National Ready Mixed Concrete Association

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Name	National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Abbreviation	NRMCA
Formation	1930
Type	Trade association
Headquarters	Rosemont, Illinois
Region served	United States
Membership	Ready mixed concrete producers, suppliers, equipment manufacturers

National Ready Mixed Concrete Association is a trade association representing the ready mixed concrete industry in the United States, providing standards, training, advocacy, and technical resources. Founded in 1930, it interacts with regulatory bodies, construction firms, engineering societies, and research institutions to influence practice and policy in infrastructure, transportation, and building projects. The association engages with federal agencies, state departments, and international counterparts to promote quality, safety, and sustainability in concrete production and use.

History

The organization was established during the Great Depression alongside shifts in New Deal public works programs, the expansion of the Federal Highway Administration network, and innovations in construction following projects like the Hoover Dam and the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel. Early collaboration included interactions with the American Concrete Institute, the Portland Cement Association, and state-level associations such as the Texas Ready Mixed Concrete Association and the California Cement Association. Throughout the mid-20th century the association addressed wartime material controls related to Selective Service Act mobilization, postwar suburban growth tied to the Interstate Highway System, and standards development influenced by the National Bureau of Standards and the American Society of Civil Engineers. In recent decades the group has responded to topics championed by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the U.S. Green Building Council.

Mission and Activities

The association’s mission focuses on promoting quality, safety, and sustainability across projects including bridges, dams, airports, and high-rise construction such as projects by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and contractors like Bechtel. Activities include technical guidance used by Federal Aviation Administration airport upgrades, specifications for agencies like the Department of Transportation (United States), and collaboration with standards bodies including the American National Standards Institute and the International Code Council. The association supports workforce development in cooperation with unions and apprenticeship programs such as the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and educational outreach with institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Pennsylvania State University, and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Membership and Organization

Membership comprises ready mixed producers, aggregate suppliers, admixture manufacturers like BASF and Sika AG, and equipment manufacturers such as Caterpillar Inc. and Schwing Stetter. Organizational governance includes a board of directors drawn from regional associations like the Midwest Ready Mixed Concrete Association and international affiliates including the European Ready Mixed Concrete Organization. Committees address technical, safety, environmental, and legal matters involving law firms, insurers, and contractors such as Fluor Corporation and Aecom. The association liaises with financial stakeholders including the Federal Reserve regional branches, state treasuries, and construction lenders like Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase.

Standards, Research, and Education

The association develops specifications and test methods used alongside standards from the American Concrete Institute, ASTM International, and the National Cooperative Highway Research Program. Research partnerships include national laboratories such as Argonne National Laboratory and university centers like the Concrete Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University. Educational offerings comprise certification courses, professional development recognized by engineering societies like the Institute of Transportation Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers, and training for plant managers and drivers coordinated with state licensing boards and transportation authorities like the California Department of Transportation. Sustainability efforts reference life-cycle assessment frameworks employed by the U.S. Green Building Council and climate research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Advocacy and Industry Relations

The association advocates before legislative bodies including the United States Congress and engages with executive agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on regulations affecting materials, emissions, and worker safety. It collaborates with infrastructure coalitions, labor organizations, and standards groups to influence funding measures like federal surface transportation bills and infrastructure acts supported by lawmakers from delegations in states with major construction sectors like Texas, California, and Florida. Legal and regulatory relations involve interactions with the Federal Trade Commission, state regulators, and environmental advocacy groups.

Publications and Conferences

The association publishes technical manuals, position papers, and industry reports used by design firms such as HOK and civil engineering firms like Parsons Corporation. Regular conferences and events attract members, regulators, and academics to venues in cities such as Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Orlando, and include workshops co-sponsored with organizations like the American Concrete Institute and the Portland Cement Association. Trade magazines and journals circulated to members reference research from institutions like MIT, Stanford University, and Georgia Institute of Technology.

International Programs and Partnerships

Internationally, the association engages with counterparts including the International Federation for Structural Concrete, the European Ready Mixed Concrete Organization, and national associations in Canada, Mexico, and China. Programs involve technology transfer, sustainability initiatives aligned with the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, and participation in global forums such as COP climate conferences. Partnerships extend to multinational construction firms like Vinci and consulting networks such as AECOM to promote best practices and harmonize standards across borders.

Category:Trade associations based in the United States Category:Concrete Category:Construction industry organizations