Continuing Education Opportunity for the Practical Structural Engineer: | | | | |
Structural Masonry: Raising the Bar
WEBINAR SERIES - 3.0 SEAMASS or NCSEA Diamond PDHs
Three Consecutive Thursdays:
NOV 5, 12, & 19, 2026 | Noon - 1 p.m. ET
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NOV 5: Techniques, Materials, and Design Considerations for Strengthening of Existing Concrete and Masonry Structures
NOV 12: Updating Your Assumptions about Masonry
NOV 19: Toward TMS 405, The Journey, Process and Future of the Existing Masonry Standard
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Can't make the LIVE presentations? REGISTER to receive the webinar recordings.
Only participants of "live" webcasts receive PDH credits.
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NOVEMBER 5, 2026 | Noon - 1:00 P.M. ET:
Techniques, Materials, and Design Considerations for Strengthening of Existing Concrete and Masonry Structures
Presenter: Geoff Carroll
Senior Business Development Manager | Tstrata Strengthening Solutions
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PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
Although the analysis and upgrade of masonry and concrete structures is somewhat of a “scientific art” that has been practiced for many years, it has evolved into a complex process that requires a blend of engineering, material science and constructability perspectives. Strengthening projects may utilize traditional materials such as conventional cement-based and steel materials as well as advanced composite materials (FRPs) that are commonly used for aerospace applications. The techniques used to design and install these materials for upgrade applications are not common to the engineering and general construction industry which can also make strengthening projects even more challenging and complex than new construction.
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The presentation will center around strengthening with externally bonded FRP systems:
- Typical FRP materials- sheet and rod
- Installation techniques and QA/QC
- Design Concepts per ACI 440.13-24
- FRP Limitations- both strengthening limits and fire rating limitations
- Actual case studies from our installations
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NOVEMBER 12, 2026 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET:
Updating your Assumptions about Masonry
Presenter: Brian E. Trimble, PE, LEED AP
Director, Industry Development and Technical Services
International Masonry Institute
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PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
Masonry has been around for a long time, and designers often use old rules of thumb that were developed over decades. But times change and codes change so designs should be updated to most current technologies. In masonry, the TMS 402/602 code has undergone continual development. Gone are empirical design requirements. New code requirements for both anchored and adhered veneer have been added. And movement joints spacing recommendations continue to evolve.
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Learn how to update your assumptions regarding masonry by using current code requirements and industry recommendations. This presentation will touch on design methods, movement joint placement, updated restoration techniques, masonry lintels and even embodied carbon.
Lessons from various case studies will be presented to show the implications of using outdated assumptions.
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NOVEMBER 19, 2026 | Noon - 1:00 p.m. ET:
Toward TMS 405, The Journey, Process & Future
of The Existing Masonry Standard
Presenter: Heather Sustersic, PE
Director of Special Projects | Colby Company Engineering
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PRESENTATION OVERVIEW:
TMS 402/602, Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures, applies only to new construction. The United States and Canada currently do not have a referenced standard dedicated to existing masonry that can be adopted by an Authority Having Jurisdiction, except for seismic-specific applications covered by ASCE 41. To address this, in 2024 The Masonry Society formed the Existing Masonry Standards Committee to build upon the previous 4 years of Existing Masonry Guidelines (EMG) Task Group efforts towards developing a consensus standard for Existing Masonry, TMS 405 Building Code Requirements for Existing Masonry Structures.
Modeled after American Concrete Institute (ACI) 562 for concrete, Code Requirements for Assessment, Repair, and Rehabilitation of Existing Concrete Structures, the draft standard is in development with a public comment period scheduled for 2028.
This presentation provides a summary of the background and coordinated approach applied in writing the draft standard and an update to the structural engineering industry at large regarding its trajectory.
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Beyond a high-level overview of what will be included in each chapter, what is specifically excluded and why, and how the document is intended to be used by design professionals and code officials, this presentation will also cover the consensus standard development process and how attendees can become involved.
Learning Objectives:
1) Learn how the TMS 405 was conceived and developed, including a summary of the state of the practice for Existing Masonry across the globe.
2) Acknowledge the path forward for TMS 405 and TMS’s rigorous consensus process.
