A new Brick Industry Association (BIA) study found that brick with Concrete Masonry Units (CMUs) costs less than precast concrete, metal panel curtain wall, and glass panel curtain wall systems.
The study compared total construction costs in five categories: three-story office building, three-story apartment building, five-to 10-story office building, four- to eight-story hospital, and a six-story dorm. The independent study was conducted by RSMeans for the BIA, according to a news release.
Comparisons include exterior installation and finish systems (EIFS) with metal studs (lowest cost), brick with steel studs, manufactured stone with steel studs, brick with CMU, precast concrete, metal panel curtain wall and glass panel curtain wall. For example, a three-story office building using manufactured stone with steel studs costs 2.7% more than brick with steel studs. In that application, precast concrete costs 2.7% more than brick with CMU, and metal panel curtain wall costs 13.1% more than brick with CMU.
"National averages show brick costs less than perceived," said Ray Leonhard, BIA's president and CEO. "Since it's a non-flammable and non-combustible material, clay brick also offers superior fire resistance with a minimum one-hour fire rating."
Related Stories
| Oct 30, 2014
Steel Framing Industry Association’s certification program aims to ensure connector quality
The Steel Framing Industry Association has launched a certification program to ensure that cold-formed steel connectors meet quality guidelines, building codes, and ASTM standards.
| Oct 30, 2014
American Concrete Institute releases reorganized structural concrete code requirements
The reorganized document is organized from an engineer’s perspective. The requirements flow more intuitively and have fewer cross-references for improved logic and flow of information.
| Oct 30, 2014
USGBC pushes back LEED v4 deadline
Extending the deadline gives LEED users additional time to prepare for LEED v4, the latest version of LEED, which features increased rigor and multiple updates.
| Oct 24, 2014
Solar panels could be required on most new construction in San Francisco
A San Francisco city councilor will propose a new regulation that could soon mandate solar panels on most new construction in the city and on many existing apartment buildings.
| Oct 24, 2014
International WELL Building Institute launches green building standard
The International WELL Building Institute has launched the WELL Building Standard Version 1.0, which focuses on enhancing people’s health and well-being through the built environment.
| Oct 24, 2014
Seattle's Bullitt Center influencing codes and public policy on sustainability
The Bullitt Center in Seattle, which some say is the world's most efficient office building is not only influencing how other structures are built, it is contributing to revisions of codes and public policy.
| Oct 16, 2014
U.S. military concerned about climate change putting bases at risk from floods
Among the challenges the armed forces may face is rising sea levels that could put Navy docks and other installations under water in places like Norfolk, Va., Honolulu, and other coastal locations.
| Oct 16, 2014
Fannie Mae releases white paper on energy performance of multifamily buildings
The least energy efficient multifamily property may be spending $165,000 more in annual energy costs than a similar property operating the most efficiently, according to a new white paper released by Fannie Mae.
| Oct 16, 2014
Energy Department sets green building standards for federal agencies
LEED Silver may be used, and in some instances, the Green Globes program may be substituted, according to a new regulation by the U.S. Department of Energy.
| Oct 16, 2014
New York City’s climate plan includes tripling of solar energy
New York City’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 includes tripling the amount of solar power generated from city-owned buildings.
