Category Archives: News

When the Cube Fails: What to do when strengths appear not to be as specified

Venue: Online

The strength of concrete is primarily measured by the testing of cubes made from the fresh concrete supply. On occasion lower than expected test results may be received, casting doubt over the quality of the concrete in a structure. While many factors may disrupt construction schedules, few are more frustrating than questions concerning concrete quality. Therefore, the causes of these failures need to be identified in order for the correct course of action to be taken.

Delivered by highly experienced industry professionals, this seminar will explain the differences between cube strength and in-situ concrete strength, together with the course of action in the event of cube failure. In addition, the seminar will advise on how results should be interpreted, and the consequences to all parties of poor practices.

This seminar will provide crucial information for Design Engineers, Site Engineers, those in supervisory roles and all who are interested in the efficient delivery of quality concrete structures. Ready-mixed concrete producers and client representatives will also benefit from attending.

Fee:  ICS / Concrete Society (NI) Member: €80, Non-member: €130 pp

Programme: 

10.00  Welcome and Introduction
10.05  What Constitutes a Failure |  TBC
10.35  Good Practice | Keith Goodwin, Kilsaran
11.05  Break
11.15  Actions in the Event of Non-compliant Concrete | Alan Mullane & Micheál Byrne, John Sisk & Son
11.45  Further Testing and Results | Deborah Adair, Mattest
12.15  Outcomes | David Moore, Punch Consulting
12.35   Case Study | Ian Evans, The Concrete Society
12.45   Q&A
13.00   Ends

Email events@concrete.ie to register. se

Second Life: options for repair and refurbishment of structural concrete

Venue: Clayton Hotel Liffey Valley, Dublin

Concrete structures are designed to last for at least fifty years and often beyond. Efforts are increasingly turning towards improving the durability traits of concrete to ensure even longer lasting structures. This longer-term view is also being applied to existing buildings and structures whereby refurbishment and repair contributes to the extension of expected service life. This can result in increasing the sustainability of building resources through the reuse and adaptation of concrete buildings to meet future needs, and infrastructure that continues to meet its operating requirements beyond the original intention.

In this seminar our experienced panel of speakers will provide practical information and  guidance on issues to be considered, their assessment and options available for repairing concrete structures.

This seminar has been designed for all those in mid to senior level positions. Design Engineers, Local Authority Engineers, Resident Engineers, Main and Specialist Sub-Contractors will all find this seminar very beneficial. Asset Managers and Clients will also benefit from attending.

Fee:  ICS / Concrete Society (NI) Member: €110, Non-member: €160 pp

Programme: 

  • 09.30 Registration
  • 10.00 Chair’s Introduction  Cloragh Byrne, Arup
  • 10.05 Causes of Defects Robin Gahan, SCB Services
  • 10.35 Testing and Assessment Dr Thomas Callanan, Infrastruct AMS
  • 11.05 Break
  • 11.25 Repairs in Accordance with EN1504 Anjana Singh, SIKA Ireland
  • 11.55 Extending the Life of our Aging Concrete Enda McKenna, McFarland Consulting
  • 12.30 Questions and Answers
  • 13.00 Ends

Email events@concrete.ie to register. see h

Practical Concreting

Venue: Online Event

Advances in constituent materials, production processes, and construction technologies have all contributed to improvements in concrete construction. However, the successful execution of concrete construction requires sound practice on site. Careful planning of on-site resources and processes, together with coordination and communication, are necessary to minimise potential problems, and to ensure quality is achieved and maintained throughout.

In this short course, our experienced panel of speakers will provide practical information and guidance for those involved in the planning, management and supervision of concrete construction work.

This course has been designed for all those in mid to senior level positions. Contracts managers, project managers and site engineers will all find this course very beneficial. Site supervisory personnel, consulting engineers, ready-mixed concrete producers, and client representatives will also benefit from attending.

Fee:  ICS Member: €80, Non-member: €130

Programme: 

  • 09:30     Welcome
  • 09:35     Planning | Ciaran Collins & Paul McPadden, Walls Construction
  • 10:15     Formwork | Erich Sumperhofer, DOKA
  • 10:45     Pre-pour Preparation | Mark Coatsworth, John Paul Construction
  • 11.15     Break
  • 11.25     Ordering and Delivery | Colin Heffernan, Roadstone
  • 11:55     Placing and Compaction | Peter Bryant, KWIK RC Frames  
  • 12:25     Finishing & Curing | Joe Gartlan, John Sisk & Son
  • 12:55     Site sampling and Testing | Vincent Anderson, MTS Ltd.
  • 13.15    Q&A
  • 13.30    Ends

Email events@concrete.ie to register. see h

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Annual Golf Tournament

Our Annual Golf Tournament with The Concrete Society Northern Ireland Region will take place on Thursday 31st August 2023 in Killeen Castle Golf Resort.

Limited to 30 players, this is a members only event. A booking fee of €60 per player applies.

Tee-off will be from 9.12am with a two course meal afterwards in the club house. The competition is individual based with 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes. The 1st place golfer will also win the JKC Construction Perpetual Challenge Cup!

Located just 20 mins from Exit 6 on the M50, Killeen Castle Golf Resort is home to a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course. Host of the Ladies Irish Open 2011-2013 and the 2011 Solheim Cup, this world class golf course is a magnificent test of golf, showcasing modern golfing excellence in terms of design and presentation.

Providing a wonderful test of golf and offering a glorious landscape and idyllic setting, Killeen Castle Golf Resort has been voted the Best Parkland Course in the greater Dublin area. Golfers of all abilities will enjoy this expansive and challenging course.

Email events@concrete.ie to book

New chairperson Robert Laird wearing chain of office

New Chairperson Elected

The Irish Concrete Society is delighted to announce that Mr Robert Laird of ESB was elected as our new chair at the Society’s AGM on 8th June 2023.

Robert is a Chartered Civil Engineer with 25 years’ experience who has been working with ESB since 2001. He has worked both in Ireland and abroad on the delivery of substations, wind farms and combined cycle gas turbine power plants.

He spent five years working as ESB’s Client Site Manager on their landmark, concrete framed, 7-storey over double basement, head office redevelopment on Fitzwilliam St. and is currently working as a design manager in ESB’s Group Property Design team.

Robert also served as our vice-chair from 2020 to 2023.

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Summer Concreting

Venue: Online Event

Hot weather conditions are usually caused by a combination of factors including high ambient temperature, high solar radiation, low relative humidity and high wind velocity. While prolonged high ambient temperatures are not common in Ireland, ambient temperatures of 20°C and above, together with low humidity and drying winds present a high risk to long term concrete quality.

As these conditions can impact both fresh and hardened concrete, precautions are necessary to ensure that concrete performance is not unduly affected. In this seminar we will provide practical information for the successful planning and placing of concrete during the summer months.

This seminar will be of intertest to Main Contractors, Consulting Engineers, Local Authority Engineers, Specialist Sub-Contractors, Site Supervisory Personnel and Producers.

Fee:  ICS Member: €65, Non-member: €95

Programme: 

  • 10.00  Welcome
  • 10.05  Introduction and General Overview | Robert Laird, ESB
  • 10.25  Design Options for Hot Weather Concreting | Colin Heffernan, Roadstone
  • 10.55  Site Practice: Planning, Placing, and Curing | Brendan Dunne, PJ Hegarty & Sons
  • 11.25  Break
  • 11.35  Health and Safety Considerations in Hot Weather | Michael Kavanagh, Collen Construction
  • 12.00  Sampling and Testing | Deborah Adair, Mattest
  • 12.30  Questions and Answers
  • 13.00  Ends

Email events@concrete.ie to register. see here