first-time buyer and renter access to affordable housing, Reschke says it could impose associated infrastructure upgrade and added fire service requirement costs on municipalities. “The concrete industry’s approach will be to continue to sell the safety and life cycle merits of concrete from historical building codes for these dwellings and promoting the continued use of concrete in foundations, stairwells and floor structures to ensure long-term sustainability and to maintain fire safety.” Regional infrastructure projects in the same region though indicate more positive opportunities. Reschke says ARMCA hopes the Calgary Southwest Ring Road will be constructed as planned and that planned developments in both the east and west villages will move forward, albeit at perhaps a slower pace. She says the outcome of an anticipated provincial election will determine prospects for government-funded projects. She says ARMCA’s technical training team is busy delivering concrete technology and certification programs, preparing the industry for the upcoming summer construction season. In other regulatory areas, Reschke says the release of the most recent version of the Canadian Standards Association concrete specifications, CSA A23.1/23.2-14, has brought about a number of changes, including a new product classification reference, HSE (High Sulphate resistant Equivalent concrete) as well as more definitive guidelines about concrete quality and supply for all stakeholders. However, she says some of the national, provincial and local building codes still reference older documents which can create challenges. For its part ARMCA provides the industry with orientation about codes and specifications to heighten awareness of the differences and ensure the products supplied best meet the needs and expectations of end users. “There will be new versions of National and Alberta Building Codes issued in in 2015 and 2016 that will facilitate a reduction in the calibre of some of these current differences,” she said. ARMCA continues to share information and opportunities at the national level through the Canadian Ready-Mix Concrete Association, the Cement Association of Canada, the Canadian Standards Association, as well as the Concrete Council of Canada. The association also continues to offer training and certification in programs including Concrete Technology, Dispatch Training, Field Testing Certification, Driver Certification, Pump Operator Safety Training and Certification, and Plant Certification. “We have recently added the ACI Flatwork Finishers Course to our training curriculum and we’re in the process of evaluating our current programs with respect to their alignment with evolving communication and learning style preferences.” Internally, the association is focused as well on succession planning as Reschke prepares for her end-of- February retirement. The position is posted at www.armca.ca/job-postings. OTHER UNITS AVAILABLE OR IN STOCK AVAIL ABLE Mixer T Trucks & T Trailers 8.5m, , 10m, m 01, , 12.3m, m 3.21, rT r ucks r railers , 13m m31, Volumetric Mixers Stone Slingers 15yd & 18yd Gravel 300hp-600hp Water Trucks - Straight and Combo T r ucks Ser vice Bodies 4x4 Service Day Cab & Sleeper r 46 4 axles selx ax a6 leeper T r ucks Winch Trucks Roll Offs Demo Units Available Call A A.E. .E. (T (Tony) Lidstone T ony) o 403.660.2373 tonyy .lidston ne@newwesttrr uck.com tony.lidstone@newwesttruck.com . u The Canadian Design and Construction Report — February - March 2015 – 33