ConcreteWorks Summer 2014 by Alabama Concrete Industries Association

A L A B A M A CO NCR E TE I NDUS TRIES ASSOC IATION M AGAZ IN E | SU M M E R 2014

POLISHED CONCRETE FLOOTS | AUBURN, AL

SUMMER 2014

ConcreteWorks is a publication of the Alabama Concrete Industries Association and features articles and photographs pertaining to product applications, educational opportunities, as well as innovative construction techniques impacting the industry. Please email rlindsay@ alconcrete.org with any comments regarding featured articles in ConcreteWorks or to suggest a story idea for a future edition. Rebecca Lindsay,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Unmovable

Just a few short years ago, plans were

Keep on Trucking

The Annual Truck Driver Championship

put in place to construct a new School

brings together some of Alabama’s best

of Kinesiology Building on the campus

concrete truck drivers, providing a family-

of Auburn University. The new building is

friendly event and a little lighthearted

receiving much attention, and is closer than

competition. Held at Barber Motorsports

ever to becoming the best in the nation.

Park, this is one of the industry’s favorite

events.

Pacific Protection

In April 2014, the new United States Naval

Technical Review

In this interesting article, Jason

Art Director & Editor

Hospital opened in Guam. With beautiful

Thompson with the National Concrete

John Sorrell, Editor

views of the Pacific Ocean, the new design

Masonry Association explains the

provides an attractive and functional

evolution of concrete masonry and the

answer to the healthcare requirements of

impacts it has in today’s market.

www.alconcrete.org www.mysaferoom.org

the military, and is constructed mostly of concrete. (ON THE COVER)

Architect Spotlight

In Les Tillery’s 17-year career, he has

2014 Calendar

New to ConcreteWorks, the 2014 summer

designed many notable projects, and

calendar will help you save all the

credits concrete as one of his favorite

important upcoming dates.

products to use. Read why he loves it, and how he is using it today to design some of Huntsville’s newest buildings.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

in the country is now closer than ever to

create and implement an invigorating

becoming a reality.

learning environment for undergraduate and graduate students, and improve the

The School of Kinesiology at Auburn is the

health and wellness of society through

center of research and study on human

research, outreach, and teaching.”

movement and physical activity, and offers

MOVABLE

Close collaboration between the design

Kinesiology

movement,

the

study

motion.

of And

building

School

for

Auburn

Kinesiology,

toward attaining the title of best of the best. After being housed in the AU Wellness & Student Activity Center for many years, it

space tailored to meet the needs of the

was decided that the school needed its on

when

School’s unique assortment of research

facility, and in 2010 Infinity Architecture in

and outreach endeavors.

Montgomery was chosen for the project,

University’s

the

the facility the opportunity for advancement

human

plans were put in motion to design a new

team and the faculty leadership allowed

and the design process began. Ground

outcome

The School mission is “to promote the

was broken in 2011, and the new building

exceeded expectations, and the goal of

creation and application of knowledge

was completely finished in February 2012.

becoming the best Kinesiology program

about physical activity and performance,

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Sited on Wire Road, adjacent to the tennis

organized based on the needs of different

there are recessed pits that have a special

courts and the Recreation and Wellness

areas within the school, as some needed

foundation, separate from the building

Center, the 58,000 square-foot facility,

access to the exterior, some needed to be

foundation, to assist with the intended

using concrete as the main component,

more private, things of that nature.”

function of those pits. The pits support

houses more than 20 faculty and staff

a lay in access floor that is level with

offices, as well as laboratories that conduct

Interior gathering spaces and multiple

the ground floor slab, and which works

a broad range of research relating to human

exterior porches provide opportunities

with special force plates used in different

movement, health and performance. It

for student and faculty collaboration,

experiments.

serves 650 students and offers much-

while extensive outdoor space provides

needed space to meet the needs of

a setting for research beyond dedicated

The recessed floors, where the force plates

the department’s unique assortment of

laboratories.

