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DECEMBER 2017 | 15 PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY EUCLID ADMIXTURES Concrete The CarbonCast panels are fabricated with interior and exterior widths of concrete that sandwich insu- lation; a perfect enclosure system for providing out- standing thermal performance. The wythe connectors are a key to the panels' suc- cess. Mechanical devices used to connect the exterior and interior wythes of concrete through the insulation are usually made of steel – and conduct cold from the outside to the inside. "Carbon fibre connectors solve that problem," says MacMillan. The ability to manipulate the surface of precast con- crete surfaces has been crucial in making that mate- rial desirable to architects, and Altus Group Inc. has advanced the objective of creating eye-popping surfaces via Graphic Concrete technology. Available exclusively in North America through Altus Group precasters, this technology allows for precast surfaces such as facades, walls, spandrels and sound walls to be imparted with durable patterns and images, opening up a new range of design possibilities, while retaining the resilience of precast concrete. The technology works by transferring custom or stock patterns as a surface retarder via a membrane placed at the bottom of a form. Concrete is cast on top of the mem- brane, and after it is cured and extracted from the form, the retarder is washed away with a high-pressure washer, revealing an image that results from the contrast between the fair faced and the exposed aggregate surface. Because the pattern is 100 percent concrete, it is as durable and maintenance-free as concrete itself. This saves costs during the life of the building, and the ready-to-install precast surface needs no additional cladding or field work. In the additives and admixtures realm, Euclid Chemical is a pioneer in the waterproofing of concrete and the formulation of other protective coatings. Brian Salazar, national business development manager for Euclid Admixture Canada, says his firm is maintain- ing focus on its Tuf-Strand SF structural fibres, which replace welded wire mesh for concrete reinforcement. "Tuf-Strand is more affordable than rebar, much eas- ier to use because the fibres are mixed into a concrete pour, and provides excellent temperature shrinkage control," he notes. "We've been offering this mate- rial since the early 2000s, but it has really taken off ever since we provided informational software to help architects and engineers learn how to use it." Concrete reinforced with Tuf-Strand SF will have 3D reinforcing with enhanced flexural toughness, impact and abrasion resistance, and will also help mitigate the formation of plastic shrinkage cracking in concrete. Finishings and floors may be adjunct industries to concrete, but their skilful execution is critical to the success of any building project. Tri-Con Concrete Finishing is well-known for its professional installa- tion of concrete floors with highest quality and ser- vice, thanks to over 25 years experience, $2.5 million in the latest equipment and over 100 employees adept in using steel fibre blowers, laser guided screeds, auto- mated hardener spreaders, curing systems and sealers – all of which produce maintenance-free floors with excellent flatness. Tri-Con's services in the commercial and industrial sectors also include restoring existing concrete surfaces. Since Gyp-Crete was first developed in 1972, Maxxon Corporation has provided superior underlay- ment products for solving virtually any floor problem. The Minnesota-based company has been credited for "writing the book" on floor levelling and underlay- ments. Gyp-Crete is the industry standard for use over wood subfloors in multifamily construction, pro- viding sound and fire control and whose smooth sur- face is ideal for finished floor goods, while Dura-Cap Tuf-Strand SF structural fibres. Standard test method for flexural performance of fibre- reinforced concrete using beam with third-point loading. FM35593.indd 1 2017-11-10 2:03

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