delamination of wall tiles.

[newbuilder]

I have recently come across a situation where internal tiling for a 30 storey reinforced concrete tower block has debonded from the render backing. The pattern of failure occurs on every floor where the tiles are fixed to blockwork walls.

I think the main problem may be caused by the walls not having soft joints specified or constructed at their heads (each storey is approx 3m high) and progressive loading may result. The flaw in this hypothesis is that failure also occurred in the upper lightly loaded floors too.

The inspectors claim that delamination only happened after the tile joints were grouted.

Have any other members found similar problems or have any tips as to the possible cause?

nb

 

[Ron]

Newbuilder...in my opinion you are on the right track about the soft joints. The grouted tile cannot withstand in-plane shear or lateral strain at the floors.

 

[Riz]

INTERESTING!
Can u please elaborate further.


1. Structural system of the tower;
2. Render/Plaster has it cracked/delaminated too;
3. Is this problem at specific locations or wherever the
tiles are and at every floor?
4. Was there any admixture in the render that has
reacted with the grout;
5. What sort of tiling ( ceramic, granite, marble ) is it?
6 What were the delaminated tiles set in ?
7. How long after laying of tiles did del.... take place?

The blockwork if not load bearing should in my opinion not be structural.

Riz