ACI Joining with International

Partners for Better Concrete

Unos instantes sobre

el American Concrete Institute
Larry Rowland
Un Embajador ACI
 El ACI visualiza un futuro donde todo el
mundo tenga los conocimientos necesarios
para utilizar eficientemente el concreto para
satisfacer las exigencias de un mundo
cambiante.

*****
ACI desarrolla y difunde el conocimiento basado en el
consenso sobre concreto y sus usos.
 Membresía
Conexiones
Convenciones
Capítulos

Documentos Técnicos
Publicaciones
Revista CI
Revistas Técnicas

Cursos de Certificación
Exámenes de Certificación

Universidad ACI
Webinars
Aprendizaje en linea

La Fundación ACI
Investigación
Becas
Lliderazgo de Pensamiento
An Institute of Members
& Chapters
• Cerca de 18,000 miembros del
instituto abarca, de 120 paises
• Cerca de 20,000 miembros del
165+ Capítulos y Captulos
Estudiantes
• Ingenieros, investigadores,
estudiantes, contratistas,
arquitectos, educadores,
fabricantes, productores, el
gobierno y más
My mi participación para ACI
I have been an active member of ACI
(the American Concrete Institute) for
about 15-years. Larry Rowland FACI
Chair of ACI 310 Decorative
I have learned a lot by volunteering with Concrete and ACI 524 Plastering
about 12 committees and getting and Member of ACI:
• 130 Sustainability
involved at the Conventions. This has
• 239 - Ultra-High Performance
been interesting to me and is a big Concrete
advantage to my professional • 549 - Thin Reinforced
Cementitious Products and
development. Ferrocement
 ¡Gracias!
Para obtener la información más actualizada, please
visite el sitio web de American Concrete Institute:
www.concrete.org.
 A Few Moments About the
Decorative and Architectural Concrete
American Concrete Institute
with White Cement

Larry Rowland
Manager Marketing & Technical Services
Lehigh White Cement Company
White Portland and Masonry Cements
Advantages of White Cement

Consistency
• Gray cement: Color consistency is
not a factor in meeting ASTM C150
specifications.
• White cement: Whiteness is
measured throughout production to
ensure color consistency.
 Advantages of White Cement

Creativity
Owners can choose from an unlimited range of
colors, textures, shapes, sizes and patterns to
accommodate many applications.
 Make it Beautiful…
Don’t Paint it!
• Special mixes and techniques
• A wide range of colors / finishes
Architectural Concrete =
Rock Solid Finish

Wide Choice of Colors, that

depend on the…
1. Cement
2. Pigments
3. Sand (fine aggregate)
4. Stone (course aggregate)
 All mixes start with raw materials. Protect
Mixes & Batching specialty aggregate and cement by isolating
them and cleaning your batching equipment.
Architectural Concrete Applications
 Building Applications
• C.I.P. Flatwork, Floors & Walls
• Architectural Precast
• Cast Stone
• Masonry & Hardscaping
• Plaster & Stucco
• UHPC
(Ultra High Performance Concrete)
ACI 310 Guide Decorative Concrete
Recommended practices
• To impart aesthetic finishes to
concrete flatwork
• Presents committee suggestions on
materials and methods
• Is not a specification - non-mandatory
language
• Decorative techniques for plastic and
hardened concrete
 Decorative Concrete
• Has all the usual structural benefits of concrete

• Additional qualities:

• Interior or exterior aesthetics

• Variety of textures

• Many color combinations

• Can replace other materials

• This example is stained gray concrete

 Sustainable Benefits
• Decorative concrete outlast other materials with great
abrasion resistance and durability

• Has low environmental impacts

• Low embodied energy and CO2

• Little to no extraction waste

• Local sources
White cast-in-place concrete floor.

