Hamilton County forces replaced a failing laid-up stone wall, located near Sabael (south of Indian Lake), at theintersection of NYS 30 and CR6, using precast modular block. The structure was designed, and photos submitted, byAndy Bell, A. S. Bell Engineering, Slingerlands, NY.

PCANY NEWSLETTERPCANY MONTHLY

PRECAST CONCRETE ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, INC. December 2009 Volume 20, No. 12

Focus of This Issue: Miscellaneous Products and Projects

Installing modular block retaining wall Finished replacement structure

Structures Seldom Noticed, Still Serving Important Needs

Precast concrete was utilized at Buffalo State College for a steam tunnel relocation, which involved 1200 LF of 5’-0” wide by 2’-6” high sections (inside dimensions). It also required four precast junction vaults, with sizes up to 8’x 13’ x 10’. Ingles Development was the contractor, and Kistner Concrete Products supplied the precast segments.

Light Pole Bases, Never Noticed…. Steam Tunnel Relocation, Never Seen,,,

New Hampshire requires performance testing beforeapproving alternate reinforcing materials. This manholesection (above) is reinforced with polypropylene struc-tural fiber, dosed at 5 lbs. per yard. By applying crushingpressure, the concrete is loaded until it cracks. By doingthe same test to steel reinforced manhole sections, a faircomparison can be made before accepting or rejectingthe fibers. These fibers passed. Not all fibers pass.

PRECAST CONCRETE ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK December 2009 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Page 2

SPECIFICATIONS – Prescriptive or Performance ?Prescriptive Specifications call for a defined set of con-

ditions without reference to any particular function. Forexample, to specify three inch walls in a septic tank.Clearly, this does not get anything in particular accom-plished, except one is able to measure the thickness ofthe wall and confirm whether or not it is three inches thick.A performance specification will call for a measurableability. For example, “septic tanks shall be made to with-stand a constant load of 500 pounds per square foot(PSF). This performance spec does not mention strengthof concrete, age of concrete, wall thickness, reinforce-ment, materials, or methods of manufacture.

BUT, it does call for a tank suitable for burial in severalfeet of soil. Prescriptions are easier. They do not change.No thought is required. Our industry is buried under amountain of prescriptions. ASTM C-478 is the standardspecification for manholes. If a manhole is built to ASTMC-478 it will be reinforced with steel. There is no othermeans allowed. If an inventor discovers a new, better,non-corroding material, it cannot be used. Today, struc-tural fibers are a known choice to replace steel. In thenear future, carbon fiber technology, which works so wellfor golf clubs and fishing poles, may give us a non-corrod-ing, lightweight reinforcement superior to steel. BUT, nei-ther may be used in manholes built to ASTM C-478.

Prescriptive specifications lock us in time. ASTM C-478is a snap shot of the best technology of the day it waswritten. There is no allowance for modernization.Performance specifications invite new technologies. If aninventor can prove by testing, that his new technologyworks, then he can enter the marketplace where benefitsand costs will determine success or failure.

In Adelaide, Australia, busses are steered on a track byside guide wheels (see photo on page 3) giving the sys-tem all the high-speed virtues of a train, shooting pastrush hour traffic at +60 mph, with half the cost. This cou-pled with the flexibility of a bus to pick up/drop off passen-gers up and down city streets then deliver them locallythrough the suburbs and get back on makes it more suitedthan a train for the urban sprawled cities found in Australiaand the US. Unlike a train you can build a section of trackrunning out of the city and where it stops the O-Bahn busbecomes a normal bus until you fund the next phase.

Planners tend to think New York City and Boston/European/Japanese high cost mass transit systems must

involve trains, trams and sexy Gee-Wiz monorails. Bycontrast, a busway is a lot more practical, cost effectiveand flexible for small- to mid-sized cities. The rubber tiresare quieter than steel rail and busses faster to stop in anemergency. The corridors are narrower (no cut and fill fortrack ballast that takes up room particularly on slopedground) and as you’ll see only barely wider than the bus –lower and narrower bridges under roads and lighterbridges over them. The grades for a bus can be steeperthan a rail line — again saving cost and making it practi-cal to go under or over a road then back to ground level.

The rectangular inlet box (shown) was made on 11/12/07 and itwas reinforced with structural fibers. By applying 13.5 inches ofvacuum, the sides were successfully loaded to 972 psf. There is nosteel in this box.

Thanks to Ed Pennypacker, JEPCO Sales, for submitting thisarticle. Also available from Ed is a Delta Engineers report of resultsusing 3-edge bearing tests on 48” manhole sections reinforced ei-ther with fibers or WWF. And for more in-depth design and testinginformation, he has a Delta Engineers report of structural evalua-tion and testing of standard 30” x 48” x 36” id catch basins with 6”walls and base and 2” knockout panels, reinforced with Forto Ferrosynthetic fibers.

