THE ROLE OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE TESTING IN SUPPORT OF ACI 530/ASCE 5 MASONRY BUILDING CODE
Phillip C. McMullan
TSI THERMO-SCAN INSPECTIONS
15658 NORTH GRAY ROAD, BOX 705
CARMEL, INDIANA 46082
1-800-481-5748
INTRODUCTION
The use of non-destructive testing methods to examine the building envelope of new masonry construction in support of recently adopted construction specifications is the subject of this paper. Ten years after being first published in 1989, the American Concrete Institute's Design Standard 530 / American Society of Civil Engineers Standard 5, Masonry Building Code and Specification has only recently been adopted by the International Building Code (IBC) and will now become the adopted code of many States.
This design and construction specification was developed to assist design professionals in making masonry specification more consistent and reliable. Of special interest for purposes of this paper are the new requirements dealing with quality control and assurance. Quality assurance is action taken by the owner or his representatives to ensure that the work undertaken is constructed in accordance with the written specifications. Quality control refers to requirements placed on the contractor in the form of construction testing and inspection.
With the adoption of ACI 530, the architect will no longer have an option of determining whether or not inspection is required. All work must be inspected. Given the different nature of projects and corresponding level of inspection, some requirements are mandatory and some optional. However, a new level of masonry construction will be required to accommodate the code.
The use of non-destructive test methods such as infrared thermography or radiography of masonry construction provides an invaluable tool. This paper will detail the use of non-destructive testing for field verification inspections which assist in assuring that construction is in compliance with design specifications with regard to material, structural strength and thermal performance.
BUILDING ENVELOPE STRUCTURAL INSPECTION
To assist design professionals in making masonry specification more consistent and reliable, design and construction specifications have been developed. These standards are written in part to improve the level and method of inspecting masonry structures. Unlike past codes, in the new code the level of inspection depends on whether the facility is an essential or nonessential facility (as defined in the building code) and the design procedure.
While there is no substitute for visual inspection of masonry construction, the use of nondestructive testing techniques to supplement visual inspection can greatly enhance the quality assurance program. The intent of the standards is to assist contractors in bidding by reducing unknowns, help Architects in preparing uniform specifications and insure owners of more uniform quality in construction.
There are several methods of nondestructive testing which could be employed in quality assurance programs. However, for the purposes of this type of inspection there are two types of nondestructive testing which are reliable and cost effective and provide visual documentation of the test results. They are radiography and infrared thermography and both offer the ability to assist the visual component of code compliance inspections. There are advantages and disadvantages with each testing method. Specifically, with radiography the results are detailed, conclusive and visual. However, the cost and difficulty of operation, given safety and licensing concerns, are the major disadvantages. Infrared thermography has considerably less cost or operation limitations but the results are not as conclusive in locating the structural rebar within the block wall. To provide this information a second testing method such as electromagnetic testing may be required. Using the two tests in combination provides an excellent nondestructive inspection program to supplement visual inspections.
Phillip C. McMullan
TSI THERMO-SCAN INSPECTIONS
15658 NORTH GRAY ROAD, BOX 705
CARMEL, INDIANA 46082
1-800-481-5748
INTRODUCTION
The use of non-destructive testing methods to examine the building envelope of new masonry construction in support of recently adopted construction specifications is the subject of this paper. Ten years after being first published in 1989, the American Concrete Institute's Design Standard 530 / American Society of Civil Engineers Standard 5, Masonry Building Code and Specification has only recently been adopted by the International Building Code (IBC) and will now become the adopted code of many States.
This design and construction specification was developed to assist design professionals in making masonry specification more consistent and reliable. Of special interest for purposes of this paper are the new requirements dealing with quality control and assurance. Quality assurance is action taken by the owner or his representatives to ensure that the work undertaken is constructed in accordance with the written specifications. Quality control refers to requirements placed on the contractor in the form of construction testing and inspection.
With the adoption of ACI 530, the architect will no longer have an option of determining whether or not inspection is required. All work must be inspected. Given the different nature of projects and corresponding level of inspection, some requirements are mandatory and some optional. However, a new level of masonry construction will be required to accommodate the code.
The use of non-destructive test methods such as infrared thermography or radiography of masonry construction provides an invaluable tool. This paper will detail the use of non-destructive testing for field verification inspections which assist in assuring that construction is in compliance with design specifications with regard to material, structural strength and thermal performance.
BUILDING ENVELOPE STRUCTURAL INSPECTION
To assist design professionals in making masonry specification more consistent and reliable, design and construction specifications have been developed. These standards are written in part to improve the level and method of inspecting masonry structures. Unlike past codes, in the new code the level of inspection depends on whether the facility is an essential or nonessential facility (as defined in the building code) and the design procedure.
While there is no substitute for visual inspection of masonry construction, the use of nondestructive testing techniques to supplement visual inspection can greatly enhance the quality assurance program. The intent of the standards is to assist contractors in bidding by reducing unknowns, help Architects in preparing uniform specifications and insure owners of more uniform quality in construction.
There are several methods of nondestructive testing which could be employed in quality assurance programs. However, for the purposes of this type of inspection there are two types of nondestructive testing which are reliable and cost effective and provide visual documentation of the test results. They are radiography and infrared thermography and both offer the ability to assist the visual component of code compliance inspections. There are advantages and disadvantages with each testing method. Specifically, with radiography the results are detailed, conclusive and visual. However, the cost and difficulty of operation, given safety and licensing concerns, are the major disadvantages. Infrared thermography has considerably less cost or operation limitations but the results are not as conclusive in locating the structural rebar within the block wall. To provide this information a second testing method such as electromagnetic testing may be required. Using the two tests in combination provides an excellent nondestructive inspection program to supplement visual inspections.
1-800-481-5748
Infrared Scan Masonry Building Paper
