Engineers' Reports

VOBB has had several engineers reports to prove beyond a doubt that the simplicity of VOBB using grout and rebar meets the required building code.

I. For building code requirements

http://www.koffel.com/

For the report, please click on the following link:
http://www.vobb.com/engineers-reports/Koffel-engineer-report-2004-Dec.pdf

II. General strength

http://www.storksmt.com/

For the report, please click on the following link:
http://www.vobb.com/engineers-reports/stork-engineer-report.pdf

III. For seismic
For the report, please click on the following link:
http://www.vobb.com/engineers-reports/Doerr-engineer-report-2004-Nov.pdf

IV. For Florida
For the report, please click on the following link:
http://www.vobb.com/engineers-reports/Walker-Engineering
-inc-Florida.pdf

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VOBB has never ever had a project denied because of lack of engineering reports or because of the strength of VOBB concrete block using dry-stacked with grout and rebar compared to using regular CMU with a weak mortar joint.  Please take a printout of the three above engineers reports to any building code official in the area which you will be getting a building permit. Show them the report and tell them about the VOBB web page.  You may also want to print out a copy of the VOBB brochure first.

We have seen it numerous times.  Once a building code official inspects a VOBB project and kicks the wall, they never asked about the strength of VOBB again.

Basically in the USA, where building with termite food and fire wood is the approved norm, when a building official sees that a person is building with VOBB, they know that they will have a solid and well built building. Most building code officials and the code themselves are concerned about fire.  With concrete block, the block do not burn and do not add to the fire. They add tremendous amount of time when there is a fire so that people can exit on a safe basis as compared to building built out of wood.

Likewise, compare a six-inch square concrete post with a rebar in the center on a twelve-inch center to a typical 2" x 4" wood on sixteen-inch centers as is typical construction in the USA. Basically, there is no comparison and building code officials recognize this once they understand the elimination of the weak mortar joint by VOBB.

As a final point, ask the building official if you built your home/building with regular 8" x 8" x 16" CMU, would it be an approved/acceptable construction method. Then show him/her the following two pictures of what can happen when there is a weak mortar joint.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO REGULAR 8" x 8" x 16" CMU WITH ONLY A WEAK MORTAR JOINT

Whoops. I am sure glad that I did not spend my money on this!!!

Now the owner will have to both clean up the mess and to replace the wall. Ouch!