New Products

A key part of IMI’s R&D Program is searching out manufacturers of new products and systems, and preparing BAC contractors to bid the work. These include:

• AAC – Xella or Aercon
• Insulated Concrete Forms – Owens Corning
• Screen Walls – Boston Valley Terra Cotta
• Thin Brick – TABS II
• Flowable Terrazzo – MAPEI / Pro Tile - Terratop
• Stone on Aluminum Backup – StoneLite by Thin Stone, Inc.
• New World Stone
• Arriscraft
• Seal Tech Block
• Stone Patching
• Olde Castle – Adhered Veneers
• Precast

Research

Seismic Research

More stringent seismic code requirements in recent years have negatively impacted masonry’s market share, and IMI is sponsoring research to correct that. IMI partnered with the University of Louisville to investigate the behavior of masonry under seismic loading.

At Drexel University, IMI is part of a jointly funded project designed to demonstrate the “seismic robustness” of bearing-wall masonry structures, and justify fewer restrictions on lightly reinforced masonry systems. The project will build and test a two-story wing of a typical middle school.

Constructability Research

Certain masonry details or procedures work, but why? Constructability research backs up years of experience with quantifiable, replicable scientific information.

The end result is more efficient and affordable masonry.