Masonry Magazine January 1962 Page. 39
NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE SCR MASONRY PROCESS
By M. H. ALLEN
MANAGER, FIELD ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
STRUCTURAL CLAY PRODUCTS RESEARCH FOUNDATION
In the nine years during which the "SCR masonry process" has been used in the field by thousands of mason contractors all over the United States and Canada, there has been a wealth of experience gained by the Foundation field staff, the field engineers of a number of Structural Clay Products Institute regional offices and the contractors, themselves, in adapting the use of the 'process" to all types of typical and otherwise.
While the original field manuals provide adequate information on the best procedures for the assembling and erecting of the "SCR corner poles," a need has developed for general information on a host of other corner poles and masonry guides and their possible integration into the "SCR masonry process" as one of its three basic tools. Also the original manuals did not cover proper use of the marked line and recommendations for efficient use of scaffolding the other two tools of the "SCR masonry process." This report is designed to fill the need for such supplementary information.
SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT have provided many building trades with new tools and equipment which have helped those trades to keep pace with modern building technology and to perform their skilled work more efficiently and economically with less fatigue. Power saws, drills and nailers used by today's carpenters; the plastering machines and improved tools available to the plasterer; and the specialized tools used by the wall applicators, are good examples. The use of such specialized tools and equipment has, in many cases, lowered construction costs despite increases in the cost of materials and in the wage scales of the craftsmen using them.
Until the development and introduction of the "SCR masonry process" by the Structural Clay Products Research Foundation in 1953, science had not done much of anything for the bricklayer in helping to make his work easier and more efficient. Attempts to stem rising costs of masonry construction were confined largely to the efforts of individual contractors to improve the efficiency of their overall operations by better job planning and organization, improved materials handling techniques, modern cost accounting systems and the use of larger and light-weight masonry units.
There is a limit, however, beyond which such improved methods of operation and materials cannot offset increasing materials costs and wage scales. Also, it appeared somewhat incongruous to provide the mason's helper and the laborer with modern materials handling equipment in order to make their work easier, more efficient and less tiring and expect the skilled mason to work with tools and equipment and under conditions little different or improved over those of his grandfather. It was time that science came to the rescue of the mason! This it did, in the form of the "SCR masonry process."
What Is the "SCR Masonry Process"?
The "SCR masonry process" involves the use of three "tools" by the bricklayer, in addition to his traditional trowel and level. These are:
1. A system of corner poles
2. Adjustable scaffolding
3. A marked mason's line
Each of these three components, and its function, is described in more detail in this report.
T.M., Fat. Pend., SCPRF.
"SCR masonry process What It Is, What It Does and How It Works" (1955) and "SCIR masonry process" What It Is and How to Use It on Multi-Story Buildings" (1956), Structural Clay Products Research Foundation, Geneva, III.
U. S. Pat. Off. No. 2951104 and Pat. Pend,
ONRY JANUARY, 1962
What Is Its Purpose?
The "SCR masonry process" was developed with the thought that by providing the bricklayer with modern equipment that would make his work easier and more efficient, masonry labor costs could be reduced, thus opening up expanded markets for brick and tile, more jobs to bid on for the mason contractor and more work for the bricklayer.
Cost Savings
The cost-saving features of the "masonry process" have been proven during the nine years it has been used in the field by thousands of contractors and builders. While each of the three components of the "process" (corner poles, adjustable scaffolding and marked line) can help cut the cost of masonry construction when used alone, the greatest savings are effected when all three are used in combination. Successful users claim savings as great as 35 per cent in their masonry labor costs.
CORNER POLES
The corner pole or masonry guide is a simple tool which eliminates the building of corner leads and assures uniform bed joints around the entire building. When Mr. A. B. Segur, motion-time analyst, studied the operations of the bricklayer he discovered that the major time consumer was not putting the brick itself in place, but consisted primarily of line adjustments, leveling and applying mortar in a completely intermittent process. Consequently, one of his first recommendations to the industry was for the design and development of a good corner pole system.
Corner poles have been used for many years in Europe and to a much more limited degree in this country. The "SCR corner pole" system was developed using information from systems already in use. When it was first introduced and promoted there were very few corner poles commercially available. However, in recent years, because of increased use of corner poles of all types, many new devices have been developed.
In this discussion we will not attempt to describe each type of corner pole commercially available. Instead we will list some of the fundamental requirements of any good corner pole system.