are located, had to be poured separately,

research and outreach endeavors.

and to a special specification in order for The entire ground floor of the East and

the readings from the force plates to be

“The building itself is very diverse, and

North side of the building is cast-in-place

most accurate. These force plates are

definitely not ‘cookie-cutter,’ says architect

(CIP) concrete, which was left exposed for

used in biomechanics research labs where

Nicole Truitt. “The design itself was

design purposes. In the ground floor labs,

they study anything from the minutiae of

EXTERIOR OF AU KINESIOLOGY BUILDING | AUBURN, AL

SUMMER 2014 3

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

a persons step to larger scale running or

ability to provide strong walls, safety and

jumping type movements. The force plate

disaster resistance, mold, rot, mildew, and

areas are surrounded by special lights and

insect resistance, energy efficiency and to

cameras which use ‘stop-motion filming,’

block sound.

that the students and researchers can analyze to assist with their efforts.

“Concrete is a great material to use for sound-proofing, and in this case it was

Cast-in-place concrete walls are made with

necessary when there are so many different

ready-mix concrete placed into removable

activities going on inside of the building,

forms erected on site. Historically, this

especially things like aerobics classes,”

has been one of the most common forms

says Nicole. “It helps to minimize the

of building basement walls. The same

vibrations and create a much more quiet

techniques used below grade can be

working environment.”

repeated with above-grade walls to form the first floor and upper levels of buildings.

The School of Kinesiology is currently pursuing

LEED

Silver

certification,

“In the case of the Kinesiology building,

designed to provide inhabitants with

concrete was an integral component of

extensive

strength, keeping the building solid,”

opportunities, reducing a need for artificial

says Nicole. “If I had my choice, I find

lighting. Daylight harvesting is achieved

exposed concrete beautiful and would

through building controls and each room

use it all the time.”

includes exterior shading devices, interior

views

and

day

lighting

shading, automated lighting and HVAC The

benefits

CIP

concrete

are

controls that monitor occupancy. The

numerous, and it is generally used for its

interior finishes are low VOC, sustainable

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

and/or recycled products. Energy recovery

says Mary Rudisill, distinguished professor

Rudisill says it best when she stated ‘our

is actively achieved in the HVAC design

and director of the School of Kinesiology.

building has already helped us to advance

and controls, as well.

“This past summer our Performance and

our mission at an accelerated pace.’

Health Optimization Center became the “The new facility has created a number

high performance training center for the

of exciting opportunities for the School of

USA Team Handball teams, and we hope

Kinesiology, and our collaborations with

to become an Olympic Training Center in

outside entities have dramatically increased,

the near future.”

I doubt anyone would disagree.

expanding our research and outreach,”

IF I HAD MY CHOICE, I FIND EXPOSED CONCRETE BEAUTIFUL AND WOULD USE IT ALL THE TIME.

AU KINESIOLOGY BUILDING | AUBURN, AL

SUMMER 2014 5

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

PACIFIC PROTECTION

THE UNITED STATES NAVAL HOSPITAL | GUAM

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

The United States Naval Hospital in

physical

therapy,

Dietician,

Health

Guam’s motto is ‘delivering readiness,

Promotions and social work services.

community and its beneficiaries,” says Parker.

quality care and health where America’s

providing

services

while

The

the

withstanding all potential calamities, both

replacement of the aging, but venerable

natural and man-made. And, the design

opportunity to design the new structure,

1950’s era Naval Hospital at Guam.

provides a cultural hub for continued

he met the challenge head-on. Opening

The new design provided an attractive

goodwill ambassadorship between the

in April of this year, the 281,000 square

and functional answer to the healthcare

United States and the Government of

foot medical facility offers a broad range of

requirements of the military and supported

Guam and its citizens on island.”

medical services including family practice,

dependents and retirees in order to serve

OB-GYN,

the mission of the United States in the

The U. S. Naval Hospital is distinct because

Pacific basin.

