VOL. XXVI, NO.1 (Winter, 2003)

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FHWA NOW REQUIRES TYPE "F" BARRIER

 

Since October 1, 2002, the Federal Highway Administration has required that all new median barrier projects utilize the type "F" barrier that has been crash tested and certified to meet the requirements of the standard. Each state and highway jurisdiction throughout the United States has therefore been involved in the process of developing and publicizing new standards and specifications as a result of the new federal standard. In response to these new requirements, Spillman Company has been working with a variety of precasters and prestressers as they convert their formwork to the new details.

For more than thirty years, Spillman Company has been and continues to be actively involved in the median barrier market. We have witnessed the development of barrier cross-sections from the early GM style, to the extremely familiar New Jersey, and now to the new type "F". During most of this timeframe, we have been active members of ASTM technical subcommittee C27.20 that has continuing responsibility for C825-97 on Precast Concrete Barriers. At this time, we fully expect that this standard will be revised in the near future to incorporate the "F" shape.

In the same way that we have seen dramatic changes in cross-sections and specifications, we have also participated in a significant evolution of median barrier forms. Early in the 70's, many barrier forms were poured right side up with simple, flat end gates; and little or no end connection detailing. Today, we almost always manufacture forms that are designed to cast pieces upside down and nearly every form includes significant end connection and drainage details.

Our median barrier form history includes special barriers as short as 5' long all the way to longline forms with internal bulkheads. The most common lengths today are 10' and 12', but increasingly we see states requiring metric lengths that include 3, 4, and 5 meters. Median barrier forms are commonly manufactured in both single and dual cavity forms. Most forms meeting the new "F" standard include some sort of hinged door with either a formed or machined vertical keyway and a chamfer relief detail on the end of each casting. Doors are also fitted with either the appropriate pin and loop detail or the "J-J" hook configuration for those customers who are licensees of that particular technology. Forms are also being fitted with either hinged or removable drainage slots as well.

With the new security concerns for a variety of facilities, we are seeing an increased use of precast median barriers for buildings, factories, and other installations where traffic needs to be controlled and limited. This use of standard barriers is also being supplemented by a wide variety of transition, skewed, and special barrier casting details.

Whatever your interest in precast concrete median barriers may be, we at Spillman Company look forward to sharing our more than thirty years of experience with you. Please feel free to contact us at 614/444-2184 or toll-free at 800/44FORMS. We can also be reached via fax at 614/444-1231 or via the Internet at http://www.spillmanform.com/.

 

We have just completed our newest brochure for plastic rebar spacers! Our new designs include a redesigned Plasclip® spacer for 1", 1-1/2", 2" and 3" cover. Each spacer will comfortably hold rebars sized from #3 through #6. The larger throat will add stability to this spacer which our old Plaschair® could not!

Spillman is proud to add the "Strongback" EZ Slab Bolster to our line of products. It is an extremely strong and effective design to space two layers of rebars in flat slabs, walls, or bridge beams. It is available in 1", 1-1/2" and 2" covers. Other sizes are available upon request.

Lastly, we have added a new 2" Meshclip to our line of 1", 1-1/4" and 1-1/2" sizes.

These brochures will be part of a major mailing during the first quarter and at both national tradeshows; MCPX and World of Concrete.

 

For the last five years, Spillman has been actively distributing magnets and magnet clamping products in North America from Weckenmann in Germany. During this time we have brought a wide variety of new products and ideas to the marketplace. Today more than ever, we are increasingly convinced that for many precasters and prestressers, one of the keys to increased productivity is indeed the adoption of magnet technologies appropriate to their own individual casting requirements.

Spillman offers a wide variety of in-stock magnets, magnet adapters, shutter rails, and rails with embedded magnets to meet a wide variety of casting requirements. In addition, as a customized steel form fabricator we're able to engineer and manufacture in our own facility a wide variety of custom magnet side rail and blockout solutions.

We've enclosed our EZY-STRYP® magnetic clamping brochure and price list for your review and use. Once you've been able to review the brochure, please feel free to contact us toll-free at 800/44-FORMS. You can also reach us at http://www.spillmanform.com/. For a specific request on a customs magnet solution, please contact Tom Coniglio at mailto:%20tconiglio@spillmanform.com.

The NPCA (National Precast Concrete Association) and the NCMA (National Concrete Masonry Association) have combined their exhibitions to establish the Manufactured Concrete Products Exposition. The first MCPX will be held in Salt Lake City, Utah on February 21-23 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. This new exhibition will bring together the largest collection of producers and exhibitors that are part of the manufactured concrete industry. In addition to the exhibition partners, two co-sponsors, the ACPA (American Concrete Pipe Association) and the ICPI (International Concrete Paving Institute) will also be holding significant events in Salt Lake at the same time.

More than 500 exhibitors and as many as 7000 attendees are expected during the three day event to view displays from around the world that will cover an area of more than three football fields. Just prior to MCPX, the NCMA and the ICPI will conduct their annual conventions; the ACPA will hold its Production Short Course; NPCA's annual convention will immediately follow MCPX.

Spillman Company will be exhibiting in booth #1822 and will be showing the latest developments in collapsing core boxes as well as new plastic spacers for rebar and mesh. Our European partners - Weckenmann and Vollert will also be showing in Salt Lake in Booths 2011 & 2013.

This new exhibit has been more than three years in the making and is expected to become one of the largest trade shows in all of North America. For complete details on registration log on to www.mcpx.org.

We look forward to visiting with you in Salt Lake from February 21-23.