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Masonry industry urges SBCC to reject proposal that would remove single-width CMU compliance
Summary
Contractors, union leaders and masonry trade groups urged the State Building Code Council to disapprove proposal 2-64 and related amendments, saying single-width concrete masonry (CMU) walls provide durability, fire resistance and job opportunities and that the proposals lack new engineering justification.
Dozens of contractors, union leaders and masonry trade groups told the State Building Code Council on Aug. 5 that proposed energy-code changes—including proposal 2-64 and related items—would effectively eliminate a long-standing compliance pathway for single-width concrete masonry (CMU) walls.
Tom Young, past director of the Concrete Masonry Association, told the council the proposed change should be defeated, arguing that CMU has been recognized in Washington’s code cycles for decades and that "no new substantive information has been provided this time." He said laboratory U-factors do not capture the performance benefit of thermal mass in Washington’s dynamic climate and questioned the economic analysis supporting the change.
Lowell Glorowski, president of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers Local Washington-Alaska, said the change would reduce construction jobs and apprenticeships and undermine a proven, resilient wall system used in schools, hospitals and public facilities. "We simply ask the code changes continue to be based on sound engineering and demonstrated performance while preserving the flexibility for designers to choose proven code compliant masonry systems," he said.
Steve Belzak, executive director of the Northwest Concrete Masonry Association, and multiple contractors reiterated that single-width CMU offers low-maintenance durability and thermal-mass benefits and expressed concerns about underestimated costs for alternatives. Richard Crooks, executive director of the Washington State Conference of Mason Contractors, warned the change would force owners to replace single-width approaches with double walls, raising costs and reducing durability.
Speakers asked the council to retain the Washington-specific CMU exception until a fuller, transparent technical review demonstrates meaningful whole-building energy benefits from removing it. The council did not take votes at the hearing; testimony and written comments will be included in the official rulemaking record ahead of the Sept. 25, 2026 final decision.
