Masonry Magazine January 2009 Page. 46
Industry News
awarded to Jefferson Hall Library and Learning Center at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in West Point, N.Y. Natural stone was a key element in the design. Stone, including more than 130 tons of granite, was quarried regionally contributing to the bronze certification.
In partnership with The University of Tennessee Center for Clean Products, the NSC is conducting a life-cycle assessment to credibly evaluate the environmental footprint of natural stone industry operations. The results will allow the comparison of natural stone with competing building materials in order to validate the environmental advantages that stone has over other products. Information garnered from this research as well as further qualitative investigation will be shared through a series of best practice documents, materials fact sheets, and additional case studies.
Gehl Donates Skid Loader to School
Gehl Co. donated a Gehl 5240E Skid Loader to assist the University of Wisconsin Washington County (UWWC) with campus maintenance and grounds upkeep. Shown left to right in the image are Brian Pearlman, Gehl VP Human Resources, Dr. David L. Nixon, Campus Dean and CEO, UWWC; and Kelly Moore, Gehl Product Manager. IMAS
NCFI Polyurethanes Wants Healthy Schools
NCFI Polyurethanes announced a corporate initiative, HS4HC.com, to help make every school being built and those being renovated healthy environments for children by educating architects, builders, school boards, administrators, superintendents, principals and teachers about the dangers of mold and the simple ways to prevent it.
When mold grows out of control in a classroom and school environment, it releases spores that are breathed in by all children. According to a Government Accounting Office report, 20 percent of the country's 80,000 public schools have indoor air quality problems.
The company believes most, if not all, of the nation's public schools can be made healthier by paying more attention to the building's envelope - the exterior walls, roof and insulation. The program will include free educational materials and an informational Web site.
Companion Guide to Fly Ash Study Released
The RMC Research and Education Foundation released a companion guide to the report released in September, "New Technology-Based Approach to Advance Higher Volume Fly Ash Concrete with Acceptable Performance." The guide complements the original study, which was conducted at the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association's Research Laboratory. The study demonstrates that ready-mixed concrete producers may use a greater amount of fly ash - a recycled material -in concrete mixtures, while maintaining strength and performance and still being able to attain the early-age strengths required for the application.
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