Technical Notes 21B

REVISED

on Brick Construction
Brick Industry Association 11490 Commerce Park Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191
April
2002

BRICK MASONRY CAVITY WALLS

DETAILING
Abstract: This Technical Notes contains recommendations for the proper detailing of
brick masonry cavity walls. Flashing, weep holes, and sealants are prescribed to control mois-
ture penetration. Bond breaks, adequate bearing details, expansion and movement joints are
shown. Seismic detailing is also addressed.

Key Words: bearing, cavity wall, expansion joints, flashing, sealants, parapets, ties.

INTRODUCTION designed to stop any mortar droppings from blocking the

Materials and workmanship alone are not sufficient to cavity and allow water to flow around them. Use of
ensure adequate cavity wall performance. Unless prop- drainage materials is not required, and in some cases
erly detailed, cavity walls constructed of the finest mate- may contribute to water penetration problems within the
rials by the most talented masons will suffer the conse- wall. More information on drainage materials is pre-
quences of poor detailing. This Technical Notes pro- sented in Technical Notes 21A of this series.
motes quality cavity walls by discussing and depicting Drip Edge/Flashing Extension
pertinent details.
This is the third in a series of Technical Notes devot- Water that collects on flashing can re-enter the wall
ed to brick masonry cavity walls. Other Technical Notes below if flashing terminates behind the face of the wall.
in this series discuss cavity walls in general, including; For best performance, flashing should be extended 1⁄4 in.
properties, design, material selection, and construction. (6 mm) beyond the wall plane and turned down at an
This Technical Notes addresses proper detailing for angle of 45 degrees to form a drip. This forces water
brick cavity walls. away from the wall surface.
A protruding flashing is neither possible nor desirable
FLASHING AND WEEP HOLES in some cases. For example, exposure to ultraviolet radi-
Through-wall flashing and weep holes are installed in ation may cause some flexible flashings to deteriorate.
exterior masonry wall construction to collect and divert In these cases, flashing should be cut flush with the face
moisture that penetrates the exterior wythe of masonry of the wall. In cases where the flashing itself cannot be
to the outside of the wall. Through-wall flashing must exposed, a non-corrosive metal drip edge may be used,
be provided at the base of the wall, at roof and chimney see Fig. 1. Before specifying metal drips to be used in
intersections, at roof and wall intersections, and at the conjunction with steel shelf angles or lintels, the poten-
top of parapets. Flashing is also needed over and under
door and window openings, at shelf angles, and at other FLASHING
horizontal discontinuities in the cavity. Any penetrations
in the flashing membrane should be sealed to prevent METAL DRIP
leakage. Sealants and flashing used together must be
compatible so that staining does not occur and long-term
performance is maintained.
For flashing and weep holes to perform as intended,
the air space separating the masonry wythes must be SEALANT
kept clear of mortar droppings and other obstructions SEALED
that may bridge the air space. To achieve this end, pri- LAP SPLICE SEALANT (OPTIONAL)
mary importance should be placed on good workman-
ship. A secondary method of keeping the cavity clean is Flashing with Metal Drip Edge
through the use of drainage materials specifically FIG. 1
 End Dams
Detailing and installation of end dams cannot be
overemphasized. Their purpose is to ensure that collect-
ed water is directed toward the weep holes where flash-
ROUND TUBES ing is not continuous. Such areas occur above windows,
OR WICKS doors and other openings and under sills beneath win-
@ 16" (400 MM) o.c.
dows. End dams are also used in conjunction with tray
flashing at arches, when flashing is stepped, and where
a lower sloping roof line intersects a wall. Without end
dams the collected water may run off the ends of the
flashing into the air space and saturate the brickwork
below. To prevent this, each end of the flashing should
OPEN HEAD JOINTS extend beyond the opening and turn up into the head
@ 24" (600 MM) o.c.
joint a minimum of 1 in. (25 mm,) or a prefabricated end
Spacing of Weep Holes
dam may be used, see Fig. 3.
FIG. 2 Foundations
To prevent moisture penetration and promote cavity
tial for galvanic action between the metals should be drainage, place the bottom of the wall so that flashing is
considered. Flashing materials should overlap the metal above the finished grade. Care should to taken to ensure
drip edge by a minimum of 1 in. (25 mm), and be fully that flashing and weep holes are placed far enough above
bonded to the top surface of the drip edge with a mastic grade, typically 8 in. (200 mm), so that they will not be
or manufacturer-approved sealant. Metal drip edges covered by future grading or landscaping, see Fig. 4. With
should be sealed at all laps and penetrations. basement construction, it is important to use through-wall
Weep Holes flashing at the bottom of the cavity to prevent moisture
Weep holes should be placed immediately above all from penetrating to the basement wall, see Fig. 5. Below
flashing and be spaced no more than 24 in. (600 mm) on the flashing, any cavity should be filled solid with mortar
center when open head joints are used, and no more than or grout. The flashing also prevents rising damp, ground
16 in. (400 mm) on center when wick materials or round water drawn up into the brickwork by capillary action.
tubes are used, see Fig. 2. Open head joints are preferred This reduces the potential for staining and efflorescence.
because they allow water to drain more quickly. Insects The flashing also serves as a bond break between the brick
do not commonly enter working weep holes, but they and the concrete foundation. This permits differential
can be prevented from entering open head joints by movement between the materials and reduces the likeli-
using louvered, vent-type weep inserts, stainless steel hood of cracking. In construction without basements, the
wool, or other drainage material. flashing may also serve as a termite shield.

