If this e-mail does not display correctly, click here to view it in your Web browser.
Making the Case for Green, Sustainable Buildings
Within and even beyond the construction industry, sustainability and green construction remain hot topics. Because these subjects are constantly evolving, staying current requires a bit of effort. But the “movement” is having an important impact, from improved rental and occupancy rates to better health and attendance of building occupants.
In March 2008, the Costar Group Inc. (a commercial real estate information consultant) conducted a survey of property investors and tenants regarding green buildings. Their findings indicate Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) buildings command rent premiums of $11.24 per square foot compared to their non-LEED peers and have 3.8 percent higher occupancy. Rental rates in ENERGY STAR buildings represent a $2.38 per square foot premium over comparable non-ENERGY STAR buildings and have 3.6 percent higher occupancy.
Masonry has many attributes that make it green and sustainable, both as a building material and as a system, including durability, density that provides thermal mass for walls, and widespread availability. Standards developments in the sustainability arena support the evaluation and assessment of tangible benefits of building with masonry. More on the sustainable development criteria.
Efficient Masonry Design: Computer Programs and Simplified Design Method
For all its attributes, masonry presents challenges
for designers working with it. Building codes provide several methods
for designing structural masonry—allowable stress, strength design,
and empirical—some of which can be time-consuming. To address this,
several interested parties in the masonry industry have developed computer
programs and a simplified method for designing masonry buildings. More
on the simplified method.
Click
here for information on IMI and NCMA Seminars on Hybrid Masonry/Steel
and Loadbearing Masonry.
Q: What is lightweight concrete masonry and is it
suited for structural applications?
A: The standard for concrete masonry is ASTM
C90, Specification for Load-bearing Concrete Masonry Units. C90 defines
three weight classifications for masonry: lightweight is less than 105
pcf (1680 kg/m3), medium weight is defined as 105 to less than
125 pcf (1680 to 2000 kg/m3), and normal weight is 125 (or
more) pcf (2000 kg/m3). (Properties are tested with methods
outlined in ASTM C140, Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Concrete
Masonry Units.) Because the block has a lower density, designers and specifiers
may wonder if it has adequate compressive strength for structural applications
and the answer is yes. More
on lightweight concrete masonry.
Q: Are there deflection limits for the structural backup for portland
cement plaster?
A: A structural frame
must be strong enough to resist bending so that the finish attached to
it is not subjected to more flexural stress than it can handle. This helps
maintain structural integrity and control performance of the finish. For
plaster, deflection limits and proper sizing of panels are helpful in
restraining unwanted cracking. More
on deflection criteria.
Extreme Masonry: Storm Shelter Standard Approved
The International Code Council (ICC) recently announced that ANSI (American National Standards Institute) has approved ICC/NSSA Standard on the Design and Construction of Storm Shelters (ICC 500-2008). The standard has been under development for several years by a joint committee of the ICC and National Storm Shelter Association (NSSA). It provides design, construction, and testing requirements for community shelters and shelters for residences.
Shelters may be stand-alone structures or incorporated into a portion of another structure, such as a safe room. Both hurricanes and tornadoes are covered and a shelter can be designed and constructed for either or both of these high-wind events. More on the storm shelter standard.
IBC 2009 to Reference 2008 MSJC and Other TMS Standards
Recently, the International Code Council considered proposed
code changes to the "I-Codes" that include the International
Building Code (IBC) and the International Residential Code
(IRC). Several individuals and industry groups joined The Masonry Society
(TMS) and the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS) to support
comprehensive changes to IBC requirements for masonry.
These changes simplify the IBC provisions so that users can more easily
follow design, construction, and inspection requirements for masonry.
Modifications made by the IBC to referenced standards will also be more
apparent. More
on code changes.
TMS Continues to Offer Inspection of Masonry Construction Seminars
The Masonry Society will conduct another inspector
training seminar on October 16 in Salt Lake City, Utah. This event is
sponsored by the Utah Masonry Council. On November 5, the seminar will
be presented in Portland, Oregon. This event is sponsored by the Masonry
Institute of Oregon. These seminars are intended to train attendees about
the important aspects of inspecting masonry construction, such as identifying
and checking key quality assurance items on the jobsite. They can be helpful
in preparation for taking the masonry certification exam offered by the
International Code Council. Information is based on the 2006 IBC and the
2005 MSJC. For more information or to register, go to TMS.
GreenBuild
International Conference and Expo
November 19–21, Boston, Mass.
World
of Concrete/World of Masonry
February 3-6, 2009, Las Vegas, Nev.
Click
here for free registration and a discount on seminars.
Portland
Cement Association
5420 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, IL 60077
847.966.6200 Fax: 847.966.9666
Email: info@cement.org
Careers |
Sitemap |
Disclaimer |
Privacy Policy
© 2008 Portland Cement Association - All Rights
Reserved