PRECAST North American Precast Concrete Associations enhance industry related education, marketing and regulatory support resources Students from SAIT Polytechnic touring Lafarge’s precast concrete plant in Calgary, Alberta during National Precast Day 2016. PHOTO: CPCI. Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature The National Precast Concrete Association (NPCA) and the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI), two of three North American groups representing the pre- cast and prestressed concrete industry, continue their ef- forts to inform and educate, prepare members for new demands, and to address labour shortages. NPCA president Ty Gable says the industry has re- bounded well from the recession that began in 2008, with a strong year in 2015, a good year so far for 2016, and ex- pectations for even greater improvement in 2017. While this is all good news, he says it also creates challenges. “As work ramps up it becomes difficult to find good people, be- cause there is more competition for the sharp, young peo- ple looking for future careers.” Gable says the NPCA’s Precast University provides an an- swer. Here, courses offer students a career path within the industry, beginning on the production floor and running right through to upper management. Starting with basic concrete technology, they are designed to teach students to become experts at production. In the end, graduates receive certifi- cation as a master precaster. “We just graduated our largest class of master precasters which tells me this program is attractive as a career path,” Gable said. “We have a lot of closely held, family owned companies. It is important to continue to develop the next generation so these business can continue to thrive under the direction of qualified people.” Precast University is also currently developing new lead- ership training programs. Together, these offerings will en- sure people learn from the ground up and become proficient in all aspects of the business. CPCI has a mission to expand the knowledge of students by disseminating ideas and information about the design, applications, manufacturing and use of precast concrete. 28 – July - August 2016 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report Ariane Sabourin, CPCI’s marketing manager, says CPCI is of- fering an annual scholarship program for students in Civil Engineering and Civil Technology to support continuous learning and education within the industry. “We are also ex- cited to announce a new scholarship available for Archi- tecture and Architectural Technology Students this year.” Sabourin says CPCI and its members also host National Precast Day. CPCI’s National Precast Day is an open plant tour of various precast concrete manufacturing facilities in Canada. The open houses effectively demonstrate how pre- cast is manufactured under rigorous quality controls and shows the many sustainable benefits of building with pre- cast concrete. In the past 17 years, National Precast Day has hosted more than 40,000 participants. “We are in discus- sions with PCI and NPCA to expand National Precast Day to the United States and look forward to working with our part- ners to grow this important event.” Gable says the NPCA also is working with members to meet the new stringent requirements for crane operators issued by the United States Department of Labor Occupa- tional Safety & Health Administration to take effect in November 2017. “We’re providing both training and con- ducting certification exams to ensure our members can meet the deadline.” In 2016, the North American Precast Concrete associa- tions worked together with ASTM International and the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute to release third-party verified EPDs (Environmental Product Declarations) in three key precast concrete product categories. The EPDs provide comprehensive, uniform, and transparent details about a product’s composition and environmental impact through- out its lifecycle. EPDs are now available for each of the three main categories: Architectural and insulated wall panels, structural precast concrete products, and underground pre- cast concrete products. Brian Hall, CPCI’s managing director, says that the EPDs