it serves as the essential healthcare facility

surgery,

anesthesia, internal medicine, psychiatry, psychology,

occupational

health

required

Sherlock, Smith and Adams was given the

general

concentrated

the

day begins,’ so when David Parker with

pediatrics,

project

“The facility is now capable of

and

for the Pacific Rim. As an important

preventive medicine, emergency medicine,

“The design outcome achieved a creative

interface between the U. S. military and the

dental surgery, urology, otolaryngology,

and flexible response to the functional

local population, the hospital is designed

ophthalmology, optometry, acute care,

demands

to meet the day-to-day needs of service

the

military

healthcare

SUMMER 2014 7

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

members and the local population while

modified, and the project design was

the main public entrance area the arches

incorporating design contingencies for

restarted in 2008, and completed in 2010.

give way to site-cast vertical concrete sun

mass casualty potentialities. The project is

Construction began in early 2011 and has

and wind screens. These devices provide

distinct in location, because of the strategic

very recently been occupied.

protection from the sun which can be harsh

importance of Guam to the interests of the

on Guam, and they also provide protection

United States in the region, and different

It was always understood that the Naval

from wind-borne debris which may be

because of the design challenges that

Hospital would be a special project due

caused during the regularly occurring

were met to maintain continuing operation

to its critical mission and the rigors of

typhoon events on the island. All of the

following first order seismic and/or weather

responding effectively to its environment.

exterior concrete on the project is finished

events

geologic

How to build a bunker, and make it an

with a spray-applied synthetic stucco

activity (Marianas Trench) and climatic

which

attractive, modern major medical facility

coating which provide an evenly-textured

activity (typhoon force winds).

too? The solution is cast-in-place concrete.

and multi-colored finish to the facades.

The process of designing the Naval

“The entire facility is cast concrete; ground

On the interior in the major public spaces

Hospital, Guam was challenging.

The

slabs, frame, elevated slabs, roof slabs,

concrete is on full display as well. The day-

Program for Design (PFD) for the project

and exterior walls. The plastic nature of

lighted, barrel-vaulted three-story atrium

had been completed a significant time

concrete is on full-display with the robust

space features curvilinear concrete beams

prior to the actual design of the project.

projecting overhang at the cornice, which

of intricate design and textural decoration.

As such, technologies and requirements

conceals a built-in cast-in-place concrete

The

had

changed

could

include

during

the

interim,

robustness

the

concrete

gutter,” says Chief Structural Engineer

juxtaposed with the delicacy of the glass

resulting in adjustments to the project’s

Chuck Singley.

partitions and custom signage and the

requirements during design. Additionally,

providing

changing requirements for supporting the

Spanish Heritage of the island, occur per

troops assigned to the geographic area

structural bay, with windows integral to

“The resulting building is a sophisticated

contributed to fluctuations in project’s

each arch. The arches which occur in the

use of cast-in-place concrete for the entire

requirements. After having been started in

bays surrounding the main entrance, are

structure and exterior closure,” Singley

2005, the project was paused for a time,

sculptural in nature, providing a significant

says.

the program requirements were significantly

relief to the face of the façade. Away from

the project were very demanding and well

Decorative twin arches,

historical

references

the

stainless steel cable railings.

“The formwork requirements for

EXPANDED AND RESTORED PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING | MONTGOMERY, AL

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

executed. The building will be a permanent

hour, would be “like blasting a fire hose” at

fixture in Guam for generations to come;

panel joints damaged by earthquake or the

this, in an environment that is one of the

harsh tropical environment.

toughest in the world – thanks in large part to concrete.”

