QC Construction?EUR??,,????'???s ?EUR??,,????'??Total System?EUR??,,????'?? for Coloring MADERA, Ca. ?EUR??,,????'??? QC Construction recently announced the launch of a new ?EUR??,,????'??total systems?EUR??,,????'?? approach to integral coloring, created for the ready mix market. The company hopes the new product will reinforce its industry standing, offering a wide range of products for architectural concrete coloring. ?EUR??,,????'??We?EUR??,,????'???re looking at a ready mix market that is starting to embrace color as a larger part of their business and also learning how color can improve profit margins,?EUR??,,????'?? explained Russ Ingersoll, President of QC Construction Products. For more information on QC Construction?EUR??,,????'???s product line visit them on the web at: www.qcconprod.com. NCMA SRW Installer Certification Schedule Announced HERNDON, Va. ?EUR??,,????'??? The National Concrete Masonry Association?EUR??,,????'???s SRW Installer Certification Program will educate landscape professionals about segmental retaining wall (SRW) installation at the 2003 Manufactured Concrete Products Exposition to be held Feb. 22-23. The two-day program educates installers on the industry standards for installing SRW systems and methods for ensuring project success. The program will consist of Basic SRW Certification and Advanced SRW Installation. THe Basic SRW Certification program addresses SRW history and advantages; basic plan reading skills; installation preparation including basic understanding of soils, water and geosynthetics; understanding of construction practices on performance and design; and understanding of NCMA industry standards for installing SRWs. The Advanced SRW Certification program expands on the components that lead to successful projects. The advanced course addresses estimation and job costing; contract proposals; interpreting engineered drawings; site management practices; and advanced installation considerations including tall walls, tiered walls and special appurtenances. The cost for attending this program is $125 for members and $250 for non-members. For more information contact R. Lance Carter at lcarter@ncma.org or 703-713-1900. Recent Breakthrough for Clay Pavers, Wheelchair Accessibility RESTON, Virgina ?EUR??,,????'??? In a recent study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, clay paved sidewalks outperformed traditional poured concrete sidewalks in their ability to minimize vibrations experienced by wheelchair users. The single-site engineering evaluation featured 10 unimpaired adult volunteers traversing six different test pavements, including a poured concrete control, three surfaces laid with concrete pavers and two brick pavements. The study was designed to measure the amount and frequencies of vibrations absorbed by the wheelchair user (at the seat and footrest), as well as the amount of energy expended (by the user or the electric wheelchair) to propel the wheelchair across the pavement. In both the manual and electric wheelchair scenarios, the two clay brick paved surfaces outperformed the poured concrete control, with their peak accelerations significantly lower than the concrete pavement, producing lower vibration levels at both the seat and footrest than was found with the poured concrete sidewalk. A complete copy of the study?EUR??,,????'???s results can be downloaded at www.access-board.gov/prowac/comments/smith-d-attach.pdf. Source: Monette Chilson, Brick Industry Association.