Masonry Magazine August 2009 Page. 31
Each member of the subcommittee has a vote and can vote how they see fit, as long as it has technical merit and proposes a solution or alternate wording. Once these items have "passed" the subcommittee level with no negatives, they are forwarded to the main committee for ballot, where it must pass the same process. Should an item make it through main committee, the sponsoring societies' technical activities committees (TAC) and the general public get to voice their opinions as well during a "public comment period." All of these checks and balances are designed to ensure that the best possible code provisions are being developed by the MSJC, and every interested party has input into the process.
ASTM International
The IBC, IRC and MSJC reference a host of ASTM International standards for consistency in materials manufacturing, material testing and overall best practices. ASTM International (formerly the American Society of Testing and Materials) is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world and is referenced and specified on almost every construction project in the United States.
Who is responsible for writing ASTM standards? The key word in the above paragraph is "voluntary." Some of these volunteers may include architects, engineers and contractors; however, an overwhelming majority of the more active participants are material manufacturers and suppliers.
ASTM is divided into main committees, subcommittees and task groups. As it pertains to masonry, there are a few main committees of importance: Committee 12-Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry, Committee C15-Manufactured Masonry Units, Committee C18-Dimension Stone, Committee E06 Performance of Buildings, Committee E34- Occupational Health and Safety, and Committee E60-Sustainability.
Each of these main committees contain subcommittees and task groups that are specific to a particular material, standard, part of a standard or topic. Similar to the MSJC process, items are balloted at the subcommittee level first, then at the main committee. Contrary to MSJC, however, once an item passes main committee balloting, it is forwarded to the "Society" for review to ensure that all of the proper procedures were being followed when developing and balloting a particular standard or change to a standard. Once an item passes main committee, it is almost always published.
The MSJC and ASTM codes and standards processes can be extremely challenging and highly political, yet they are paramount to ensuring that all members of the masonry industry have a voice. Often, contentious issues on some of these committees come down to a vote. And, while the contractors' voices may be heard (sometimes loudly), the numbers are rarely available to back up the voice with votes. Contractors need to become more proactive in supporting the codes and standards that govern the masonry industry. Support is not only having a voice, but also being ready to listen, stand up and support that voice when necessary. IMAS
Rashod R. Johnson, P.E., is president of The Roderick Group in Chicago. He is the former MCAA director of engineering and currently serves as a technical consultant to the association.
Alphabet Soup
AAC - Aerated Autoclaved Concrete
ACI - American Concrete Institute
ANSI-American National Standards Institute
ASCE - American Society of Civil Engineers
ASTM-ASTM International
IBC- International Building Code
IRC-International Residential Code
MSJC - Masonry Standards Joint Committee
SEI - Structural Engineering Institute
TMS-The Masonry Society