So the solution was an entirely concrete structure seismically designed under the

During the conceptual design phase,

American Concrete Institute’s provisions

various

for special reinforced concrete shear walls

comparative

concrete

and

analysis

schemes

and framing. The resulting building proved

were performed. In addition to initial cost,

so stiff that little to no internal damage

weightings were assigned to such factors

to building elements is expected under a

as wind, seismic, blast, sound, vibration

design seismic event. After going through

TOP LEFT: Concrete roof being placed

and corrosion resistance, thermal inertia,

the design process, it came as no surprise

TOP RIGHT: Hospital atrium

long

requirements,

that the design solution essentially matched

BOTTOM RIGHT: Exterior construction

LEED, tradesman availability, use of local

that of the existing adjacent six decade

materials, and local custom.

old hospital to be demolished, which has

term

steel

framing

maintenance

performed so well through multiple serious For each of these factors, concrete was the

earthquakes even though not designed to

winner.

modern code requirements.

An interesting finding in the analysis was

When asked what the designers’ favorite

that while an economical solution could

design aspect is of the new hospital, their

have been had with a steel frame stabilized

answer was simple.

by diagonal braces with viscous dampers and clad with precast concrete panels,

The ability to bring form, rather intricate in

building motion during even low intensity

numerous places, to the building with one

seismic events, which are frequent, would

single, durable material, and that material

rupture the sealants between the panels.

is concrete. It provided a simple solution

One design team member pointed out that

to economically perform in a very harsh

wind driven rain during typhoons, that can

environment for generations to come.

have gusts well over two hundred miles per

SUMMER 2014 9

A R C H ITE CT S P O T L I G H T

DYNETICS SOLUTIONS COMPLEX | HUNTSVILLE, AL

AR CHI TE CT S P O T L I G H T

Les Tillery is a man of many talents, so it’s no surprise that he is a notable architect in Alabama. After graduating from Mississippi State University in 1997,

A FEW OF THE MANY REASONS WHY LES TILLERY USES CONCRETE:

Les began practicing architecture. And in 2003, he joined Fuqua & Partners

· Concrete is such a versatile material – it can be used for so many different things.

Architects in Huntsville, becoming a partner in 2010.

· It is a sustainable material – all of our LEED projects have received points for the use of concrete.

Les has many architectural designs in his 17- year career, with a few of his favorites

· It is extremely durable – works extremely well in environments that get a lot of abuse.

including none other than concrete. · Concrete is not limited to a certain number of manufactured shapes – the material The

Dynetics

Solutions

Complex,

which opened in Huntsville in 2012, is

226,500-square-foot

does have its limitations, but for the most part, if it can be drawn, it can be made out of concrete

prototyping

facility, incorporating the latest resources

· Concrete is typically a very high quality material. The concrete companies that we work with do an excellent job at delivering a product to the jobsite that is excellent quality and usually exceeds the design strength.

SUMMER 2014 11

...tilt up concrete is still the most cost effective way to build these buildings.

CAST IN PLACE EXTERIOR WALL OF RG7200 PROJECT

AR CHI TE CT S P O T L I G H T

available to produce quality products

Located

the

main

entrance

into

rapidly and affordably for both commercial

Redstone

and government customers.

building was designed as a 150,000

Arsenal

Huntsville,

the

square foot site that includes convenience It has 110,000 square feet of laboratories

retail, restaurants and hotels. The exterior

and manufacturing facilities and 116,500

of the building uses precast concrete and

square feet of office and conference

glass.

space. Features include 24 laboratories and five bays, with two labs and two

“The RG7200 Building also uses single-

bays meeting SCI-level requirements,

story tilt up concrete and LEED Certified

and 10K clean room, a vacuum chamber

Core and Shell,” says Tillery. “Concrete is

laboratory,

testing

an extremely affordable material, and the

laboratory, a PCB assembly laboratory,

environmental

main reason that the RG7200 project was

and an instrumentation laboratory.

done as tilt up construction is because of the cost – it was much more cost effective

“Concrete is the only material that I can

than other materials.

think of that can be both a boring utilitarian structural material and a beautiful interior

The design and construction process of

TOP: Interior hallway of Dynetics Solutions

finish material at the same time,” he says.

