The Atlantic Concrete Association (ACA) is a non-profit organization established in 1967, whose membership is open to all producers of ready-mixed concrete the Atlantic Provinces.
In addition, the activities of the Association are also supported by Associate Members comprised of material and equipment suppliers; contractors; materials testing; and other industry related firms, all of whom either service or are involved with the production and use of ready-mixed concrete in the Atlantic Region.
ACA introduced a PLANT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM to its producer members in 1981. This program was adapted from that of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association to meet the requirements of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA A23.1).
The Certification Program ensures that the Producer Member plant(s) and equipment meet industry standards and will be capable of producing quality concrete conforming to Canadian Standards Association; the American Concrete Institute; and other standard writing agencies.
To be eligible for, and to maintain Certification, the plant and equipment are inspected at predetermined intervals by a Registered Professional Engineer for conformance to the Association's guidelines.
Since 1984, Plant Certification has been a mandatory requirement for Association membership. At present, approximately 90% of the concrete producers in the Atlantic Provinces are Producer Members of the Association, all of whom meet Plant Certification requirements.
Please note: As a Producer, you are responsible for having the information ready for the auditor. Extra visits from inspectors will result in extra costs to Producers. If you have any question, please contact the Concrete Atlantic office or an inspector on how to be prepared for your upcoming audit.
ACA encourages all its members to pursue continuing education and training for it's staff and members. Please contact the Concrete Atlantic office to get information on upcoming courses.
Download 
CONCRETE 2020 PRODUCTION FACILITIES CERTIFICATION PROGRAM AUDIT CHECK LIST WITH INSTRUCTION.
Updated January 2020
Download SEAL OF CONCRETE QUALITY APPLICATION WITH INSTRUCTIONS
Download ADMIXTURE DISPENSING EQUIPMENT CALIBRATION CHECK FORM
Download SCALE CHECK DATA FORM
NEW!!! Notice of Change for Plant Certification
Delivery Ticket Requirements
CSA Standard A23.1, updated in 2014, included changes to the reporting requirements on the delivery batch ticket.
Information regarding the additional reporting requirements has been communicated to producer members.
Clause 5.2.5.5 has been changed to include additional records on batch delivery tickets.
Previously, the majority of the information indicated in Clause 5.2.5.5 has been incorporated on batch delivery tickets, the additional information required includes:
- (a) identification of the truck driver;
- a.space to add information, if available:
- (b) time when field testing commenced;
- (c) name of testing and inspection company and on-site personnel performing the inspection;
- (d) location of test; and
- (e) slump or slump flow and air content test results.
These additional requirements will be incorporated in the audit checklist for 2017.
Click here to view IISD Executive Summary and Full Report
Please Note: Concrete Atlantic is not responsible for content information
Among its conclusions, the study found that up to 72% of carbon emissions from wood products may not be accounted for in commercial Life-cycle Assessments (LCA). When these emissions are taken into account, concrete’s embodied carbon footprint could be up to 6% less intensive than that of wood products, challenging the assumption that wood materials are inherently less carbon intensive than steel or concrete.
LOGGING SCARS,Wildland League, December 2019,
Further evidence about the hidden carbon footprint of wood was released by Toronto- based Wildlands League. Titled “Logging Scars,” the research found that the wood industry’s reforestation efforts are significantly less successful than assumed.
BOREAL LOGGING SCARS MAP, Wildlands League, July 2020
Other Sources and References:
- Canada’s managed forests have turned into super-emitters, and 2018 set a record, National Observer, June 2020,
- Wooden high-rises don’t guarantee reduced emissions, Peter Fairley, Crosscut, May 2020,
- The Logging Loophole: How the Logging Industry’s Unregulated Carbon Emissions Undermine Canada’s Climate Goals report, NRDC, Environmental Defence, Nature Canada, July 2020
- To save our climate we need taller trees not taller wooden buildings, John Talberth, Center for Sustainable Economy, February 2020,
- Canada uses ‘creative accounting’ to push forest emissions off the books, Barry Saxifrage, The Energy Mix, April 2020,
- Clearcutting the planet’s carbon pools, Tzeporah Berman, Corporate Knights, May 2020,
- Canada is failing to track the true climate cost of clearcut logging in boreal: report, Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, July 2020,
- Here’s what’s happening to BC forests, David Broadland, Focus on Victoria, August 2020,
- CO2 emissions from forestry are a surging climate threat. Ottawa needs to act, Barry Saxifrage, National Observer, November 2020,
- Carbon Sequestration in Forest Based Products,, Pacific Northwest Building Resilience Coalition, 2018, Globe Advisors.
