Technical

Technical Guidance Note | Level 2, No. 19 thestructuralengineer.org

Technical Guidance Notes

Level 2, No. 19: Design and detailing of
windposts to masonry walls
Chris O’Regan Technical Guidance Notes are published by The Institution of
BEng(Hons), CEng, FIStructE, FICE Structural Engineers to provide guidance to engineers in the early
stages of their careers. This note has been prepared by AECOM on
Principal Engineer, Building Engineering, AECOM, London, UK
behalf of the Institution.

Introduction
Historically, masonry walls were designed as principal loadbearing elements ICON LEGEND
of a structure. They were very thick and were able to withstand lateral
loads due to their stocky geometry. Today, however, the status of brick W Design principles
walls within large buildings has been reduced to that of simple single-skin
rainscreens that are little more than large thin panels of masonry.
W Applied practice
These panels are quite slender to the point where they usually require
additional horizontal support to make them stable. The same can also apply
to cavity walls, where both skins are incapable of resisting lateral loads. W Worked example
The element that provides this support to masonry panels is a vertical prop
known as a ‘windpost’. Its principal role is to provide lateral support against W Further reading
destabilising horizontal forces that typically originate from wind pressure –
hence, the name.
W Resources
Windposts are typically steel elements – either open sections, such as
channels or angles, or closed sections, such as rolled hollow rectangular
sections. This Technical Guidance Note provides guidance on the design and
detailing of windposts relating to their incorporation into building structures.

Detailing The technical specifications of a particular

Design principles Windposts are typically located in semi- product should be consulted before it is used
exposed or exposed locations where they in a design solution.
are exposed to moisture on a regular basis There are also proprietary products that
Definition as they are in contact with external facing include both the windpost itself and the means
A ‘windpost’ is a vertical element that provides masonry. They therefore require a high grade by which it is connected to the masonry via
lateral support to cladding elements typically of corrosion protection. Historically, galvanising wall ties.
made from masonry. A windpost does not has been used to provide corrosion protection Windposts must also meet other criteria,
provide any vertical support and is restrained to a mild steel windpost. However, where including acoustic performance, thermal
at its head. This requires a horizontal structure stainless steel wall ties are used to fix a expansion of the wall they are supporting, and
at the top of the windpost that is strong windpost to a wall, the post itself must also be their behaviour when exposed to fire. When a
enough to resist the forces being applied to it. made of stainless steel, to avoid bimetallic (or windpost is supporting a wall that forms part
Figure 1 shows a series of sections through galvanic) corrosion. of a fire compartmentation strategy, it must
a masonry wall that represent four different Wall ties need to be designed with sufficient comply with the fire rating of the area to ensure
configurations of windposts. Although they stiffness to transfer the lateral load from the that the wall remains standing in the event of
are quite different, they all serve the same wall into the post. There is a large number of a fire.
function. proprietary products that serve this purpose. As windposts are designed to take only

