Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/423872
says Roland Heere, a material engineer at CCMET (formally known as Metro Testing Group). Recent improvements in ground penetrating radar are adding to the problem-detection arsenal of struc- tural engineers. "Ground penetrating radar has been used for the last decade or two to check for where the steel is located. But some new ground-pene- trating radar equipment can differenti- ate between good or rusty. This radar helps you visualize the steel and its condition," Heere says. At t he ot her end of concrete's life c ycle, forming companies like Structform International are seeking to optimize efficiencies to help main- tain their competitive edge. A lt hough t he company has an impressive roster of projects under its belt – including The Air Canada Centre, National Trade Centre, Hospital for Sick Children and the Rotman School of Man- agement at the University of Toronto – management believes that careful control on labour costs through better efficiencies can be critical for future suc- cess. "In formwork, labour is about one half the cost, with an industry average of about $15 per square foot. Formwork can be about 10 per cent of the cost of a tower," says Oliver Belo, senior project manager at Structform. The company uses modular systems from suppliers like PERI and ULMA, but doesn't just rely on getting the latest equipment, and instead, on occasion, mixes it up a bit with what is already on hand. "We look at adapting existing equipment so we can gain the most pro- ductivity through many sections effi- ciently," Belo says. On an of f ice tower projec t in Vaughan, Ontario, Structform has been using a system with large specialized pods to move equipment efficiently around the site and save on labour costs. "Labour is the highest single cost in our business. Everyone is looking at cutting labour costs," Belo says. While forming and other construc- tion services focus on efficiencies, manufacturers continue to roll out new products. Recently, Maxxon Corporation intro- duced Level-Right Maxx – a calcium aluminate, high-st reng t h, cement- based self-levelling underlay ment designed for levelling, smoothing and repairing interior concrete and engi- neer-approved f loors prior to install- ing floor coverings. It can also be used as a wear surface when sealed with a Maxxon-approved sealer. Level-Right Maxx can be installed at thicknesses of one-eighth of an inch to one-and-a- quarter inches. "It's a polymer-modi- fied Portland cement and is a ready mix, unlike Maxxon's other underlayments," Lafarge Canada Inc.'s new Innovation Hub in Edmonton is not just another building claiming to be green; it has posted its performance data for all to see. The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute measured the building footprint using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and created an Environmental Building Declaration (EBD). december 2014 /29 concrete