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AIA Approved

Balanced Fire Safety Design and Resilient Masonry Fire Walls

This course reviews US fire statistics, the Balanced Fire Safety Design concept and the role that passive masonry firewalls play in it. Examples of how today’s building codes have eroded the Balanced Design Concept are shared to provide a better understanding of the crucial role fail-safe, passive masonry fire walls play in today’s fire safety designs.…

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AIA Approved

Strength Design of Masonry #3: Strength Design of Walls for Axial Load and Out-of-Plane Loads

During this session, design of masonry walls loaded with out-of-plane loads and axial loads will be reviewed. Methods to consider secondary bending moments will be examined, including using P-delta provisions, and key points on interaction diagrams will be reviewed. Differences in the strength design provisions and allowable stress design will be briefly discussed.…

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AIA Approved

Strength Design of Masonry #2: Strength Design of Beams

This session will review the design of masonry beams and lintels, including an examination of whether arching action can be used to reduce the loads on these elements. Deflection calculations will be reviewed, along with detailing requirements to meet code minimum and maximum reinforcement percentages.…

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AIA Approved

Strength Design of Masonry #1: Introduction to Strength Design of Masonry and Design Methodologies

This introductory session will review basic strength design concepts for masonry, noting key differences with procedures for concrete. Masonry assemblies and systems will be briefly reviewed noting their purposes and resistance to primary loads. Individual masonry elements of masonry buildings including walls, beams, columns, and pilasters will then be introduced, related to their roles in the overall structural system to orient attendees for further sessions where the design of these elements will be discussed.…

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Masonry 101 #6: Masonry Assemblies

This lesson looks at the properties of masonry assemblies based on the how it is constructed and bonded. Structural assembly properties including the modulus of elasticity, modulus of rupture, and compressive strength will be introduced and discussed. Other assembly properties related to dimensional stability, fire resistance and energy performance will also be reviewed, along with resources that can be used for additional information on these topics.…

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Masonry 101 #5: Grout

This lesson provides a comprehensive introduction to grouts and grouting for new masonry construction, especially for those who have little to no experience with masonry but find themselves needing to design or review projects. It describes the purpose of grout for masonry construction, both fine and coarse, as well as conventional and self-consolidating mixes, and desirable properties for all of these.…

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Masonry 101 #4: Reinforcement and Anchors

This lesson covers types of reinforcement used in masonry, including bars, joint reinforcement, anchors and ties. Each type of reinforcement will be explored, and the use in masonry will be identified. The basic placement requirements and protection requirements will be covered.…

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Masonry 101 #3: Mortar

This lesson provides a comprehensive introduction to mortar for masonry construction, especially for those who have little to no experience with masonry but find themselves needing to design or review projects. It describes the purpose of mortar joining masonry units and the desirable properties of fresh and hardened mortar.…

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Masonry 101 #2: Introduction to Masonry Units

This lesson introduces attendees to the most common types of masonry units, how they are made, and how they are commonly used.  Units covered include concrete masonry units, clay masonry units, natural stone units, manufactured stone veneer units, cast stone units, and AAC masonry units.…

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AIA Approved

Masonry 101 #1: Introduction to Masonry

This lesson introduce masonry to the attendees, reviewing basic terminology, acronyms, properties, benefits, and uses of masonry. Essential references that help with the understanding, design and use of masonry will be noted to provide a basis and a source for future learning on masonry.…

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Design and Detailing of Perforated Screen Walls

Architects are using brick in unique ways as a material of choice and have experimented with incorporating voids in the cladding. Brick screen walls have been used in residential applications for decades to screen undesirable elements such as trash and HVAC equipment.…

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Codes & Standards

Structural Masonry Detailing: Confined Lap Splices

Most designers who engineer reinforced masonry know that code provisions for lap splice lengths have been evolving over the past few code editions. A newer confinement-steel option is available that has the potential to significantly reduce the lap splice lengths, especially for larger diameter bars, through confinement of the structural reinforcement.…

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Codes & Standards

What’s New in LEED v4.1: A Focus on Masonry

The latest version of LEED for new construction, LEED v4.1 Building Design and Construction (BD+C), was released in early 2019. This version is an update to LEED v4, rather than a complete rewrite of the rating system. Several of the credits found in LEED v4 proved difficult to achieve or beyond the market’s capabilities.…

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Anchoring

Stone Anchoring Solutions

This presentation focuses on anchoring design for natural or cast stone cladding of various sizes with emphasis on large scale or ‘dimensional’ stone. Stone anchoring system selection criteria will be presented followed by discussion of back-up system considerations and anchor design examples.…

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Special Inspection of Structural Masonry Series

Special Inspection of Structural Masonry #9: Testing

This lesson will review common masonry tests and sampling methods as well as when such test may be appropriate and required by the Quality Assurance/Quality Control programs. Common errors in testing will be discussed to try to reduce such errors from being replicated in the future.…

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Construction

Special Inspection of Structural Masonry #8: Hot and Cold Weather Construction

This lesson is designed to provide an understanding of the effects of hot and cold weather on masonry construction, especially as it pertains to the responsibilities of a Special Inspector. It defines conditions that are considered either hot or cold. As it relates to protecting new masonry, this lesson explains steps that should be taken by the contractor (and verified by the inspector) to prepare for construction, to do during construction, and to do immediately following construction.…

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Grout

Special Inspection of Structural Masonry #7: Reinforcing and Grouting

This lesson will discuss how reinforcement and grout are placed in masonry walls and special precautions needed to ensure they are properly placed so that the reinforced masonry system performs properly. This includes tolerances on placement of reinforcement, and the cleanliness of spaces to be filled with grout.…

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