NAMC Exhibitors

Assessment of Unit/Grout Bond Strength with and without Integral Water Repellent Admixtures: Need and Viability

Wednesday, June 19th, 8:00 AM – 8:20 AM

Masonry is a composite system – consisting of units, mortar, grout, and reinforcement. For the system to perform as intended, the assembly of materials must be sufficiently bonded together to transfer loads and stresses between and throughout the entire composite assembly. Since masonry units were first laid in mortar, materials, technologies, and workmanship practices have focused on ensuring adequate bond between the units and mortar. As reinforcing steel began to be introduced, research documented and validated the bond that can develop between the mortar/grout and embedded reinforcement. In more recent years, as integral water repellent technologies were introduced into concrete masonry units, the question surfaced as to whether these admixtures had an adverse effect on the unit/grout bond strength.

This session will review recent research investigating the effects on unit/grout bond strength with and without integral water repellent admixture in the units, regional requirements that require this property to be evaluated, the testing procedures used for measuring unit/grout bond strength, and offer recommendations on whether continued assessment of unit/grout bond strength is necessary.

Presenter Bios: Craig Walloch

Jason Thompson is the Vice President of Engineering for the National Concrete Masonry Association. His duties and responsibilities include overseeing the technical activities of the association including research and development, design, construction, and testing standards development, design resources and tools, and creating and delivering seminars and lectures covering these subjects. Jason is also active in the development of building codes and standards for masonry structures and systems where he represents NCMA and the masonry industry through the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards.

Prior to joining NCMA, Jason worked at a private engineering consulting firm in Washington State. Upon completing his graduate studies in 1997, Jason began his career with NCMA in the laboratory as the Association’s Research Engineer. Since that time Jason has served in several evolving capacities within NCMA focusing on the structural performance of concrete masonry, research and development, codes and standards, to his current role as Vice President of Engineering.

Jason has served in several leadership and executive capacities in various forums including: Chair of the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards, Executive Committee of the Masonry Standards Joint Committee, Technical Activities Committee and Board of Directors for The Masonry Society, technical advisor to the Code Resource Support Committee, and the Technical Coordinating Committee of the International Code Council.

Deconstructing the masonry wall: A methodology for wall design

Tuesday, June 18th, 1:20 PM – 1:40 PM

The exterior masonry wall is a complex assembly challenging architects in the problems of aesthetics, performance, and structure. This session analyzes and graphically deconstructs a variety of complex masonry wall types commonly used in new construction. The session takes a detailed look at the basic decision-making process for walls in the pre-design and early design stages. Attendees will learn a design approach that quickly and systematically takes them through a series of micro-decisions on a small number (eight or fewer) of subassemblies of the wall, resulting in a well-informed system design. This session will use examples of walls from real projects and walk the audience through the uniquely swift linear decision-making process. It will also discuss development of a wall taxonomy, the curation of a Wall Systems Library, and opportunities for BIM integration.

Presenter Bio: Scott Conwell, FAIA, FCSI, LEED AP has dedicated his career to educating design professionals and advancing good design with masonry materials. In his 24 years as a Director with International Masonry Institute (IMI), he has delivered over 1,000 presentations and lectures to architects, engineers, contractors, and students; he has authored technical articles published industry-wide; and he leads IMI’s team on the Masonry Detailing Series, an online collection of architectural details for masonry, stone, and tile. He is a graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology, and is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Construction Specifications Institute (CSI).

Direct Design Software (DDS)

Wednesday, June 19th, 8:40 AM – 9:00 AM

This presentation provides an introduction to Version 3.0 of the Direct Design Software (DDS). DDS is a unique structural design software package that combines the loading requirements of ASCE 7 and the material resistance provisions of TMS 402 to quickly and easily produce code-compliant concrete masonry designs in accordance with the structural requirements of the International Building and Residential Codes (IBC and IRC). DDS not only performs structural design checks for masonry per TMS 402, but concurrently resolves design loads -inclusive of seismic, wind, snow, dead, and live loads – based on simple user defined parameters.

Presenter Bio: Russ Peterson is an engineer, software developer and active member in The Masonry Society (TMS). His company, Ensoltech, has created Direct Design Software and other structural design software packages. He has participated in the development of various TMS design guides and other publications, and holds M.S. and B.S. degrees in Civil Engineering from Montana State University. russp@ensoltech.com.

