Page 470 - Forensic Structural Engineering Handbook

13.16 MATERIAL-SPECIFIC FORENSIC ANALYSES

Design Codes. Applicable building codes adopted by local governments in the United
States include the International Building Code (IBC), the International Existing Building
Code (IEBC), and The Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings. For
masonry construction, the IBC references the Masonry Standards Joint Committee’s
(MSJC) Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures (ACI 530/ ASCE 5/ TMS 402)
and Specification for Masonry Structures (ACE 530.1/ ASCE 6/ TMS 602). These MSJC
documents are typically revised every 3 years.
The IEBC Appendix A: Guidelines for the Seismic Retrofit of Existing Buildings con-
tains procedures for the evaluation and testing of unreinforced masonry buildings, as well
as strength values and stress limits for existing materials and connections, and other infor-
mation of value to engineers.
Standards. Organizations that write standards relevant to masonry include the American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), the German Institute for Standards (DIN), the International Union of Laboratories
and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures (RILEM), and the standards
of the Uniform Building Code. The International Building Code retains references to stan-
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dards contained in the superseded Uniform Building Code. In 2008, ASTM published
more than 104 standards for masonry, including definitions of terms; specifications for
brick; for structural tile; for concrete masonry units; for stone; for mortar; for metal con-
nectors and their coatings; for masonry fill insulation; for masonry assemblages; and for
sampling and testing. All those are individually available from ASTM, and many are
included in ASTM’s Masonry Standards for the Building Industry. 2

Reference Works: Technical Notes, Recommended Practices, and Guidelines. The
National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) publishes the TEK Manual for Concrete
Masonry Design and Construction. This series of technical notes provides comprehensive
technical details of concrete masonry design, detailing, and construction, and is frequently
referenced as an industry standard in construction documents.
The Brick Industry Association (BIA) publishes the Technical Notes on Brick
Construction, a series of technical notes containing design, detailing. These bulletins are
frequently referenced as an industry standard in construction documents.
The Structural Engineering Institute (SEI) of the ASCE Committee on Structural
Condition Assessment and Rehabilitation of Buildings prepares guidelines on structural
condition assessment, assessment of the building envelope, and assessment of buildings for
seismic considerations. This committee produced and maintains SEI/ASCE 11, Guidelines
for Structural Condition Assessment of Existing Buildings. The SEI also developed
ASCE/SEI Standard 41-06, Seismic Rehabilitation of Existing Buildings; a national con-
sensus standard was developed from the FEMA 356, Pre-Standard and Commentary for
the Seismic Rehabilitation of Buildings. This publication contains detailed guidelines for
determination of the engineering properties of existing masonry, as well as estimated val-
ues for material properties for use in lieu of testing.

FAILURE MODES

Masonry does not fail. Brick commits no sin. Mortar does no wrong. People fail. To paraphrase
Kipling, there are many reasons for failure, but there is no excuse. The most prevalent people-
failures with regard to masonry’s failure to perform as intended include a designer’s arrogance
to compensate for ignorance; a salesperson’s ignorance of product; a worker’s carelessness;
and an owner’s negligence. Masonry’s ability to take that kind of abuse from all concerned is