Redstone Gateway 7400 is about to begin,

Complex

“I like to use exposed concrete interior

and Tillery notes that it will also use tilt-up.

elements for this very reason.” “Even while the cost of concrete has gone The Dynetics Solutions Complex uses

up since 7200 was built, tilt up concrete

precast concrete exterior skin, as well

is still the most cost effective way to build

as polished concrete floors in prototype

these buildings.”

bays. In December 2013, RG7200 won the Another significant design of Les’ is the

North Alabama ABC Excellence Awards in

Redstone Gateway Building 7200.

Construction in three different categories,

SUMMER 2014 13

A R C H ITE CT S P O T L I G H T

GET TO K NOW LES TILLERY

including the Architectural Design Award

industry and is the only one of its kind in

of Merit.

North Alabama.

ABC Excellence in Construction (EIC) is

“It’s always proud and humbling moment

a nationwide awards program designed

to receive an award,” he says. “But my

to publicly recognize the quality and

favorite thing about being an architect is

innovation of Merit Shop construction. An

seeing the look on a client’s face when

EIC Award is one of the highest honors

they walk through their finished building

a contractor can receive, and is the only

and realize that the process to get the

construction competition that recognizes

building built, while challenging, was

the

absolutely worth it.”.

unique

partnership

between

all

members of a project team: contractors, owners, architects and engineers. ABC’s

What is the one tool you can’t

program

has

live without?

competition

become within

the

“premier”

construction

I have a leather pocket size flip notebook that I carry with me everywhere. An architect friend introduced me to this style

ABOUT FUQUA & PARTNERS ARCHITECTS

notebook, and looking back, I don’t know what I ever did without

Fuqua & Partners Architects, P.C. (FPA) was founded in 1982 to provide architectural

it. It’s great for sketching ideas,

and planning services. To offer clients a complete end product, the firm expanded its

taking quick notes, and it’s easy to

services to include Interior Design. With these complete services, Fuqua & Partners is

carry in my back pocket.

able to offer thoroughly integrated design solutions.

What’s the last book you read?

Fuqua & Partners has extensive experience in architectural, and interior design for

Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale

projects involving new structures, additions, renovations, alteration/modifications,

by Mo Willems. Don’t laugh, my 3

Historic Preservation, adaptive reuse and system upgrades.

year old, Bea, is really into Knuffle Bunny bedtime stories right now.

The firm has completed over 3600 projects, providing services for clients in Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Oklahoma, South

What’s your favorite food?

Carolina, Kentucky and Louisiana. In addition to Fuqua & Partner’s experience and

Quail - marinated and sprinkled

technical skills, FPA is among the most respected firms in northern Alabama and the

with fresh herbs, wrapped in

surrounding states for its design ability and creativity, having received more than 20

bacon, and grilled in my backyard.

significant design awards in the past two decades.

It’s delicious. Such recognition is demonstrated by FPA’s receipt of the North Alabama Chapter of What is an interesting fact

the ABC 2008 Award of Excellence for 4 projects and also a 2008 Award of Merit,

that most people don’t know

the ABC Middle Tennessee Chapter 2008 Construction Award of Excellence, the

about you?

AIA North Alabama Chapter 2008 Merit Award, the ABC North Alabama Chapter

I can change the alternator in my

2007 Award of Excellence and the Alabama AGC 2004 Outstanding Architect of the

truck on the side of the highway in

Year. In 2009, Randolph School received an Award for Excellence in architectural

about 15 minutes. I found that out

design. Decatur Heritage Christian Academy, a private school in Decatur Alabama

the hard way.

was awarded an Award for Design Excellence in 2010.

