Masonry Cleanouts 1

[SteelPE]

I have a building that is currently under construction that I am quite miffed about. The building is utilizing some CMU stair shafts as shear walls. We are grouting the walls solid and have give the contractor the option to do low lift grouting or high lift grouting. The contractor selected the use of high lift grouting.

During my last visit to the site, the CMU walls were being constructed and had yet to be grouted. I commented and noted in my field report that since high lift grouting was being utilized that cleanout holes would be at the bottom of the CMU would be required. The contractor complained but I told them the information was clearly on the drawings and they were the ones who selected high lift grouting for their ease.

Fast forward to my field visit today, when grouting of the CMU walls was complete... with not a cleanout hole on the entire project.

I am not sure what to do in this instance. Very angry right now.

 

[bIockhead]

I often find objections to cleanouts from the architect when the masonry is going to be left exposed, which I have some disdain for. If the block is being painted then I don't think it looks that much worse, but I'm also an engineer

Just bringing it up as a reason why reputable contractors sometimes won't provide cleanouts (had their hand slapped one too many times)

I am team pro-cleanout (which I would say is part and parcel with being team-following-codes-and-standards...)

 

[phamENG]

objections to cleanouts from the architect when the masonry is going to be left exposed

And that's fine. But if that's the stance, low lift grout is required. You don't get the benefits of high lift without the associated prep and inspection requirements.