Passive Solar Design
INTRODUCTION Passive solar design involves utilizing a building’s basic elements walls, windows and floors—to produce a comfortable environment with less…
Resources
Energy Code Compliance Using Comcheck™
INTRODUCTION COMcheckTM (ref. 1) is software developed by the U.S. Department of Energy specifically for demonstrating compliance with nationally recognized…
R-Values and U-Factors of Single Wythe Concrete Masonry Walls
INTRODUCTION Single wythe concrete masonry walls are often constructed of hollow units with cores filled with insulation and/or grout. This…
R-Values of Multi-Wythe Concrete Masonry Walls
INTRODUCTION Multi-wythe concrete masonry construction lends itself to placing insulation between two wythes of masonry when the wythes are separated…
Aesthetic Design With Concrete Masonry
INTRODUCTION One aspect of concrete masonry that has kept it at the forefront of building materials is its ability to…
Details for Half-High Concrete Masonry Units
INTRODUCTION Concrete masonry offers numerous functional advantages, such as structural load bearing, life and property protection, durability and low maintenance….
Concrete Masonry Hurricane and Tornado Shelters
INTRODUCTION Extreme windstorms, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, can pose a serious threat to buildings and their occupants in many…
Rolling Door Details for Concrete Masonry Construction
INTRODUCTION Openings in concrete masonry walls utilize lintels and beams to carry loads above the openings. When openings incorporate rolling…
Modular Layout of Concrete Masonry
INTRODUCTION Although concrete masonry structures can be constructed using virtually any layout dimension, for maximum construction efficiency and economy, concrete…
Residential Details for High Wind Areas
INTRODUCTION High winds subject buildings to large horizontal forces as well as to significant uplift. Reinforced concrete masonry is well…