3) Understand the scope and limitations of TMS 405.
4) Understand how TMS 405 should be used.
| | EVENT TIMING & REGISTRATION | | |
INVESTMENT:
MEMBERS - SEAMASS Certified PDH Certificate
$35 per webinar (1.0 PDH) OR $90 for ALL 3 Webinars (3.0 PDHs)
NON-Members - SEAMASS Certified PDH Certificate
$40 per webinar (1.0 PDH) OR $105 for ALL 3 Webinars (3.0 PDHs)
OPTIONAL Add-on - NCSEA-Certified PDH Certificate:
$10 (for 1 to 3 PDHs) - available for Members and Non Members
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Register for the full series OR individual events
Can't make the LIVE presentation? Register to receive the webinar recordings.
Only participants of "LIVE" webcasts receive PDH credits.
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Geoff Carroll | Senior Business Development Manager
Tstrata Strengthening Solutions
Geoff is a Senior Business Developer for Concrete/Masonry Strengthening with Tstrata Strengthening Solutions. He has 15+ years' experience in the commercial construction industry with expertise in CFRP strengthening, post-tension repair and modification, concrete enlargements, and FRCM.
Geoff holds a Masters in Project Management from the University of Southern California and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). His previous experience includes demolition, repair, and installation of commercial and historical roofing systems, engineered MEP support solutions, concrete/masonry/steel anchoring, metal deck systems, and project management.
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Brian E. Trimble, PE, LEED AP
Director, Industry Development and Technical Services
International Masonry Institute
Brian has over 30 years’ experience in the masonry industry, assisting design professionals in the design of masonry structures. He is a frequent lecturer to local, regional, and national construction industry groups. He has authored many articles and papers on various masonry subjects. Brian started his career with a brick manufacturer and worked at the Brick Industry Association for over 20 years serving in various positions. For the International Masonry Institute he coordinates activities in the Western PA and Western NY areas promoting masonry to a wide variety of audiences including owners, contractors, architects, engineers and craftworkers.
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Heather Sustersic, PE | Director of Special Projects
Colby Company Engineering
Heather is the Director of Special Projects and a practicing structural engineer with Colby Company Engineering in Portland, Maine, with 20 years of experience in the design of new buildings, complex renovations, sculptures, and specialty engineering projects, as well as performing condition assessments of existing building structures for both commercial and federal clients. She serves on the Board of Directors for The Masonry Society (TMS), is Chair of the Reinforcement and Connectors subcommittee to TMS 402 and is a voting member of the TMS 402 Main committee, the Structural Members subcommittee, the TMS 402 Executive committee, the Existing Masonry Committee, and the Meetings subcommittee.
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Heather is also the founding Chair of the Existing Masonry Standards Committee (EMSC), formed in October, 2024, and recipient of the 2025 TMS President's Award.
A former adjunct faculty member in the Architectural Engineering Department at The Pennsylvania State University, she taught Design of Masonry Structures and Indeterminate Analysis courses for 3 years, while also advising senior architectural engineering students in their thesis work. Her research areas included engineering education and modeling the tornado-building interaction using combined computational fluid dynamics and finite element analysis. More recent research efforts relate to the Canada-United States (CANUS) harmonization project, leading the Existing Masonry Guidelines Task Group, and progressive collapse of load bearing masonry structures.
Mrs. Sustersic serves on the Long-Range Planning Advisory Committee (LPAC) for the Town of Falmouth, Maine, and is active in circularity and sustainability efforts within the state.
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| TstrataPlatinum Concrete & Masonry Restoration by BrandSafway specializes in concrete maintenance, repair and restoration for a variety of markets, including industrial, power generation, wastewater treatment, bridges and infrastructure, government, commercial, and maritime.
LEARN MORE: PlatinumConcreteSolutions.com | | |
| Tstrata Strengthening Solutions delivers advanced structural strengthening and post-tensioning repair solutions for aging and complex infrastructure. Launched by STRUCTURAL TECHNOLOGIES and backed by 50 years of experience from Structural Group companies, Tstrata focuses exclusively on technologies that extend the life of concrete and masonry structures. LEARN MORE: Tstrata.com | | | | |