Improving Thermal Efficiency through Offset Shelf Angle Support

Tuesday, June 18th, 1:40 PM – 2:00 PM

Continuous insulation is an effective way of achieving high R-value walls; however, thermally inefficient materials, such as façade attachments, penetrate the building envelope causing thermal bridging significantly degrading the insulation’s thermal performance. Heavy masonry veneer require a robust structural attachment system to transfer cladding loads back to the primary structure. A primary location to address thermal bridging is the shelf angle to the building structure.

1. Identify thermal bridging in masonry construction
2. Comparison of conventional shelf angle installation to Fero FAST bracket examining the following topics;
• Adjustability for construction tolerances;
• Thermal performance;
• Cost; and
• Installation methods

Presenter Bio: Adam Kimble, Sales director at Fero Corp. brings more than 20 years of senior experience in innovative construction products, particularly focusing on concrete, masonry and building envelope performance. As a structural engineer his primary role is supporting engineers, architects and specification writers to develop high performing wall solutions implementing Fero engineered masonry products.

Innovative Research Studies Key Mortar Properties for Best Performance

Wednesday, June 19th, 8:20 AM – 8:40 AM

As part of a recently approved change in ASTM C12’s C270 Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry, a group representing a balanced group of the masonry industry investigated water penetration resistance of masonry wall panels. While many past researchers had studied the topic, results were not always conclusive, and modern day materials have evolved, so it was decided that taking another look was warranted. Testing by E514 Standard Test Method for Water Penetration and Leakage through Masonry allowed for direct comparative testing of different mortars to establish which characteristics have the most influence on creating water-resistant masonry construction, while providing the superior bond strength that demanding codes require. This research adds to the body of knowledge about cementitious mortars and their interaction with masonry units. A brief summary of the new research (being presented in a paper by Dr. McGinley) will summarize the important points, then allow a question and answer period for attendees to better understand the significance of the findings and how they are addressed by the C270 standard.

Presenter Bios: Bill Kjorlien has been a mason for many years before joining Argos as their Masonry Technical Service Director. At Argos, he provides technical support to customers and improves cement-based products to serve a wide range of masonry needs throughout the southeast. As second vice-chairman of ASTM Committee C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry and subcommittee chairman of ASTM C12.03 Specifications for Mortars, he brings his technical expertise to the standards that govern use of cement mortars for masonry construction.

Wayne Wilson , P.E., the Senior Technical Service Engineer LafargeHolcim, also provides technical support to customers and improves cement-based products to serve a wide range of masonry needs. As a member of ASTM Committee C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry, he also serves on the C12.03 subcommittee.

In-situ Evaluation of the Hygrothermal Properties of Mass Masonry Walls

Wednesday, June 19th, 9:00 AM – 9:20 AM

The presentation will highlight how in-situ instrumentation and field evaluations are coupled with computer modeling to evaluate mass masonry buildings being considered for deep energy retrofits. The in-situ evaluation is used to determine the actual thermal performance and moisture migration properties of the walls in order to select the most appropriate type and amount of insulation. The presentation will also include how ASTM E3069, “Standard Guide for Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Mass Masonry Walls for Changes to Thermal and Moisture Properties of the Wall” is utilized as a part of the evaluation.

Presenter Bios: Rex Cyphers — Mr. Cyphers is a Principal with WDP & Associates Consulting Engineers, Inc., and is responsible for the operations within the company. He is a professional engineer, having earned his Master and Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil Engineering from West Virginia University.

Mr. Cyphers has been the Engineer of Record for numerous high profile projects with WDP, encompassing investigation, historic preservation, and renovation projects of historic mass masonry buildings, to include: The Wren Building, which is the oldest academic building in continuous use in the United States; the 18th century Virginia State Capitol; the West Virginia State Capitol Dome and Building, designed by Cass Gilbert, architect of the U.S. Supreme Court Building; and numerous projects at Thomas Jefferson’s historic University of Virginia. Additionally, Mr. Cyphers is the Task Chair for two new ASTM standards regarding the hygrothermal performance of existing buildings: ASTM E3069, “Standard Guide for Evaluation and Rehabilitation of Mass Masonry Walls for Changes to Thermal and Moisture Properties of the Wall,” and WK 67189, “Standard Guide for Evaluation, Rehabilitation and Retrofit of Existing Steep Sloped Roof Assemblies.”

Masonry Veneer Anchors and Structural Relief Systems

Tuesday, June 18th, 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM

Increasing the energy efficiency of our wall configurations to meet more demanding code requirements is an escalating challenge we are all tasked with meeting. In this session, we will take a look at some new masonry veneer anchors and structural relief systems that are designed to limit the amount of thermal transfer occurring through the building envelope.