Australian “O-Bahn” Busway Rides on Precast Components

(continued on page 3)

In Adelaide they used a river valley, in Germany (theoriginal O-Bahn) they used the median of a main road.Existing utility corridors, including power line easements,could be used to run busway tracks saving time, moneyand protests on land acquisition. If you changed the duelwheels for single but wide tires, you could even have thebus share a tram/railway track. This has been done inGermany.

There are no tracks to switch, as crossovers are man-ually done by the driver at the interchange, and signalingis at a minimum. The busway has the ability to be electri-fied but they actually elected to run them all on com-pressed natural gas engines (diesel convert) – less pollu-tion and lower running cost, yet flexible.

Whether a clone of this bus way is used or an improvedAmerican version along the same principals, there is agreat potential here for the precast industry to introduce asystem appropriate for small- to mid-sized cities. Giventhat there are a lot more of these cities than metropolises,the market for this system is arguably much bigger thanthat of rail. A 12 km/8 mile two-way track (like the one inAdelaide) would keep a precaster with a 350 foot bedbusy for a year!

My suggestion would be to look at making a track usinglonger prestressed units Super Double Tee with thickerstems and flange complete with the guide curb. Such adesign would take the dynamic loads of a bus at +62 mph

Wind Energy – Products & Services, the Foundation ofEnergy Independence

PRECAST CONCRETE ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK December 2009 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Page 3

Modular Structures Trench Systems Service Box

Oldcastle Precast provides a wide range of products and services to the wind energy industry, from the turbine foun-dation to the end user service entrance, using precast concrete, polymer concrete, and plastic to make a wide range ofproducts. Thanks to David Wan, Oldcastle Precast (and PCANY President) for introducing their Wind Energy Brochure,and a sampling of their offerings.

(continued on page 4)

Australian “O-Bahn” Busway (continued)

PRECAST CONCRETE ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK December 2009 MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Page 4

Precast Concrete Association of New York, Inc.2829 East AvenueRochester, NY 14610Tel: 585-249-9564 • Fax: 585-381-0945Email: pcany@aol.com Web: www.pcany.org

PRODUCER MEMBERSA & R Concrete Products, New Windsor, NY, 845-562-0640Bayshore Concrete Products, Cape Charles, VA, 757-331-

2300Binghamton Precast & Supply, Binghamton, NY, 607-722-

0334J.P. Carrara & Sons, Middlebury, VT, 802-388-6361Coastal Pipeline Products Corp., Calverton, NY, 631-369-4000Dailey Precast, Shaftsbury, VT, 802-442-4418The Fort Miller Co., Inc., Schuylerville, NY, 518-695-5000Jefferson Concrete Corp., Watertown, NY, 315-788-4171Kistner Concrete Products, East Pembroke, NY, 585-762-

8216Lakelands Concrete Products, Inc., Lima, NY, 585-624-1990Newcrete Products, Division of New Enterprise Stone & Lime

Co., Center Valley, PA, 814-224-2121Northeast Prestressed Products, LLC, Cressona, PA,

570-385-2352Oldcastle Precast, South Bethlehem, NY, 518-767-2116Oldcastle Precast Inc., Middle Island, NY, 631-924-7400Oldcastle Precast Inc., DBA Rotondo Precast, Avon, CT,

860-673-3291Roman Stone Construction Co., Bay Shore, NY, 631-667-

0566Sunnycrest Inc., Auburn, NY, 315-252-7214LC Whitford Materials, Co., Inc., Wellsville, NY, 585-593-2741SEPTIC TANK PRODUCER MEMBERSBinghamton Precast & Supply, Binghamton, NY, 607-722-

0334Concrete Building Supply, Champlain, NY, 518-563-0700Cresset Chemical Co., Weston, OH, 419-669-2041R. Deso, Inc., Champlain, NY, 518-298-8411The Fort Miller Co., Inc., Schuylerville, NY, 518-695-5000Grimm Building Materials Co., Troy, NY, 518-272-1100Guardian Concrete Products, Schenectady, NY, 518-372-0080Jefferson Concrete Corp., Watertown, NY, 315-788-4171Keeler Vault Co., Inc., Hudson, NY, 518-851-6281Kistner Concrete Products, East Pembroke, NY, 585-762-

8216Oneonta Block, Oneonta, NY, 607-432-6641Sunnycrest Inc., Auburn, NY, 315-252-7214United Concrete Products, Inc., Yalesville, CTWoodard’s Concrete Products, Inc., Bullville, NY, 845-361-3471Zeiser Wilbert Vault, Elmira, NY, 607-733-0568

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSA-Lok Products, Inc., Tullytown, PA, 800-822-2565Amcrete Products, Newburgh, NY, 845-562-0010American Spacer Technologies, Inc., Hudson, NY, 800-424-

