Can Unbonded Caps be Used for Compression Testing of Concrete Masonry Units?
Revised 2014 Capping is used on concrete masonry units and other concrete products to create a smooth, plane, and level…
Resources
Can Cardboard Forms be Used to Fabricate Grout Compression Specimens?
Revised 2014 Yes, when specific criteria are met. The compressive strength testing of masonry grout is covered under ASTM C1019…
High-Lift Vs. Low-Lift Grouting: Which is the Better Option?
Revised 2014 Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to this question. Different building types, varying project conditions (such as project…
Are There ASTM Standards for Manufactured Stone Veneer?
Revised 2016 Yes. ASTM C1670/C1670M, Standard Specification for Adhered Manufactured Stone Masonry Veneer Units, addresses the minimum requirements for manufactured…
How Can Concrete Masonry Assemblies Comply With Code- Mandated Air Barrier Requirements?
Revised 2024 The International Energy Conservation Code [1] includes performance requirements for air barrier materials and systems. In the 2021…
Is Wet-Sticking of Reinforcement a Permitted Practice?
Revised 2014 No, wet-sticking of reinforcement in masonry construction is not recognized by the current construction requirements of TMS 602/ACI…
Can “Equivalent R-Value” be Used to Determine Compliance With Mass Wall Energy Code Requirements?
Revised 2014 No. The Equivalent R-Value of concrete masonry assemblies (or any mass wall system) cannot be used to determine…
Structural Design of Unreinforced Composite Masonry
INTRODUCTION Concrete masonry offers many textures, colors and sizes, along with choices in bond patterns and joint treatment making it…
Foam Plastic Insulation in Concrete Masonry Walls
INTRODUCTION Foam plastic insulation is often used in exterior concrete masonry construction to improve steady state thermal performance (R-values), and…
Can I Wet Cut Masonry Units? And How Wet Is Too Wet?
Revised 2017 Yes. Wet cutting of concrete masonry unit (CMU) is permitted. This is explicitly permitted in the Standard Specification…