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RepairStructuralGeneralY Not Try a Double Nozzle System

Derek Pay

Although many shotcrete workers “claim” to be capable of placing massive amounts of concrete in a daily shift, or shooting with the pump turned “wide open,” in reality, the nozzleman tends to ultimately be the limiting factor on production speed and daily placement volume. Plain and simple they get tired. Shooting too fast diminishes accuracy and overall quality.

UndergroundGeneralThe Value of VR Training for Today’s Shotcrete Nozzlemen

Matthew Wallace

Recruiting, training, and retaining skilled shotcrete nozzlemen is mission-critical for a company’s success. Virtual, immersive training offers an effective, engaging mode of learning that supports the modern trainee. For beginning nozzlemen, virtual reality training gives them a safe, repeatable experience that can be completed in a classroom, free of job costs. Practice without cost or risk also helps improve job performance and satisfaction. These disruptive virtual reality (VR) technologies can provide safe, hands-on learning experiences without the field costs associated with hands-on training. Virtual learning is also valuable in today’s socially distanced world with its shifting remote learning requirements. Interactive digital tools will deliver meaningful, adaptive training for skilled trades now and in the future. Though some level of hand nozzling experience is still needed the best nozzlemen will be trained, in part, using virtual reality.

InternationalRecreationalSkateboarding in Barbados

Andy Duck

People have been traveling to the small Caribbean island of Barbados to surf the ever-present waves arriving across the Atlantic for as long as humans have pursued wave riding. The same can be said about skateboarding as the parish of Christ Church now boasts a regional concrete skatepark! This was a long and thorough process shepherded by a consortium of firms and associations, all working to provide the Bajans a modern concrete skatepark through proper planning and processes. This all began with one phone call from Paul Wilson, a local skateboarding advocate with the tireless passion to bring proper skateboarding to the youth (of all ages) of Barbados.

StructuralDeep Cove Foreshore Development

Dan Pitts

We got a call from one of the local drilling contractors, Braestone Rockworks to check out a shotcrete shoring project down at Deep Cove in North Vancouver, British Columbia.

GeneralCoastal Gunite Construction Company Celebrates 40 years in Business

Coastal Gunite Construction Company delivers shotcrete construction services to build, maintain and rehabilitate concrete structures. Founded in 1983, Coastal Gunite Construction Company has developed a reputation for quality, integrity, and meeting strict performance requirements for both large and small projects. Their specialized experience in structural

RepairEnhancing Efficiency and Safety in Concrete Shaft Restoration: A Shotcrete Success Story

Jacqueline Ipema

In September 2021, American Concrete Restorations Inc. was contracted to perform 60 yd³ (46 m³) of concrete repairs to an existing shaft that is used to access an underground tunnel system in a southern suburb of Chicago, IL. The job was for the Metropolitan Water

PoolRepairRecreationalOn Productivity, Job Costing, and Successful Shotcreting

Ryan Oakes

As a member of the International Honor Society in Economics and with a double BS in Finance and Banking, I came into the world of shotcrete prepared a little differently than most entrants to the field. That was over 20 years ago, but the principles

StructuralShotcrete Retrofil of a Mechanically Stabilized Earth Wall

Roland Heere, Dudley R Morgan, Stephen Jungaro

The Municipality of Maple Ridge in British Columbia, Canada, commissioned a spe-cialty contractor to build a 9 m (29.5 ft)diameter culvert, incorporated in a mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall, to provide a street crossing for a stream. The culvert had been partly sunk into the

GeneralHow to Plan Your Safety Training Program

Thomas H. Adams

The subject of safety training necessarily starts with the question, œWhat do we need? A training-to answer this question. These answers will begin to define the content, frequency, categories of employees to be trained, and documentation required. Some training is required by law. Federal, state,

RepairStructuralArchitectural Finishes for Retaining Walls

Marcus H. von der Hofen

What kind of architectural finishes are possible with shotcrete? From the most basic natural gun finish to exotic carved sculptures, from the gray color of regular portland cement concrete to custom-colored and stained mixtures, shotcrete can take on many different types of finished appearance. Today™s