From fire to the forces of nature, block-built schools are made to withstand it all

DENVER, Aug. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As a new academic year begins, communities across the country are celebrating fresh starts, while facing a hard truth: many school buildings still fall short when it comes to protecting the people inside them.

Every day, millions of students and educators walk into buildings that may not be suited to withstand today's challenges — whether it's a fire, severe weather or a security breach. While school safety conversations often revolve around policies and response protocols, it can be easy to overlook the protective power of the buildings themselves.

Concrete masonry unit (CMU) construction offers a quiet but critical safeguard. With built-in fire resistance, impact durability and storm resilience, concrete block protects continuously, without relying on costly upgrades or add-ons.

So why isn't concrete masonry the standard for every school?

A recent white paper from the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association highlights the powerful advantages of CMU in school construction:

• Fire Containment: CMU walls confine fires to their origin 93% of the time and can withstand flames for up to four hours, giving students and teachers critical time to evacuate safely.
• Storm Resilience: CMU can withstand winds and debris up to 250 mph in severe weather events.
• Sound Transmission: CMU controls noise by blocking sound between rooms and absorbing it within busy spaces like classrooms, cafeterias and gymnasiums.

Beyond extreme weather, block-built schools are made to withstand daily abuse. CMU construction handles busy corridors, raucous lunchrooms, and hard-played gyms with ease while maintaining its strength and appearance for generations.

Real-World Protection in Action
Some of the schools hardest hit by storms have chosen to rebuild with CMU for its proven strength and resilience.

In 2019, Florence, Alabama, opened a new 180,000-square-foot middle school to replace its predecessor from the 1950s. Designed with safety at its core, the facility features a CMU-built gymnasium that doubles as a FEMA-rated storm shelter, capable of protecting three times the school's student population.

After EF-5 tornadoes destroyed schools in Joplin, Missouri (2011), and Moore, Oklahoma (2013), both districts rebuilt with FEMA-rated safe rooms using reinforced concrete masonry. Moore added CMU-walled classrooms designed to withstand 250 mph winds, while Joplin integrated hardened safe-room facilities districtwide to protect students and staff from future storms.

"In many districts, schools built with concrete masonry also serve as emergency shelters for the broader community," said James Cain, President of the Southeast Concrete Masonry Association. "Schools are the heartbeat of our communities. They deserve to be built strong enough to protect everyone who walks through their doors."

Value That Extends Beyond Safety
In addition to life-safety benefits, concrete masonry offers long-term value that school districts can count on:

• Lower Insurance Premiums: CMU buildings often earn insurance rates lower than timber-framed structures.
• Energy Efficiency: Concrete block's high thermal mass regulates indoor temperatures and reduces HVAC demand.
• Minimal Maintenance: CMU resists wear, weather and pests, reducing repair costs over decades.

Design Support for Safer Schools
According to the U.S. Census Bureau and Federal Reserve, public educational construction spending exceeded $111 billion as of mid-2025. With so much investment at stake, now is the time to rethink what modern school safety should look like from the inside out.

To help architects, engineers and builders deliver smarter, safer learning environments using CMU, the Block Design Collective (BDC), backed by the Concrete Masonry Checkoff, provides free technical design assistance.

"The next generation of designers can benefit greatly from the Block Design Collective," says Kim Spahn, CEO, Concrete Masonry Checkoff. "We're here to help them unlock the full performance potential of concrete masonry, especially where safety, durability and long-term value are critical."

About the Block Design Collective
The Block Design Collective (BDC) provides free design assistance to help architects, engineers and builders maximize the safety, durability and efficiency of concrete masonry projects. Backed by the Concrete Masonry Checkoff, the BDC offers early-stage support and technical expertise for schools and other critical infrastructure. Learn more at blockdesign.org

About the Concrete Masonry Checkoff
The Concrete Masonry Checkoff (CMC) is an industry-funded initiative supporting education, research and promotion of manufactured concrete masonry units in the U.S. It is the first-ever Checkoff Program authorized by the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Learn more at concretemasonrycheckoff.org

Tom DiBacco
(202) 420-0593
tdibacco@clutchperformance.com

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SOURCE Concrete Masonry Checkoff