CONCRETE
MASONRY
WYTHE
(INNER WYTHE)
BRICK
WYTHE
(OUTER
WYTHE)
REINFORCED
CMU LINTEL

1” MIN.
(25 mm)
TROUGH WALL
FLASHING
STEEL ANGLE\LINTEL

End Dam
FIG. 3

2
 PREFABRICATED
CORNERS
JOINT INSIDE
REINFORCEMENT CORNER

THROUGH
WALL OUTSIDE
FLASHING CORNER

AIR SPACE

CONCRETE
SLAB

WEEP HOLE FILL SOLID WITH

MORTAR OR
GROUT
BELOW
FLASHING
Prefabricated Corners
(From Masonry Design and Detailing:
For Architects, Engineers, and Contractors,
4th Edition, Christine Beall)
Foundation Detail FIG. 6
FIG. 4

AIR SPACE
STEEL COLUMN
JOINT REINFORCEMENT
CMU FILL CELLS OF
WYTHE CMU SOLID
WITH MORTAR
AIR SPACE OR GROUT@
ANCHORS
THROUGH WALL
FLASHING
BRICK CONCRETE
WTYHE SLAB
WEEP HOLE

WEEP BLOCKING
HOLE UNDERNEATH
FILL SOLID
WITH MORTAR THROUGH WALL
OR GROUT FLASHING
BELOW FLASHING

Flashing at Steel Column

(From Masonry and Steel Detailing Handbook,
Basement Detail W. Laska)
FIG. 5 FIG. 7

Corners Columns
It is important to make sure flashing is continuous In some cases, vertical supports may make it neces-
around corners. Forming corners with conventional sary to cut, puncture or otherwise interrupt the flashing.
flashing is a complicated process involving folding When this occurs, it is important to make sure that all
and/or cutting, which increases the potential for flashing openings in the flashing are tightly sealed, and that the
failure. Specifying prefabricated corners eliminates the flashing is attached to these supports with mechanical
need to cut, patch and fold flashing, thereby reducing means or approved adhesives. A common problem con-
some of the potential for water penetration, see Fig. 6. dition exists when the inside wythe of a cavity wall
Whether field-formed or prefabricated, all corners spans between steel columns, and the column flanges are
should overlap at least 6 in. (150 mm), be sealed with perpendicular to the masonry. Fig. 7 illustrates one way
mastic or an adhesive compatible with the flashing mate- that this problem can be addressed. The flashing is
rial, and conform to the shape of the structure. formed into a tray and adhered to the column. Cut brick
3
 FLASHING
MORTAR OR
GROUT
FLASHING WITH
END DAMS
PROTECTIVE BELOW SILL
MATERIAL
WEEP HOLE
BACKER ROD AND
SEALANT
MIN. 1/8" (4 mm) SPACE
OR COMPRESSIBLE
MATERIAL BELOW CAVITY SEAL
SHELF ANGLE
AIR SPACE CONTINUOUS
SEALANT
AND BACKER
ROD

