Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
(OP)
Gentlemen,
I have been called into a project where a 4 story wood condo building is being built atop a concrete parking garage. The structural engineer states that the ACI has a limit to the heighth of the brick veneer with the wood structure so he is using masonry on the lowest level instead of wood. Has anyone heard of this? I should find out more later but this just sounds strange.
thanks
I have been called into a project where a 4 story wood condo building is being built atop a concrete parking garage. The structural engineer states that the ACI has a limit to the heighth of the brick veneer with the wood structure so he is using masonry on the lowest level instead of wood. Has anyone heard of this? I should find out more later but this just sounds strange.
thanks






RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
thanks for the prompt replies!
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
Non-combustible meaning you cannot support the brick with the wood framing.
Thus, a 4 story wood frame structure cannot have brick all the way up. Many times you see the brick veneer go up partially, sort of like a wainscot look, and then siding or EIFS above that.
To go higher than 30 feet, you must use relief angles supported by non-combustible material....
at least to meet the IBC.
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
1. Brick has a long term irreversible expansion.
2. Wood has a long term shrinkage and creep.
Your exterior can get higher and the wood frame will get shorter , which leads to many problems especially when the wood structure trys to pull the windows out of the opening.
There is a similar, but much less dramatic situation with concrete structures, but in this situations horizontal relief angles attached to the non-combustible are permitted.
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
thanks
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
You can change the bottom story to masonry and make it work.
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
Your suggestion of a lintel and brick is not recommended in that you will still have the long term irreversible expansion over the whole height that concretemasonry talks about. The problem is not compressive forces in the brick at the base but the brick growth that is NOT compatible with the shortening of the structure. It potentially can cause severe problems especially at the windows and other openings.
RE: Maximum brick height over concrete foundation?
"Section 6.2.2.3 of ACI 530 regulates the vertical support of anchored masonry veneer. Section 6.2.2.3.1.2 and Table 6.2.2.3.1 limit the height of the veneer above noncombustible foundation. An exception is given for veneer with a backing of cold-formed steel backing, Section 6.2.2.3.1.3. There are no restrictions on the height of veneer backed by concrete or masonry. This is a fire protection requirement. The designer should also consider the effects of differential movement on the anchors and connection of the veneer to other building components. See Commentary Section 6.2.2.3.
As this restriction is fire safety related, additional calculations would probably not be a sufficient proof for an alternative approach
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Sincerely,
Technical Staff"