Concrete...can be both a boring utilitarian structural material and a beautiful interior finish material

LOBBY OF DYNETICS SOLUTIONS COMPLEX | HUNTSVILLE, AL

SUMMER 2014 15

F E AT U R E

KEEP

ON TRUCKing

On a beautiful Saturday in April, some of

them on. The rodeo gives the drivers an

the state and industry’s best concrete truck

opportunity to show-off their skills with

drivers gathered at Barber Motorsports Park

a chance to win a cash prize and an all-

in Birmingham to compete in the Alabama

expenses paid trip to compete in the

Concrete Association’s 2014 Truck Driver

national competition in Indianapolis in

Championship, more commonly known as

August.

the “Truckin’ Rodeo.” This

year,

drivers

from

member

The annual event is held each spring,

companies including Ready Mix USA,

and the drivers are encouraged to bring

Webb Concrete, Sherman International,

their family members and friends to cheer

Kirkpatrick Concrete, Gulf States Ready

READY MIX USA CONCRETE TUCK | BARKER MOTOSPORTS PARK

SUMMER 2014 17

F E AT U R E

TOP: Participants in the 2014 Truck Driver Championships BAMA Concrete: Frederick Jones, Robert Slaughter / Gulf States Ready Mix: Isaac Johnson / Kirkpatrick Concrete: James Adams, Michael Adams, Terrell Bonner, Maurice Carr, William Flippo, Jim Hechler, Kevin Trammell / Ready Mix USA: Willie Benson, Paul Hatcher, Gaylon Lovelace, Roderick Parker, Todd McWhorter / Reed Construction: David Bradford,

Mix,

Bama

and a Game Nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ride video game truck as

Jason Edwards / Sherman Industries:

Concrete participated in the contest. To

well as a remote control concrete truck

Buddy Batson, Ken Edwards, Charles

further challenge the drivers a written test

race kept the children entertained.

Grant, Billy Keith, Tony Peoples, Ronald

had to be completed before the driving

Ramsey / Webb Concrete: Tim Bryant

portion, which included various obstacles

As always, these events wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be

and maneuvers, began. To keep things fair,

possible without the help of our generous

Alabama State Troopers judged the event.

sponsors. A special thanks to Beck

Winner- Tony Peoples, Sherman Industries

Reed

Construction,

and

Team Winner- Ready Mix USA

Industrial, Nextran Mack and Volvo, Stan More than 115 family members and friends

BOTTOM RIGHT: AL State Trooper ready to judge competition

came out to support their favorite drivers,

Pate, and Truckworx

The rodeo gives the drivers an opportunity to show-off their skills with a chance to win a cash prize

THE 2014 TRUCK RODEO | BARKER MOTOSPORTS PARK

SUMMER 2014 19

The chute technology was designed for jobs requiring extreme precision.

F E AT U R E

Product Specs Function: fully-足 hydraulic Length: Max 9m / 30 ft. Weight approx: 700 kg / 1550 pounds The Ezextenz Concrete Chute is over

Swivel range: 180 degree

30 ft. long, fully-足 hydraulic and remote

Control: Remote-足c ontrolled, wireless

controllable telescopic concrete chute.

via radio

This highly innovative chute is a product

Drive unit: Hydraulic pump

of Mansarps Svets & Maskin (MSM), a Swedish construction, equipment and

MSM

security manufacturing company. The

Masarps Svets & Maskin (MSM) is a

chute technology was designed for jobs

privately owned Swedish construction,

requiring extreme precision. The chute

equipment and security manufacturing

In addition to the driving contest,

can swing 180 degree making any

company established in 1967. Today,

drivers took part in a skills

inaccessible area now reachable. With

it is run by the Niclas Hakansson, a

contest that required them to

its radio control unit, pouring is easy and

second generation of the Hakansson

position the Ezextenz chute

more importantly highly efficient.

Family. For over 45 years MSM has

into five buckets. The contest

had a stronghold on the construction

replicated situations a driver

The Ezextenz Concrete Chute, which has

industry in Europe and is focused on

might encounter in the field.

become the standard through Northern

quality, innovation and service. Ezextenz

Ezextenz provided $3,000 in

Europe, is now being introduced to the

Concrete Chute is one of many highly

prize money for the contest.