MASONRY SILL
Shelf Angle Detail BELOW
FIG. 8

or concrete masonry units may be placed at the column Window Jamb Detail with Cavity Seal
base to provide support for the flashing. Otherwise, the FIG. 10
flashing can continue in front of the column if it is fully
DOORS AND WINDOWS
supported from behind.
Detailing openings in masonry cavity walls requires
Shelf Angles
special attention because any air or water which bridges
Shelf angles are used to support brick masonry, transfer the cavity may cause problems. When the lintel used
the weight of brickwork to the structural frame and create above any masonry opening is not continuous, flashing
horizontal expansion joints. Flashing should be installed should extend beyond the ends of the lintel and turn up
over all shelf angles, extended beyond the edge of the to form end dams. Air leakage around window and door
angle when possible. Flashing may be self adhered to the frames to the cavity can be minimized by placing a pre-
shelf angle or have sealant at the edge to prevent wind driv- compressed pad or sealant in the cavity at the perimeter
en rain from penetrating underneath the flashing. The of the opening. Such a seal is placed at the head of the
flashing material should extend back to the inside wythe opening between the back of the lintel and interior
and turn up a minimum of 8 in. (200 mm). All shelf angles masonry wythe, see Fig. 9, and below the window sill.
should have a horizontal expansion joint underneath, (see The seal must be integrated with a similar seal at the
Fig. 8). More information about expansion joints is found jamb between the two masonry wythes, see Fig. 10. A
later in this Technical Notes. sealant joint at the exterior window/masonry interface is

THROUGH WALL
FLASHING
FLASHING
FLASHING WITH
END DAMS
CAVITY SEAL BELOW SILL

WEEP HOLE
BACKER ROD
SEALANT AND SEALANT

SEALANT AND
BACKER ROD MASONRY SILL
BELOW

Window Head Detail and Cavity Seal Window Jamb Detail

FIG. 9 FIG. 11

4
the primary defense against the ingress of both air and Sealants perform best when they are bonded to two
water. Jamb flashing is not required, but may be placed opposing surfaces. When a sealant is bonded to three
between the interior masonry wythe and the window surfaces, its ability to accommodate movement is signif-
frame as an additional barrier. In the case of masonry icantly reduced. Backer rods are recommended and pro-
jambs, flashing between the two masonry wythes pre- vide support for the sealant within the joint and prevent
vents contact and transmission of water to the interior, three-sided adhesion. A bond-breaking tape may be
see Fig. 11. Jamb flashing should be fully adhered to the required with some types of backer rods. The sealant
interior masonry wythe and extend down to lap over the should be installed in accordance with the manufactur-
through-wall flashing at the sill. er’s recommendations. Additionally, maintenance pro-
Flashing is also needed below window sills, see Figs. grams should be implemented to inspect and replace
12 and 13. When one-piece continuous masonry sills are sealants that may have dried out, split, or separated from
specified, the flashing should extend into the exterior the substrate.
masonry wythe at the jambs, see Fig. 10. When detailed
in this manner, sill flashing can manage water that by- PARAPETS
passes sealant joints at both the sill and jambs. If not so Of all the masonry elements used in buildings, proba-
detailed, the jamb flashing must be placed to direct wa- bly the most difficult to properly detail is a parapet wall.
ter to the sill flashing. Sealing the pre-compressed cav- Designers have tried many different ways to minimize
ity seal at the jambs to the sill flashing completes a con- cracking, leaking, and displacement. Generally, the only
tinuous barrier between the window frame and the cavi- guarantee against parapet problems is to eliminate the
ty. End dams must be formed at the ends of the sill parapet. However, they are frequently required by build-
flashing. Self-flashing windows only handle water ing codes or included for aesthetic reasons.
which makes its way inside the window frame and do
For cavity wall construction, it is recommended that
not negate the need for the flashing installation de-
the cavity continue to the top of the parapet, thereby
scribed above.
permitting differential movement between the outer and
Sealant Joints inner wythes. Expansion joints should extend to the top
Sealant joints are the primary defense against mois- of the parapet as well. In addition, the inner wythe of the
ture penetration through joints in exterior elements. parapet may need to be reinforced and attached to the
Sealant joints at masonry openings in exterior walls, structural frame. Additional vertical expansion joints
such as door and window frames, and expansion joints should be placed in the parapet, located between those in
should be designed, detailed and installed with the same the wall below, and near corners to avoid displacement
care as other building components, not applied as an of the parapet.
afterthought. Too frequently, sealants are used to correct Copings on parapets should provide a drip on at least
or hide poor workmanship, rather than being included as one side of the wall and slope towards the drip. Metal,
an integral part of the construction. stone, and fired clay copings of various designs usually