34 January 2019 | TheStructuralEngineer

TSE83_34-36_TGN.indd 34 13/12/2018 11:01

 Technical
thestructuralengineer.org Level 2, No. 19 | Technical Guidance Note

 Figure 3
Detail of windpost
within masonry wall

 Figure 1
Different
forms of
windpost

horizontal actions, it is important that the head applied to it. Where a wall is also acting as a  Figure 4
Idealised
models of
of the windpost is fixed in such a way as to barrier, a line load is applied to it. The line load windposts
prevent axial forces being transmitted into it. is modelled as a point load. This is similar to
To achieve this, the fixing detail between the balustrade design, as covered in Technical
windpost and the primary structural element Guidance Note Level 1, No. 7: Barrier and
is allowed to articulate vertically relative to the vehicle loading.
connection, typically through the slotted bolt Sometimes the windpost may need to be
holes. Figure 2 shows a selection of typical modelled as a propped cantilever, with the
head details for windposts that allow this base being a moment connection into the
vertical movement to occur. primary structure. This is usually done to
Windposts are typically fixed to a wall via reduce the size of the windpost, but results
a series of wall ties that are placed at every in the base connection becoming more
other bed course within the masonry. The ties onerous than a simple (i.e. nominally pinned)
are post-fixed to the windpost as the wall is connection (Figure 4).
constructed to allow for vertical tolerances. The The frequency and location of windposts
fixing method must take into consideration the depend on the geometry of the wall they whichever is the lesser outside of datum. With
anti-corrosion methods applied to the windpost. are supporting, as well as the type and such tight controls in place, it is typical for
Another method is to install the windpost magnitude of actions being applied to the stiffness to govern the design of windposts.
within the wall itself (Figure 3). In this method, wall. Windposts are typically installed as a Typically, windposts are considered
the windpost is installed, masonry units are last resort, as they are difficult to put into to be fully laterally restrained due to the
threaded over the top of it, and the post is place and are expensive. However, where connectivity between the post and the wall it
then grouted into place within the wall. This returns, piers and vertical elements of the is supporting via the wall ties. This simplifies
method provides excellent corrosion protection primary structure cannot be used as a point the design of windposts considerably, as
and much stronger connectivity between the of restraint due to space restrictions, and buckling typically does not need to be
windpost and the wall. the wall is required to span a long distance considered. The only exception to this is
However, the complexity of the detailing and or contain large openings, a windpost is the when an angle is used as an externally
construction is much greater. In addition, as the only viable solution. For more information on mounted windpost. In this case, the outer
post is embedded, it is more difficult to replace the design of masonry walls that resist lateral leg would be prone to buckling as it is
should a problem occur during its lifespan. actions, see Technical Guidance Note Level unrestrained.
Embedded windposts also cause problems 2, No. 6: Designing a laterally loaded masonry Finally, it should be noted that although
when surface-fix items, such as shelving, are wall. windposts do not form part of the primary
installed on the wall, as they form part of the Much like beams that support brick walls, structure, it is not uncommon for them to
fabric of the masonry. windposts are subject to quite stringent be designed and specified by the structural
movement criteria. Masonry is sensitive to engineer.
Design guidance any form of excessive displacement and is
A windpost is effectively a simply supported likely to crack if movement due to variable
beam that has a uniformly distributed action actions exceeds span/360 or ±5mm,
Applied practice

BS EN 1996-1-1:2005+A1:2012 Eurocode 6:
Design of masonry structures. General rules
for reinforced and unreinforced masonry
structures

NA to BS EN 1996-1-1:2005+A1:2012 UK
 Figure 2
Typical head
restraint details
National Annex to Eurocode 6: Design
to windposts of masonry structures. General rules for

TheStructuralEngineer | January 2019 35

TSE83_34-36_TGN.indd 35 13/12/2018 11:01

 Technical
Technical Guidance Note | Level 2, No. 19 thestructuralengineer.org

reinforced and unreinforced masonry

structures
Worked example
BS EN 1996-2:2006 Eurocode 6: Design of
masonry structures. Design considerations,
selection of materials and execution of A blockwork wall that is 3.2m in height is to be supported by RHS windposts placed at
masonry 2.5m centres. The wall will serve as a barrier at a train station and therefore has a line
action of 1.5kN/m acting 1.1m from the finish floor level. A wind action of 0.4kPa is also
NA to BS EN 1996-2:2006 UK National applied to the wall. Design a windpost to ensure it does not deflect any more than 5mm
Annex to Eurocode 6: Design of masonry from datum.
structures. Design considerations, selection Note that as a wind action is occurring at the same time as a variable action, the
of materials and execution of masonry appropriate ψi coefficients to the partial factors for actions need to be applied. For
further guidance, see Technical Guidance Note Level 1, No. 4: Derivation of wind load.
PD 6697:2010 Recommendations for the
design of masonry structures to BS EN 1996-
1-1 and BS EN 1996-2

BS EN 1993-1-1:2005+A1:2014 Eurocode 3:
Design of steel structures. General rules and
rules for buildings

NA+A1:2014 to BS EN 1993-1-1:2005+A1:14
UK National Annex to Eurocode 3: Design of
steel structures. General rules and rules for
buildings

Glossary and further reading

Glossary
Rainscreen – part of a building’s envelope
that provides a barrier to external
environmental conditions.

Windpost – vertical structural element

designed to provide lateral support to
masonry walls.

Further reading
The Institution of Structural Engineers (2018)
Manual for the design of plain masonry in
building structures to Eurocode 6 (2nd ed.),
London: IStructE Ltd

Morton J. (2011) Designers’ Guide to Eurocode

6: Design of Masonry Structures: EN 1996-1-1,
London: Thomas Telford Ltd

Resources

Brick Development Association:

www.brick.org.uk

Concrete Block Association:

www.cba-blocks.org.uk AECOM is built to deliver a better world. We design, build, finance and operate
infrastructure assets for governments, businesses and organisations in more
Steel Construction Info: than 150 countries. As a fully integrated firm, we connect knowledge and
www.steelconstruction.info/Facades_and_ experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most
interfaces#Support_to_brickwork complex challenges.

36 January 2019 | TheStructuralEngineer

TSE83_34-36_TGN.indd 36 13/12/2018 11:01