Making Good Projects Great
Why technical support is key to project success
By Miles Dee, TXI Expanded Shale & Clay
Where do you go when you have questions to be answered concerning the production and use of structural lightweight aggregate concrete? The producers of structural lightweight aggregate concrete have developed several ways to get technical support, from online guidebooks to representatives at each individual company. At any point during an inquiry about structural lightweight aggregate concrete, questions may arise regarding the proper usage of, specification for, or the actual placement of this aggregate and technical support will be able to answer these questions and many more.
Guidelines and Practices
There is really no mystery to the production and placement of structural lightweight aggregate concrete. Whether you are in the engineering, contracting or supply end of a concrete project, following a few simple guidelines and practices will insure a successful project. These guidelines may be different from usual practices, but they are simple and easy to follow.
There are several sources available to obtain information about these guidelines and practices. One of the easiest methods to inquire about expanded shale and concrete (ES&C) lightweight aggregates is through the ESCSI web site at www.escsi.org. This organization represents the manufacturing community of ES&C producers. Included on their Web site is a library of recommendations regarding the usage of and the specifying of ES&C products, including structural lightweight aggregate concrete. Additionally, you can locate an ES&C producer in your area. This ES&C producer will be able to assist you with general recommendations or recommendations more specific to your project. They will also be able to assist you with suppliers, engineers and contractors in your area that have a successful history of producing, specifying and placing structural lightweight aggregate concrete.
Another useful source to get information about standard lightweight aggregates is The American Concrete Institute. The Institute has developed a guide named the "Guide for Lightweight Aggregate Concrete." This guide details certain recommendations and standards that need to be followed in order to make a project successful. Also included in the guide is the standard practice for "Selecting Proportion for SLC." This section delves into practices for controlling proportions in the field.
Beyond these two sources, other requirements can be found in the ASTM standards. That committee has adopted new and more accurate methods for determining the in-place density of SLC. These standards include suggestions and options that may save the owner/specifier thousands of dollars towards the bottom line of a project.
Technical Support
A quality ES&C producer will have on staff a wide range of technical representatives to assist you with any questions you may have pertaining to ES&C products. These representatives can assist you whether you are an engineer, contractor or supplier. They can help from any phase of the project, from the conception phase, initial proportioning, trial mix preparation, project start to finish and follow-up in service practices.
Your local ES&C producer most likely will have an on site program that may include a tour of their facility and a meeting area where they provide seminar information to the engineering and construction community. You may choose to ask this producer to provide your company with an educational program or arrange a meeting with contractors and suppliers to review the ES&C applications that are under consideration. These producers may provide additional lunchbox seminars at the engineering, contracting or supply facilities. These seminars provide information on training and educating the staff regarding the usage and practices of producing ES&C products.
We hope we have been able to cover a few of those "quite simple" yet different practices that we mentioned earlier. Throughout the nation, many thousands of cubic yards of SLC is successfully produced and placed daily. There is no mystery to the practice, just sound knowledge and experience. You can call on that experience for assistance with your project, if you just a general question or whether you need sound recommendations on a specific.
We hope that we have been able to shed a bit of light on the world of SLC and ES&C applications. It is our goal as an industry to provide the most technically advanced and experienced team of ES&C professionals. A representative is always available to assist our customers, potential customers and those who are just curious about our product.
Miles Dee is a sales representative for TXI’s Expanded Shale and Clay (ES&C) group. Texas Industries, Inc. (NYSE: TXI) is a leading supplier of construction materials and markets through two business segments: cement, aggregate and concrete products (CAC segment); and structural steel and specialty bar products (steel segment). Through CAC, TXI produces and sells cement, stone, sand and gravel, expanded shale and clay aggregate, and concrete products. TXI–ES&C is the expanded shale and clay group of CAC. It operates two facilities in Texas, two in California and one in Colorado. TXI-ES&C also operates a pumice facility in California and distributes Diamond Pro® professional groundskeeping products for the sports turf industry. For more information, visit www.lightweightaggregate.com.
