Full-service fly ash program
Lafarge has secured two new agreements for marketing high-quality Class C fly ash from American Electric Power’s Welsh (Cason) and Oklaunion (Vernon) power stations in North Texas. The fly ash agreements will expand Lafarge’s product offerings in the east-west corridor of I-20 between Shreveport, La., and Odessa, Texas, and position the company to better serve customers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Derived from burning coal in electric utility plants, fly ash is used in geotechnical applications for soil stabilization as well as a supplementary cementitious material for many high-performance concretes used in constructing roads, bridges, and commercial buildings. In addition to its many performance and economic advantages, fly ash use in concrete is beneficial to the environment as it recycles a by-product material from another industrial process. It also allows ready mixed concrete producers to optimize their use of portland cement, thereby reducing the carbon footprint and lowering the embedded energy of concrete.
Lafarge North America, www.lafarge-na.com

Fast cure adhesive anchor
According to the company, the Hilti HIT-HY 150 MAX Fast Cure Adhesive Anchor System leads the industry by being the first fast cure adhesive anchor to receive an ICC-ES Report compliant with Acceptance Criteria AC308, offering designers strength design solutions for anchors and rebar. The fast cure time and easy installation of the HIT-HY 150 MAX greatly increase productivity for anchor and rebar applications in uncracked concrete since anchors are ready for inspection and testing in as little as 30 minutes at 68° F. The HIT-HY 150 MAX also provides reliable fastening where in-service base material temperatures reach 248° F. It is ideal for work in deep holes, difficult-to-reach locations, and highly repetitive applications.
Hilti, Inc., www.us.hilti.com

Rebar detector and cover meter
Switzerland-based Proceq recently announced the availability of a new product that allows construction and building industry professionals to avoid drilling into rebar, a costly and dangerous hazard. The new product, called the Proceq Profoscope, has a scope-based detection interface that combines rebar proximity indicators with optical and acoustical locating aids. Offering the best-in-class mix of features at a new lower price-point in the market, the Swiss-made Profoscope is small, light, cordless, and ergonomically designed to fit in the palm of the hand. Made for one-handed operation, the language-independent interface provides both visual and acoustic indications of what lies directly beneath the concrete surface.
Proceq USA, www.proceq.com

No-weld railing system
Hollaender Manufacturing introduced an aluminum, component-based picket railing system that requires no welding, yet retains strength and rigidity. The system is made possible by Hollaender’s new Speed-Rail fitting #156-85, a friction-fit picket tee that firmly attaches the pickets to the top and bottom horizontal rails. The company offers a variety of infill panels including picket, perforated, and wire mesh, all compatible with the system. The finishes on the picket tee and infill panel can be mixed and matched to meet many style, design, and configuration requirements. According to the company, the system installs quickly, securely, and cost effectively, especially when compared with welded and other more complex systems, and meets IBC and other codes in an aesthetically pleasing yet cost-effective manner.
Hollaender Manufacturing, www.hollaender.com

Color-coded fasteners
Design performance depends on using the specified fasteners. Gun nails with similar terminology, confusing packaging, and bargain pricing can lead to fastener substitutions. Fastener substitution may affect how well the building performs against the design forces. Trackers Color Coded system provides a practical method of identifying nails before and after installation, and the system has received an ICC ES Evaluation Report (ESR 2040). One benefit of the color-coded nail heads includes identification of structural products from a distance. Additionally, Trackers colors can be seen from a distance, reducing inspection times. View the report at www.icc-es.org/reports/pdf_files/ICC-ES/ESR-2040.pdf.
International Code Council Evaluation Services, www.icc-es.org