Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
(OP)
Hi
We have a single story offices area inside a warehouse where the walls are made of 8" hollow concrete block work, there is a possibility that the management would ask for additional offices on the top of the existing, but could hollow block works act as load bearing walls?
My main concern is the bending moment. Is there a detail to minimize it on the supporting block work?
Regards
We have a single story offices area inside a warehouse where the walls are made of 8" hollow concrete block work, there is a possibility that the management would ask for additional offices on the top of the existing, but could hollow block works act as load bearing walls?
My main concern is the bending moment. Is there a detail to minimize it on the supporting block work?
Regards






RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
BA
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Thanks for the tie beams tip.
The issue is that the floor is already done with hollow blocks without reinforcement neither concrete filling.
And my question raised as one colleague was mentioning that hollow block can carry the additional offices floor without reinforcing nor filling.
Regards
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Regards
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
The addition of a new floor may actually help the existing wall if it reduces its unsupported height. Is the foundation adequate to carry an additional floor?
BA
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Nowhere really, but that is not the issue here. I believe that in seismic areas A and B, maybe C, unreinforced masonry is allowed, but I would have to check the code. Definitely is required for D and above.
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
You guys that get to ignore it (or have it not govern) are missing all the fun...
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
http://mmcengineering.tripod.com
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
And yes I don't live in USA :)
Regards
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
I would never design a new masonry structure as completely unreinforced, but for an existing structure subjected primarily to gravity loads, it should work. Trying to retrofit reinforcement in this case would be a difficult and expensive endeavor for not much gain in terms of axial capacity.
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Thanks again for your valuable contributions although last reply was before 2 weeks :)
In case the client asks for additional floor, I'm planning to do as what Trillers said.
Thanks again and Regards
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?
Dik
RE: Hollow concrete block work as load bearing wall?