Masonry Magazine August 2001 Page. 46
masonry news
ASTM WORKMANSHIP STANDARD IN FINAL STAGES
At the June Committee Meetings of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), a multitude of decisions were made in the codes and standards areas. Again, it is encouraged that ALL mason contractors join ASTM and participate in the balloting process and committee meetings held twice a year, as ultimately it is the CONTRACTOR who is responsible for upholding these standards. Membership to ASTM committees is open to the public at all times and costs a mere $65 annually. This is a small price to pay for the ability to shape and mold the Standards and criteria that YOU will be held liable for.
The most important event for contractors at these June committee meetings was the almost finalization of the first workmanship standard known to the masonry industry. Task group members of C15.05.07, were given the chance to review the latest revision of the workmanship standard that has been under development for almost a decade now. The task group is headed by a mason contractor, and consists of mason contractors, architects, engineers, and other concerned parties. The primary purpose of this consensus standard will be to remove most of the subjective legal issues between contractors and architects/owners. This will be a standard that will be adopted and referenced by building codes and architect specifications all over the nation. It outlines everything from where architects should view the finished wall, to tolerances in the mortar joints. It also acknowledges that masonry has tighter tolerances than most other building materials, something that all masons already knew. This will be a complete standard that will allow the contractor to have a legal document that if complied with, should resolve most disputes concerning the aesthetics of masonry. This standard is in its final stages and should be released for publication and reference by early 2003.
Another event of importance to the contractor is the removal of the wording "must be viewed at a distance no less than 20 feet under diffused lighting" in the ASTM C-90 Standard. It was proposed and balloted to be removed from standard because of its misuse in practice, but negatives delayed the inevitable. It is intended to be used as a material standard. So, in essence it is meant to stand the contractor 20 feet away to search for the five percent chipped or cracked concrete block in the shipment. It is often used by contractors to stand the architect 20 feet away from the finished masonry wall in order to search for imperfections. The removal of this wording would allow the contractors to stand closer than 20 feet to search for chipped or broken block in the shipment. However, it's intended use to stand the architect / engineer away from the wall, would also be compromised. After some discussion, it was determined that the wording would stay in the standards until the workmanship standard is released with similar wording. This ensures that the intent of this wording in the correct standard is being utilized properly.
Other notables that are being balloted and voted on are the development of a lintel standard that would bring some uniformity to the manufacturing of precast lintels often used with masonry, the addition of another category for lightweight concrete block, and other small changes in brick, concrete block, mortar and grout standards.
The next cycle of ballots will be important to all mason contractors. At the December ASTM committee meetings, MCAA's engineer will propose a new item for ballot to decrease the number of broken / chipped block in a shipment from five percent to three percent. This item will receive some fierce opposition from the concrete block manufacturers, but with the contractors help, this can be done. There are many more manufacturers and producers on these committees than contractors, so it is time to join ASTM to make a difference that you can see immediately. For information on ASTM membership contact Rashod Johnson, Director of Engineering, at (800) 536-2225, rjohnson@masonryshowcase.com, or ASTM at www.astm.org.
CRANKUP® ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF MIGHTY EQUIPMENT COMPANY
Florence, Alabama-In an acquisition that will significantly impact the masonry equipment industry, National Machine Works (NMW, parent company of CrankUp® Scaffolding, has purchased Mighty Equipment Company.
"This consolidation creates a company positioned to be a total equipment supplier of scaffold mixers and related products to the masonry industry," says NMW President Eugene Sak. The opportunities that lie ahead are nearly limitless."
Mighty Equipment manufactures adjustable climbing and traditional scaffold, as well as mixers, loaders, tubs and other material handling equipment for the masonry industry. According to Sak, the company will now have the combined resources to serve as a single provider for about 80 percent of the types of equipment regularly used by mason contractors. Gross revenues for the NMW's combined operations over the next twelve months are anticipated to top $14 million.
TIME TABLE
August 1, 2001
International Excellence in Masonry Contest. Application forms available. Contact Jeff at (800) 536-2225
August 3, 2001
2002 Architects' Masonry Symposium. Schedule available. Contact Jeff at (800) 536-2225
September 24th, 2001
Meeting of the California Conference of Mason Contractors
October 2-3, 2001
Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards
Chicago, IL
jgreenwald@ncma.org