IBC Masonry Design Provisions Streamlined

Words: Bronzella Cleveland

NovemberDecember 2008
Industry News

IBC Masonry Design
Provisions Streamlined

The Masonry Society (TMS) and the Masonry Alliance for Codes and Standards (MACS) recently co-sponsored a series of code changes to simplify the design requirements in the International Building Code (IBC) by removing parts and portions of the Masonry Standards Joint Committee (MSJC) Code and Specification (TMS 402/ACI 530/ASCE 5 and TMS 602/ACI 530.1/ASCE 6) requirements that had been transcribed into the IBC. Historically, these requirements were kept within the IBC – in addition to the MSJC – to provide easily accessible guidance to designers, contractors and building code officials implementing these provisions. These transcribed provisions, however, created administrative and technical hurdles, including:

  • Concurrently maintaining the respective requirements in both the IBC and MSJC in a consistent manner so that conflicts do not arise.
  • Transcribing portions of the MSJC documents into the IBC allowed their modification outside of the consensus standardization process.
  • Because only parts of these requirements were transcribed, but not all the requirements needed to effectively and accurately apply their use in the field, it gave the false impression that there are no other design, detailing, material, or construction requirements with which to comply.

Through the deletion of these transcribed requirements, the control and content of the structural design and construction provisions for masonry is exclusively within the jurisdiction of the MSJC.

Source: National Concrete Masonry Association MD

The STABILA Force Driven by Operations
July 2025

Leadership In today's competitive business landscape, maintaining an efficient, well-organized warehouse is essential for meeting customer demands and ensuring smooth operations. By implementing effective processes and best practices, businesses can achi

MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 24 Recap: Gary Hensley, VP of Sales at Oldcastle Adams
July 2025

On this episode of the MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Gary Hensley joins Justin in Indianapolis to talk about his story within the masonry industry, how he got started, how he's seen it evolve, and where he sees it going. Why the Masonry Industry? Concrete and

The Enduring Power of Structural Masonry
July 2025

Masonry has been holding its ground for millennia — literally. And thanks to the simple brilliance of arching action, it continues to do so with strength, style, and surprising efficiency. In an era of advanced modeling and fast-moving schedules, one time

Marvelous Masonry: Belém Tower
July 2025

The Belém Tower in Lisbon, Portugal, stands as a testament to stone construction's enduring artistry and technical prowess. Erected between 1514 and 1519, this iconic structure served as a defensive bastion at the mouth of the Tagus River and as a ceremon