Presenter Bio: Jeremy Douglas, CSI, CCPR, is the Director of Architectural Services at Hohmann & Barnard, where he has operated as the primary technical resource to the Building Envelope Design community for the last 20 years. In this role he works with Architects, Structural Engineers, and Building Envelope Consultants as an educational resource and is also a national speaker and writer on the subject of high-performance masonry wall design. Jeremy is a regular technical contributor to various organizations, including The Masonry Society, the Air Barrier Association of America, and the International Masonry Institute.

Material and Labor Efficiency in Reinforced Concrete Masonry Buildings: Advantages of the Single Face-Shell Approach

Monday, June 17th, 1:20 PM – 1:40 PM

A presentation on the principles and development process of an innovative single-wythe drained-cavity load-bearing reinforced concrete masonry wall assembly. The patented MineralBuilt wall system is designed to compete with and recapture market share from open stud frame construction, with unprecedented efficiencies realized both in the block plant and on the construction site.

Presenter Bio: Francisco Gomes, AIA, — Cisco Gomes is a licensed architect and general contractor. He is an Associate Professor and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin School of Architecture, where he teaches design and construction. His research has been supported by numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, and he has been awarded four US patents for his innovations in masonry construction.

Material Attributes and Form: The Shape of Things To Come

Monday, June 17th, 1:40 PM – 2:00 PM

There are two pillars of influence that impact how successfully a building material will work: Material Attributes and Form. In a traditional sense, we’ll discuss how material attributes influence the form and design of building materials. The majority of building materials are designed in this manner, determining the size, shape and method of assembly of building materials we use today. We’ll discuss how looking at the development of building materials through attributes of form, allows for a different perspective that opens an alternate pathway to innovation.

Presenter Bio: Mark Weber — A practicing Architect since 1989 and a principal in a Chicago Architectural firm, Mark has been interested in the sensibilities of how buildings and both designed and built for many years. Mark has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Southern Illinois University and a Masters of Architecture Degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. A Registered Architect for 29 years, Mark has been involved with the design and construction of projects of all scales, utilizing a large array of construction materials and building types. A life-long dedication to creating buildings that are thoughtful in both design and substantial in construction has led to the development of the BlockUp Building system among others. Creating innovative products that allow new construction sensibilities combined with quality building materials is a constant interest that will continue to grow and develop.

New TMS Publication: Assessment and Retrofit of Masonry Structures

Tuesday, June 18th, 3:00 PM – 3:20 PM

This exciting new publication has been encouraged and sought for years, and it fills a need for a practical and current guide on evaluating, testing, and, where needed, repairing existing masonry. The book provided background, reference material, and guidance to design professionals, building owners, and contractors on existing masonry. Construction characteristics of masonry structures, typical material properties, and analytical approaches are included for historic, transitional, and modern masonry construction typologies. The main focus of the book is structural stabilization, strengthening, and retrofit with maintenance and serviceability items (such as water penetration and cleaning) addressed as subtopics. This book also incorporates discussion on the evaluation and retrofit process, site investigation and analysis, retrofit, monitoring, and maintenance. Assessment and retrofit projects conducted by the authors are presented as case studies to highlight technical issues and illustrate the process of developing a rational methodology for different types of masonry assessment and retrofit projects.

Presenter Bio: Ahmad A. Hamid, Ph.D., P.E. is a Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. He teaches masonry courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His fundamental and applied masonry research includes material characterization and seismic resistance and retrofit of masonry structures. He has published over 200 articles on behavior, design and evaluation, and retrofitting of masonry structures. He has been awarded over $3.0M funded masonry research from NSF, NRC, NEES, NSERC and other private and governmental organizations in North America. Dr. Hamid is the author of the 4th edition of “Masonry Structures: Behavior and Design” published by The Masonry Society in 2018. He is a co-author of a new book entitled “ Assessment and Retrofit of Masonry Structures” published bt TMS in 2019. Dr. Hamid is involved in engineering design and consulting activities in North America and the Middle East. He has been working as a consultant and expert witness on seismic retrofitting of historic masonry structures and on many masonry building envelopes for private industry and government organizations in the U.S., Canada and the Middle East. Dr. Hamid is a Fellow of The Masonry Society and has won the John B. Scalzi Research Award from the Masonry Society.

