MCAA Presents Wall Bracing Course in Denver

On Tuesday, May 21, 2013, the Mason Contractors Association of America (MCAA) hosted the Masonry Wall Bracing Seminar with the Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute (RMMI) in Denver.

The Masonry Wall Bracing Seminar has been developed to provide contractors with the know-how to confidently design and construct bracing for a variety of common masonry structures. This is an opportunity to save your company money by designing your own wall bracing, rather than paying a structural engineer.

Rashod R. Johnson, P.E., taught the course, sponsored by Damian Lang of EZ Grout. The four hour course taught project managers, safety managers, and foremen to understand and implement the OSHA regulation on wall bracing, and the Standard Practice for Bracing Masonry Walls Under Construction. EZ Grout’s Hog Leg system was also demonstrated before and after the class. By the end of the seminar, most of the foremen stated they were much more comfortable erecting masonry wall bracing than before they took the course.

Please contact the MCAA at 800-536-2225 if you would like to host an in-house Masonry Wall Bracing Seminar at your company.

Cronholm Earns Certified Masonry Contractor Credential

Josh Cronholm, VP of Ammex Masonry, has earned the Certified Masonry Contractor (CMC) credential from the Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute, a nonprofit trade association of more than 100 companies throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

Principals and supervisory employees with at least five years of experience in masonry construction are eligible to enroll in the CMC credential program, which consists of 12 one- and two-day courses covering
every aspect of masonry design, construction, safety and management. Expert instructors have been recruited from the top ranks of the masonry research and industry community, including the Brick Industry Association, National Concrete Masonry Association and The Masonry Society.

Participants who attend all of the courses and pass the comprehensive examinations are awarded the designation of Certified Masonry Contractor. Certified Masonry Contractors are eligible to display the CMC logo on their business materials and are eligible to bid on projects that specify a certified masonry contractor.

Stone Joins Brick and Block at the Board Table

The Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute (RMMI) has changed its bylaws to add a new membership category to its organization. Stone Manufacturers have been welcomed into the organization and will have two seats on the board of directors, alongside the brick manufacturers, block manufacturers, masonry contractors and materials suppliers.

This is a significant change to the organization, which has not changed its membership categories since its incorporation in 1986. The two newly created board seats will be divided, with one representing natural stone and the other representing manufactured stone.

“This is a big change for RMMI,” says Board President Jim Serowski, of JVS Masonry. “There was a rift in the masonry industry between the brick and block guys and the stone manufacturers. By bringing everyone together at the board table, we are working to unify the industry.”

While the Rocky Mountain Masonry Institute’s mission is to promote masonry wall systems throughout the Rocky Mountain Region, it has traditionally focused on brick and block. The addition of the Stone Manufacturers expands the organization’s efforts to include all types of masonry, as defined by the building codes. The 2009 International Building code defines the two primary types of masonry: Section 2102, paragraph 39, defines masonry as a “combination of building units or materials of clay, shale, concrete, glass, gypsum, stone or other approved units bonded together;” and Section 2102, paragraph 75, defines stone masonry as “masonry composed of field, quarried, or cast stone units bonded by mortar.”

There are currently five stone manufacturer members in RMMI: Environmental Stoneworks, Coronado Stone, Legacy Stone, Telluride Stone and Pine’s Stone Company. Prior to this bylaws change, the stone companies were classified in the Contributing Member category with insurance companies and scaffolding suppliers.

“We welcome this historic opportunity to partner with RMMI and other masonry manufacturers and contractors to move our industry forward together,” says Todd Bonnes, general manager of the Rocky Mountain Region for Environmental Stoneworks.

An election will be held later this month to select the individuals who will represent the Stone Manufacturers on the RMMI Board of Directors.