Concrete Products

SEP 2016

Concrete Products covers the issues that attract producers of ready mixed and manufactured concrete focusing on equipment and material technology, market development and management topics.

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www.concreteproducts.com September 2016 • 27 The Concrete Sustainability Hub at Mas- sachusetts Institute of Technology has developed Break Even Mitigation Percent (BEMP), a new tool to estimate the cost of weather hazards on a building. In a new research brief, "A break-even hazard mit- igation metric," CSHub staff finds that a $10 million non-engineered wood building is expected to face more than half a mil- lion dollars in hazard related damages over 50 years, while a $10 million engineered concrete building is expected to face only $165,000 over the same period. "Simple, practical metrics such as the BEMP can be incorporated into tools to sup- port building designers, property owners, and community leaders as they compare mitigation options in anticipation of hazard damage," the brief notes. CSHub researchers found that up to $340,000—the difference in potential damage tallies—could be addi- tionally invested on top of the $10 million planned initial cost to build an engineered concrete building rather than a wood build- ing, and still break even over the 50-year lifetime. The document validates recent efforts by the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association-led Build with Strength coali- tion to educate the design and construction communities about the importance of using durable and resilient materials. Release of the BEMP proposal dovetails coalition efforts in Seattle, one of a host of major markets to which participants are bringing the Build with Strength message. "MIT is reaffirming something builders already know[:] Concrete construction not only increases the safety of new struc- tures, but it provides the design/build and construction community more financial flexibility and saves money over time," says the coalition's Kevin Lawlor. "The National Weather Service estimated that weather events caused $4.2 billion in prop- erty damage across the United States last year, dramatically impacting local econ- omies, communities, and families. With weather-related damages only expected to increase over the coming years, it makes perfect sense to invest more upfront and save money in the long run." CSHub research findings are particularly useful to Seattle's low- to mid-rise residen- tial sector, he adds, as residents are more vulnerable to the weather-related hazards than other parts of the country, and utiliz- ing stronger and more durable materials in construction is paramount. NEWS SCOPE STANDARDS CSHub at MIT develops hazard mitigation metric 641.394.4111 nhmfcorp.com Metal Fabrication Done Right Fold Back Box Form Quick Strip Base Form Roll Over Box Form Roll Back Box Form Cone Form Quick Strip Roll Back Base Form Wireless Remote - Patented Air Actuated Slide Gate System (No air or electrical lines tethering you to the bucket) "Crete Hawg" Remote Controlled Concrete Buckets

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