• The Growing Utilization of Fiber Reinforced Concrete

    January 17, 2011

    This growth in Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) interest is also illustrated in the number of national and international organizations that are now including FRC in their meeting agendas/programs. For example, the World of Concrete (WOC) requested the Fiber Reinforced Concrete Association (FRCA) to provide a seminar on FRC at the 2011 show. It had been a number of years since the last time FRCA had provided a program for WOC. FRCA was also approached to prepare a PowerPoint program that could be used by the ready mixed concrete companies to educate their sales team on the nuances of FRC and the value of FRC as a competitor to the wire mesh. We believe these examples suggest that the concrete industry now recognized that FRC is a positive contributor both technically as well as economically to the concrete.

    Unlike our competitor, wire mesh which relies solely on empirical formulae and little if any factual data. The FRC industry has worked very hard to develop meaningful data generated with recognized consensus test methods. The engineers recognize that a three-dimensional reinforcement system is far superior to a single layer of reinforcement that typically ends up residing on the subgrade.

    ABC Polymer Helping Educate Engineers

    ABC Polymer Industries is playing a role in the education of the engineers, contractors and ready mixers by providing ‘Lunch and Learn’ programs throughout the country. Consider this an invitation to request an ABC Polymer Lunch n Learn program for your company or firm.

    We also contribute to the knowledge pool through our membership in FRCA and NRMCA as well as ASTM, ACI, ICC, and TRB. We participate on a number of committees and sub-committees of these organizations. And we hope this Newsletter plays no small part in bringing meaningful information to the concrete industry.

    As always we would appreciate your feedback. Please let us know how we can help you promote FRC in your market.

    – R.C. Zellers, PE/PLS, Director, Engineering Services