PERIMETER
WINDOW
SEALANT

PERIMETER
WINDOW
MORTAR SEALANT
OR GROUT

FLASHING AND
FLASHING AND WEEP HOLES
WEEP HOLES SEAL @ DOWEL
PENETRATIONS
CAVITY
SEAL
METAL DOWEL WHERE
ANCHOR NECESSARY

Window Sill Detail Window Sill Detail

FIG. 12 FIG. 13

5
provide this feature. Place through-wall flashing in the
mortar joint immediately beneath the coping and firmly HORIZONTAL JOINT
REINFORCEMENT
attach the coping to the wall below with mechanical
anchors. Sealant should be applied where the anchors
penetrate the flashing. More information about caps
and copings can be found in Technical Notes 36A.
Parapets should not be painted or coated, they must be CMU
WYTHE
able to “breathe”. Roofing membrane should not
extend up the back side of the parapet without consid-
eration of moisture vapor transmission.
MOVEMENT JOINTS EXPANSION JOINT
(BACKER ROD,
Vertical Expansion Joints SEALANT AND
COMPRESSIBLE
The exterior of each building must be analyzed to MATERIAL)
determine the potential for horizontal movement, and pro-
visions must be made to relieve the stress that results from BRICK WYTHE

such movement. Typical locations for vertical expansion

joints include at intervals in long walls, interior corners,
returns, and the jambs of large openings. See Technical Vertical Expansion Joint at Interior Corner
FIG. 15
Notes 18 and 18A for a thorough discussion of move-
ments and detailing to address its effects, formulas for
the inner wythe is usually supported by the building
spacing of vertical expansion joints, and specific applica-
frame at each floor level. The outer wythe, often sup-
tions.
ported by shelf angles attached to the frame, is tied by
Details of typical expansion joints and their locations
metal ties to the inner wythe and the building frame.
are shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Vertical expansion joints
Care should be taken to ensure that the shelf angle is
are usually 3⁄8″ to 1⁄2″ (9 mm to13 mm) wide to match
properly anchored and shimmed to prevent rotations and
typical mortar joints and filled with a backer rod and
deflections that may induce high concentrated stresses in
sealant. Toothed expansion joints are difficult to con-
the masonry. Shelf angles should be designed so that
struct and do not perform as well as straight expansion
total deflections are less than 1⁄16 in. (1.6 mm). Shelf
joints. For aesthetic reasons, consideration may be
angles should be segmented to permit thermal expansion
given to hiding vertical expansion joints in locations
and contraction of the steel without damage to the wall.
such as interior corners. It may be desirable to accentu-
ate vertical expansion joints, making them attractive Spaces between segments of the shelf angle do not have
design elements, see Fig 16. Joint reinforcement should to align with brick expansion joints. Continuous flashing
not span vertical expansion joints. should be installed above all shelf angles.
A horizontal expansion joint is formed by providing
Horizontal Expansion Joints a minimum space of 1⁄8″ (4 mm) below the shelf angle.
Cavity walls are successfully used as curtain walls in This space is filled with a compressible material and
concrete and steel-frame buildings. In such instances, sealed with an elastic sealant, typically of a color that