- The Great American Stand, US Forests and the Climate Emergency, Dogwood Alliance, 2017, Executive Summary,
Resources on concrete carbonation
- (Re)Carbonation, A little-known fact about cement is that it is a carbon sink!, CEMBUREAU,
- Substantial global carbon uptake by cement carbonation, Nature Geoscience, November 2016,
RECOMMENDED GUIDELINE FOR ENVIRONMNTAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL
Please feel free to ultilize these publications for your own use. High resolution (print quality) artwork is available by calling the ACA Office. 
CARBON SEQUESTRATION IN WOOD BUILDING PRODUCTS, PRESENTATION BY BRENT McGRATH
Watch Presentation
RESILIENCE: ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE - DR. BLAIR FELTMATE
Watch Presentation
CCEPA: HISTORY OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - DR. BLAIR FELTMATE
Watch Presentation
CatIQ's CATASTROPHE CONFERENCE - DR. BLAIR FELTMATE
Watch Presentation
CONCRETE MIXER DRIVER RECRUITMENT VIDEO
Watch Short Video
Watch Long Video
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A READY MIX DRIVER
Watch Short Video
Watch Long Video
NEW - CPCI ENERGY GUIDERead the Guide
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION DOCUMENT - for the Canadian Ready-Mixed Industry
Download the EPD document
STUDY OF INSURANCE COSTS FOR MID-RISE WOOD FRAME AND CONCRETE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGSRead the SummaryRead the full report
STUDY OF INSURANCE COSTS FOR MID-RISE WOOD FRAME AND CONCRETE RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGSRead the Executive SummaryRead the full Report
NOTICE OF CHANGE FOR PLANT CERTIFICATION CSA STANDARD A23.1-14 - APRIL, 2016
Delivery Ticket Requirements mem_aca_changes_a231_deliveryslip_201604191.pdf
CONCRETE EXPOSURE CLASSESDownload the report
SLAB SURFACE PREVENTION REPAIRDownload the report
SUSTAINABILITY, WOOD AND THE ENVIRONMENTDownload the report
CANADIAN CEMENT INDUSTRY SUSTAINABILITY REPORTENGLISH_FINAL_2010_SD_Report_Mar17.pdf
MATERIAL SELECTION MATTERS SEMINAR – PRESENTED BY JOHN STRAUBE, PHD., P.ENG., RDH BUILDING SCIENCE LABORATORIES
This seminar presentation provides up-to-date building science information about material selection and how to apply building science principles to construct resilient, durable, energy efficient and healthy buildings.
View the presentation…
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF CONTRMPRA (PORTLAND-LIMESTONE CEMENT) AND REGULAR CEMENT
AN ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PORTLAND-LIMESTONE AND ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENTS IN CONCRETE
A cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment study of both Portland-limestone cement and ordinary Portland cement released by Athena Sustainable Materials Institute in 2014 demonstrates that Portland-limestone cement has lower impacts in all indicators and is about 10% better in greenhouse gas emissions. Read the technical brief
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE
CAC OPED ON FACING THE CHALLENGE OF ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE IN CANADA
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) – BUILDINGS
AN ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PORTLAND-LIMESTONE AND ORDINARY PORTLAND CEMENTS IN CONCRETE
A cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment study of both Portland-limestone cement and ordinary Portland cement released by Athena Sustainable Materials Institute in 2014 demonstrates that Portland-limestone cement has lower impacts in all indicators and is about 10% better in greenhouse gas emissions. Read the technical brief
ATHENA INSTITUTE OFFERS NEW GUIDE TO LCA CREDITS IN GREEN BUILDING PROGRAMSRead the guide Read the report
DETAILED COST ANALYSIS BETWEEN WOOD AND CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Read Report.pdf
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF PRECAST CONCRETE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
Athena Sustainable Institute, Morrison Hershfield, Venta, Glaser & Associates, CPCIRead the report
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DESIGN OF PRECAST CONCRETE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS IN CANADA
Athena Sustainable Institute, Morrison Hershfield, CPCIRead the report
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) OF BUILDINGS
Concrete Sustainability Hub | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyRead the Report
MIT CONCRETE SUSTAINABILITY HUBVisit the Concrete Sustainability Hub
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) - PAVEMENTS
ATHENA SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS INSTITUTE RELEASES UPDATE TO ITS PAVEMENT LCA TOOL WITH A NEW NAME AND MANY NEW FEATURES
The North American pioneer in construction sector LCA today released Version 2.1 of ‘Pavement LCA’, formerly known as the Impact Estimator for Highways, with a variety of new features including US locations and sample projects. Read more and access the software
ATHENA SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS INSTITUTE IMPACT ESTIMATOR FOR HIGHWAYS - VERSION 2.0
