Masonry Magazine April 1977 Page. 6
Unlike palletized loads of block that must be broken down and restacked by hand, breakaway packages split into separate units that may be delivered to the masons without any intermediate stacking or restacking of block.
Unitized Block
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able in a breakaway package of 96 total blocks. This package breaks down into three 32-block units, each of which is a strapped unit that can be handled by a forklift truck or by a hand fork-cart.
"Some of the block we use comes in packages of 72," notes Lewandowski. "Those packages break down to three strapped loads of 24. Since those 24 blocks are banded together as one load, we can move them as one unit on a hand cart or forklift right to where the bricklayers are working.
"If those 72 blocks were on a pallet, we'd have to break down the load by hand and take 15 or 20 blocks on a wheelbarrow to the bricklayers. Then the wheelbarrows would have to be unloaded and the blocks restacked. That can cause damage to the block and it all takes time and time is money."
Strapping Replaces Pallets
Besides saving time, the unitized concrete block packages eliminate bulky pallets and the problems associated with them. "There are some advantages in not having to use pallets," Lewandowski maintains. "For one thing, the pallet adds to the cost of the load. For another, once you use a pallet, you have to figure out what to do with it. Ideally, the block supplier should take the pallets back when you're done with them. But a lot of times they are just not interested in handling the pallets more than han they have to. Pallets can be a real headache."
Lewandowski also points out that strapped, unit loads of block are less susceptible to damage than palletized block. "The straps themselves contain the package, holding it together so blocks don't fall off or bang against eaci other during shipment."
Thorlief Larsen is using seven different sizes of concrete block on the Madison Junior High project. The job predominantly consists of 12-in. standard block. Laborers move block around the site on hand fork-carts or with a rough-terrain lift truck. The lift truck sets block on scaffolding up to 28 ft. high, the maximum height of the building. The high reach of the lift truck eliminates the need for elevators of any kind.
Perimeter walls of the building consist of concrete block, a 2-in. sheath of styrofoam insulation, and face brick. Brick used on the job is also bound with Signode strapping in breakaway packages.
Thorlief Larsen began the job with a crew of 10, including Lewandowski, six bricklayers, and three laborers. At the height of activity, the crew will swell to about 20 men, working five days a week, eight hours a day.
Three Phases, Three Generals
Foreman Lewandowski explains that each phase of the three-phase project will be overseen by a separate general contractor.
"All things considered, this is probably a faster way than using one general," he believes. "It would take one general a long time to coordinate all the subs and the scheduling for a job like this. With three phases, the first general contractor can get started right away, because he only needs the foundation drawings. And while he's at work, the rest of the drawings can be finalized and the school district can get the other general contractors lined up."
He points out that the multi-general concept has some minor problems, such as coordinating small details of the building from one phase to another. For example, Thorlief Larsen's crew has to leave space in the walls to accommodate plumbing that will be installed during Phase Three.
Although he anticipates some problems with the weather, Lewandowski expects the masonry work at Madison to proceed on schedule, due, in part, to the efficiency offered by steel-strapped packages of concrete block and brick.
Unitized concrete block packages speed material handling for mason contractor Thorlief Larsen at the Madison Junior High School project in Naperville. Larsen uses a rough terrain fork lift truck to move Signode steel-strapped loads of block around the job site.
masonry
• April, 1977