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Specify – October 2018

Specify – October 2018

01. Turf reinforcement mats

American Excelsior introduced a new product line marketed under the brand TriNet Family of turf reinforcement mats (TRMs). The initial launch of TriNet products included TriNet Coconut and TriNet Straw/Coconut, designed to directly compete with existing three-netted TRMs that contain a degradable coconut or straw/coconut matrix. The second launch of TriNet products includes branded products under the names Curlex excelsior and Recyclex, which contains synthetic fibers derived from 100 percent post-consumer recycled materials.

02. Wide-span brick tie

Simpson Strong-Tie’s new, high-performance BTH brick tie can connect brick and stone veneers to light-frame construction across spans as great as 3 inches. Fabricated from 22-gauge galvanized steel, the BTH brick tie is field-adjustable in two places and can be installed with either side facing up. The brick ties allow wider airspaces between stone and brick veneers and wood framing to accommodate the thickness in materials and allow for adequate drying of moisture, especially in mixed humid climates. Tie ends embed in the mortar a minimum of 1-1/2 inches and connect to the framing with a single 0.131-inch by 2-1/2-inch nail.

03. Porous asphalt design guide

The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) published Structural Design Guidelines for Porous Asphalt Pavements, which discusses the structural design procedure for porous asphalt and the required inputs using the AASHTO 93 design method. The book includes guidance on determining structural design input values, calculating minimum layer thicknesses, and limits on effective structural thickness. Design examples are included for full-depth porous asphalt pavement systems with and without an asphalt-treated permeable base, as well as a catalogue of required layer thicknesses for different traffic levels. The book is available as a PDF download through the NAPA Online Store at https://store.asphaltpavement.org.