Belden Brick’s Tann Joins ASTM International Board of Directors

Words: Dan KamysJames A. Tann, director of technical services for the Belden Brick Co. in Canton, Ohio, has been elected to the ASTM International board of directors for a three-year term. In his career, Tann has concentrated on the design of brick masonry structures as well as building codes and standards. He assumed his current role at Belden Brick, the largest family owned and managed brick company in the U.S., in 2014. Prior to that he was president of the Brick Institute’s Mid East Region for more 25 years. An ASTM fellow and Award of Merit recipient, Tann has been a member since 1988. He works on Committees C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry and C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units, serving as member at large on the executive subcommittees of both groups. The committees have recognized his work with awards like the C15 Alan H. Yorkdale Memorial Award and the C12 Honorary Membership Award. In addition to ASTM, Tann is a member of the American Institute of Architects — Ohio, the Brick Industry Association, and the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards. He holds a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. ASTM’s board of directors is made up of 25 leaders from an array of companies, associations and government bodies worldwide. Several members are based outside the United States. Learn more at www.astm.org/COMMITTEE/BOD.  
Helical Beaming: Your Top 6 Questions on Installation, Cost, and Limitations
March 2026

Although helical masonry beaming is still an underutilized and relatively unknown method in masonry repair and restoration, the number of questions and requests I get on this topic increases every week, which I view as promising. Helical masonry beaming i

Wired for Safety: Electrical Maintenance for Fire Prevention
March 2026

Could your company survive if an electrical failure sparked a fire at your business? Electrical malfunctions cause thousands of non-residential building fires annually.1 Proactive maintenance and action are essential to help safeguard your operations.

The Behind-the-Wall Secrets Every Mason Already Knows (But Some Ignore)
March 2026

You’ve been around long enough to know this already: stone doesn’t fail on the face; it fails behind the wall. You can lay the prettiest veneer in the county, but if the prep is junk, that wall’s gonna start telling on you after a couple of winters. Manu

From the Mound to the Mortar: Jon Rauch’s Tall Order in the Masonry Industry
March 2026

In the record books of Major League Baseball, Jon Rauch is a literal giant. At 6 feet, 11 inches, he remains the tallest player to ever step onto a Big League mound. But today, the Olympic Gold Medalist and 11-season MLB veteran isn’t looking for a strike