Do Manufactured Concrete Products Sequester CO2?
Revised 2024 Yes. From the moment a concrete masonry unit (CMU), segmental retaining wall (SRW) unit, concrete paver or slab,…
Resources
The Effects of Deicing Chemicals on Interlocking Concrete Pavers
Revised 2018 Interlocking concrete pavements are a flexible and durable system that performs successfully in the most demanding applications, conditions…
Which Software can be Utilized for the Design of Segmental Retaining Walls?
Revised 2023 When seeking to design segmental retaining walls, there are several professional-grade software packages available. Each package contains different…
What Is the Difference Between Fire Resistance Ratings for Masonry Assemblies Obtained Through IBC Vs. a Listing Service Such as UL or FM?
Revised 2023 In practical terms, there is little difference in the resulting fire resistance ratings for concrete masonry assemblies determined…
Do Concrete Masonry Walls Require Continuous Insulation?
Revised 2023 No. This is a common misconception. Although one particular compliance path (2021 IECC Table C402.1.3) requires insulation to…
What is the Minimum Required Compressive Strength for Concrete Masonry?
Revised 2023 For decades designers have been afforded two methods for qualifying the compressive strength of masonry assemblies. Those two…
Can You Place Vegetation on Top of Segmental Retaining Walls?
Revised 2024 Yes. Segmental Retaining Walls (SRWs) are commonly combined with vegetation above the wall to reduce erosion and for…
Does the Building Code Address Cleaning of Newly Constructed Masonry?
Revised 2018 Yes. Article 3.8 of TMS 602-13 [1], which is referenced by both the International Building Code and International…
Why Did the 2013 TMS 402 Standard Introduce a Design Check for Web Shear Stresses?
Revised 2023 Historically, the shear stresses in the webs connecting the face shells of a concrete masonry unit were not…
Are RILEM Tubes an Effective Method of Evaluating the Water Repellent Characteristics of CMU?
Revised 2015 No. The “RILEM” Tube Test was originally developed to provide an indication of the initial absorptive characteristics of…