Engineers gathered in Anderson focus on unsung hero of construction industry
September 30, 2014
Brick in the spotlight as Clemson University finishes building ‘hotbox’
CLEMSON, SC – Engineers from across the country are gathering today in Anderson to focus on a building material that strengthens buildings and insulates them from outdoor conditions but is often taken for granted.
That material is brick.
The 60th annual Clemson Brick Forum is at the Civic Center of Anderson and is organized by the university’s National Brick Research Center.
This year’s forum comes as the research center nears completion of a cutting-edge testing device.
The thermal mass research program, or “hotbox,” will allow researchers to simulate outdoor conditions, precisely measuring temperature, pressure and other factors, said Anand Gramopadhye, dean of the College of Engineering and Science.
“Data that researchers collect will help policymakers make informed decisions about brick-related building codes,” he said. “The hotbox will be a world-class facility and one of the few available in the United States.”
The device is under construction at the Bishop Materials Research Lab in Anderson, the home of the National Brick Research Center. The lab was built in partnership with industry and opened in 1996.
“It is now an internationally recognized research facility and testing lab for brick and other ceramic products,” said John Sanders, the research center’s director.
The forum continues through Wednesday. Topics on the agenda range from managing water resources to a new type of endurance brick used in a Habitat for Humanity house.
Clemson has been deeply involved in the forum since the beginning in 1955. The first meeting was at North Carolina State College, but every forum since its fourth year has been hosted by Clemson.
Since its founding in 1987, the center has had three directors. They are Gil Robinson, Denis Brosnan and Sanders.
“This stability in leadership has been vital in establishing the forum’s impact,” Gramopadhye said. “John’s leadership has been vital in the National Brick Research Center’s current success and we look forward to greater things from him and the center in the future.
“The College of Engineering and Science at Clemson University is doubly committed to making sure that the National Brick Research Center continues to be vibrant and a great resource for this vital and important industry in our state and country.”