The Athena Sustainable Materials Institute Impact Estimator for Highways provides quick and easy Life Cycle Assessment results for Canadian roadways. Read more and access the software
EQUIVALENT PAVEMENT STRUCTURAL DESIGN MATRIX AND LCCA FOR MUNICIPAL ROADWAYS
Updated reports for municipal roadways are now available:
• Nova Scotia 2013 (updated 2015)
• Ontario 2011 (updated 2015)
• Quebec 2012 (updated 2015)
• Alberta 2015
• British Columbia 2016
LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT (LCA) OF HIGHWAY PAVEMENTS
Concrete Sustainability Hub | Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyRead the Report
ATHENA SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS INSTITUTE - A LIFE CYCLE PERSPECTIVE ON CONCRETE AND ASPHALT ROADWAYS: EMBODIED PRIMARY ENERGY AND GLOBAL WARMING POTENTIAL
MIT CONCRETE SUSTAINABILITY HUBVisit the Concrete Sustainability Hub
NATIONAL CONCRETE PAVEMENT TECHNOLOGY CENTER
Visit the National Concrete Pavement Technology Center
MANUFACTURING PROCESS RESEARCH
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES IN CEMENT MANUFACTURING – A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE BODY OF KNOWLEDGE
Network for Business Sustainability, 2011Read the Report
THE CEMENT SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE 2012 REPORT
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
In 2002, the founding members of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s Cement Sustainability Initiative (CSI) published their Agenda for Action. It sets out a program of work, focusing on certain specific areas. In each area, there are two kinds of action: joint projects, on which a group of companies will work together to tackle a specific environmental or social issue; and individual actions, which will be implemented by each company in its own operations (including target setting and performance reporting), applying both innovation and best practice.
This Progress Report provides a snapshot of CSI’s achievements over the past ten years, as well as an outlook onto the future issues the cement industry will need to tackle, how the CSI and its member companies are planning to respond to changing and new sustainability challenges.Read the Report
ACA encourages all its members to pursue continuing education and training for it's staff and members. Please contact the ACA office to get information on upcoming courses.
Intro to Concrete (online)
Train new employees, students, contractors or anyone interested in learning the basics of concrete in this 4 hour online training.
This is a great way of learning on the basics of concrete, plant operations and employee roles.
To register a new student for the online, you need to contact the Concrete Atalntic office to obtain keys to register a student. Call 902 443-4456 ext 1 or info@atlanticconcrete.ca.
Once you have your registration key, visit.
Concrete Delivery Professional Certification CDP (online)
Our popular CDP Certification is available online! This internationally recognized certification is offered for employees / drivers of ACA member companies and focuses on five key areas:
| Product Knowledge |
| Environmental Awareness |
| Customer and Company Relations |
| Safety |
| Vehicle Maintenance and Operations |
| PLUS! Walk Around Inspection |
To register a new student for the online CDP certification, you need to contact the Concrete Atalntic office to obtain keys to register a student. Call 902 443-4456 ext 1 or info@atlanticconcrete.ca. Once you have your registration key, visit.
This course teaches dispatchers, schedulers and their managers how to take orders, schedule and deliver concrete that meets all the requirements as agreed to with customers. This online course is offered through Concrete BC.
|
The course hones in on a dispatcher’s job skills. |
| Taking orders |
| Dealing with priority customers |
| Using advance notices to ease scheduling and delivery |
| Callbacks |
| Clean ups |
| Excessive unloading times |
| Scheduling math |
| Expert phone listening skills |
| Add on orders |
| Will calls |
| Small load charges |
| Plant vs. central dispatch |
| Managing the dispatch office and personnel |
| Rapid problem solving skills, including value selling |
| Maintaining a proper attitude under stress |
Concrete Finishers (Apprenticeship Trade)
Concrete finishers place, finish and protect concrete surfaces. They work on a variety of vertical and horizontal surfaces and structures such as concrete floors, walls, sidewalks, stairs, driveways, curbs and gutters, dams, bridges, and tunnels. They also texture, chip, grind and cure finished concrete work and are responsible for the repair and restoration of damaged concrete.
Concrete Atlantic has been working with Apprenticeship NS to developing training pathways. If there is any interest in being a Concrete Finsher Journeyperson, contact Concrete Atlantic for more information.
2023 Education
Keep watching for upcoming educational training for 2023. It's been awhile but we are hoping to continue our popular educational programs for 2023.
- Pump Operator Safety Certifiation - Next course Spring, 2025
DecementFest - Join us on December 5th at the Garrison Brewery in downtown Halifax for our popular annual holiday event. DecementFest runs from 5-7pm. To register contact the ACA office.
