BD-032 Composite Construction
Earlier on in the year Council confirmed Brian Mallon's appointment as the Institute's nominated representative to the BD-032 Composite Construction committee.  Brian has an impressive background in precast concrete in Australia and internationally as well as having been Executive Officer of National Precast Concrete Association Australia.

BD-101 Retrofitting by Plating
Fred Andrew-Phaedonos was appointed at the November Council meeting as the Institute's nominated representative to the BD-101 Retrofitting by Plating committee.  Fred is a member of the Institute's Council, Secretary of the Institute's Victoria Branch and is VicRoads' Technical Consultant in the specialised GeoPave business unit.  He has a strong professional interest and expertise in infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation.

The Institute was elected to the membership of Standards Australia Limited on 22 November this year.  Associated with this development was the Institute's appointment to the Council of Standards Australia.

Standards Australia governance

In developing standardisation solutions, Standards Australia works closely with its stakeholders via seven Standards Sector Boards represented by key stakeholders in each sector.

The Standards Sector Boards receive overall guidance and direction from the Standards Development Board which is jointly appointed by the Standards Australia Board and Council. Standards Australia Council members and representatives from key stakeholder groups, are responsible for the general oversight of standardisation in Australia.

Standard Australia's Council also appoints membership of the Standards Accreditation Board that accredits other Australian Standards Development organisations to develop Australian Standards.

Standards Australia has pioneered the use of the latest IT and communications technology in web-based authoring and document management. Its commitment, to these new technologies has seen Standards Committees rapidly adopt remote working, resulting in committee process efficiency and reduction of production times.

