TCA announces Top 10 list for recycled concrete

MOUNT VERNON, IOWA—The Tilt-Up Concrete Association (TCA) is inviting project submissions to be considered for a new Top 10 list highlighting the Most Recycled Concrete Content on a project.

The list, which already has one entry, was initiated in response to the market’s interest in sustainable solutions. "The use of tilt-up concrete goes a long way in achieving sustainability, thanks in large part to its durability," said Jim Baty, TCA’s technical director. "Structures built with concrete tend to last two to three times longer than buildings constructed with other common building materials. In addition, the same qualities that make concrete a viable green material, such as thermal mass and reflectivity, also help make concrete structures sustainable by providing constant energy efficiency throughout the building’s life cycle. Also, recycled aggregates and supplementary cementitious materials are of great interest in the market now, and we see them being used in increasing quantities."

According to Baty, buildings seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification can benefit greatly from the material and resources opportunities afforded by tilt-up construction, particularly when it’s used in conjunction with recycled-content concrete. Materials such as reinforcing steel bars and concrete mixtures containing fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag, or possibly silica fume, aid in certification, as does the use of materials that are produced within a 500-mile radius from the building.

Those interested in their project being considered for the TCA’s Top 10 list highlighting the Most Recycled Concrete Content on a project should contact Baty at jbaty@tilt-up.org or call the TCA at 319-895-6911.