Masonry Magazine December 1963 Page. 10
The Contemporary Bearing Wall
(Continued from page 9)
bracing required. Quick, simple erection and complete flexibility of spacing for any length of wall make this scaffold particularly well suited for building interior partitions and any wall approximately 9 feet high or less. Vertical adjustment in small increments is afforded by raising the frame on the leg posts. Careful scheduling of materials is important as the scaffold should be nearly empty when a height adjustment is made.
Fig. 7 Tubular Frame Scaffold Set with Brace on Wall Side and Planked for Laborers' Foot Scaffold on Opposite Side
Many types of continously adjustable scaffolds are now on the market. When scaffolding is placed around the exterior perimeter of the building, adjustable scaffolds should be seriously considered by the mason contractor. The effectiveness of such types of scaffolds in helping to reduce mason fatigue and, consequently, increasing his efficiency, is well documented.
MATERIALS HANDLING
Since two of the attributes of wall-bearing multi-story construction are considered to be speed and economy, proper and efficient materials handling is necessary for a successful masonry operation. On all projects proper handling equipment, tailored to the job, should be used. Since job conditions vary, and there are so many choices of equipment to do most jobs, this discussion will cover only general recommendations.
Much of the multi-story wall-bearing work will involve apartment, hotel or motel construction. These buildings require only 40 lbs per square foot design live load for individual apartments or rooms. Because of the floor design, and for other reasons, it does not seem wise to consider the handling of brick in large pallets when all of the work is done from the inside. Packaged brick in units of 100 or less or, possibly, in half-pallets would seem to be most logical for movement on the interior of the building. Since most of the floors will be recently poured when masonry wok begins, it will be advisable to protect at least the main runways for distributing mortar and masonry units to the scaffold. A common method of poviding a runway is to lay 4 by 8 ft. sheets of 3/4-in plywood over the floor surfaces. In addition to protecting the surface, it helps to distribute the load of the materials over a larger area of the floor. For the same reason it is wise to set the scaffold frames on 2-in. planks.
The masonry materials should be stored in an area adjacent to the hoist which is normally used to move materials from the ground to the floor level required. For sna buildings, one centrally located hoist is usually sufficic. Many larger buildings will require at least two hoists to service materials as they are required.
Small hand trucks or carts can be used to move packag materials from the hoist to the mason on the scaffold. On the scaffold, however, it is necessary to cut the strapa handle the units with tongs to their proper location on the materials shelf.
At least two types of "walking buggies" with pow activated lifts are available for packages or small pall. These buggies will set packages on top of a 5 ft. scaffe. Their major disadvantage is weight, but the proper des of runways would allow their use on relatively light flo. Mortar can be handled either in wheelbarrows or mortar buggies.
If the floors of the building are to be precast joists, the will be installed by the mason contractor in many are. In terms of the mason operations this is an advantage, cause it helps the mason contractor control more of operations and scheduling. Handling of the floor jo would require the use of a crane but, in most cases, the general contractor's operations will require the use of crane on jobs of this type. On larger jobs, it would be v to consider the use of a crane for all of the mater handling operations. Combined use of a crane by the general contractor and one or more of his subcontract can provide economies to both if its use is prope scheduled.
In wall-bearing clay masonry work, particularly mu story, a closely coordinated construction schedule is required. This schedule can be met by the mason contrac only if if he utilizes the proper materials handling techniq to provide masonry materials when and where they needed every minute of the working day.
Fig. 8 Special Adjustable Height Scaffold Frames for Story-How Load Bearing Work
COLD WEATHER CONSTRUCTION
Proper cold weather masonry construction techniq are especially essential in wall-bearing construction, w the compressive and flexural strengths of the bearing w have been carefully designed by the architect or engin. Unless adequate protection is provided for the maso work in cold weather, considerable structural damage m result from freezing.
Test data indicate that compressive strengths of mom may be reduced as much as 90 per cent due to freez.
MASONRY
December, 19