Are control joints required in masonry walls?

Are control joints required in masonry walls?

Control joints are typically required in exposed above grade concrete masonry walls, where net aesthetic shrinkage cracking may detract from the appearance of the wall, and to limit moisture or air infiltration. Shrinkage cracks in concrete masonry are not a structural concern.

Where do control joints go in masonry walls?

In vertically reinforced masonry walls with masonry lintels, vertical control joints should be located between openings, or at least 24-inches away from the opening – not to exceed 25-feet on-center (Figure 1).

How often do you need control joints in masonry walls?

A: When no joint reinforcing is used, National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) TEK 53, “Design of Concrete Masonry for Crack Control,” recommends spacing control joints in straight wall sections without openings no farther apart than twice the height of the wall, 40 feet maximum.

Do you need movement joints in internal walls?

Movement joints should be provided in external walls at intervals of about 7.5m to 9.0m. The width of the joint should be between 10mm and 13mm. In internal walls, movement joints are only needed if the wall is going to be plastered before the brickwork has dried out.

What is isolation joint?

An isolation joint is a separation between adjacent sections of a concrete structure to allow relative movement in three directions and through which all of the bonded reinforcement is interrupted.

What are control joints used for in masonry?

Control joints are used to relieve stress induced by small amounts of movement caused by shrinkage during curing or small expansion and contraction movements as the result of absorption and expulsion of moisture in concrete or masonry (brick, CMU, etc).

What is the difference between control joint and expansion joint?

In building materials, a control joint is used to control cracking while an expansion joint is designed to handle structural movement. A control joint can be formed during placement of the building material or cut after the material is placed.

What are some common reasons that masonry structures fail?

What Are the Most Common Causes of Masonry Damage?

• Moisture Penetration. One of the biggest threats to a masonry structure is moisture.
• Cracking. Cracks are a common problem with masonry construction.
• Staining. Staining is a big problem for exterior-facing masonry walls.
• Bond Failure.
• Displacement.
• Spalling.

Where are movement joints required?

Movement joints are most commonly found between sections of building facades, concrete slabs, bridges, pavements, railway tracks, pipelines, and so on.

What is the purpose of an isolation joint?

What is the difference between an isolation joint and an expansion joint?

Isolation joints separate a concrete slab from something else like a wall, a post, or a pipe. It can also damage pipes and drains. Expansion Joints. While isolation joints are recommended both inside and out, expansion joints are designed primarily for outdoor situations where weather extremes can add to slab movement.

What is an isolation joint?

What kind of material is used for Isolation joints?

Isolation joints are formed by placing preformed joint material next to the column or wall or standpipe prior to pouring the slab. Isolation joint material is typically asphalt-impregnated fiberboard, although plastic, cork, rubber, and neoprene are also available.

Movement joints such as control joints are one method used to relieve horizontal tensile stresses due to shrinkage of the concrete masonry units, mortar, and when used, grout.

What are Isolation joints on a concrete slab?

Isolation Joints. Joints that isolate the slab from a wall, column or drainpipe. Isolation joints have one very simple purpose—they completely isolate the slab from something else. That something else can be a wall or a column or a drain pipe.

What causes movement joints in masonry to fail?

Masonry movement joints are one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated technical issues in the masonry industry. The lack of properly located, detailed, specified, and installed masonry movement joints can result in “masonry failures.”