Masonry Magazine February 2001 Page. 15
1. Coordinated systems of elements & assemblies
Currently the architect must select all materials and details that go into the masonry wall individually, though the decisions are often interdependent. It is a bit like ordering your dinner 'a la carte' rather than ordering a meal that the chef has conceived as a complete culinary experience. Following the examples that exist from many other construction subsystems, the masonry industry should strive to produce a series of design guides that represent benchmark masonry assemblies. Commendably, The Masonry Society has established a task force under its Architectural Practices committee to address this challenge. The Masonry Advisory Council has also pursued this direction in its "Systems Thinking" publication".
2. Quality assurance regarding components and their installation
Currently codes and standards describe the physical properties of many masonry materials and assemblies used structurally. Few codes or standards in the masonry industry guide the detailing and installation of non-structural assemblies, even though these will often later affect structural integrity of the exterior wall. For instance, must the cavity behind a masonry veneer be absolutely free of debris? If not, how much is acceptable? Excessive mortar crumbs will cause this cavity to trap moisture, which will lead to corrosion of ties, which may result in the veneer panel failing. To date most masonry workmanship standards are derived from construction site experience, which is chiefly driven by concern for production, not long term performance. Practical experience must be combined with rigorous performance testing based on the scientific method to yield measurable standards which are then adhered to by designers, specifiers and masons.
3. Predictable material and labor costs
Masonry is intrinsically regionalized in terms of material and labor costs, and is highly volatile due to its labor-intensive nature. Existing national cost indices often overlook subtle factors affecting the cost of masonry construction. Assuming that many design decisions will continue to be driven by cost and schedule parameters, regional components of the masonry industry should provide designers and owners with regional cost data. This data can be used to not only compare various masonry alternatives, but also to compare masonry to selected non-masonry options. Regional cost data could be linked to the benchmark masonry assemblies outlined above and could be indexed nationwide to serve the increasing number of firms whose work is outside of their locality.
4. Predictable construction schedule
Masonry construction is intrinsically slower than other alternatives because of its dependence upon on-site labor, sensitivity to weather conditions, and other factors. Uncertainties regarding material delivery schedules exacerbate these delays.
will benefit from having their work observed; we should seek means of observing the mason's work after it is done. (Figure 3, Transparent Sheathing; figure 4, Cavity Moisture) It is not enough for the masonry industry to have an excellent product and a proud history. Successful construction systems of the present and future must evolve to offer enhanced services to designers and owners, including the following objectives.
FLOWBLOX
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• Easy to install - requires only one trade
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• Full mortar bond - maintains structural continuity
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• Inside/outside corners - continuous flashing
• Accommodates vertical reinforcement -auto-
matic flashing between vertical reinforcement
Proudfoot
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MASONRY-FEBRUARY, 2001 15