Load Bearing Masonry belongs in Denver

We have seen some details normally reserved for high seismic zones out west creep into some of our local designs. In earthquake-prone areas, the building codes actually require bond beams and reinforcement every 4' on center, as a minimum. Some engineers mistakenly use these details in Denver, even though we have a low seismic risk. Contact RMMI if you have concerns about a job's structural requirements. We can't value engineer the entire project, but could check a few wall sections to make sure it isn't over-designed. Load bearing masonry works well in Denver and financially protects you from the volatility of the steel market. It's green too.