Masonry Degree Program

Who ever thought that slapping down a little mud between some bricks or blocks would get so complicated that you would have to go to college to learn how it's done? Well, it has. Here's an article in a community weekly paper about the Associates Degree in Masonry at Front Range Community College in a Denver suburb. http://www.metronorthnews.com/story.php?id=231.1
Students in the program can take just the masonry classes or they can add in the required English, Math and Science and come out of it with a college degree.

Mike's on the History Channel

We just found our world-traveling engineering consultant on the History Channel! We've been wondering where he is - sometimes he's in Cambodia repairing the temple at Angor Wat, sometimes he's working on the Taj Mahal or the Great Wall of China. This time we found him on "Lost Worlds" talking about Ivan the Terrible's Fortress, check it out http://www.history.com/minisite.do?mini_id=50189 . If you're a Mike Schuller fan, you can buy the DVD there for $24.95. If you need his structural engineering expertise, call him at Atkinson-Noland in Boulder.

Fire ratings for brick walls

I often get questions from architects, masons or suppliers who need to prove to code authorities that their walls are properly fire rated. If you are using a brick veneer assembly, there are several U.L. assemblies that will satisfy the code guys. You can find information about these assemblies on the UL website (www.ul.com) or in a UL Fire Rating Manual.
U.L. U364
Brick on Wood Studs
1 hour rated
U.L. U356
Brick on Wood Studs
1 hour rated
U.L. 0418
Brick on Steel Studs
45 minute rated with 5/8” gyp board1-hour rated with 2 layers ∏” gyp board2-hour rated with 3 layers ∏” gyp board
U.L. U902
Brick on CMU
1 hour rated
I also tell people to use Table 720.1(2) of the 2003 IBC for fire ratings. This table will tell you how many inches of brick you need to achieve a given fire rating. If you are using 75% solid brick (brick with small round core holes) you should consult the fourth line of this table 1-2.1. If you are using structural brick (brick with large holes designed to carry rebar and grout), you would use the third line of the chart (1-1.3).