When does a block become continuous?
user-6783697
| Posted in General Discussion on
Right now in my apprentice program we are going over blueprints, just kind of getting our feet wet learning how to nagvigate around a set of plans, when we were looking at some details our professor pointed out the difference between how a block is drawn and how a continuous member is drawn. Then he asked us all the question, When does a block become continuous? He said it could be found in code books but I have had no luck. Does anyone have any idea?
Zach
Replies
When it stops stopping and starts continuing?
View Image
Sojourners: Christians for Justice and Peace
What sort of block are you speaking of?
In ACAD drawing a block is a repeatable item
In masonry, a block is a CMU
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
i've been racking my brain over this one, and without knowing more of the context in which he was asking, it is hard to say. I have to presume and speculate a bit, so forgive me if i mislead you here.
to the best of my knowledge, A block in a drawing is for providing specific information. Sometimes that information can be repeatable, up to indefintiely.
For instance, a title block contains info about the drawing,much of which is repeatable, such as the scale, the draftsman's name, the job nmae, etc.
or you might have a texture block in the CAD drawing libraries. For instance, a hatch pattern or a brick couring pattern. In some CAD programs, that blocking can be applied to an area of the drawing and it will repeat endlessly, up to the borders of the space where it is placed, so that all that area is displayed as a brick look. Perhaps tjhis is what he meant by a continuous block.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Piffin...if you were racking your brains and that was the best you came up with...you better go back and rack some more!
I think a block at the line of scrimmage, which is carried downfield would be a continuous block...but I'm not sure.
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. According to him I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
How 'bout if we strengthened a floor system from one end of the house to the other with inserting blocking between the joists? Would that be a continuous block?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
No, that would be a waste of lumber!
lol
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. According to him I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
No, that would be continuous BLOCKING. A continuous block is when a writer sits at his computer for hours on end staring at a blank screen.
Where a load bearing wall with joists perpendicular to the block is located, the continuous block spans an opening in the block wall. ie. HVAC, crawlspace, basement garage opening, etc...
This is my best guess.
This may be too obvious to be the answer, but the u-shaped blocks (as in CMUs) sometimes used at the top of a foundation or always on top of a block house could be inferred to be continuous. After they're laid, 2 #4 or #5 rebar and poured concrete within the u. We always called the whole thing a "bond-beam", and the blocks "beam blocks."
And I wish I could have come up with something clever to add.
rvillaume
I think that all you guys have it wrong.
A continuous block is one that has lasted for days, and has not responded to ExLax. Must be time for Fleet.
Unless you're the lead dog, the view just never changes.
Well, you certainly got your feet wet here--from lots of guys p***ing on them! I'm guessing that if your proff says the answer in in code books that it does not concern "blocks" in terms of drawing, but perhaps the answer about a bond beam is right.
if you don't come back to flesh things out here, this thread will be a continuous search for answers.
unfortunately, half of us are looking in the wrong places, LOL
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
The fact that your professor says the answer can be found in code books makes me think he said blocking, not blocks. My guess would be either:
1. A plywood floor that acts as a diaphragm to latterally supports joists and beams.
or
2. Solid blocking between joists that, although we all know they aren't worth the trouble, inspectors like to see and add a marginal amount of stiffness to a floor system.
or
3. Header joist at perimeter of floor system.
I vote for #3.
A continuous beam has more than two supports and would typically be load-bearing and designated with a cross, corner to corner. Blocking across the member would be designated by a slash from one corner to another. Don't know code reference.
Man we are all over the board on this one, I know its a broad question, but thats how he put it out there. and I guess thats why the answer is worth 10% of our grade! But to try and specify our efforts Ill explain the context exactly how it happened.
As we were going over some blueprints of an apartment building we got into some details, I cant remember of what but I dont think it would matter at least thats how he made it sound, and on one of details there were two rectangles one with a diagonal line from one corner to the other and on the other there were crossing diaganols to form an X within the rectangle, like cjmbldr said, my professor then went on to explain that these represent a block of wood and a contiuous peice of wood.
And he asked verbatum, "When does a block become contiuous? or How short would a contiuous peice of wood have to be to be considered a block?"
Stumping the whole class he gave us the clue that it could be found under framing in any uniform building code reference.
Zach
12" is my answer as derived from the BCB 2005 version
Page 459, Section IV, Paragraph 4e.
"A block becomes continuous when it reaches the minimum length of 12". Any continuous piece of wood, shorter than 12' shall be considered a block, unless otherwise specifically designated as something other than a block"
There are exceptions, but I think that pretty well sums up the mystery
I hope that helps. Please send the milkbones pronto!
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
bravo! kudos! The confusion resulted because a block cannot become continuous ("would you cut this piece a little longer, please"), only the inverse can occur, usually with the help of a trusty sidewinder. (Reminds me of the time the new guy cut up pristine 16 footers to make blocks, leaving the misc. pile bristling with 4 and 5 foot off-cuts!)Had the question been "when does a continuous framing member become a block?" then we might have gotten to the milkbones quicker, but had a lot less fun in the process!
does that mean all that 14.5" blocking that's put between joists 16" o.c. ain't blocks after all?
btw .... never heard of such a thing ... read Blue's book .... believe it ...
just don't see why that even had to be put in writting.
what's the point of any code saying a 12" hunk of wood is or isn't a "block" ... ?
what am I missing here ...
Jeff Buck Construction
Artistry in Carpentry
Pgh, PA
"A block becomes continuous when it reaches the minimum length of 12". Any continuous piece of wood, shorter than 12'' shall be considered a block, unless otherwise specifically designated as something other than a block.
Jeff, I didn't want to get into the specific designations because they are many, but according to the BCB 2005 version the blocks you are reffering to are called blocks.
"...In the event that blocks are cut to lengths of 14.5" for the purposes of blocking between joists, notwithstanding the 12'' continuous piece of wood exception, they shall be construed as blocks."
The code goes into a lot of detail about the methods that are acceptable to fasten blocks, as opposed to continuous pieces of wood.
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
Interesting. I guess it's worth so much of your grade because you need to be able to find inane, useless information in the code book that has no use in practice or the field?
On the contrary Mike...knowing the differnces between blocks and continuous pieces of wood, and the resulting nuances regarding fastening instructions can actually make the difference in components staying put, or falling down.
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
Yeah, you're right. It was early and I hadn't had my second cup of coffee yet!
Yeah pretty useless information for 10% of our grade, I guess he wanted us to spend hours going through the code, but talkin to you guys was alot easier! Thanks.
Zach
I can see why it would be important to an anal professor now, but ten percent of grade? That's being double anal about this one. I suppose on commercial work the symbol on the plans would be important to draw and read right in section drawings, but for about 98% of residential, that is like wanting to come out and hold hands on the site to be sure we drive the exact right number of nails.....
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Tee Hee Hee Zach.
You better spend those hours going through the code because there ain't no such thing as BCB 2005. Unless your professor owns my code book called Blue's Code Book 2005.
Sorry about pulling one over on you, but I didn't think anyone would take it serious and I completly forgot about this thread.
The mystery continues...
blueJust because you can, doesn't mean you should!
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. There are some in here who think I'm a hackmeister...they might be right! Of course, they might be wrong too!
By Gar,, Ye oughter be shotafter Yee be skinned alive!LOL
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Burt I am suspecting the prof has his own funny gamer going on here, still one connected to ego....
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!