Have you had a look at the new headquarters for the Mineola Fire Department that was designed by H2M? The building is pictured below. I created the CMU rebar shop drawings for the building, which played a crucial role in the success of the project.
My name is Brian M. Curran. If you’d like to see how I can provide CMU rebar shop drawing services for your project, here’s a closer look at what I do.
CMU Rebar Shop Drawing Sample
Let’s start by looking at a sample of my CMU rebar shop drawings. Below are the actual CMU shop drawings I created for the Mineola Fire Department building. Click on the image to view the shop drawings in PDF format.
And here is a video that includes a time lapse of the building being constructed.
I’m located in New York City, but I create rebar shop drawings for contractors across the country.
What My CMU Rebar Shop Drawing Services Include
In masonry construction, Concrete Masonry Units (CMU) are preferred over other materials. Because it is not only a cost effective material, but it is also easy to use and strong. The success of any masonry project is based on the accuracy and clarity of the CMU rebar shop drawings. They guide the placement of reinforcing steel within the masonry.
Shop drawing errors can cause delays, code compliance issues, and other problems, costing money. The solution is to partner with me at DraftingServices.com, a professional provider of CMU rebar shop drawings.
Below is the list of essential elements that my CMU shop drawings.
Essential Elements of CMU Rebar Shop Drawings
When discussing CMU construction, we’re normally focusing on CMU walls. With that in mind, the fundamental elements of any CMU rebar detailing project include the following.
1. Rebar Placement
At the heart of any CMU rebar shop drawing is showing the precise placement of reinforcing bars. I create drawings that clearly indicate:
- Horizontal and Vertical Rebar Placement: The exact locations of the vertical and horizontal rebar within the CMU wall. Meeting all the structural design requirements as well as providing stability and strength.
- Wall Elevations: Elevation outlines depicting rebar layouts, to easily visualize continuity and spacing.
- CMU Details and Cross Sections: Including standard cross-sectional outlines and reinforcement details for the clarification of rebar placement at complex areas like openings, corners, and intersections.
- Bar Schedules: In detail, bar schedule lengths, listing sizes, and quantity of rebar for accurate order and installation.
- Lap Schedules: Details on how and where lap splices should be in order to adhere to compliance and maintain structural integrity.
- Call-Out Key Plan: A plan mapping out how to read notations of the shop drawings. Further including bar length to mark number, quantity, and size per location; placing remark and location required.
2. Dowel Alignment
Dowels connect CMU walls to foundations, slabs, or adjacent structural elements. My shop drawings include the following:
- Dowel Locations: It details the accurate measurements during installations to avoid any misalignment.
- Embedment Length: The required embedment depths, particularly in the foundations or other structural elements. Meeting suitable anchorage depths.
- Field Adjustments: Concise notes on allowed field adjustments in the form of allowable tolerances, so that on-site variations can be accommodated.
3. Lap Splice Details
Lap splices are necessary in instances when full-length rebar cannot be used. The term “lap” is short for overlap. The lap splice is a form of connection. The lap lengths are dictated by code ACI 530 unless indicated otherwise in the contract drawings. Lap lengths serve the purpose of developing the strength of connections. My drawings call out:
- Lap Splice Lengths: It is all about adhering to the compliance and code of conduct as per the rebar grade, size, and its anticipated loads.
- Locations: Clear indications of splice locations to avoid clustering or compromising strength.
- Staggering Requirements: Splices are staggered where applicable to minimize weak points in the reinforcement.
4. Lintels
Lintels, the horizontal component, support the loads above openings like doors and windows. They are important to maintain the structural stability of CMU walls as they distribute the load among openings. In my drawings, I note all lintel locations and their bearing lengths on the sides of openings.
Lintels can primarily be of three types:
- Cast-in-Place Lintels: Built on-site, concrete is poured into forms and uses rebar. Cast-in-Place Lintels are very versatile, customizable according to certain requirements.
- Precast/Prestressed Concrete Lintels: Also called Pre-Cast Lintels, are manufactured off-site and contain cast steel tendons to temporarily support during placement. Additional grout and rebar are added once installed to integrate into the surrounding masonry.
- Steel Lintels: Made with steel and must adhere to ASTM A36. Steel angle lintels, commonly used in CMU construction, should be at least 1/4 inch thick. Steel lintels are great for projects prioritizing resistance to high loads and durability.
The firehouse shop drawings above include a variety of steel lintels at all door and window openings. There were also bond beams on this project, but they were not used as lintels to distribute loads around openings.
5. Code Compliance
It is important to mention that, in CMU construction, adherence to local, state, or national level building codes is non-negotiable.
The architect-of-record is responsible for establishing what codes should be followed. My shop drawings comply with such codes, and those could include:
- International Building Code (IBC)
- American Concrete Institute (ACI) ACI 530/ASCE 5/TMS 402, Latest Edition “BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS FOR MASONRY STRUCTURES”
- Mortar conforming to the requirements of ASTM C-270
- All welded reinforcing shall be ASTM A706
- Reinforcing bars conforming to ASTM A615, GRADE 60
- Lap reinforcing in accordance with ACI 530
6. Clarity and Appearance
Apart from the technical elements, clarity also plays an important role in the success of shop drawings. Hence, I keep an eye on:
- Standardized Symbols: Adherence to all the industry recognized symbols and notations to ensure consistency and avoid misinterpretation.
- Section Views and Details: Close-ups of all the critical areas, including openings, corners and intersections to prevent vagueness.
- Legends and Notes: Clearly and concisely explain all the abbreviations, symbols, and add any special instructions.
Why Partner with DraftingServices.com for Your CMU Rebar Shop Drawings
I create accurate, readable, and code-compliant CMU rebar shop drawings tailored to your project. From technical requirements to overall clarity, I make sure every base is covered.
Let me take care of your shop drawings so you can stay focused on building.
I can help make your project a success, just like the Mineola FD headquarters. Here’s another picture of the firehouse, showing the CMU stairwell walls I detailed in my shop drawings and that were built exactly as drawn. I can help your project achieve the same level of beauty and precision.
Contact
If you need CMU rebar shop drawings for your next project, call me now at 718.441.3968, text at 646.504.5230, or email at brian@draftingservices.com. I’ll handle your drawings personally, with support from my small, experienced team to ensure fast, accurate results.