CONCRETE
COLUMN
BACKER ROD
AND SEALANT,
DOVETAIL SLOT TYPICAL
W/ WIRE ANCHOR ALL JOINTS

BRICK EXPANSION JOINT

Vertical Expansion Joint Accentuated Vertical Expansion Joint

FIG. 14 FIG. 16

6
 HORIZONTAL
FLASHING JOINT
REINFORCEMENT

PROTECTIVE AIR SPACE ADJUSTABLE

MATERIAL ANCHOR
STEEL COLUMN

BACKER ROD
AND SEALANT FILL CELLS
OF CMU SOLID
WITH MORTAR
MIN. 1/8" (4 mm) OR GROUT
SPACE OR @ ANCHORS
COMPRESSIBLE
MATERIAL BELOW
SHELF ANGLE WEEP HOLE

Lipped Brick Detail

FIG. 17

Anchorage to Steel Column

closely matches the mortar joint, see Fig. 8. In some (From Masonry and Steel Detailing Handbook,
instances, the width of the expansion joint below the W. Laska) (Fireproofing omitted for clarity)
shelf angle may be larger than is desirable. An alternate FIG. 18
detail shown in Fig. 17 allows room for movement while
providing a narrower joint. tolerance differences and movement resulting from loads
Horizontal expansion joints may be eliminated by applied to the frame and floor elements. Anchors should
having the weight of the exterior wythe supported on the not be located in the same bed joint as flashing.
foundation. One alternative has both wythes of the cavi- A more complete discussion and examples of ties ap-
ty wall bypass the structural frame, with the weight sup- propriate for connecting the wythes in cavity wall con-
ported on the foundation. The inner wythe is anchored to
struction are given in Technical Notes 21A. As noted
the structure with flexible anchors for lateral support.
there, frequency and spacing of cavity wall ties depends
One method of such anchoring is shown in Fig. 18.
on wire size and tie type. Table 1 contains such pre-
Alternately, only the interior wythe can be supported on
scriptive requirements from Building Code Require-
the structural frame. If this second support condition is
ments for Masonry Structures, ACI 530/ASCE 5/TMS
used, it is imperative that adjustable ties be used between
the wythes and that all components that penetrate or are 402, [3] also known as the Masonry Standards Joint
attached to both wythes be detailed to permit differen- Committee (MSJC) Code.
tial movement. In addition, ties must be located within 12 in. (305 mm)
of openings larger than 16 in. (406 mm) in either direc-
ANCHORAGE AND TIES tion. These ties are spaced at a maximum of 3 ft (0.91 m)
Masonry walls used to enclose frame structures must on center around the perimeter. Ties should also be locat-
be carefully designed and detailed to permit the transfer ed within 12 in. (305 mm) of free edges of each wythe and
of loads applied to the wythes to the frame in a manner at the horizontal or vertical spacing indicated.
that accommodates relative movement. Frame structures
are more flexible than masonry cavity walls and can TABLE 1
undergo greater deflections. The frame and enclosing Wall Tie Area and Spacing Requirements
cavity wall also differ in their exposure and reaction to
temperature and moisture conditions.
Tie Wire Size Wall Area per Tie Maximum Tie Spacing
Anchors that provide lateral support to a wall should in. (mm) Number per ft2 (m2) Horizontal by Vertical,
resist loads perpendicular to the plane of the wall, but in. (mm)
should not transfer in-plane loads. This allows the vertical
W1.7 (MW11) 22⁄3 (0.25) 36 by 24
and horizontal movement of the brick in the plane of the 0.125 (3.06) (914 by 610)
wall while restricting its out-of-plane movement, and per-
mits differential movement between the frame and the W2.8 (MW18) 41⁄2 (0.42) 36 by 24
0.188 (4.76) (914 by 610)
wall without cracking or distressing the masonry. Figures
18 through 20 show typical methods for anchoring Adjustable, with 2 1.77 (0.16) 16 by 16
W2.8 (MW18) (406 by 406)
masonry walls to columns and beams with metal anchors. l.88 (4.76) legs
Anchors must be detailed to accommodate construction
7
 HORIZONTAL CMU
JOINT WYTHE
REINFORCEMENT 1" MINIMUM
CLEARANCE AIR SPACE
SLOTTED
AIR SPACE STEEL COLUMN CHANNEL
EMBEDDED IN
GROUT

