Masonry Magazine December 1993 Page. 48
LITERATURE REVIEW
Educational courses for the cement and concrete industries, covering topics ranging from cement and ready mix concrete production to jobsite techniques and inspection, are detailed in a PCA catalog. Portland Cement Association, 5420 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077.
Guidelines for design and installation of residential retaining walls are provided in a brochure which contains data on how to build corners, steps, straight, curved and serpentine walls, including embankment control in water applications. Versa-Lok Retaining Wall Systems, Box 9220, North St. Paul, MN 55109.
Masonry reinforcing guide for builders, architects and engineers illustrates over sixty types of wall ties, reinforcing systems and accessories. Portions of the proposed ACI-ASCE 530.1 standards that relate to the masonry industry are included as well as a full selection of systems to meet those requirements. AA Wire Products, 6100 South New England, Chicago, IL 60638.
Bulletin describes and illustrates plastic modular component system for trucks or vans that creates storage compartments for almost any item. Martec Plastics, 3201 West Thompson Road, Fenton, MI 48430.
Natural soapstone fireplaces resource and planning guide illustrates and describes models available, contains specifications and dimensions and details on construction planning. Tulikivi Group North America, 30 Glen road, West Lebanon, NH 03784.
Product line brochure gives a brief overview of concrete products producing equipment from block, brick and paving machines, to mixers, cubers and molds. Columbia Machine, 107 Grand Boulevard, Vancouver, WA 98668.
Pavement maintenance products catalog offers a wide selection of asphalt and concrete coatings, crack sealants, line striping, recreational color surfacing, tools and contractor safety supplies. Maintenance, Incorporated, Box 408, Wooster, OH 44691.
Aluminum automatic ladder leveler for aluminum and fiberglass straight and extension ladders is featured in a two page bulletin which explains how the leveler securely locks when the ladder is set down and unlocks when it's picked up. R.D. Werner, 93 Werner Road, Greenville, PA 16125.
Mortar cement that combines all of the characteristics of masonry cement and the higher bond strength and lower air content of portland cement/lime mixtures is described in four page bulletin. Cement meets all applicable UBO standards for use in seismic zones. Lafarge Corporation, 4000 Town Center, Box 887, Southfield, MI 48037.
Handbook designed to assist veterans who own small businesses includes information on federal contracting programs, acquisition regulations and procedures, contracting opportunities and small business assistance programs. Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420.
Custom embroidered work clothes and uniforms catalog features work shirts, coveralls, jeans, jackets, rainwear, disposable clothing, work shoes, aprons, sleeves, tee shirts, polo shirts and work gloves. All clothing can be personalized with embroidered company and individual name. Worldwide Outfitters, 117 Benedict Street, Waterbury, CT 06722.
METRIC
The use of metric measures is upon us. Federal government has been required to the extent feasible to convert all federal procurements, grants and business related activities since September 1992. The use of computer aided design and drafting systems for building constructions makes the conversion to metric a great simplification.
The codes and construction standards of two of the three building code organizations (BOCA and SBCCI) as well as NFPA and ASTM contain the dual units (both inch-pound and metric) where measurements are specified. Many other standards writing organizations have added or are preparing to add metric measurements to their documents. A recent project in Philadelphia by the General Services Administration indicated no increase in design or construction costs as a result of conversion to metric.
The costs of metric conversion in U.S. industries has been far lower than expected, and the benefits greater. Total conversion costs were less than 1 percent of the original estimates at General Motors, which is now fully metric. We, as Americans are increasingly exposed to metric in daily life and now take for granted many metric products. Without fanfare, the U.S. is moving very quickly toward a metric society.
AL ISBERNER, P.E. CONSULTING MATERIALS ENGINEER
(608) 742-5684
1050 Thompson Street, P.O. Box 486
Portage, Wisconsin 53901-0486
Services Available:
Contract Document Review
Quality Assurance Assistance
Preventive Maintenance Plans
Laboratory Evaluation
Quality Control Assistance
Litigation/Expert Witness
Performance Evaluations and Inspections of Masonry, Concrete and Plaster/Stucco Structures
MASONRY
CONCRETE
PLASTER/STUCCO
48 MASONRY-NOVEMBER/DECEMBER, 1993