Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
(OP)
Similar to SteelPE (or kind of similar), I'm converting an old shopping center into an essential facility. Building was built in 1999.
8" CMU, #5 @ 16" o.c. vertical, #5 @ 48" o.c. horizontal. 25ft tall walls (not sure how they got a 25ft 8" cmu wall to work). CMU is solid grouted, no open cells.
I haven't looked back to the UBC code (which I believe is the code I can use under the Existing Building Code Provisions) but just doing a quick calc my deflection is 3". The limit for this building is 2".
Assuming the UBC doesn't calc out any differently, are there any options to reinforce the walls to reduce the deflection?
The alternative is the contractor tears the building down and builds new. But he wants to know if bringing the existing building up to code is feasible.
8" CMU, #5 @ 16" o.c. vertical, #5 @ 48" o.c. horizontal. 25ft tall walls (not sure how they got a 25ft 8" cmu wall to work). CMU is solid grouted, no open cells.
I haven't looked back to the UBC code (which I believe is the code I can use under the Existing Building Code Provisions) but just doing a quick calc my deflection is 3". The limit for this building is 2".
Assuming the UBC doesn't calc out any differently, are there any options to reinforce the walls to reduce the deflection?
The alternative is the contractor tears the building down and builds new. But he wants to know if bringing the existing building up to code is feasible.






RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
BA
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
I'm not familiar at all with pneumatically placed mortar. I have retrofitted masonry that isn't solid grouted...so this is pretty new to me.
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
Pneumatically placed concrete (Gunite or Shotcrete) has been used quite a lot in the walls of water retaining structures such as in-ground swimming pools and water reservoirs. It would need to be mechanically anchored to the concrete fill in the masonry wall.
See this link:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=gunite&ie=utf-8...
BA
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
Another option would be to use masonry pilasters at about 12' o.c. instead of steel beams.
BA
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
I will read up on the concrete stuff tonight.
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
I think BA's idea of creating a Masonry "Pilaster" at 12ft o.c. is probably the route I will recommend going. On the positive architectural side, it will create some addition texture to the building and make it not look so bland :)
RE: Existing Masonry Building - Risk II to Risk IV
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)