May 15, 2016
|
Volume 8, Number 9
|
SPONSORED EDITION
|
From the Editor
The harmonization of the green building codes and standards continues with the latest edition of the
National Green Building Standard. This residential standard is
now both an I-Code as well as an ASHRAE standard due to new partnerships in its development. This announcement builds on the Memorandum of Understanding between the International Code Council (ICC), ASHRAE and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for development of the next editions of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC) and ASHRAE Standard 189.1. Overall I think these efforts benefit the industry by reducing duplicative efforts in the code and standard development process and by minimizing conflicting requirements, making it easier for designers and owners striving for sustainable building designs and certifications.
Christine "Tina" Subasic, PE, LEED AP
NOTE: Inclusion in this newsletter is not an endorsement of the products and materials featured, nor have these products been evaluated by TMS or the editor. Furthermore, the views expressed in the articles featured are those of the article authors.
|
|
GREEN BUILDING NEWS
Consideration of the impact of buildings on the environment is only one aspect of sustainability. Two other important ones are durability of materials and economic impacts. The article below touches on both as it discusses some of the many benefits of concrete and masonry construction - its durability and non-combustible nature. ~Tina
Study Finds Insurance Costs Lower for Concrete and Masonry Buildings
YAHOO FINANCE
A new study of the property insurance costs for concrete, masonry and wood frame mid-rise residential buildings conducted by GLOBE Advisors and released by the Concrete Council of Canada reveals a substantial gap in the risks and insurance rates between the building systems.
Read more.
Case Study: Wakefield High School
CONCRETE MASONRY DESIGNS
Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA, has earned a well-deserved reputation for academic achievement and vibrant music, theatrical and athletic programs. Bowie Gridley Architects have been using concrete masonry in their schools for many years. Concrete masonry was chosen to play several major roles in the new building at Wakefield.
Click here to learn more.
The Hidden Health Benefits of Green Buildings
ECO-BUSINESS.COM
Yet another reason to invest in green buildings: they make occupants healthier, more productive, and improve their cognitive function. Green building advocates should focus not only on raising energy efficiency and reducing emissions in the built environment, but also improving the well-being of occupants, as this can unlock new economic and sustainability opportunities, said experts at the Green Cities conference in Sydney in
this article.
CODES and STANDARDS NEWS
2015 National Green Building Standard Approved, Available
HOMEINNOVATION.COM
ANSI has approved the
2015 National Green Building Standard (NGBS), and it's available as a free download from BuilderBooks.com. Along with ICC and NAHB, ASHRAE co-sponsored the 2015 NGBS development. As a result, the NGBS is now both an I-Code as well as an ASHRAE Standard. The official citation is now National Green Building Standard ICC/ASHRAE 700. Read more about other news associated with the new standard
here.
New LEED Addenda Available
USGBC.ORG
PRODUCT NEWS
Studies on cement and new concrete mixes continue. Both are an essential element of concrete masonry. The links below provide some of the latest research. ~Tina
Research Shows Benefits of Carbonated Cement
PHYSORG.COM
I
nstead of using water to react with cement, a new production process employs carbonation to give concrete its strength. Creating a reaction between the cement and carbon dioxide and calcium silicate could reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reduce water consumption in construction. A recently published study of the technique shows the new product resists breakdown from salts better than traditional cement.
Read more
.
Locally Sourced Materials Could Help Reduce Emissions from Cement
NEWS.MIT.EDU
Civil engineering professor Oral Buyukozturk at MIT wants to reduce the impact of building and design on the environment. He suggests that more locally sourced materials like volcanic ash could be used in concrete mixes, and he is developing a computer model "of cement paste for connecting nano- and microscale composition and structure with macroscale engineering properties." A solution will take multiple disciplines, he said in
this article.
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
Call for Papers for Masonry 2018 Symposium: Innovations in Collaborative Research, Development and Applications
ASTM.ORG
The objective of Masonry 2018 Symposium is to gather and disseminate the latest information on all aspects of the innovations in masonry materials, design, specification, construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation. It will emphasize the application of ASTM standards to those areas, and their coordination with building codes, project specifications, and international standards. The symposium will be held June 26, 2018 in San Diego, CA. For more information, please visit
http://www.astm.org/C07CFP062018.
Concrete Masonry Storm Shelters Offer Safety Solutions
NCMA FOUNDATION
With tornado season upon us, the strength of concrete masonry storm shelters can help keep people safe. Corey Schultz of Schultz Squared Architects developed two webinars, one for designers and one for concrete masonry producers, detailing the need and design considerations for storm shelters constructed with concrete masonry. Both webinars introduce two resources developed by Mr. Schultz, the Concrete Masonry Storm Shelters Design Guide and the Concrete Masonry Storm Shelter Case Study and Commentary. You can access the webinars
here.
|
To Subscribe, click here. To be a 2016 Sponsor, click here.
|
| 
Advancing the Knowledge of Masonry
Please note: Your email address is from a list solely owned and maintained by The Masonry Society (TMS) for our exclusive email purposes. If you are a TMS Member, sit on a TMS committee, or have requested to be on one of our mailing lists, you cannot unsubscribe as your email is essential to your membership, committee balloting, or for delivery of our various e-publications, such as TMS's Sustainability E-News. If you choose to use the Unsubscribe button on this page you will no longer receive any emails from TMS including TMS Sustainability E-News, TMS E- News, committee news and ballots, notices of upcoming seminars and new publications, and our TMS News Brief. If you have any questions about our email policy or you would like to be added to our mailing list please contact TMS at info@masonrysociety.org.
|
|
|
Sponsors of TMS's
Sustainability E-Newsletter
Click on the links below to learn more about each of these organizations who have graciously sponsored this E-Newsletter. The Sponsors designated with an Asterisk(*) are also TMS Members at the following levels:
| |
***
|
designate Sustaining Members
|
| |
**
|
designate
Affiliate Members
|
|
|
*
|
designate that at least 1 person is a TMS Member
|
|
|
|
***
 ***
|
 ***
|
 ***
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
