TMS Responds

TMS Responds is typically a multi-page brochure containing answers to common, and not-so-common, questions regarding masonry. The goal of the publication is consistent with TMS’s mission – to advance the knowledge of masonry. It is hoped that by providing practical information in an easy to understand way, we are assisting designers, specifiers, contractors, inspectors and others with masonry design, construction, evaluation and repair.

If you have questions you would like considered, please submit them to info@masonrysociety.org.

Past Issues

Past issues of the TMS Responds can be downloaded from the eStore (free for TMS Members and $10 for Non-Members).

Vol. 21, No. 1 (March (2023)

  • Corrosion of Embedded Metal Ties

Vol. 20, No. 1 (September 2022)

  • Major revisions from the 2016 to 2022 edition of TMS 402/602

Vol. 19, No. 1 (June 2021)

  • Calculating Losses for High and Low Strength Steels in Prestressed Masonry

Vol. 18, No. 1 (January 2020)

  • Joint Reinforcement Types
  • Joint Reinforcement – Heavy Duty vs. Standard
  • Allowable Shear for Special Walls
  • Flexural Tension Values
  • Finding Info
    • Previous TMS Responds
    • Past TMS Journals
    • Errata

Vol. 17, No. 1 (February 2019)

  • Tile vs Adhered Masonry Veneer
  • Special Reinforced Masonry Shear Walls
  • Structural Steel Lintels
  • Movement Joints and Arching

Vol. 16, No. 1 (April 2018)

  • Post-Installed Anchors
  • Tornado Sheltering
  • Hooks & SRMSWs

Vol. 15, No. 1 (February 2017)

  • TMS 402/602-16
  • Cast Stone Standards
  • Moment Magnifier for Piers/Walls
  • Existing Masonry Terms
  • Air Entrainment in Grout

Vol. 14, No. 1 (March 2016)

  • Detailing Vertical Reinforcement
  • Masonry Detailing

Vol. 13, No. 1 (November 2015), with questions addressed on the 2015 International Building Code (IBC) and Reference Standards:

  • 2015 IBC Changes related to Masonry
  • 2015 IRC Changes related to Masonry
  • Maximum Reinforcement Requirements in Areas of Low Seismicity

Vol. 12, No. 1 (April 2014), with questions addressed on the International green Construction Code (IgCC):

  • How the IgCC applies to masonry
  • IgCC sections that apply to masonry

Vol. 11, No. 1 (July 2013), with questions addressed on:

  • Grout Voids – Finding & Filling
  • Impact of 2011 MSJC Changes to the Allowable-Stress Design of Masonry Walls

Vol. 10, No. 1 (March 2012), with questions addressed on:

  • Anchor Bolt Error related to Allowable Stress Design
  • 2011 MSJC Update
  • Masonry Provisions in the 2012 IBC

Vol. 9, No. 1 (June 2010), with questions addressed on:

  • Distinguishing between Cavity Walls, Composite Walls, and Anchored Veneer
  • Non Contact Lap Splices of Reinforcement in Masonry

Vol. 8, No. 1 (July 2009), with questions addressed on:

  • 2009 IBC Changes related to Masonry
  • Mortar on Relieving Angles

Vol. 7, No. 2 (August 2008), with questions addressed on:

  • Terra Cotta Cracking
  • Repair of CMU from Frozen Grout

Vol. 7, No. 1 (July 2008), with questions addressed on:

  • Certification of Masonry Inspectors
  • Preparing for the Inspection Certification Examination
  • Who are Certified Masonry Inspectors
  • Renewing Inspection Certification
  • CEU Requirements for Inspectors

Vol. 6, No. 1 (April 2006), with questions addressed on:

  • Facial Appearance of Masonry Walls
  • Expansion Anchors in Stone
  • Mechanical Consolidation of Grout

Vol. 5, No. 1 (April 2005), with topics on:

  • 2005 MSJC – Major Changes

Vol. 4, No. 2 (September 2004), with topics on:

  • Cold Weather Grouting of Masonry
  • Grout Slump for Low Absorption Units
  • Self Consolidating Grout

Vol. 4, No. 1 (June 2004), with topics on:

  • LEED
  • The impact masonry can have on LEED points

Vol. 3, No. 2 (January 2003), with topics including:

  • Integral Water Repellents in Concrete Masonry units and Mortar
  • Integral Water Repellents – Grouting Considerations
  • Which MSJC to Use

Vol. 3, No. 1 (January 2003), with topics including:

  • Fire Ratings for Masonry
  • Fire Resistance Ratings of Existing Composite Masonry Wall

Vol. 2, No. 2 (September 2002), with topics including:

  • Section Properties of Masonry
  • Running Bond Masonry
  • Standard Pilaster Sizes
  • Adding Water to Grout

Vol. 2, No. 1 (January/February 2002), on:

  • The New MSJC Provisions – an Overview

Vol. 1, No. 4 (October/November 2001), with topics including:

  • Reusing Existing Brick
  • Hot and Cold Weather Masonry Construction – Definitions and Provisions

Vol. 1, No. 3 (May 2001), with topics including:

  • Problems with “clumping” reinforcement at ends of shear walls and in lintels
  • Considerations for banding cmu with brick, and banding brick with cmu.

Vol. 1, No. 2 (March 2001), with topics including:

  • Explanation of the IBC Maximum Reinforcement provisions (More detailed discussion)
  • Locating reinforcement and grout in existing walls
  • Further clarification on pointing stone masonry

Vol. 1, No. 1 (January 2001) with topics including:

  • Repairing mortar joints on historic stone masonry buildings
  • Defining “Plain Masonry”
  • Using masonry to control sound
  • What to do when joint reinforcing is inadvertently left out of concrete masonry walls