By: Ed Sauter | Executive Director, Tilt-Up Concrete Association<\/p>\n
The economy may still be in the doldrums (although only until the second half of 2013 according to PCA chief economist Ed Sullivan), but TCA is moving forward with several broad initiatives.\u00a0 The first is a major expansion in the distribution of the TCA magazine.\u00a0 Beginning with this issue, the list of those receiving the magazine has gone increased significantly.\u00a0 This will put the message of Tilt-Up in the hands of thousands of additional companies and individuals and will provide greater value for our Global Associations who advertise in the publication.<\/p>\n
The second initiative is the launch of the TCA Company Certification program.\u00a0 Two companies have undergone review and been approved in the beta period and several more will follow shortly.\u00a0 We expect the number to expand to as many as twenty companies this year.\u00a0 There is a more in-depth description of this program on page twelve of this magazine.<\/p>\n
The third initiative is the new energy presentation developed by TCA Technical Director Jim Baty.\u00a0 The new energy standards, when adopted by code authorities, will not only level the playing field but will give insulated Tilt-Up a distinct advantage over other building systems, in particular non-mass structures.\u00a0 Jim has conducted several webinars focused on training members to deliver the message that Tilt-Up is an excellent way to meet the new energy code provisions.\u00a0 The courses have been approved for AIA learning units and the application has been submitted for LEED-AP credits.\u00a0 The combination of AIA and LEED credits make the presentation appealing to a wide audience \u2013 all the time selling Tilt-Up construction.\u00a0 An article about the presentation is elsewhere in this publication.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the long-awaited Engineering of Tilt-Up manual is finally available.\u00a0 This completes the trilogy of publications began several years ago to replace the Tilt-Up Design and Engineering Manual as well as provide a treatise to showcase the architectural side of Tilt-Up.\u00a0 This comprehensive manual takes up where the ACI-551 Design Guide leaves off.\u00a0 The 551 Guide deals only with panels, the Engineering of Tilt-Up guides the designer through the design of an entire structure and includes design examples.<\/p>\n
The 2013 TCA Convention, which will be held September 30 \u2013 October 1 in Houston, Texas, adds a new track for engineers expressly for the purpose of presenting the above manual and expanding its use.\u00a0 The schedule has been revamped to include a luncheon presentation for local architects and developers and more focused exhibit time to encourage interaction.\u00a0 Houston, in particular the Sugar Land area, has been especially busy in terms of development and construction.\u00a0 A buildings tour will also be added back into the mix and we plan to have a Tilt-Up construction project to tour.<\/p>\n
Last but not least, we are aiming at expanding our membership.\u00a0 Our goal is 500 members in five years.\u00a0 Several fronts are being pursued including the membership committee initiative, member volunteer efforts to contact or bring names forward, renewed contacts within our own database, and a concerted effort toward retention of our existing members and those who fell away during the recession.\u00a0 If you know of companies you feel should or could be members, send us their names and contact information or, better yet, contact them yourselves and send us the information for follow-up.\u00a0 The more members we have, the stronger our organization and the greater authority we carry in our efforts to be the voice of the industry.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"