The Structural Concrete Alliance is to hold its first Practical Demonstration Day at The Vinci Technology Centre, Leighton Buzzard on Wednesday, 21 September 2016.

This free CPD event is designed to provide delegates with an opportunity to meet the professionals first hand and witness interactive demonstrations of key repair, protection, strengthening and sprayed concrete techniques.

Following an initial welcome and introduction delegates will be divided into groups to visit four separate demonstration stations. Each station will feature live displays highlighting the key preparation, skills and techniques involved in: Concrete Repairs; Carbon Fibre Strengthening; Concrete Testing; and Cathodic Protection and Monitoring Systems.

Delegates will also be given an opportunity to discuss their queries with members of the Corrosion Prevention Association (CPA), Concrete Repair Association (CRA) and Sprayed Concrete Association (SCA) who will be exhibiting at the event.

A tour of the extensive test facilities at the Vinci Technology Centre will be available for interested delegates, while lunch and refreshments will be on offer within the Centre’s Crossrail area; an impressive full scale architectural model of a Crossrail station.

The day will begin with registration at 9am, and is scheduled to close at 3pm, with live demonstration sessions taking place throughout the morning and afternoon. To confirm your FREE place, please download and complete the Booking form and return to: emma.simmonds@agmhouse.com

The Structural Concrete Alliance brings together the Corrosion Prevention Association (CPA), Concrete Repair Association (CRA) and Sprayed Concrete Association (SCA) to provide authoritative guidance on the repair, refurbishment and renovation of concrete; cathodic protection of steel and concrete structures; and sprayed concrete technology and application techniques.

The Corrosion Prevention Association (CPA), one of the associations that comprise the Structural Concrete Alliance, has recently released two new guides to help newcomers to the industry and those with overall responsibility for structures to understand available cathodic protection (CP) systems and how they work.

Technical Note 11: Impressed Current Anodes for the Cathodic Protection of Atmospherically Exposed Reinforced Concrete summarises the anode systems currently commercially available in the UK, detailing the main features of each system including their installation, typical application and performance.

The document explains that impressed current cathodic protection is widely used to provide corrosion control on reinforced concrete structures suffering from reinforcement corrosion. It is also applied to early 20th century steel framed masonry and brick clad buildings and monuments.

Aimed at ensuring that specifiers and asset managers with overall responsibility for structures understand the properties of the various anode systems available, the document categorises the anode systems available into six main types, namely: conductive organic coatings; thermal sprayed zinc; coated titanium expanded mesh/mesh ribbon in a concrete overlay; coated titanium expanded mesh ribbon – mortared into slots chased into the concrete or embedded in new construction; internal conductive ceramic titania or coated titanium (discrete) anodes; and conductive cementitious overlay containing nickel coated carbon fibres.

By detailing the main features of each type of system and explaining how each works, the extent of use and the expected life and cost of each, the document aims to enable asset owners and managers to make an informed choice about the type of system most appropriate for their structure. However, it stresses that anode selection should be made as part of the design process by a suitably qualified Cathodic Protection Engineer, who has Level 3 certification to BS EN 15257 in cathodic protection of steel in concrete or equivalent knowledge, training and experience.

The Association has also produced a useful glossary of terms. Technical Note 28: A is for Anode provides a brief overview of the technical terms used in cathodic protection of steel in concrete. The glossary is intended to help newcomers to cathodic protection to understand the terms which may be used during a project.

Both documents are available for free download from the Corrosion Prevention Association website. To see the full range of available CPA publications and Technical Notes visit: http://www.corrosionprevention.org.uk/publications.php

The Sprayed Concrete Association (SCA) is also to release a new edition of its popular document, An Introduction to Sprayed Concrete.

The document, which aims to demonstrate the wide uses and versatility of sprayed concrete, describes the broad range of commonly used processes and materials available in the marketplace. It also offers best practice advice, explaining to the user to the best ways of carrying out these processes safely to produce a high quality end product.

Arranged in 16 chapters, the Introduction to Sprayed Concrete is designed to be used by industry professionals who require basic practical knowledge of sprayed concrete techniques and is not intended to be a comprehensive Specification or Standard.

It provides an introduction to material and process considerations including the properties & advantages of sprayed concrete; wet and dry processes; robotic equipment; surface finishes and constituent materials. It also discusses control issues such as health & safety; quality control & testing; training & certification; and design & specification; and provides a useful glossary of terms.

The guide encourages users to always specify an SCA member for advice, design, supply and application of sprayed concrete, explaining that SCA members have the training, experience and skills to ensure a professional approach and quality finish.

The document is available for free download from the SCA website, www.sca.org.uk; or a hard copy can be purchased for £20.

Meanwhile, the Concrete Repair Association (CRA) has released a new edition of its Standard Method of Measurement for Concrete Repair.  The document provides a uniform basis for measuring concrete repair and for fully itemising all aspects of the work involved.

The document, now in its third edition, has been fully revised to reflect new and current methods, practices and standards. It provides notes on repair measurement, explaining that the repair area must be defined and outlined with regard to the method to be used and the area to be treated; and provides detailed instructions for quantifying  all aspects of a repair project, along with a specimen Bill of Quantities.

The framework includes advice on items to consider when putting together a quotation. It recommends that Bills of Quantities should fully describe and accurately represent the quantity and quality of the works to be carried out, with work which cannot be accurately measured given as a provisional sum, or detailed in a bill of approximate quantities.

The Standard Method of Measurement is available for free download from the CRA website, www.cra.org.uk.

For further information on the Structural Concrete Alliance free regional CPD seminar programme and available guidance documents, contact the Structural Concrete Alliance offices on: 01420