Concrete is the most prevalent building material in existence today, though most  people probably don’t notice how widely used the material is until it begins to break up in front of  their homes, or falls off of their buildings, roads and bridges. Despite the  ubiquity of concrete, the questions of who has the expertise to do repairs on  concrete structures and how such repairs should be properly done weren’t being fully addressed even a few decades ago.  

 To fill that gap in knowledge, and to develop and maintain standards, industry  professionals created the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) in  1988. The group’s mission is to be a leading resource for education and information to improve  the quality of repair, restoration and protection of concrete and other  structures in accordance with consensus criteria established by industry  professionals. A push to build such consensus was another driving force behind  the organization's founding.  

 Rocky Start

 The ICRI’s formation began with an industry-wide outcry in February 1988, when attendees  at the annual World of Concrete trade seminar voiced great frustration over the  lack of industry standards and guidelines for concrete repair.  

 Attendees were also concerned with growing numbers of unqualified contractors  working in the industry who were not properly trained, and who were  underbidding qualified contractors, despite not having proper knowledge of  surface preparation, equipment, materials and techniques. Clients were  dissatisfied—often paying for multiple repairs that weren’t done correctly the first time.  

 Of even more concern to reputable contractors were systemic problems in the  industry that impacted not just some companies' bottom line, but also the  overall safety of structures being built and repaired nationwide. Lack of  standards and a tide of unqualified contractors put unwitting building  residents at risk of being hurt or even killed in a catastrophe—and few were even aware of the danger.  

 Around that time, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released its own figures  estimating that 50 percent of concrete repairs being done would fail, explained  Marjorie Lynch, an engineer with New York-based Simpson, Gumpertz & Heger, Inc. and a past president of the Metro New York chapter of ICRI.  

 To address these serious concerns and to protect and enhance the reputation of  the concrete repair industry, the International Association of Concrete Repair  Specialists (IACRS) was formed in Naperville, Illinois, on May 21, 1988. That  initial meeting was attended by 66 concrete repair specialists. In 1993, the  group changed its name to the International Concrete Repair Institute.  

 More than a Patch

 While the repair of concrete structures might bring to mind patch jobs such as  quick fills or replacing a section of buckled sidewalk, those jobs are just a  small part of the multi-billion dollar concrete repairs industry. “It’s the most commonly used material in the world,” according to ICRI.  

 And thanks in part to the help and influence of ICRI, things have drastically  changed in the concrete repair industry. Because of ICRI, contractors are  generally more qualified, and customers have a higher degree of satisfaction.  New Jersey has two ICRI chapters listed: the Delaware Valley and the Metro-NY  chapters.  

 Improvements in technology and the ingredients used in concrete repair also have  helped to improve safety—and have made doing the job correctly a technical exercise. With  fiber-reinforced polymers, chemical applications that help preserve metal  reinforcing elements, new coatings to make concrete more resistant to weather  and other techniques and materials, contractors can apply space age technology  to everyday problems. “The goal is to extend the service life of a structure or facility,” Lynch says.  

 Chapter Lifeblood

 Strong industry standards protect both the contractor and the customer,  according to Bill Reynolds, president of the ICRI Delaware Valley chapter. The  practice of members sharing knowledge and tips with each other helps too. Many  New Jersey/Philadelphia area concrete repair industry professionals meet and  become acquainted through the ICRI chapters of the organization are now active  across the country.  

 One of the ongoing efforts to enhance the chapter’s viability continues to be recruitment of more members, according to Lippmann,  the immediate past president, who has been a chapter member for over 14 years.  Growing the membership and finding and securing top speakers for ICRI meetings  is one of the organization’s most important goals for 2012, he says.  

 “ICRI has allowed me to learn and network with top professionals in the concrete  repair and restoration market. I can only hope it will benefit you as it has  for me,” Lippmann said.  

 While ICRI’s effort to improve standards and practices is at its core, the New Jersey  chapters bring together a network of industry professionals who provide  materials and services related to concrete repairs, including engineers,  contractors and suppliers. That connection of people, companies, services and  specialties has enabled ICRI members to provide greater values in the jobs they  perform for their clients. Part of that added value also is gained through the  knowledge conveyed in the chapter’s technical meetings, which combine technical education seminars with a  networking get-together.  

 Each chapter typically holds between four to six technical and educational  meetings per year, during which a speaker talks on a technical topic of some  kind, such as how the economy is affecting the industry or on some aspect of  the concrete industry. ICRI’s 2012 Spring Convention will be held in Quebec City, Canada, April 18-20. And  many New Jersey chapter members are planning to celebrate the 25th anniversary  of ICRI that will be held at Tradewinds Island Resorts in St. Petersburg Beach,  Florida.  

 Other popular events sponsored by ICRI include an annual golf outing, a  tailgating party at Citizens Bank ballpark, along with a host of certification  and networking events for members and friends. And while some might think of  construction or concrete repair as being male-dominated industries, many women  in construction belong to ICRI chapters nationwide, including officers in the  Delaware Valley and Metro New York chapters.  

 Friendly Connections

 The group provides the networking among members that enables them to make  business connections but it also enables them to know what work is out there  and what work is coming in the future.  

 Officers in the Delaware Valley chapter include: Chris Gray, vice president,  Timothy Haahs & Associates, Blue Bell, PA; Diane Duncheskie, secretary, and Michael J.  McTamney, treasurer, Klein & Hoffman, Inc., Philadelphia. Presiding over the Metro New York chapter is Elena  Danke, president, Aquafin Building Product Systems, Elkton, MD; Michael Davila,  vice president, Structural Contracting Services, Mt. Vernon, NY; and Stephen  Franks, treasurer, Blok-Lok Ltd., Woodbridge, Ontario.  

 The ICRI has not only contributed to safer, better-built buildings but has  helped to save contractors and clients from wasting money and needless  aggravation. Having a professional organization involved with standards and  practices has taken the industry to another level. For further information  about the chapter, visit www.icri.org.  

 Jonathan Barnes is a freelance writer and a frequent contributor to The New  Jersey Cooperator and other publications.