buildings considers only the sound transmission through the wall or floor separating adjacent spaces. In reality, there are many paths for sound transmission between adjacent rooms, including both direct transmission through the separating assembly and indirect structure-borne paths; The structure-borne paths usually significantly affect the overall sound transmission. The National Research Council has published the Guide to Calculating Airborne Sound Transmission (ASTC) in Buildings (2013). CPCI has engaged NRC to evaluate and calculate ASTC ratings for hollowcore precast assemblies. For more information contact Robert Burak at robert.burak@cpci.ca

CSA A23.4 Sixth Edition Development is Underway

The CSA A23.4 standards committee, lead by Chairman John Fraser, met in April for the kick-off meeting of the latest (sixth edition) of the national standard for Precast Concrete-Materials and Construction. The next meeting is scheduled for October 6-7th, and the next publication is expected in 2015. For more information contact Robert Burak at robert.burak@cpci.ca