Brick, Block & Beers *LIVE* AVAILABLE NOW!
Episode 1 - Masonry Safety - Silica
Host Don Beers, PE, GC with special guest, Jerry Painter, GC, FASTM discuss masonry safety - specifically respirable silica on the jobsite.
For more information: www.floridamasonry.com or for more on Silica Training, visit www.masoncontractors.org
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#masonrysafety #masoncontractorofamerica #respirablesilica #mcaa #floridamasonry #masoncontractors #brickblockbeerslive #jobsitesafety #silicadust #silica #training #safety

​Words: Michael Vaughn
Photos: Echelon Masonry 

The construction marketplace has changed dramatically over the past few years, with wood being the framing choice for multi-family and other commercial construction mainly due to cost. The shortage and rising cost of lumber coupled with the impact of global climate change have combined to drive owners, developers and contractors not only search for material alternatives, but also question the ongoing viability and cost effectiveness of wood framing. This includes strongly considering the advantages of concrete masonry in their designs as a cost-effective alternative. In addition to the structural benefits, studies show for the first time that the overall and upfront construction costs for building with masonry are now lower than wood. 

In fact, recent independent studies conducted in Dallas and Atlanta found that load bearing masonry wall systems were less expensive than other alternatives like conventional wood framing, light gauge steel framing and ICF walls and precast planks. It reported that the costs in these markets for conventional light weight wood framing systems were 5.9% higher than load bearing masonry wall systems with precast concrete plank floors.

HEINDORF, Albert F. "Al" 89, Clearwater, FL, passed away Tuesday, February 15, 2022, at Suncoast Hospice of Palm Harbor. Al was born in Syracuse, NY, and eventually settled in Florida from Ohio. He was a concrete, block, and construction products sales manager and was a member of Bethel Lutheran Church of Clearwater. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joann; two sons, Scott and Terry; parents, Albert and Marie; and three sisters. Survivors include one son, Rob Heindorf; two daughters, Sherry (Bob) Bellittera, Kari (Todd) Bradley; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A public Memorial Service will be held 11 am, Saturday, March 5, at Bethel Lutheran Church, 3166 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater, FL 33761. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Bethel Lutheran Garden of Faith. Please visit: www.nationalcremation.com
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Julian R. (Ranny) Loving, 78, of Luray, South Carolina, passed away January 15th in Plant City, Florida. He was the widower of Patricia B. Loving. They were married for 50 years before Pat passed in 2012. As a gift for their 50th Wedding Anniversary, Ranny gave Pat a black Lab puppy and they named her Annie. Annie became Ranny’s dog after Pat passed and was his very loyal companion. Annie is known by everyone who knew Ranny because they were always together, and she was at his side when he passed.      
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Ranny was born in Richmond, Virginia and was the son of Julian T. Loving, Jr. and Lucille S. Loving. The family moved to Tampa when he was 15 and he attended Chamberlain High School where he met Pat and graduated in 1961. They were married in 1962. He worked alongside his father as a bricklayer and later became President and Owner of the family business, Loving Masonry Contractors, INC. from which he retired in 2007. Ranny and Pat also spent time traveling and seeing the world during their marriage.  

He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a longtime member of the Masonic Order at A.W. Windhorst Lodge in Tampa. He was also proud to be an instrumental member of the Masonry Contractors Association of Florida of which he was the longtime chairman of the Architectural Scholarship Committee that provided scholarships to deserving architecture students. 
He is survived by his two children, daughter, Donna Loving James, (Greg James) and granddaughter Danelle Browning, (Trevor Browning), his son, Steve R. Loving, (Patricia Loving) and grandsons, Joey Loving, and Trevor Loving (Krista Loving) and great-granddaughter Caroline Loving. His son, Craig Loving passed in 2021, (Kelly Loving) and grandchildren Chad Loving and Lake Loving. He is also survived by his mother, two sisters, and many nieces and nephews.  


A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, February 19th at 1:00PM, at First Baptist Church of Lutz, located at 18116 US 41, Lutz, FL 33549.       Directions                 

  *Mask will be mandatory for the service. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital.  

A hardening up of the property and casualty insurance market and new data showing the true economy of concrete masonry construction are boosting block’s advantage against competitive building systems.

That was the takeaway from a webinar – “Resilient Community Risk Reduction, an Economic Approach to Multi-Residential Structures” sponsored Sept. 16, 2021 by the Pennsylvania Concrete Masonry Association (PCMA).  The webinar featured a detailed presentation from Walter G. M. Schneider III, Ph.D., P.E., CBO, MCP, CFO, MIFireE, FACSE – The Pennsylvania State University.  Schneider, who serves as an adjunct professor in the Architectural Engineering and Agricultural & Biological Engineering Departments, reviewed data from a multi-city comparison of construction system costs that confirms block’s economic competitiveness with other building systems.

Also presenting was Patrick Riley, CPCU, ARM, CRIS, vice president, property and casualty, USI Insurance Services LLC.  Riley told attendees that environmental factors are causing insurers to take a harder look at building materials and construction systems when writing policies and setting insurance rates.

To read the entire article: 
https://ncma.org/updates/cost-competitive-cmu/

To review the Building Sciences Report:
www.buildingstudies.org/initial_cost_construction_multi-residential_structures_reports.html​ 

FMAEF's Al Herndon presented  Michael Griffin, graduating masonry student from Camden County High School in Kingsland, Georgia his Mortar Net Solutions Award with the assistance of the Camden County School Board.  Instructor, Carlos Jones Jr. assisted Mr. Herndon with the presentation.  Everyone who attended was so proud of Michael's success and Carlos spoke on Michael outstanding accomplishments as a  student.

Thank you to Steve Fechino and Mortar Net Solutions for all you do for the masonry industry and for helping us to recognize America's masonry students with scholarships, awards and support.

For more information, contact Al Herndon:
Al Herndon
Florida Masonry Apprentice and Educational Foundation
904 838 6531
Herndon3@bellsouth.net

​Your voice and vote are needed as we are in the final push toward the CMU Checkoff. This vote is our one chance to change the trajectory of our industry and take back the markets and customers we’ve lost.
From the Department of Commerce:

"On May 3, 2021, The Office of the Federal Register published the final rule, FR-2021-05-03, on the procedures the Department of Commerce will follow in conducting a referendum for the Concrete Masonry Checkoff.

The referendum allows the industry to vote on whether to establish a national Concrete Masonry Products Board under the Concrete Masonry Products Research, Education, and Promotion Act of 2018. The publication of this notice allows the Department of Commerce to begin to register eligible voters to participate in the referendum."

The registration period began Tuesday, May 4th 2021
and will last for a MINIMUM OF 30 days.