ADJUSTABLE
ANCHOR REINFORCED
BRICK BOND BEAM
FILL CELLS WYTHE JOINT
OF CMU SOLID REINFORCEMENT
WITH GROUT
@ ANCHOR

WEEP HOLE

Steel Joist Bearing

(From Masonry and Steel Detailing Handbook,
W. Laska)
FIG. 21
bolts should be hand-tightened or friction will prevent
Anchorage to Steel Column the necessary movement.
(From Masonry and Steel Detailing Handbook, Minimum bearing requirements are established by the
W. Laska) (Fireproofing omitted for clarity)
FIG. 19 Steel Joist Institute and depend on the span and depth of
the joist. Figure 21 illustrates a structural system using
steel joists bearing on a masonry wall.
BEARING
Concrete Planks
Structural Steel
Precast hollow-core concrete planks generally bear on
The coefficient of thermal expansion of steel is ap-
the interior wythe of a cavity wall. The plank rests a min-
proximately twice that of brick masonry. When the tem-
imum of 3 in. (75 mm) on a bearing pad that separates the
perature difference between the materials is large, and
plank from a concrete masonry bond beam below.
the steel is firmly anchored to or confined within the ma-
Anchorage to the wall may be achieved with reinforcing
sonry, the potential for cracking the masonry wall in-
steel (see Fig. 22) or, when lateral loads are small, planks
creases. Masonry bond beams are usually placed in the
may be solidly grouted to the wall. In either case, con-
interior wythe below the steel joists to distribute the load
nections should be designed by a structural engineer.
on the bearing wall. The common practice is to mechan-
ically attach floor and roof joists to steel anchors em- Wood Floor Joists
bedded in the masonry. This detail can be improved by Wood floor joists normally have a 3 in. (75 mm) fire cut
lubricating the bearing surfaces, or providing bearing end and bear only on the interior wythe of a cavity wall.
pads with low coefficients of friction, and providing The ends of the joist must not project into the cavity; they
slotted holes in joist ends. Surrounding the joist end with can form a ledge, which may create a moisture bridge
a layer of building paper prior to grouting the bearing across the cavity. Wood floor joists may also be fastened
wall creates a slip joint, permitting movement. Anchor to metal joist hangers attached to a ledger bolted to the in-

HORIZONTAL
JOINT JOINT SLAB KEYWAY
REINFORCEMENT CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT GROUTED
COLUMN SOLID
CMU
WYTHE
AIR SPACE 24-INCH-WIDE
(600 mm)
PRECAST
CONCRETE
PLANK
AIR SPACE
REINFORCING
BAR PLACED
WEEP HOLE AT SPECIFIED
INTERVALS
ADJUSTABLE BRICK WYTHE
ANCHOR