8557BASF Admixtures, Cleveland, OH, 518-232-1187Buzzi Unicem USA, Stockertown, PA, 610-746-6224Cemex, Inc., Wampum, PA, 724-535-4311Chase Specialty Coatings, Pittsburgh, PA, 412-828-1500Concrete Sealants, Inc., Royersford, PA, 610-948-7867Cresset Chemical Co., Weston, OH, 419-669-2041East Jordan Iron Works, Newark, NJ 973-350-0600Eastern States Steel Corp., Upper Saddle River, NJ,

800-327-8335Engineered Wire Products, Waynesville, OH, 937-433-9753Essex Cement Company, Port Newark, NJ, 973-344-5903Essroc Cement, Nazareth, PA, 610-746-3109The Euclid Chemical Co., Saratoga Springs, NY, 518-376-0871Federal White Cement Inc., Emmaus, PA, 610-966-9481Forta Corporation, Grove City, PA, 800-245-0306Grace Construction Products, Wynantskill, NY, 518-361-4335Helser Industries, Tualatin, OR, 503-692-6909Holcim (US) Inc., Saratoga Springs, NY, 518-376-0871Iron Horse Transport Inc, Smithtown, NY, 646-529-0336Jepco Sales, Royersford, PA, 610-948-7867JVI, Inc., Pittsfield, MA, 413-442-4147Keystone Cement Company, Exton, PA, 610-837-2100 Lafarge North America, Concord, Ontario, 888-523-2743 x 5034Lehigh Cement Company, Glens Falls, NY, 518-792-1137 x 303Meadow Burke, Billerica, MAMixer Systems, Pewaukee, WI, 860-798-7248Northeast Solite Corp., Saugerties, NY, 845-246-2646NPC, Inc., Milford, NH, 800-626-2180A L Patterson, Fallsington, PA, 800-332-7090Polylok, Inc/Zabel, Wallingford, CT, 800-765-9565Quinn Consulting, Bladensburg, MDSt. Mary’s Cement Company, Cleveland, Ohio, 216-579-1911Sika Corporation, Lyndhurst, NJ, 302-218-4987Spillman Co., Columbus OH, 614-444-2184Splice Sleeve North America, Irvine, CA, 949-861-8393Stephenson Equipment, Inc., Syracuse, NY, 315-432-0779Superior Precast Consulting, Inc., Ardmore, PA, 610-715-1969Syracuse Casting Sales Co., Cicero, NY, 315-699-2601Tuf-Tite, Inc., Lake Zurich, IL, 847-550-1011PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSAbate Associates Engineers & Surveyors, Buffalo, NY,

716-632-2300Advance Testing, Campbell Hall, NY, 845-496-1600Atlantic Testing Laboratories, Clifton Park, NY, 518-383-9144Barton & Loguidice, PC, Syracuse, NY, 315-457-5200A.S. Bell Engineering, PC, Slingerlands, NY, 518-357-0313Bergmann Associates, Inc., Rochester, NY, 585-232-5135A L Blades & Sons, Inc., Hornell, NY, 607-324-3636

C & S Engineers, Inc., Syracuse, NY, 518-455-2000CDM, Syracuse, NY, 315-434-3200Clough Harbour & Assoc. LLP, Albany, NY, 518-453-3961Collins Engineering Inc., Albany, NY, 518-436-0392Delta Engineers PC, Binghamton, NY, 607-231-6612Dewberry, New York, NY, 212-685-0900Didonato Associates PE,PC, Buffalo, NY, 716-656-1900Earth Tech|AECOM, Latham, NY, 518-951-2200Edwards & Kelcey Engrs. Inc., Saratoga Springs, NY,

518-584-9733Erdman Anthony, Rochester, NY, 585-240-2666Fisher Associates PE, LS, PC, Rochester, NY, 585-334-1310FRA/T Y Lin International, Henrietta, NY, 585-359-0280Greenman-Pedersen, Inc., Buffalo, NY, 716-633-4844Hunt Engr Arch Surveyors PC, Horseheads, NY, 607-358-

1000Keystone Associates, LLC, Binghamton, NY, 607-722-1100LaBella Associates, PC, Rochester, NY, 585-454-6110Lamont Engineers, PC, Cobleskill, NY, 518-234-4028Maser Consulting, West Nyack, NY, 845-727-1160McFarland-Johnson, Inc., Binghamton, NY, 607-723-9421O’Neill Consulting, Spring Lake, NJ, 732-974-0129Popli Consulting Engineers, Penfield, NY, 585-388-2060Ryan-Biggs Assoc., P.C., Troy, NY, 518-272-6266A H Sample, Inc., Ottsville, PA, 610-847-8945R Samsel Engineers, Henrietta, NY, 585-334-5549Shumaker Consulting Engineering & Land Surveying, PC,

