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Structural Precast Green Specification Guidelines

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Guidelines for Greening Your Concrete Specifications
Suggestions for adding green building related requirements to your concrete
specifications are noted referencing the appropriate articles and paragraphs within the
MASTERSPEC section as a guideline.
For information about AIA's MASTERSPEC contact ARCOM at (800) 424-5080 or
visit www.arcomnet.com. Manufacturer and product listings are provided as a starting
point. Users are encouraged to research products before specifying. GreenSpec,
available at buildinggreen.com, provides a current listing of green building products.

SECTION 03410 - PLANT-PRECAST STRUCTURAL CONCRETE

PART 1 GENERAL
1.1 SUMMARY
B. For LEED Projects see Division 1 Section LEED Requirements Summary for
recommendations and requirements for recycled content, regional materials, FSC
certified formwork, low-emitting concrete finishes and LEED submittal requirements
for all concrete materials
1.3 SUBMITTALS
K. Submittals for Environmental Performance:
1. Provide data indicating the percentage of post-industrial pozzolan (fly ash, blast
furnace slag) cement substitution as a percentage of the full product composite by
weight.
2. Provide data indicating the percentage of post-industrial and post-consumer
recycled content aggregate
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3. Provide product data indicating the percentage of post-consumer recycled steel

content in each type of steel reinforcement as a percentage of the full product
composite by weight.
4. Provide product data stating the location where all products were manufactured
and where the raw materials were harvested, extracted or recovered.
5. For projects using FSC certified formwork, provide chain-of-custody
documentation for all certified wood products.
6. For projects using reusable formwork, provide data showing how formwork is
reused.
7. Provide MSDS product information data showing that form release agents meet
any environmental performance goals such as using vegetable and soy based
products.
PART 2 PRODUCTS
2.1 REINFORCING MATERIALS
Consider specification of reinforcement bar and welded-wire steel with a high
percentage of post-consumer recycled content (80%-100%) to avoid the
environmental impact of the extraction of raw materials and to divert waste
materials from our landfills.
F. Supports
Specify reinforcement supports with 100% recycled plastic content.
AvailableProducts:
1. Rebar Supports, Eclipse Plastics Inc.
2.3 CONCRETE MATERIALS
B. Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Consider the highest allowable percentage of cement substitution with coal fly ash,
blast-furnace slag, or silica fume.
Available Manufacturers:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Boral Material Technologies Inc.

Full Circle Solutions Inc.
Headwater Resources, Inc.
Holcim US, Inc.
Lafarge North America

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Structural Precast Green Specification Guidelines

6. Mineral Resource Technologies, LLC

7. Mineral Solutions, Inc.
8. The SEFA Group
C. Normal Weight Aggregates
Consider a high percentage (25% typical) of the use of local and recycled aggregate
from recycled concrete sources.
E. Chemical Admixtures
Consider the use of admixtures that offer high performance to increase durability of
the finish product but also have low toxicity and are made from bio-based materials
such as soy, and emit low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC).
2.4 STEEL CONNECTION MATERIALS
Consider the use of steel connection materials made with a high percentage of postconsumer recycled content to avoid the environmental impact of the extraction of
raw materials and to divert waste materials from our landfills.
M. Shop-Primed Finish
Consider anti-corrosive paints that emit low levels of Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOC) (less that 250g/l) and do not contain toxic chemicals in order to reduce health
risks to workers and building occupants, and reduce pollutants that contribute to
smog.
Available Manufacturers:
1. American Formulating & Manufacturing
2. Corrosion Control Industries
3. Fuhr International LLC
2.7 INSULATED PANEL ACCESSORIES
Consider specification of board insulation such as Polyisocyanurate and Expanded
Polystyrene that does not use ozone-depleting blowing agents such as HCFCs in
their manufacturing.
PART 3 - EXECUTION
3.5 - CLEANING
Consider using biodegradable, biobased concrete cleaning products.

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Portland Cement Association ("PCA") is a not-for-profit organization and provides this publication solely for the continuing
education of qualified professionals. THIS PUBLICATION SHOULD ONLY BE USED BY QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS who
possess all required license(s), who are competent to evaluate the significance and limitations of the information provided
herein, and who accept total responsibility for the application of this information. OTHER READERS SHOULD OBTAIN
ASSISTANCE FROM A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL BEFORE PROCEEDING.

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