PCMA Publications
A variety of promotional materials produced by the Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association
Our informative brochures and tip postcards promote educational opportunities and provide important relevant information to specifiers and other related industry professionals.
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2 FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Energy Efficient Design of Masonry and High Performance Masonry Walls | Cavity Wall Design and Construction
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2 FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Energy Efficient Design of Masonry | Fire Ratings for Concrete Masonry Walls
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2 FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Masonry Structural Design Tips | Impact of Construction Type on Initial Cost and Ongoing Building Insurance Based on Independent Study of Multi-Residential Structures
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3 FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Resilient Community Risk Reduction, an Economic Approach to Mult-Residential Structures | Elemasonry | Masonry Detailing Tips Part 2
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STUDY of INITIAL COST OF CONSTRUCTION MULTI-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES with Updated Insurance Costs
- The cost differentials and insurance costs are important to know when designing a multi-residential structure
- Findings in reports after August 2020: Concrete Masonry is less expensive than light weight conventional wood frame and light gage steel framing AND insurance costs are significantly less!!
- Go to BuildingStudies.org to see the Executive Summary of the Report and review the data for each city studied to date including Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh (which were updated with the new insurance figures).
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2 FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
Energy Code Compliance with Concrete Masonry | Masonry Detailing Tips
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STORM SHELTER REQUIREMENTS IN IBC
Adopted with the 2015 version of the IBC, the new Building Code for Pennsylvania, Storm Shelters are required for all educational and critical emergency operation buildings within the high wind zone of 250 mph.
Concrete Masonry is the material of choice for the construction of these storm shelter areas within public buildings such as schools, libraries, fire halls, etc.
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FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
- Masonry and Energy Codes - Effective Energy Compliance
- New Direct Design of Masonry Software
- Building Design Considerations to Help Mitigate Active Shooter Incidents
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STUDY OF INITIAL COST of CONSTRUCTION MULTI-RESIDENTIAL STRUCTURES
Fair and impartial evaluation of multiple types of construction and their relative cost for multifamily housing.
Findings: Concrete Masonry is cost competitive and in many cases less expensive than light weight conventional wood frame and light gage steel framing!
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FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
- Building Code Changes for PA: What's New from 2009 to 2015 for Masonry
- Study of Initial Cost of Construction - Multi-Residential Structures
- Direct Design Software
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FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
- Recent Changes to Masonry Standards – Important Information You Need to Know
- Energy Code Compliance for Exterior Masonry Wall Systems
- BIM-M Building Information Modeling for Masonry – Status and Case Studies
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NEW SEGMENTAL RETAINING WALLS BEST PRACTICE GUIDE
For the Specification, Design, Construction, and Inspection of SRW Systems
When properly executed, SRW structures offer long-lasting solutions to a wide array of applications.
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FREE MASONRY WEBINARS PRESENTED BY INDUSTRY EXPERTS
- COST EFFECTIVE ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN FOR SINGLE WYTHE MASONRY BUILDINGS
- EFFECTIVE MORTAR SPECIFICATIONS
- DESIGN OF SHELF ANGLES FOR MASONRY VENEERS
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CONCRETE MASONRY & ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Concrete masonry walls provide very effective thermal storage.
In addition to the thermal mass benefits, concrete masonry can provide continuous insulation.
Thermal Performance of masonry depends on its thermal resistance (R-Value) as well as its thermal mass.
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GEOSYNTHETICALLY REINFORCED SOIL - INTEGRATED BRIDGE SYSTEM (GRS-IBS)
The advantages of GRS–IBS Technology in construction of small bridges
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DO CONCRETE MASONRY WALLS REQUIRE CONTINUOUS INSULATION? NO.
This is a common misconception. The IECC allows three different methods to be used to show compliance with minimum energy efficiency requirements: prescriptive, trade-off or system performance, and whole building energy analysis. A project need only comply with one of these methods, not all three.
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OUTDOOR LIVING
Bringing the indoors outside is one of the hottest trends right now.