Committee and Representative	Activity
BD-002 Concrete Structures Mark Turner	The committee has continued with the revision of AS 3600 though mainly through two working groups appointed to resolve major issues: Bond & anchorage clauses and Confinement of concrete in high strength columns These working groups reported to a main committee meeting held on 10 October, 2006 as follows: Bond And Anchorage Provisions: There have been two proposals being considered. The first a new method based on Eurocode 2 developed by Prof Ian Gilbert; the second retaining the existing clauses in AS 3600 with minor limitations to avoid bars being too closely spaced. Work has been conducted which suggests that the new proposal significantly increases splice lengths especially in slabs, while perhaps being more difficult to use. The working group reached an impasse and both proposals were voted on. By a majority vote, the new clauses will be included in the Postal Ballot draft Confinement of concrete in High Strength Columns:The new clauses have been modified to apply only to critical regions. Larger amounts of closely-spaced ties or helices could be required. The document will be forwarded for postal ballot shortly. If adopted, it is highly likely the clause will increase the complexity of design and cost of construction
BD-010 Cement Wayne Roberts	The Committee met on 1 August, 2006 and most of the unresolved matters relating to the Postal Ballot of the Draft AS/ NZ 2350.1 including Methods of Testing Portland, Blended and Masonary Cements and Method 1, Sampling were resolved. Some of the unresolved matters relating to the Postal Ballot of the Draft AS 3972 Portland and Blended Cements remained to be settled after the meeting had finished. Two particular issues were firstly, how to show conformance with Standards Australia requirements and secondly, a particular matter relating to SR cement. With the first matter it was suggested that the standard could be separated into two parts with the latter part dealing with alternative conformance provisions. Standards Australia has to address this matter. It was considered that the second matter should be addressed by the Committee as soon as possible.
BD-031 Supplementary Cementitious Materials for use with Portland and Blended Cements John Ashby	The last meeting of the Committee was held on 2 November, 2005. A considerable amount of correspondence has been generated by the Committee since July 2006, mainly on the matters reported as unresolved in previous reports to the Institute's Council. Agreement on the definition of "Naturally occurring amorphous silica" Inclusion of diatomaceous earth and other materials. (AS 3582.3) Clarification of tests required of the various forms of amorphous silica proposed and corresponding limits for acceptance (AS 3582.3) Clarification of status of proposed calibration material used in the testing of the fineness of fly ash (AS 3582.1) Proposed new method of testing for chloride content (all construction materials) Consideration of the response on 13 February, 2006 from the Concrete Institute to the queries of Committee BD-031 relating to the changes to AS 3582.1 Fly ash, proposed by the Institute. The Institute has forwarded comments to Standards Australia on six occasions on these matters since 2 July 2006. It is hoped that resolution will be reached on the majority of these matters at the Committee meeting to be held in late November 2006 The Committee has been requested to consider the most suitable action necessary for Standards covered by this Committee in relation to being in circulation unchanged for 10 to 15 years. The options to be considered were withdrawal, reconfirmation and revision. The Standards involved are AS 3582.2-1991, AS 3582.3-1994 and the Methods of test AS 3583.2 to 14 issued between 1991 to 1994.
BD-032 Composite Construction Brian Mallon	The Committee met on 22 November 2006 for the first time in two years.  The meeting was most constructive and was the first at which a concrete industry representative had been present. The concrete industry had previously been denied representation on this Committee, despite "Composite Construction" by definition applying to design issues for the economic use of concrete  acting compositely with steel.  The major initiative from the meeting was to establish a new scope of work in relation to the review of AS2327 and to prepare a draft document for distribution, prior to Christmas, to Committee members for comment.  It was submitted that it was most important that the scope include the research work carried out by the Precast Federation (UK) which specifically covers the use of hollowcore and other precast flooring systems in multi-storey buildings. The Chairman agreed to this suggestion.
BD-033 Chemical Admixtures for Concrete John Ashby	No formal recent activity by this Committee.
BD-042 Methods of Testing Concrete John Ashby	The major activity of this Committee since July 2006 has been consideration of suitable action on the Standards that this Committee is concerned with and that have been in circulation unchanged for 10 to 15 years. The options to be considered were withdrawal, reconfirmation and revision. Five Standards on the method of testing concrete are involved: AS 1012.1 Sampling of fresh concrete AS 1012.2 Preparation of concrete mixes in the laboratory AS 1012.13 Determination of drying shrinkage AS 1012.14 Method of securing and testing cores from hardened concrete for compressive strength AS 1012.20 Determination of chloride and sulfate in hardened concrete and concrete aggregates Activity is expected to re-commence shortly by the Working Group reviewing the handbook HB 34 "Near to surface testing of concrete".
BD-049 Manufacture of Concrete John Ashby	The closing date for comments on the Pre-Postal Ballot draft of AS 1379 and its Commentary has been deferred waiting for further comment.
BD-066 Tilt-up Construction Barry Crisp	No formal recent activity by this Committee.
CE-018 Piling Gary Chapman	This Committee which is involved with AS 2159 is very active. The committee met on 21 August and again on 16 October. Another meeting was scheduled for late 22 November.  The meetings have been and will deal with the review of public comments received following issue of the draft standard.  The Committee is hoping that the November meeting will be the last meeting before the Standard can be finalised and go to final ballot. It is hoped the Standard will be issued early in 2007.
CE-032 Reinforced Soils and Retaining Structures Brett Gibbons	A meeting of the Committee was held in September 2006.  A review of the code AS 4678 is planned.
CE-033 Road Safety Barrier Systems Laurie McKenna	The Committee last met on 29 November, 2006.  A full review of the standard, which is based on a US crash test, is about to be undertaken, and within the framework of this, consideration is to be given to the relevance of a counterpart European standard.  The Committee is also looking at working with Committee BD-090, which deals with AS 5100 Bridge Design, in an attempt to standardise nomenclature.
ME-072-051 Structural Drawing Chris Carne	ME-072 has not met, however, a new Project Manager has been appointed and the Committee is to meet early in the New Year to discuss the current status, issues and to scope future activities for publishing of new and existing standards. The committee is planning to review a number of outdated standards.

Note:  Some reports refer to activities to be conducted in late November and December 2006.  As reports on these activities become available members will be advised. 

Members are welcome to make comment on any of the items covered in this newsletter and to contribute to the standards development process.  The easiest way to communicate with the Institute or its representatives on Standards Australia committees is via email to standards@concreteinstitute.com.au

AS 3610 - Formwork for Concrete
Advice has been received that Standards Australia has terminated the project to revise AS3610, despite the committee working for approximately seven (7) years to develop a new standard.  The Institute and National Precast Concrete Association Australia have both written to Standards Australia expressing our concerns that this significant standard should continue to be revised and developed to the point where at least Section 3 - Surface Finish and Colour and Section 6 - Evaluation of Completed Work and Repairs may be released either as a "geen slip" amendment or as Part 1 of a 2 part standard.  The Institute will continue to express its concerns and work with other industry partners and Standards Australia to resolve this issue.

Members of the Institute are welcome to comment on any of the matters listed above as well as other standards development issues.  the easiest way to contact the Institute about standards development issues is by email to  standards@concreteinstitute.com.au

For information on seminars and meetings conducted by Concrete Institute of Australia visit our web site at www.concreteinstitute.com.au

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