Five Story Brick Veneer with Wood Walls

[dengebre]

We are currently designing a 5-story wood apartment building in Tampa, FL. The owner wants to use a 4" brick veneer against a wood wall backing at the exterior. We have never done 5-stories of full size brick against a wood wall, and what literature we have found pertains to 3-stories or less only. Can this be done? Can the brick be supported directly by the wood wall (using steel support angles) or should an independent steel frame be used? Hearing from someone who has experience with brick would be very helpful (not much brickwork is done down this way). Thank you!

 

[dougantholz]

Brick (masonry) can not be supported by wood vertically according to the IBC. I don't know about the FBC. Also, the maximum height for stacking brick with steel or wood backup is 30 ft (35 ft at gables) accd to the IBC.
Looks like you will need either a steel platform or steel supports at the perimeter to carry the gravity. You could also back up the veneer with CMU, where there is no height restriction. I know that this creates problems in the FBC for masonry detailing which can be cumbersome.

 

[JAE]

dougantholz is correct.

Per the IBC, you can only go 30 feet above a non-combustible foundation with wood stud backup walls.

 

[concretemasonry]

You will need intermediate horizontal joints in the brick veneer. These will require a soft joint with flashing and support for the brick above. This to accomodate the shrinkage of the wood framing and the long term expansion of brick.

The Brick Institute or your local International Masonry Institute office can provide guidance.

Dick

 

[dengebre]

The FBC is not very clear on the subject. FBC 2104.1.6 states that masonry shall not be supported on wood construction except as permitted in FBC 2304.12. The latter section just states that the effects of long-term loading need to be checked.

Our standard practice is to provide shelf angles at regular vertical intervals (say 20’) to allow for brick movement. We typically do CMU construction down here so the angles are just bolted to grouted CMU. Pretty straightforward. Can we do the same with wood construction and bolt the shelf angle to the wood frame? It does not appear to be forbidden by FBC but the differential movement between the brick expansion and the wood shrinkage makes us nervous. Or, do the self-angles need to be supported by a steel frame that goes down to foundation?

 

[hokie66]

I don't know about your code, but IMHO supporting brick veneer on a 5-storey timber framed building is poor practice. Use a steel frame or CMU.

 

[dengebre]

We would tend to agree. Thanks!