READY-MIXED CONCRETE BC Ready Mixed Concrete Association (BCRMA) innovates with environmental, safety and technological certifications and programs Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature The BC Ready Mixed Concrete Association's (BCRMCA) more than 120 members represent a diversity of businesses and regional interests, supported by the association's 19-member board of directors. At its annual convention, members and invited contractors discovered where they stand in terms of technology and learned more about LEEDv4 and EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations). BCRMCA president Charles Kelly says the conference included guest speaker James Benham, a noted U.S. construction technology expert, who spoke about the construction industry's uptake and adaptation of technology. “New technology adoption is slow coming into Canada, across the board,” Kelly said. “This was a wake- up call to our members and contractors to help them to understand the rate of change and the need to adapt and integrate new technologies to stay competitive.” Kelly says BCRMCA is a small but active association. This year it will continue to put effort into an industry-wide EPD offering for B.C. members. An industry-wide EPD is an average, worth half a point, whereas a full plant EPD is worth one point. Essentially an ingredient label, Kelly says these will provide greater transparency and will meet the minimum requirements for EPD applications for concrete in LEEDv4. Approved by the Canadian Green Building Council, LEEDv4 will be implemented in the fall of 2016. The Maryland-based National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has taken the lead on this in the U.S. and BCRMCA intends to adopt the same program regionally. “We should have our EPD out by the fall and will be the first in Canada to issue this,” Kelly says. “Our larger contractors have said that requests for EPDs will become an expected part of the bid process for those wishing LEED certification after the fall of 2016. The EPDs will also help smaller producers meet the new information requirements which their customers will also be seeking. Kelly says while he recognizes LEED does not yet have the same emphasis in all provinces, he says in Vancouver as much as 70 per cent of the concrete poured is connected to LEED projects. 28 – February - March 2015 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report