6 – OPERATING GUIDELINES
MASONRY CONSTRUCTION GUIDELINES
The strength and durability of brick masonry depends upon the quality of the brick, the quality of the mortar and the workmanship in laying. The strength also depends upon adequate bond and the shape of the masonry unit.
Brick quality – Characteristics are hardness and density. Brick for masonry which is exposed to weather or where strength is desired should have a crushing strength of not less than 2500 PSI.
Laying and bonding – Brick should be laid in a full bed of mortar and shoved laterally into place to secure solid bearing, a bed of even thickness, and to fill the vertical joints. Brick should be thoroughly wet before laying, except in freezing weather. Bricks laid with the long dimension parallel to the face of the work are called stretches, perpendicular to the face are called headers. Bats (chalk bricks) should not be used except where necessary to make corners or to form patterns on the face of the walls. Walls are bonded or tied together longitudinally by overlapping stretches in successive courses. Transverse bond is obtained by making every sixth course headers with the headers themselves overlapping in successive courses in the interior of thick walls.
Mortars – Mortar composition is dependent on the structural use of the masonry unit. It is also dependent upon grade, weather exposure and climactic condition. Consult you brick or block supplier, the ACI (American Concrete Institute) Manual of Concrete Practices or your local building codes for the proper mortar selection for each application form more information.
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