US market with official product launch in

innovative product solutions designed

May 2014.

and produced by MSM..

SUMMER 2014 21

TECHNICAL REVIEW

THE EVOLUTION OF CONCRETE MASONRY BY JASON THOMPSON It isn’t often that I recommend a book to read, and even less frequently on such topics as the history of concrete masonry. But if you are reading this article you will likely find From the Carriage Age…to the Space Age, The Birth and Growth of the Concrete Masonry Industry (Ref. 1) fascinating. Not because it is well written (it isn’t), or because it presents an otherwise dry topic in an entertaining light (it doesn’t). What From the Carriage Age…to the Space Age does do very well is provide background, insight, and reasoning behind the culture and products that define the concrete masonry industry as we know and understand it today. One passage in particular is noteworthy and relevant: In the early 1920s, the concrete block industry was in a chaotic state with respect to the sizes of concrete block. In that year, block were manufactured in 30 different lengths, 20 different widths, and 26 different heights. Architects were severely handicapped because they had no way of knowing what sizes would be delivered to the job until the block actually arrived. They

were,

therefore,

unable

dimension their buildings with any assurance that the units actually delivered would correspond to the dimensions. The book goes on to say that by 1924 block sizes were standardized and by 1927

SUMMER 2014 23

TECHNICAL REVIEW

“ninety-five percent of all concrete block were

to supply more sustainable products to the

direct means of transferring heat through

produced in conformity with this standards”.

marketplace by using less raw materials

a masonry unit as shown in Figure 1,

Shortly thereafter, the first version of ASTM

and energy during production.

Others

changing the configuration or size of the

C90, Standard Specification for Hollow

will see the ability to reduce unit weight

webs can have a significant and direct

Load-Bearing Concrete Masonry Units, was

and thereby increase mason productivity

impact on the resulting thermal properties

published in 1931.

and reduce injury and fatigue.

of an unfinished, single wythe concrete

Perhaps

the greatest opportunity these revisions

masonry assembly.

Little did these early pioneers know at

offer is the chance to increase the energy

assembly is to be solid grouted, in which

the time that these monumental efforts

efficiency of concrete masonry construction

case the web configuration is irrelevant

would come under scrutiny in 2011 as the

– particularly single wythe construction. In

regarding thermal efficiency, the modeling

concrete masonry industry contemplated,

my personal opinion, however, the market

results are simple: smaller webs equals

debated, and ultimately approved revisions

that can capture all of the nuances, as well

higher R-values.

to the prescriptive web configuration

as others related to production efficiency,

requirements that have been a part of ASTM

fire resistance, and other intrinsic properties

The relationship between web configuration

C90 for nearly a century. These changes,

of concrete masonry construction has the

and assembly R-value is illustrated in Table

which appear in the 2011b version of

greatest chance of success.

2 for 8-inch concrete masonry assemblies;

ASTM C90, Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units (Ref. 2), are shown in Table 1 and summarized

Unless the resulting

and again in Table 3 for 12-inch concrete

THE IMPACT OF WEB CONFIGURATION

masonry assemblies.

The middle two

columns of each of these tables compares

as follows:

the steady-state R-values of a conventional While

and

three-web, two core concrete masonry

ASTM

unit manufactured to comply with historical

sum of the individual web thicknesses per

C90 offers that are worthy of review,

ASTM C90 requirements to the R-values

foot of block length, has been removed.

this

that would result if this same assembly

those related to energy efficiency of the

were constructed using units manufactured

finished assembly.

to comply with the new ASTM C90-11b

• The equivalent web thickness, which is the

• The minimum thickness of each web cannot be less than ¾ inch (19 mm). • The total minimum cross-sectional area

there

opportunities

are

many

this

discussion

aspects

change

focuses

primarily