Masonry Magazine April 1997 Page. 10
The masonry industry participates in the building code process to fill a void in the provisions or add provisions that expand masonry markets, or can be reactive to a particular code change introduced by other industries. Our participation can either challenge competing building systems by reviewing the technical basis for the system and highlighting any inconsistencies in the proposed language. The industry also advances code changes that introduce new masonry attributes by using existing technology in unique ways or through new technology. Or the masonry industry can propose new code changes that make the masonry provisions easier to use. A few examples over the last ten years will highlight the impact of building codes.
Fire separation walls between occupancies were specified to be either masonry or concrete because of their fire resistance and durability. Today's regulations are performance oriented and these fire walls are no longer the exclusive domain of masonry and concrete. Instead, building codes allow these critical fire barriers to be constructed of any material, so long as they meet specified fire ratings. It is very common to hear that four (4) hour fire walls are required or that a wall detail must be be rated for two (2) hours. Consequently, these walls and details can be constructed of materials that meet this criteria, for example fire-rated gypsum and wood studs. This performance based criteria replaced the specification of non-combustable materials resulting in a serious penetration of a traditional concrete and masonry market.
Another example is where the masonry industry, along with allied industries, challenged a code change that would allow frost-protected shallow foundations in cold climates. This change would allow the use of slab-on-grade footings protected by insulation above the frost line when the building is heated for human occupancy. This change impacts the use of masonry products for foundations in the northern regions of the country where foundations below the frost line are required. Industry representatives were opposed to this change, our testimony was persuasive, and the change was not approved.
Furthermore, a code change was submitted to increase the height and area requirements for certain construction types if the wood framing used for structural members, sheathing and cladding was fire retardant wood. This was reviewed very carefully by industry participants which found that in some cases buildings constructed using combustible material were permitted to be built to larger allowable areas that similar buildings constructed with non-combustible materials, such as concrete and masonry. Testimony was given at the code development hearings to point out this inconsistency and this change was not approved.
The masonry industry also promotes the use of existing standards to be incorporated into the model buildings codes. In one case, a code change to the Model Energy Code was submitted to allow the use of the ASHRAE 90.2, Energy Efficient Design of New Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and an alternate method of comply with the code. In another, a change was submitted to the One and Two Family Dwelling Code to incorporate the provisions of Southern Building Code Congress International's Standard for Hurricane Resistant Residential Construction. Both of these code changes will be considered in 1997.
As new ASTM standards are introduced and approved, they must be submitted to the building codes before they can be specified for construction. For example, the ASTM C 1314 test procedure Standard Test Method for Constructing and Testing Masonry Prisms Used to Determine Compliance with Specified Compressive Strength of Masonry - was developed as a quality assurance test method to determine compliance with compressive strength of masonry. It has been approved for the Specification for Masonry Structures (AC1530.1/ASCE 6/TMS 602) and because the BOCA National Building Code references this document, it is now part of the National Building Code.
Finally, the masonry industry successfully introduced steel reinforcing schedules for concrete masonry basements into the building codes. For certain soil loadings and wall height, the required reinforcing steel and spacing is listed directly in the building code. These tables allow the designer to choose the required steel in lieu of detailed design calculations. Making these basements configurations easier to specify is just one way to maintain and eventually expand the concrete masonry basement market.
Current System of Building Codes
Building codes become laws that regulate the design and construction of buildings. Their purpose is to safeguard life and property and to assure the public's health and general welfare. Building codes are written in a restrictive manner. Consequently, they define what materials and building systems can and cannot be used.
With the exception of some large cities and several states, the business of writing building codes is handled by three model code organizations. Each of these organizations publishes a model building code. The three organizations are: the Building Officials and Code Administrators International (BOCA), the International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and the Southern Building Code Congress International (SBCCI). BOCA publishes the National Building Code (NBC).