Practical Installation Considerations for Post-installed Adhesive Anchors in Masonry

Tuesday, June 18th, 2:40 PM – 3:00 PM

This session will cover general considerations for good installation practices for post-installed adhesive anchor systems into masonry wall construction. Attention during the presentation will be given to important practical factors such as the existing base material and conditions, adhesive anchor system selection, preparation, hole drilling and cleaning, installation equipment and accessories. The discussion will also include suggestions for effective special inspection and site proof loading of adhesive anchors in masonry.

Presenter Bio: Mark Ziegler is Technical Director for DEWALT anchoring and fastening systems. He has served as a Past President of the Concrete and Masonry Anchor Manufacturer’s Association and is actively involved with several working groups which address connections and fastening systems in construction.

Resiliency of Reinforced Structural Brick

Wednesday, June 19th, 9:20 AM – 9:40 AM

A presentation on the resiliency of reinforced structural brick specific to its ability to resist extreme events such as projectile impact, blast, fire, and ballistic attack. Presentation will touch on current active testing for ballistic resistance and past testing for fire resistance and projectile impact resistance.

Presenter Bio: Steven Judd is the Technical Director of Interstate Brick Co., and H. C. Muddox Co. which produce a wide variety of standard and specialty brick products. Steven Judd is a licensed structural engineer in California and Utah. Mr. Judd has practiced structural engineering for over three decades and has focused a large portion of his professional experience in building cladding design. Mr. Judd has written several articles for Structure magazine, the most current entitled Resiliency of Reinforced Structural Clay Unit Masonry Construction, published in May 2019. Mr. Judd received his BSCE from the University of Colorado, is a past office holder of SEAU, and is a current voting member on several sub-committees within ASTM and TMS organizations as well as a participating member of WSCPA, IMI, and NSSA.

Spherical Block’s Innovative Masonry Systems

Monday, June 17th, 2:00 PM – 2:20 PM

This talk will address the topological interlocking manufactured concrete block systems developed by Spherical Block, LLC. Two different types of block design will be described, including triangular block used to make domes and spheres; and voussoirs used to build arches, flying buttresses, windows and more. The molds used by block makers to produce these blocks will be described, including methods for handling these blocks, including cubing and palleting for shipping. The advantages of these innovative masonry systems will be summarized; including taking advantage of the anisotropy of these blocks; the extensive design flexibility which they provide; the safety provided by these masonry systems for fire, extreme weather, seismic events, and resistance to terrorist threats; the low cost and ease of production, and both manual, semi-automated methods of assembly. The speaker will address all of these considerations in the real-world context of his ongoing experiences in the development of using these specialty manufactured concrete blocks to build masonry roof arches, domes, spheres, flying buttresses, boats & ships, and much more. This talk will summarize the role of this profitable innovation in the masonry industry relative to the block maker, masons and the end-user.

Presenter Bio: Peter Roberts is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of innovative masonry systems at Spherical Block, LLC. Peter is a masonry designer entrepreneur inspired to develop profitable, sustainable and scalable solutions for expanding the use of manufactured concrete block into topological designs, using block to provide roofs, such as arches and domes. He is at the vanguard of this entirely new use of concrete block, creating new applications, uses and markets for concrete block at scale. Peter has earned a reputation for utilizing existing production methods and materials to provide a profitable new realm for manufactured concrete masonry products. His work is suitable for affordable, high-strength building designs viable for withstanding severe weather events, wildfires, tsunamis, seismic applications, infrastructure, kilns and more. Peter has been granted six awards from the National Science Foundation, and two awards from the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority toward the development and characterization of this innovative masonry technology. Peter’s work has been identified as a Cutting-Edge Technology by the American Concrete Institute. Peter has authored 18 US patents. He holds a Bsc in Masonry Science from Alfred University’s New York State College of Ceramics. In his spare time, Peter is an avid outdoors enthusiast and devotes his time to pottery, sculpture, metal working, glass blowing and music. He is currently working to obtain a positive evaluation of his company’s technology from International Code Council – Evaluation Services.

The Fourth Edition of The Popular TMS Publication: Masonry Structures: Behavior and Design

Monday, June 17th, 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM

The most widely used masonry textbook, Masonry Structures: Behavior and Design, has been completed updated and was published by TMS in 2018. This long-awaited update to this popular textbook include much of the discussion that made previous editions so useful in both the classroom and in the workplace, but it has also been revised to discuss new research findings and to reflect the design and construction provisions  in the most recent 2016 TMS 402/602 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures. The textbook includes numerous design examples based on the strength method. Two complete building designs for a single-story building and a multistory building are presented in the last two chapters.

