The CRMCA Technical Committee regularly partners and works closely with other local entities, including other construction associations, municipalities, and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). These partnerships include sharing CRMCA member input in relation to industry related topics, such as material testing, and providing feedback for developing documents, such as specifications.
CDOT continues to update their specifications and processes, which most Colorado municipalities follow as well. In 2023, several changes have been made and are in development. These changes include, but are not limited to the following, which may affect different aspects of the concrete industry:
- In 2023, CDOT anticipates Class G concrete will be discontinued, replaced with Class DF. In late 2022, Class DF concrete, which is a macro fiber-reinforced concrete, was included in the Revisions of Section 601 of the CDOT Standard Specifications. This mix can include additional admixtures for shrinkage reductions. Construction designs can utilize Class DF concrete or be sure to include reinforcing streel in the structural element.
- The Super Air Meter (SAM) has been in development through Oklahoma State University and several states in recent years. Colorado has been involved in the SAM development, including beginning to require testing during concrete mix designs. In 2023, CDOT decided to remove the requirement of providing SAM results during concrete mix design development. This change affects any new projects after republication and update to the Standard Specifications Subsection 601.05. The update is affective for projects posted on or after July 7, 2023.
- Colorado has been a leader in Environmental topics, such as carbon reduction in construction. Over the course of 2022 and 2023, CDOT has worked with industry representatives to develop revisions to Sections 101 and 106 of the Standard Specifications. In addition to the Environment Product Declaration (EPD) Specification, additional protocols in 2023 are currently being followed, as well as EPD protocols are defined for 2024. The Colorado EPD requirements and references are available for review, including the House Bill 21-1303 concerning measures to limit the Global Warming Potential (GWP) for materials used in public projects.
- The Colorado Procedure CP-65 Evaluating Low Concrete Strength Test Results is in process of being modified through both CRMCA and the American Concrete Paving Association (ACPA) Colorado-Wyoming Chapter. CDOT anticipates approval of modifications to CP-65 this year, including the removal of “Method B Flexural Strength”, which currently requires correlations between the design flexural strength and splitting tensile strength of cores obtained.
- The Colorado Procedure CP-10 specifies the Qualification of Testing Personnel and Laboratories for CDOT projects. It is anticipated in 2023 to be updated to require AASHTO Accreditation for all testing laboratories the provide testing results for materials used in concrete mixtures. As of this post, CP-10 has not been updated.
- CDOT continues to update their Approved Products List (APL), which includes concrete mix designs. The APL can be viewed through the CDOT website.
The CRMCA continues to work with CDOT to improve the concrete industry for all involved. For more information on the topics noted above or to get involved in the CRMCA Technical Committee and be part of the changes regularly, please reach out to the CRMCA Staff.
