Rationale

For Concrete Masonry Units in Annex A1 and Concrete and Calcium Silicate Brick in Annex A2, C140 requires that Gross Area Compressive Strength be reported. Before 2022, this was important because TMS 402, Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures, had provisions for empirical design, which based loads and stresses on the gross cross-sectional area (out-to-out dimensions) of the units. TMS 402-22 has removed the empirical design option from the masonry code, so there is no longer a need to report Gross Area or Gross Area Compressive Strength. In addition, continuing to require the reporting of Gross Area and Gross Area Compressive Strength has led to some confusion by some designers. This ballot item is proposing to remove the requirement for reporting of Gross Area and Gross Area Compressive Strength in Annex A1 and A2. It can still be reported as an option if it is required for a particular project, but it will not be required in all cases.