People are upgrading the familiar barbecue experience into something more elegant and comfortable.
With a little planning, anyone can create an outdoor living space that will add to their home's value and provide space for entertaining for many years of enjoyment.
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NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR SEGMENTAL RETAINING WALL
Segmental Retaining Wall (SRW) Construction Is No Longer One Dimensional And Limited To Only Gravity Walls And Geogrid Reinforced Walls.
- Stabilized Aggregate
- Sheet Pile Wall & Soldier Beam Wall Facing
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RESILIENT COMMUNITIES – PREPARING FOR DISASTERS
Why Use Reinforced Concrete Masonry?
- Security from the ground up
- Strength
- Durability
- Flexibility of design
- Higher resale value
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PERMEABLE INTERLOCKING CONCRETE PAVEMENTS
Permeable pavements are now a technology for use under the auspices of the U.S. Transportation Department.
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NEW CONCRETE BLOCK CONFIGURATIONS ALLOWED IN ASTM C90-11B
- More Sustainable
- Increased Energy Efficiency
- Impact on Wall Cost
- Structural Strength
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DISASTER RESISTANT PROPERTIES OF CONCRETE MASONRY
- Fire Resistance
- Wind Resistance
- Flood Resistance
- Earthquake Resistance
- Blast Resistance
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DIVERSE, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS IN CONCRETE MASONRY... THE MATERIAL OF CHOICE!
- Healthy indoor environment
- Energy Efficiency
- Disaster Resistance
- Non-combustible
- Ease in maintenance and long useable life
- Locally produced and readily available
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INTERNAL COMPOUND STABILITY (ICS) ANALYSIS FOR SEGMENTAL RETAINING WALL
NEW Internal Compound Stability (ICS) Analysis for Segmental Retaining Wall. Do you know how to analyze compound stability failures on SRWs?
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CONCRETE MASONRY & THERMAL MASS
Buildings constructed with masonry can require 18% - 70% less insulation than similar frame buildings, while still providing an equivalent level of energy efficient performance.
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NEW ASTM REQUIREMENTS FOR CONCRETE LINTELS
ASTM C 1623 is the new Standard Specification for Manufactured Concrete Masonry Lintels and was adopted in 2006 and references solid reinforced lintels only.
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CRACK CONTROL IN CONCRETE WALLS
Whenever materials with different properties are combined in a wall, like concrete masonry units, reinforcing steel, grout and mortar, a potential exists for cracking.
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CONCRETE MASONRY FACE SHELL THICKNESS REDUCED BY ASTM
ASTM approved a revision to ASTM C 90 Standard Specification for Load bearing Concrete Masonry Units that reduces the minimum face shell thickness for 10 inch and larger units to 1 ¼ inches, the same as used for 8 inch concrete masonry units.
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COST COMPARISON STUDY
A Cost Comparison Study was completed recently by an independent engineering firm and the results show that masonry walls with pre-cast plank floors account for a minimal 2% increase in overall construction cost!
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CLAY BRICK BANDING INTO CONCRETE MASONRY
Combining masonry units of various sizes, colors and finishes provides an aesthetic versatility that is virtually endless.
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INCREASED GROUT LIFT HEIGHT REQUIREMENTS
The maximum height for a grout lift* has been increased from: 5’ to 12’ 8”
*increment of grout height within a total grout pour
INFORMATIVE BROCHURE
DIVERSE SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS WITH CONCRETE MASONRY
We can do better. We must do better. Building better buildings will have a direct impact on our changing climate. And building better buildings also means selecting the best material. Concrete masonry and its family of building products are by far one of the most sustainable, encompassing all the qualities of an environmentally responsible material.
INFORMATIVE BROCHURE
THE COMMON SENSE BASEMENT FOR YOUR HOME
Think SMART - increase your living space with a cost effective, energy efficient and DRY concrete block basement.
ECONOMICAL + ENERGY EFFICIENT + MOLD RESISTANT & STRONG & DURABLE
Construct your basement with concrete block and comply with the International Residential Code (IRC).