EXPANSION REINORCED CONCRETE

JOINT MASONRY BOND BEAM

Anchorage to Concrete Column Steel reinforced Concrete Plank Bearing

FIG. 20 FIG. 22

8
 BRICK WYTHE RIGID
CONCRETE ANCHOR BOLT
MASONRY INSULATION
REINFORCED ADJUSTABLE TIE
BOND BEAM CMU
JOIST HANGER WYTHE
FLOOR JOIST CONCRETE
FLASHING FLOOR SLAB
WEEP HOLES
BELOW FLASHING
FILL SOLID WITH
MORTAR OR GROUT
WATERPROOFING

BUILDING
PAPER

Wood Floor Joist Connection Detail Foundation Detail

FIG. 23 FIG. 25
ner wythe of the cavity wall, or joist hangers may be em- between the base of the cavity wall and the top of the con-
bedded in the inner wythe of the cavity wall. See Fig. 23. crete foundation by building paper. The transfer of move-
Wood Roof Framing ment in the foundation to the wall is thus minimized. In
many instances the brick wythe is separated from the
Wood roof framing can be anchored to cavity walls by foundation by flashing. Bond breaks also permit differen-
many methods, one of these is shown in Fig. 24. The detail tial thermal and moisture movements without distress to
illustrates a method in which the bearing plate is secured either the brickwork or the concrete foundation.
by anchor bolts grouted into the top of the cavity. The roof In locations with high winds or seismic activity, it is
framing can then be attached to the bearing plate with strap necessary to anchor at least one wythe of the cavity wall
anchors as shown. Anchor bolts holding roof plates should to the foundation. This is typically achieved by bond
extend into the masonry a minimum of four bolt diameters between the mortar or grout, but may require the use of
or 2 in. (50 mm). Resistance to uplift of roof members shear keys on reinforcing bars from the foundation into
may require longer bolt embedment or vertical reinforce- hollow masonry units or into a grouted cavity.
ment. After the wood plate is installed, the nut should be
hand-tightened. Occasionally, a wind driven rain may Concrete Slabs
cause a difference in pressure sufficient to drive water up Thermal strains or other movements are often blamed
over the top course of the exterior masonry wythe and into for cracking in masonry walls that is caused by the shrink-
the cavity. This can be prevented by adding a frieze board age or curling of concrete slabs that bear on the walls and
that extends a few inches down from the top of the wall are bonded to them. Curling of a concrete slab is caused
and is sealed against the masonry at the bottom. by deflection of the slab when the forms are removed and
response to dead and live loads. Unfortunately, this behav-
BOND BREAKS ior of concrete is frequently overlooked by the designer in
Foundations detailing the structure. Figure 26 illustrates a typical
Foundation movement may cause cracking in masonry 2X10 PLATE STRUCTURAL
walls rigidly attached to the foundation. Walls not bond- SLAB
ed to the foundation tend to span the low points and thus
reduce the potential for cracking. Figure 25 illustrates a METAL
typical foundation detail. In this case, the bond is broken FLASHING