Presenter Bio: Ahmad A. Hamid, Ph.D., P.E. is a Professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering at Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. He teaches masonry courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. His fundamental and applied masonry research includes material characterization and seismic resistance and retrofit of masonry structures. He has published over 200 articles on behavior, design and evaluation, and retrofitting of masonry structures. He has been awarded over $3.0M funded masonry research from NSF, NRC, NEES, NSERC and other private and governmental organizations in North America. Dr. Hamid is the author of the 4th edition of “Masonry Structures: Behavior and Design” published by The Masonry Society in 2018. He is a co-author of a new book entitled “ Assessment and Retrofit of Masonry Structures” published bt TMS in 2019. Dr. Hamid is involved in engineering design and consulting activities in North America and the Middle East. He has been working as a consultant and expert witness on seismic retrofitting of historic masonry structures and on many masonry building envelopes for private industry and government organizations in the U.S., Canada and the Middle East. Dr. Hamid is a Fellow of The Masonry Society and has won the John B. Scalzi Research Award from the Masonry Society.

Using Arial Drones to Assist with Assessment

Tuesday, June 18th, 1:00 PM – 1:20 PM

Facade assessment is generally completed from the ground or via temporary access, such as an aerial lift, rope access, or swing stage. Ground based assessment is generally faster and less expensive, but limited due to angle of incidence and distance, especially for buildings more than three or four stories. Temporary access provides an up-close, direct level of assessment with no distance or angle of incidence issues. However, it may not be feasible for all buildings due to access (difficulty reaching a spire), time, or cost. Drone technology offers a potential way to solve the angle of incidence and distance issues without the cost and difficulty of setting up temporary access. As with any new technologies, limitations exist and as a result it should be pursued with some level of caution. This presentation will discuss recent experiences with drone technology on masonry buildings and how it helped with the assessment and limitations encountered.

Presenter Bio: Peter M. Babaian, P.E., S.E., is a Principal of Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH) and leads their Chicago office and their Building Enclosure Commissioning Practice. His experience includes designing, investigating, and rehabilitating a variety of building enclosures and structures. His specialties include exterior enclosure consulting on new construction, rehabilitation of existing structures, historic preservation, and building enclosure commissioning. He received a BSCE from Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts and a MSCE from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Mr. Babaian is the Chair of The Masonry Society’s Technical Activities Committee, which oversees all technical activities of the Society.

Using Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) for Strengthening and Retrofit of Existing Structures

Tuesday, June 18th, 2:20 PM – 2:40 PM

Fabric-Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) combines high-performance sprayable mortar with a carbon-fiber grid to create thin-walled, reinforced concrete shells without adding significant weight or mass to the structure. With this system, we can repair, protect and strengthen aging, damaged or overloaded concrete and masonry structures in one application and significantly reduce your installed cost.

Significant flexural, axial or shear strength gains can be realized with an easy-to-apply composite. FRCM provides a low-impact, low-weight alternative to traditional concrete strengthening and retrofit methods. Many times, it is the most economical strengthening solution available, given its reduced preparation installation time. This system will be suitable for the following applications.

1. Projects that also require a surface repair and levelling in addition to strengthening
2. Seismic retrofit of concrete, brick and masonry buildings
3. Projects with large, overhead, and vertical surface areas where higher production rates are possible with shotcrete material
4. Repair applications that cannot afford significant member enlargement
5. Composite strengthening applications that require an increased level of abrasion and fire resistance

In this seminar, we dive into important considerations including latest industry standards, material properties and key governing limits when designing with FRCM. We will also discuss repair and strengthening of Napa County Courthouse using FRCM. Napa County Courthouse is a historic building that had significant damage during the Napa earthquake. FRCM was chosen to repair and strengthening the existing brick walls on this project.

Presenter Bio: Mr. Aniket Borwankar is a Composite Strengthening Systems (CSS) Field Engineer with Simpson Strong-Tie. CSS includes Fabric Reinforced Cementitious Matrix (FRCM) and FRP systems. Mr. Borwankar worked on FRP reinforced concrete during his graduate study. His research work deepened his understanding of these materials and resulted in journal and conference publications. After working in consulting engineering firms in Tennessee and California, Mr. Borwankar joined Simpson Strong-Tie in March 2017. Since then, he has been involved in designing FRCM/FRP projects and educating engineering firms on the basics and design principles of FRCM/FRP. Mr. Borwankar can be contacted at aborwankar@strongtie.com for information on FRCM projects.