Category: Specialty Products

Job Name: Bridge #7 Rehabilitation

Contractor: MTM-2

Owner: Dufferin County

Engineer/Architect: R.J Burnside

Background:

The rehabilitation of Bridge # 7 confronted many of the challenges common to county bridge repairs. These bridges ferry sizable traffic loads, generally over environmentally sensitive areas, and are subject to harsh Canadian weather conditions. To ensure the long-term structural integrity in the face of these elements, this project required a reliable way to inhibit the damaging process of corrosion to the bridge’s embedded rebar.

Product(s)/Solutions Provided:

To achieve superior corrosion inhibiting properties, the project engineers specified the use of MCI-2005 NS
manufactured by Cortec and supplied in Ontario exclusively by Form & Build Supply. This concrete admixture was selected due to its lower dosage rates and superior corrosion inhibiting ability relative to more well-known Calcium Nitrite products. As a USDA Certified Bio-Based product, MCI-2005 NS also reduced the risk of contamination to the surrounding ecosystem during bridge construction.

Please contact Form & Build Supply to learn more about MCI-2005 NS as well our other lines of industry-leading products that help you get the job done right.

Job Name: Piller's Brantford

Contractor: East Elgin Concrete

Owner: Piller's

Engineer/Architect: Witzel Dyce Engineering

Background:

Well-known Canadian deli meat and sausage maker Piller’s began a $19.1 million expansion in fall 2020. This investment will add 27,000 square feet of production capacity to the company’s Brantford plant. As with many projects undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, the contractors involved had to contend with product shortages and substantial price increases on an array of materials most notably steel. Concrete contractors feel the brunt of these increases given the volumes of reinforcing steel rebar they purchase.

Product(s)/Solutions Provided:

From the outset of the project, Form & Build Supply worked with the concrete contractor and engineering firm to try to replace some rebar with Forta-Ferro reinforcing concrete fibers. These patented fibers are an incredibly tough and durable three dimensional concrete reinforcement solution; an ideal substitute for rebar on horizontal applications. These fibers have been proven to reduce plastic and hardened concrete shrinkage, improve impact strength, and increase fatigue resistance and concrete toughness.

With that in mind, the fibers were originally intended for use on the project’s mezzanine floor where limited access made getting rebar to its intended spot very difficult. Unfortunately, the Engineer was not able to approve the fibers for this application in time.

However, as construction progressed and steel prices continued to rise, the concrete contractor looked more seriously at using Forta-Ferro for the 400 m3 slab-on-grade they needed to pour. For this application, the contractor worked with Form & Build to have the fibers approved with ample lead time. The use of the fibers benefited the contractor in two major ways. First, with record high steel prices, they saved money on a direct material-to-material basis.
Second, removing the rebar saved an estimated two days in labour costs otherwise required to place and tie the rebar. As a bonus, the contractor was also very impressed with the high quality finish they achieved with the fibers.

Construction comes with no shortage of challenges and changing circumstances. At Form & Build Supply we’re proud to be here to provide solutions that help you get the job done right. Interested in learning more? Email Derek Liddle here