Binghamton, NY, 607-798-8081Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Inc., Waltham, MA, 781-907-9000SJB Services, Inc., Hamburg, NY, 716-649-8110Slocum, DeAngelus & Associates, PC, Latham, NY,

518-763-6000Steuben County DPW, Bath, NY, 607-664-2479Transtech Systems, Schenectady, NY, 518-372-4067TVGA Consultants, Elma, NY, 716-655-8842Watson Engineering, PC, Owego, NY, 607-223-4900Watts Architecture & Engineering, PC, Buffalo, NY,

716-206-1500WSP-Sells, Briarcliff Manor, NY, 914-747-1120Wilbur Smith Associates, Latham, NY, 518-783-1887OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND STAFFPresident: David Wan, Oldcastle PrecastVice-President: Joseph Amoia, A & R ConcreteSecretary: Mike Weigand, J.P.Carrara & SonsTreasurer: Todd Clarke, Lakelands Concrete ProductsImmediate Past President: Tom Montalbine, Roman Stone

ConstructionAssociate Member Director: Wally Swiger, A-LokProfessional Member Director: Doug Vandeusen, Lamont

EngineersSeptic Tank Group Director: Ed Pennypacker, Jepco SalesNECSA Director: Ric Sullivan, Lehigh Northeast Cement Co.Executive Director: Carl Buchman, PCANY, 585-249-9564

(100 km/h) but span a greater distance between cross tiesthan the existing conventionally reinforced design seenhere. These prestressed units would have NMBs carryingthe negative moment across the joint from one unit to an-other providing live-load continuity rather than a series ofpin-jointed spans. This would both improve the span andride quality (less springy).

I had in mind a +40’ track section (on the ground likethe video) that would be lower cost, smooth ride (not

bouncy) and fit on the back of a standard tractor trailer.Standard curved sections would swing out to one side ofthe 12’ form and back to center to connect with any otherpiece (just like a kids train track). Reducing precast piecesand the number of cross ties and foundations/piles will re-duce costs. If each unit could rest directly on the founda-tion, sharing it with the stem of the next section. This couldeliminate the need for the cross ties, further reducing cost.

This fascinating article was submitted by Jim Schroder,Schroder & Associates, Greenville, SC, who is a Con-sultant to Associate Member NMB Splice Sleeve.

Australian “O-Bahn” Busway (continued)

Erdman Anthony HonoredConsulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine has named Erdman Anthony, which has offices New York State,

Pennsylvania, and Florida, one of the top 100 engineering firms in the country. And for its work on EastmanKodak’s Footprint Reduction Program, which involved the demolition of more than 50 buildings, they receiveda Diamond Engineering Excellence award by the American Council of Engineering Companies.Congratulations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ron Hyink (rhyink@precast.org) November 24, 2009 (317) 582-2320 _____________________________________________________________________________ THE PRECAST SHOW: Equipment, Experts and More There’s only one trade show in North America that exclusively features the equipment, products and services for the precast concrete industry. It’s The Precast Show (www.ThePrecastShow.org), scheduled for February 18-20, 2010, at the Phoenix Convention Center and Sheraton Downtown Phoenix. The Precast Show features the latest equipment, products and services from more than 200 suppliers to the industry. Products range from heavy equipment such as cranes, forklifts, mixers, batch plants and forms, to accessories such as admixtures, sealants and lifting devices, to bar coding systems and innovative new plant management software. In addition to the trade show, there’s a lot more going on at The Precast Show, according to Ty E. Gable, president of the National Precast Concrete Association (www.precast.org), which is sponsoring the event along with the American Concrete Pipe Association (www.concrete-pipe.org). “This is the best opportunity of the year to find a broad range of precast-specific training under one roof,” Gable said. “We have some of the leading experts in the precast concrete industry providing technical training through Precast University, along with tracks in business management, finance, safety and sustainability.” In addition, ACPA also will be offering its 2010 Pipe School at the Convention Center. It all adds up to more training for precast and pipe manufacturers in one place than anywhere else in North America. “Construction is a cyclical industry, and we’re going to pull out of this recession,” Gable said. “The companies that take advantage of this lean time to train staff, diversify their product lines and learn about new technology will be the winners in the next few years. That’s the focus of The Precast Show. We’re doing everything we can to provide the resources precasters will need to succeed in the post-recession economy.” One of the other key benefits of this trade show, Gable said, is the opportunity to talk with the experts. “Many of the leading experts in production, plant operation and specific lines of equipment will be on the trade show floor talking with attendees,” Gable said. “If you’re thinking about expanding your product line to gain new business, this is the place to find the equipment and expertise.” It’s all about precast concrete and the tools and training required to run a successful business. Visit www.ThePrecastShow.org for complete information, registration details, hotel information and links to Phoenix attractions. Or, for more information, please call the Precast Show concierge at (866) 808-1028.

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