• Resilient / Safe / Will Not Burn

 General Design Considerations
• Develop a schedule and plan work in advance

• Communicate clearly
• Send samples to owners as examples

• Use mockups for job specific standard

• Experiment with your mix designs

• Cement & SCM’s greatly effect color

• Use sealers to protect the finish

• This example is stained gray concrete

 General Design Considerations
Use Concrete Best Practices

• Use ACI Guides & Specifications

• Plan joints for crack control

• Delineate patterns & colors

• Cure to prevent moisture loss

• Protect finish & color – follow supplier’s directions

• This example is stamped gray concrete

 Exposed Concrete Floors Using White Cement

White Cement has the benefit of being very

reflective. It cuts down on lighting costs.
 White C.I.P. Best Practice

Quality contractors understand placement best

practices. Note the 3m joint spacing for this floor.
Isolate around columns and
use proper layout of joints.

Free downloadable white concrete floor

specification at lehighwhitecement.com
 ACI 310 Organizes recommendations
by when they happen… During placement
• Stamping, embossing, imprinting
• Texturing and patterning
• Considerations:
• Timing of finishing operations
• Joint layout & Detailing

• Use color hardeners and release agents

• This example is stamped gray concrete
 Example of Stamped Concrete from Managua

Impressive example of stamped concrete at the Port

 Polishing is “Post Placement”
Specialized equipment is used to
grind, hone, then polish the floor’s
concrete surface prior to sealing
Polishing concrete is becoming popular in US

• Hardened slabs get sequential mechanical abrasion

• 1st is the grind and honing steps

– Levels the slab surface

– Cuts the paste exposing aggregate

• 2nd is the polish for gloss

• Densify surface with hardeners

 Polishing Example in Nicaragua
This project used embedded objects,
and polished finish; Big Corn Island.
 Post Placement Color
• Combine with texturing options

• Surface preparation is important

• Follow manufacturers requirements

• Surface must be clean, open and dry

• Reactive stains for permanent colors

• Non-reactive stains are brighter

• Examples made with gray concrete

 Post Placement Color
Preplanning is key to intricate patterns
• Stencils & prefabricated appliqués

• Multilayer staining
 Other Cast-in-Place

Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in DC Expansion

432 Park Avenue, New York City is the

tallest residential skyscraper in the world.
 Architectural Precast Concrete

All Saints Cemetery PKG Building Advocate Condell Medical Center

Des Plaines, IL Boise, ID Libertyville, IL
 Architectural Precast Concrete
Full section precast
• Use white cement to get bright colors

• Use decorative aggregate

for special looks. gradations

• Gradations 100 mm - 150 mm

• Standard weight

• Any finish possible

 Architectural Precast Concrete
Advantages:
• Factory cast
• Excellent quality
• Construction speed
• Large panel sizes
• Can be insulated
• Architectural finishes are standard
 Architectural Precast
GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)
Architectural Precast Concrete
GFRC – Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete

• Steel frame backup

• Thin shell facade

• 13 mm to 25 mm

• Fine or small stone finish

• Much less weight than standard concrete

Architectural Precast Concrete
GFRC – Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete
• Alkali resistant cut ~ 38 mm glass fiber

• Special Polymer Binder Additives

• Complex shapes possible

• Greater design

• Somewhat flexible
Cast Stone – Is a Type of Precast
• Placed by Masons

• 100 mm to 150 mm

• Wet or Dry Cast

• Often unreinforced

• Anchored or wet set

Trinity Episcopal Church Iowa
• Only sand finish
Architectural Block/Masonry

San Antonio Convention Center

San Antonio, TX
Sandra Day O’Connor High School
Helotes, TX
 Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC)
• 150 – 200 MPa
• 22,000 – 30,000 psi

UHPC has tremendous compressive strength and

tensile toughness, enabling it to bend without breaking
 Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC)
• Very high fiber content
• Bendable / Ductile behavior
• Very dese… impervious
• Can be made very thin
 Ultra High Performance Concrete
Infrastructure:
• CIP
• Precast closure pours
UHPC
• Upcoming UHPC Conference

• June 2019

• Albany New York

Architectural Concrete is Sustainable
• Architectural / Structural
• Resilient & Safe
• Durable

• Beautiful and Functional

• Delivers Lasting Value
 Build With Concrete. . . It Lasts!

The Baha’i Temple, Wilmette, IL Circa 1930

The Pantheon in Rome.

Built: 120-126 AD
¡Muchas Gracias!

Larry Rowland
An ACI Ambassador