WALL TIE

BOND BREAK
MATERIAL

ROOF FRAMING TIE DOWN BOLT

AND PLATE SUSPENDED
TOP PLATE CEILING
ANCHOR RIGID
BOLT INSULATION
REINFORCED
BOND BEAM GYPSUM
DRYWALL

Wood Roof Framing Detail Concrete Roof Slab Detail

FIG. 24 FIG. 26

9
detail that will relieve this condition. Installation of a Structural Engineering Institute of the American
bond break between the concrete slab and the concrete Society of Civil Engineers, and The Masonry
masonry permits the slab to have some freedom of move- Society, 2002.
ment with respect to the plane of the wall. The slab is 4. Laska, W. and Ostrander, C, “Cavity Walls: A
thickened into a beam over the interior wythe to help stiff- Case of High Performance”, Masonry Advisory
en the slab and minimize curling. The weight of the wall Council, Park Ridge, IL.
above the plate must be greater than the uplift force. Slab 5. Krogstad, N., Weber, R., and Johnson, D.,
curling may also be reduced by placing diagonal rein- “Common Problems at the Interface Between
forcement in the slab corners. Masonry Drainage Walls and Windows”,
American Society for Testing and Materials STP
SEISMIC DETAILING 1246, 1996, pp. 29-43.
Masonry walls in buildings in locations with seismic 6. Laska, W., “Connecting Precast Planks to
activity must be designed to resist the lateral loads Concrete Masonry Walls”, Magazine of Masonry
imposed by seismic events. The requirements are deter- Construction, Vol. 4, No. 7, July 1991, pp. 250-
mined by the Seismic Design Category (SDC) into 251.
which the structure fits, as outlined in Minimum Design 7. Hooker, K., “Corners in a Flash”, Magazine of
Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE 7 [13]. Masonry Construction, Vol. 4 No. 12, December
Seismic requirements for masonry walls are found in 1991, p. 466.
Section 1.13 of the 2002 MSJC Code, as well as in 8. Krogstad, N., Kozoil, R., and Weber, R.,
model building codes. Prescriptive amounts of horizon- “Detailing Critical Interfaces Between Masonry
tal and vertical reinforcement are required, based on Walls and Roofing Systems”, Seventh Canadian
Seismic Design Category and if the wall is part of the Masonry Symposium, 1995, pp. 43-62.
lateral force-resisting system. However, the require- 9. Laska, W., “Detailing Shelf Angles”, Magazine
ments will not be discussed here as the focus of this of Masonry Construction, Vol. 3, No. 7, January
Technical Notes is detailing. Such reinforcement must be 1989, pp. 16-17.
placed with the restrictions for size, cover, and toler- 10. Laska, W., Masonry and Steel Detailing
ances that are included in the building code. Handbook, The Aberdeen Group, 1993
11. “Masonry: The Cavity Wall Controversy”,
SUMMARY Proceedings of the British Masonry Society, No.
This Technical Notes has discussed and illustrated the 5, May 1993.
general principles that are involved in the proper detail- 12. Beall, C., Masonry Design and Detailing: for
ing of brick masonry cavity walls. It is not possible to Architects, Engineers and Contractors, Fourth
cover all of potential conditions and variations in a sin- Edition, McGraw-Hill, 1997.
gle Technical Notes. However, the intent is to address 13. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other
the general principles and considerations for detailing. Structures (ASCE 7), Structural Engineering
The information and suggestions contained in this Institute of the American Society of Civil
Technical Notes are based on the available data and the Engineers, Reston, VA, 2002.
experience of the engineering staff of the Brick Industry 14. Standard for Hurricane Resistant Residential
Association. The information contained herein must be Construction, (SSTD 10), Southern Building
used in conjunction with good technical judgment and a Code Congress International, March 1999.
basic understanding of the properties of brick masonry. 15. Subasic, C., “Seismic Reinforcement for
Final decisions on the use of the information contained Masonry”, Magazine of Masonry Construction,
in this Technical Notes are not within the purview of the Vol. 13, No. 4, April 2000, pp. 20-26.
Brick Industry Association and must rest with the proj- 16. Zinter, K., “Technical Guide-Selection and Use
ect architect, engineer and owner. of Sealants”, Bostik Inc., 1999.
17. Uniform Building Code, International Council of
REFERENCES Building Officials, Council of Building Officials,
1. Wallace, M.A., “Anatomy of a Cavity Wall”, Whittier, CA, 1997.
Magazine of Masonry Construction, Vol. 3, No. 18. Catani, M.J., “Where Do You Need Joints?”,
7, July 1990, pp. 296-304. Magazine of Masonry Construction, Vol. 1, No.
2. Hoke, J.R., Editor, Architectural Graphics 10, October 1988.
Standards, Ninth Edition, John Wiley & Sons
Inc., New York, NY, 1994.
3. Building Code Requirements for Masonry
Structures and Commentary (ACI 530/ASCE
5/TMS 402-02) and Specification for Masonry
Structures and Commentary (ACI 530.1/ASCE
6/TMS 602-02), American Concrete Institute,

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