Rationale

In 2021, TMS published Design and Construction Guidelines for Dry-Stack Concrete Masonry (TMS 1430). This guide includes provisions for design and construction for dry-stack masonry. Further, the TMS 402/602 Committee is currently balloting revisions to that standard to include design and construction provisions for dry-stack concrete masonry in a potential future version of TMS 402/602. The provisions in TMS 1430 include the design parameter f’dm, which is the specified compressive strength of dry-stack masonry. One method of determining compliance is testing dry-stack masonry prisms. ASTM C1314 does not currently include provisions for masonry prisms that do not incorporate mortar joints. TMS 1430 does have some general provisions for testing of dry-stack prisms. This ballot proposes a new mandatory annex for provisions for dry-stack prism. Much of this refers back to the main body of ASTM C1314, except where there are special provisions for dry-stack prisms. The most critical aspect of testing dry-stack prisms is that the interface between units not be altered, which is made clear in this annex.