A Masonry Field Testing Technician is an individual who has demonstrated the knowledge and ability to perform sample preparation and testing of masonry construction-related materials—including materials for brick, structural clay tile, concrete masonry units, prisms, mortars, and grouts—in the field.

ACI Concrete Flatwork Associate and Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher Certification Review and Written Examination

Concrete Flatwork Associate

A Concrete Flatwork Associate (formerly Concrete Flatwork Technician) is a person who has demonstrated knowledge (via a written examination) on proper procedures to place, consolidate, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect concrete flatwork.

Certification Requirements:  ACI will grant certification to those candidates who obtain a passing grade on the written examination.  The two-hour written examination is closed-book and consists of approximately 50 multiple-choice questions. The passing grade for the written examination is 70%.

Recertification is necessary every five years and requires successful completion of a written examination OR 10 hours documented continuing education from an approved source. Individuals with Concrete Flatwork Associate certification can upgrade to Advanced Finisher status upon submittal and approval of sufficient work experience or combination of sufficient work experience and passing the ACI performance examination. Certification at the Advanced Finisher level is valid for the remainder of the original Associate certification period.

Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher

An Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher (formerly Concrete Flatwork Finisher and Technician) is a craftsman who has demonstrated the knowledge AND skills and/or experience necessary to place, consolidate, finish, edge, joint, cure and protect concrete flatwork.

Certification Requirements:  ACI will grant certification to those candidates who obtain a passing grade on the written examination PLUS either:

Possess 4,500 hours of actual on-the-job finishing* experience (approximately three years of regular full-time work) OR possess 1,500 hours of actual on-the-job finishing* experience (approximately one year of regular full-time work) AND successfully complete the performance examination**.

**MCC will NOT be offering a performance examination at this class, so anyone seeking Advanced Concrete Flatwork Finisher Certification at this class MUST possess 4,500 hours of actual on-the-job finishing experience.

Recertification is necessary every five years and requires successful completion of either a written examination, or a combination of 10 hours documented continuing education from an approved source and 4500 hours of verified continuing work experience attained within the previous 5 years.

*Finishing experience includes concrete placement, consolidation, jointing, curing and protection, finishing, form setting, prep work, rubbing, patching, and saw cutting. Verification of the work experience by the candidate's employer(s) is required.

The concrete industry has primarily focused on two strategies to make the case for concrete construction in light of the new technologies in the market, especially in multi-story wood design. The first is how to reduce first costs through new technology of their own. The second is centered around calculating the carbon cost of concrete considering the material’s life-cycle.

The concrete industry is missing a third, essential, strategy, and one where it is a natural leader compared to other materials. Carbon, or green design, is only one component of sustainability. The other is resilience.

The US Resiliency Council is committed to building public awareness of the performance of buildings in natural disasters and communicating the value of resilience-based design in protecting not only the lives, but the livelihoods of Americans. Both the social and the economic impacts that natural disasters cause are absolutely critical to defining a society, or a business, or a family as sustainable. We must not only have a low impact on the environment, the environment must have a low impact on us.

The concrete industry must engage in similar education and advocacy if it is to build public demand for higher performing buildings.

This presentation will describe how resilience can be measured in terms of safety, as well as the economic and social benefits of being able to recover quickly from natural disasters. Evan Reis, the Executive Director of the US Resiliency Council, will discuss how the natural resilience and durability of concrete can be promoted in an environment where our preparedness to face natural disasters continues to rise.

This concrete-industry event is sponsored by PCI Midwest, the Minnesota Concrete Council, the Aggregate & Ready Mix Association of Minnesota and the Minnesota Concrete & Masonry Contractors Association.

Please note that the location is the Sheraton Minneapolis West located by Ridgedale in Minnetona.

This meeting is intended for members of the MCC Board of Directors and the Chairs of MCC Committees. It is an "invite only" meeting. Questions? Contact Margaret Mills.