Arkansas Masonry - Residential Exam

Arkansas Masonry – Residential Exam | 2 questions (7%)

Key Concepts

Construction drawings. Construction drawings describe the size, shape, location, and specifications of the elements of a structure. They may also be called working drawings, prints, blueprints, or plans. They use standard symbols and notes recognized by all professionals in the construction field (Modern Masonry, Ch. 5, Sec. 5.1).

The Alphabet of Lines (Modern Masonry, Ch. 5, Sec. 5.2, Figure 5-1). Know the weight (thickness) and purpose of each:

Key Concepts

Brick classification and manufacture - A solid masonry unit is one whose cross-sectional area in every plane parallel to the bearing surface is 75% or more of its gross cross-sectional area measured in the same plane. Bricks with cored holes remain solid units as long as holes are less than 25% of the cross-sectional area. (Modern Masonry 9th ed., p. 123) - Green bricks are bricks that have not been fired. They contain from 5% to 30% moisture as they come from the molding or extruding machines; most of this moisture must be evaporated before firing. (Modern Masonry, p. 115) - Building brick grades: Grade SW — highly resistant to frost action, used where bricks are exposed to freezing weather (foundation courses, retaining walls). Grade MW — where there may be exposure to temperatures below freezing but the brick is not likely to be permeated with water. Grade NW — designed to be used as backup on interior masonry. (Modern Masonry, p. 116; Clay Masonry Materials, Sec. 7.5.1) - Facing brick types…

Arkansas Masonry – Residential Exam | 7 questions (23%)

Key Concepts

Materials (Sec. 10.1, 10.1.1, Fig. 10-1) - Basic mortar ingredients: Portland cement, hydrated lime, and sand; masonry cement may replace or be combined with them. - Only Portland cement Types I, II, and III are recommended for mortar. Air-entraining types (IA, IIA, IIIA) are not recommended because air entrainment reduces bond. - Hydrated lime comes in Types S and N. Only Type S is recommended for masonry mortar because unhydrated oxides and plasticity are controlled, which improves bond (Sec. 10.1.1; Modern Masonry p. 187). - ASTM standards: C150 Portland cement, C91 masonry cement, C5 quicklime, C207 hydrated lime, C144 aggregate (sand) for mortar, C404 aggregates for grout, C476 grout. - Compressive strength of mortar is less important than bond strength, workability, and water retentivity — those should get principal consideration in selection (Sec. 10.1).

Key Concepts

Wall ties — purpose and types. Wall ties are strips of metal or metal wire used to tie masonry wythes together or to tie masonry veneer to a concrete or wood frame wall. They transfer lateral loads, provide a connection, and permit or restrain movement between different materials; they can also serve as horizontal structural reinforcement (Modern Masonry 9th ed., Section 11.1). Structural bonding with metal ties is used in three types of construction: masonry veneer to frame, solid masonry, and cavity wall.

Unit ties. The three unit ties are rectangular, Z, and corrugated. Rectangular and Z ties are generally made from cold-drawn steel wire meeting ASTM A82, or copper-clad wire meeting ASTM B227; stainless steel versions exist for highly corrosive applications. Corrugated ties are usually sheet steel, grade D (Section 11.1.1, Unit Ties).

Arkansas Masonry – Residential Exam

Key Concepts

Three categories of stone by formation. Stone is divided into three categories based on the process of formation: igneous (volcanic), sedimentary, and metamorphic (Modern Masonry, 9th ed., Ch. 9, p. 174; Masonry Textbook, Ch. 9, Sec. 9.1). The three categories are in many situations related — a given sample of rock may have resulted from more than one of the formation processes. Stone is made up of minerals in various mixtures, and these variations greatly affect strength, color, texture, and durability — especially true of marble, limestone, and sandstone.

Which stones fall in which category (Figure 9-2, p. 174): - Igneous: granite, traprock - Sedimentary: sandstone, limestone - Metamorphic: marble, slate, schist, gneiss, quartzite

Source: Modern Masonry — Brick, Block, Stone (9th ed.), Chapter 3, Tools and Equipment.

Key Concepts

Trowels (Section 3.1.1). The trowel is the tool most commonly used by a mason. The narrow end of the blade is the "point," the wide end nearest the handle is the "heel," and the blade connects to the handle by the shank. Trowels are available in lengths from about 3" to 13". Wood handles usually have a ferrule (metal band) around the shank end to add strength and prevent splitting.

Three major patterns: - Philadelphia pattern — allows more mortar to be placed on the blade, so it is best suited for applying mortar to block. - London pattern — the standard blade type for laying brick. - Wide London pattern — rounded heel that places the mortar farther forward on the blade than the Philadelphia pattern; can be used for brick or block.

Arkansas Masonry – Residential Exam | 2 questions (7%) | Subtopic: General

The SOURCE addresses this topic through mortar joint finishing and tooling, removing excess mortar during and after laying, cleaning finished masonry surfaces, and the moisture-driven deterioration (efflorescence and spalling) that cleaning and protection practices are meant to prevent. Study it in that order.

Key Concepts

Tooling timing and the "thumbprint hard" test. Joints should be tooled when the mortar is thumbprint hard — it can be indented with a thumb without too much pressure but does not stick to the thumb. (Modern Masonry 9th ed., Laying Brick, Ch. 12; also "Tooling," Page 244.)

Mortar turning black at the joint. If the mortar is too dry when tooled, it will turn black from metal worn off the jointer. (Laying Brick, Chapter 12.)

Key Concepts

Employee emergency action plans (§ 1926.35) - The plan "shall be in writing (except as provided in the last sentence of paragraph (e)(3))" and must cover designated actions for employee safety from fire and other emergencies (§ 1926.35(a)). - § 1926.35(e)(3): "The written plan shall be kept at the workplace and made available for employee review. For those employers with 10 or fewer employees the plan may be communicated orally to employees and the employer need not maintain a written plan." - Minimum elements (§ 1926.35(b)): escape procedures/route assignments; procedures for employees operating critical plant operations before evacuating; procedures to account for all employees after evacuation; rescue and medical duties; preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies; names or job titles of contacts. - The employer shall establish an employee alarm system complying with § 1926.159 (§ 1926.35(c)(1)). - Plan review with each employee: initially when developed, whenever the employee's responsibilities change, and whenever the plan is changed (§ 1926.35(e)(2)).