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Find out more1 February 2023
With renewed interest in masonry cladding to medium rise residential developments, it is topical to highlight the principal risk items and draw attention to steps required to achieving a satisfactory horizontal movement joint and outcome.
Horizontal movement joints in masonry are primarily designed to accommodate thermal and moisture movement of the masonry. Their provision is typical at every other or third floor level, depending on the supporting structure and the type of masonry being supported. Occasionally, the masonry support may be provided at every floor level depending on the particular circumstances and details of the building.
The vertical spacing of horizontal movement joints on a building may also vary from elevation to elevation, depending on the building characteristics and the type of structural elements providing support for the masonry.
On some buildings, horizontal movement joints in masonry may be required to accommodate other types of movement or deflections, for example where the masonry support system is fixed to edges of floor slabs particularly those without edge beams such as in flat slab construction. In such instances, the floor slab should be adequately designed to control floor sag, and where the sag cannot be limited sufficiently, the horizontal movement joint should be appropriately designed and detailed to accommodate such deflection without imposing undue load or crushing the masonry below the support system.
Depending on the number of storeys and expanse of the elevations in a building, horizontal movement joints in masonry may need to accommodate any or a combination of the following:
Typcial movement that could be expected on a reinforced concrete framed structure could be in the order given below (but should always be assessed on a project specifc basis).
Type | Limitations |
Thermal movement |
Approx. 1.5mm per storey |
Moisture movement |
Approx. 1.0mm per meter height of clay masonry wall |
Slab Deflection |
EC2 allows Span/500 (i.e., 16mm for an 8m span) |
Masonry support angle deflection |
Approx. 1.0mm |
Axail shortening |
Only an issue over 20 storeys |
Building sway |
Only an issue over 20 storeys and slender buildings |
Occasionally, the horizontal movement joint requirements may be complicated by having varying support for the external masonry cladding such as masonry partly supported on ledger angles and partly supported on balcony structures.
This can be further compromised where the balcony structure is cantilevered off the unsupported edge of a flat slab, with additional rotation and deflection of the balcony acting in conjunction with movement due to the masonry support. Other scenarios to consider are where differential deflection occurs between masonry walls built off foundations or stiffer floors and those supported off more flexible upper floors; and when columns or wall supports are staggered or set back on elevations, which will influence deflection profiles.
Designers, builders, and regulators should carefully consider the particular details of their building and ensure all possible permutations of scenarios are considered, to ensure any horizontal movement joint provisions are adequate.
Careful consideration should also be given to the position of vertical movement joints, in order to ensure that both sets of joints can be optimised in managing and controlling movements as well as minimising the risk of differential movement in the masonry and hence reduce incidences of defects or cracking.
It is not uncommon for there to be little involvement by Structural Engineers in the detailing of masonry movement joints to a buidling façade. Many designs refer to a traditional movement joint depth or width of 10mm without consideration of any of the above. Further, support angles are often a proprietary sub-contracted design and supply item, with the loads and arrangements often not checked or coordinated with Structural Engineers, and hence errors can occur or future problems be inadvertently incorporated.
The loading on support systems may not be linear depending on the Architectural design. This may lead to uneven loading and hence varied support systems along a line of support. Care should be taken to ensure that such variations are adequately catered for.
The appointment of a façade consultant as part of the project team to ensure there is coordination between all designers is therefore encouraged.
Even with good design, defects can still be built in. Here are some examples:
Every effort should be made to reduce incidences of errors and the masonry support systems should be designed and installed with adequate consideration given to building tolerance allowances expected on the type of construction used.
Technical and construction directors and managers, architects, engineers, designers, proprietary masonry support system manufacturer/suppliers, specifiers and purchasers and site managers.
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