8" CMU / placed w/ incorrect horizontal joint reinforcing

[boffintech]

Am inspecting on a project where a quantity of 8" CMU was constructed prior to my arrival. Some walls are as high as 20 courses. Metal frame building approx. 50' x 100' with 8" CMU with #5 at 48" vert and bond beams at 48" w/ 4#5.

Problem: All of the 8” CMU placed and grouted to date appears to contain incorrect horizontal joint reinforcing.

Placed: 2 wire ladder type for 12” CMU Note: This 2 wire horizontal joint reinforcing was placed so that one of the two wires is on the outside of the 8” CMU to act as a brick tie/anchor.

Required: 3 wire ladder type for 8” CMU. This 3 wire horizontal joint reinforcing should have been placed so that one of the three wires is on the outside of the 8” CMU to act as a brick tie/anchor and the other two of three wires are placed in the CMU bed joints.

Also, the placed horizontal joint reinforcing does not appear to have the required minimum 6” lap. A quantity of the horizontal joint reinforcing appears to have various laps of 0” to 3”.

Already reported obs to EOR who is now cogitating...but just as a heads-up, other than demo, is there a fix for this?

 

[Teguci]

With bars at 48" oc in both directions, the ladder type reinforcement may just be there to attach the veneer. Except for extremely high seismic areas, the bars at 48" is enough to confine the CMU.

Your EOR might just recommend a drilled in anchor system for the veneer.

 

[jike]

Agreed, drilled-in anchors should solve it!