Masonry Magazine January 2005 Page. 19
Technical
SIMILARLY, MCAA has also been very proactive on technical issues that affect mason contractors and their businesses.
"There are changes to the masonry codes that are being proposed that, if passed, will make building with masonry more costly, thereby making masonry less competitive with other materials," says Campitelli. "MCAA is on top of this and has taken action against these proposals."
Rashod Johnson, MCAA's Director of Engineering, states that there have been many technical victories over the years for MCAA and mason contractors: from the MCAA-led initiative to cut concrete block using a wet method in the Masonry Standards Joint Committee specification (ACI 530.1), to supporting the raising of low-lift grout height requirements, increased use of brick veneer in seismic areas, and continuing preservation of empirical design.
"In a mere four years, the MCAA has grown from very little participation in technical arenas to becoming a leader in masonry codes and standards development," says Johnson. "MCAA, through the Director of Engineering position, has given a needed contractor perspective to the masonry technical community that has been lacking throughout the years. In too many cases, the academic and design community develops these codes and standards without the thought of how it will be constructed. When they do think about how the design will be constructed, they are often so far removed from the construction process that they are unrealistic."
program would have dealt the masonry industry and mason contractors a tremendous blow. It would have driven up our cost at a time when our industry is already losing market share. As an industry we cannot afford this, and that is why it was so important for the Silica Task Force, led by MCAA, to step up and take charge."
The same can be said for many other construction issues, including scaffolding issues, pending hexavalent chromium and hearing conservation OSHA standards, Associated Health Plans, and the successful Political Action Committee. MCAA's proactive measures have meant the difference between business as usual or not at all.
"I think in the past, our Association, along with others, was very reactive," states Adelizzi. "If something happened we just tried to respond. I think now, our focus as an association is more about what's coming down the road that maybe hasn't hit yet but might impact our industry. We will put Association resources toward those issues to try to change their outcomes for the good of our members and the industry."