Technical Seminars
Support the continual development of your team
From simple and straightforward, to technical and in-depth, we have exactly what you’re looking for
The Canada Masonry Design Centre offers a wide array of technical seminars directed towards the design community. These sessions provide participants with the tools and knowledge to design masonry more confidently, efficiently, and effectively. They range from graduate level courses covering various topics in advanced masonry design to complimentary, in-office lunch and learns on typical masonry-related subjects. Popular topics include sustainability, CMDC Resources, Veneer detailing and design, structural masonry, and construction and contracts.
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Technical Sessions for Engineers
We offer technical seminars to help equip engineers with the knowledge and skills needed to properly and efficiently design masonry. Primarily comprised of practicing structural engineers licensed across Canada, CMDC is uniquely capable of speaking your language and getting “into the weeds’ when it comes to the challenges and decisions you would regularly encounter.
Engineering Design of Masonry Veneers
Masonry veneers are widely used across Canada as part of a high-performance building envelope. This non-proprietary durable cladding system, constructed from full-bed masonry units and mortar, and tied to a backing, has a long history of exceptional durability and provides near infinite esthetic possibilities. Although masonry veneers are non-structural and non-loadbearing, engineering design is nonetheless required to ensure adequate performance and conformity with the applicable Codes and standards. This seminar, intended for engineering designers, provides an overview of the unit masonry veneer system that is covered by the National Building Code of Canada and CSA’s suite of masonry standards. It then dives into aspects of veneer design that requires the application of the principles of engineering, including shelf angle design and vertical movements, moment joint spacing, and load transfer through veneer ties. Did you know that CSA masonry standards do not define a strict maximum to which a masonry veneer can be constructed off a foundation or shelf angle? Allow CMDC’s expert staff to guide you through applicable provisions of the CSA standards and offer relevant guidance to save you time and ensure you are getting most out of masonry veneers.
Masonry Specifications and Testing
Clear, enforceable specifications and sound testing practices are the backbone of durable, code-compliant masonry. This seminar, aimed at engineering designers, walks through material considerations for Division 04 requirements that align with the National Building Code of Canada and CSA’s masonry standards—covering units, mortar, grout, reinforcement, ties/anchors, and accessories—so that what is built matches what was designed.
From the lab to the jobsite, we then focus on what to test, when to test it, and how to interpret the results. Topics include unit properties, mortar and grout testing, prism compressive strength for assemblies. Common pitfalls are highlighted—such as over-reliance on mortar cube strength as a proxy for wall performance, misaligned sampling plans, or acceptance criteria that inadvertently reward non-compliant work—along with straightforward fixes you can put into your next project. Did you know that the measured strength of individual components does not directly indicate the capacity of the masonry assembly you actually rely on? Let CMDC’s technical team show you how to specify the right materials, select the right tests, and read the results with confidence—saving you time, reducing risk, and ensuring you get the performance you intended.
Technical Sessions for Architects
We offer design-focused seminars that equip architects with practical, buildable masonry strategies from concept through contract administration. Expect candid discussion of common pain points—clashes at corners and openings, inconsistent jointing, ambiguous notes—and the simple fixes that prevent RFIs and change orders. In short, we speak your language while getting “into the weeds” where it counts, helping you protect design intent, improve constructability, and reduce risk on masonry projects.
Masonry Veneers 101
This seminar provides a comprehensive introduction to the design, detailing, and code compliance of masonry veneer systems, focusing on achieving optimal performance, durability, and energy efficiency. Participants will explore the structural role of veneer ties and shelf angles, including spacing requirements, load considerations, and corrosion protection in accordance with CSA A370 and CSA S304. The session addresses movement joint design to mitigate cracking, as well as the impact of thermal bridging on building envelope performance under the NECB and provincial energy codes. Practical guidance is offered on reducing heat loss through tie selection, shelf angle detailing, and insulation strategies. Real-world examples, prescriptive and engineered design approaches, and new CMDC resources will be shared to equip designers with practical tools for compliant and efficient masonry veneer specifications.
Reducing Carbon Footprint in Masonry Wall Systems
This presentation examines how designers can significantly reduce the carbon footprint of masonry wall systems by applying strategic design, detailing, and construction practices. It addresses both embodied carbon—through measures such as optimized specifications, reduced steel reinforcement, partially grouted masonry, and efficient use of materials—and operational carbon, leveraging masonry’s thermal mass, mitigating thermal bridging, and scheduling work to minimize high-carbon winter heating. The session highlights updates to CSA S304-24 that improve design efficiency, explores end-of-life strategies including material reuse, and showcases current research into low-carbon materials, sustainable grout, and advanced masonry unit geometries. Together, these approaches position masonry as a durable, adaptable, and sustainable choice for achieving net-zero building targets.
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Let us know if you’re interested in hosting talk by someone with CMDC to present virtually, or in your office meeting space. Submit your information below and start planning your masonry design or construction seminar.
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The Canada Masonry Design Centre helps members of the design community across the country by connecting them to the resources and supports they need. Contact us today and get the conversation started!
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