What contractors need to know

about ACI 530/ASCE 5

The new code and they receive contract documents.
specification require The new Code requires that engi-
neers and architects show more in-
inspection of masonry formation on project drawings.
work and more detail on The Specifications contain a num-
project drawings ber of quality control and quality
assurance requirements that were
previously included in codes and
By Mario J. Catani hence not always included in pro-
ject specifications. Three new items
must now be shown on the project
drawings:
• The specified compressive
strength of masonry, f’m’ at a
stated age or stage of construc-
tion for which the masonry ele-
ment is designed
• Provision for dimensional

Table 1 Compressive Strength of Clay Masonry

Net area compressive strength
of units, psi Net area compressive
strength of masonry
Type M or S mortar Type N mortar psi
he masonry industry has a

T new building code and for

the first time a standard con-
struction specification. Late
in 1988, both the American Con-
crete Institute (ACI) and the
2400
4400
6400
8400
3000
5500
08000
10,500
1000
1500
2000
2500
10,400 13 000 3000
American Society of Civil Engi-
neers (ASCE} adopted two new 12,400 — 3500
standards for the design and con- 14,400 — 4000
struction of masonry: ACI Source: ACI 530.1/ASCE 6, Table 1.6.2.1
530/ASCE 5 Building Code Re-
quirements for Masonry Struc-
tures (the Code) and ACI Table 1 Compressive Strength of Clay Masonry
530.1/ASCE 6 Specifications for Net area compressive strength
of units, psi Net area compressive
Masonry Structures (the Specifica- strength of masonry
tions) (Ref. 1). In 1989, the South- Type M or S mortar Type N mortar psi*
ern Building Code Congress (SBC- 1250 1300 1000
CI) and the Building Officials and
1900 2100 1500
Code Administrators (BOCA)
adopted these standards in their 2800 0305O 2000
model building codes. When these 3750 4050 2000
model building code requirements 4800 5250 3000
are adopted by state or local gov- * For units of less than 4-inch height, 85% of the values listed.
ernment agencies they will be-
come law. For the first time the Source: ACI 530.1/ASCE 6, Table 1.6.2.2
masonry industry will have a
specification that is standardized A contractor must show that his masonry work meets the compressive strength
specified by the designer. He can do this by using the unit strength method: Based
and required by law. on the mortar type and the net area compressive strength of the units, the
With the passage of these two compressive strength of the masonry is determined using Tables 1 or 2. If each
standards, contractors will begin wythe meets the specified strength, then the whole wall meets the specified
strength.
to see some changes in the way
changes resulting from elastic de-
formation creep, shrinkage, tem-
perature, and moisture
• The specified size, grade, type,
and location of reinforcement,
anchors, and ties
Specified masonry strength
Just as in concrete work where
the specified concrete strength (f’c)
must be shown on the drawings,
in masonry work the specified ma-
sonry strength (f’m) must now be
shown on the drawings. Contrac-
tors must show that their masonry
work for the job complies with this
specified compressive strength.
Such proof may be required both
before and during construction.
A contractor can show compli-
ance in two ways: the unit strength
method or the prism test method.
Unit strength method. In most
cases, the unit strength method is
easier and more cost-effective.
With this method, all the contrac-
tor has to do is certify that the mor-
tar conforms to the type mortar
specified and submit certification,
test data, or other proof showing
the net area compressive strength
of the masonry units for the pro-
ject. With this information, the
compressive strength of the ma-
sonry can be determined using Ta-
bles 1 or 2 shown here.
As an example, assume that
Type N mortar and a masonry
compressive strength (f’m) of 1500
psi at 28 days are specified for a
brick and block composite wall.
Assume also that the contractor
can submit test data from the brick
and block producer to show that
the net area compressive strength
of the brick is 8000 psi and the
strength of the block is 2150 psi.
According to the Specifications,
“the compressive strength of ma-
sonry in each wythe of masonry
and grouted collar joint shall equal
or exceed the applicable f’m.“
Using Table 1, you can see that
the compressive strength of ma-
sonry in the brick wythe is 2000
psi. This exceeds the specified val-
ue of 1500 psi, so the brick wythe is
in compliance. Using Table 2, you
can see that the compressive
strength of masonry in the block
wythe is equal to 1500 psi. This
equals the specified value of 1500
psi, so the block wythe is in com-
pliance too. Since each wythe is in
compliance, the whole wall is in
compliance. No further proof is
needed, as long as the contractor
doesn’t change material suppliers.
To use the unit strength method,
units must conform to certain
ASTM standards: Bed joints can-
not exceed 5⁄8 inch in thickness, and
grout, if used, must conform to the
requirements of ASTM C 476 (Ref.
2). Most masonry wall construc-
tion meets these requirements.
Thus architects will probably spec-
ify the unit strength method most
often. In fact, unless the specifier
indicates otherwise, the unit
strength method is required in the
standard by default.
Prism test method. Where
the specifier explicitly requires
that the prism test method be
used, prisms should be tested in
accordance with ASTM E 447
Method B modified (Ref. 3). The
modifications described in Section
1.6.3.2 include constructing:
• Stack bond prisms with a full
mortar bed regardless of
whether or not the units are hol-
low and whether or not face
shell bedding is used on the
project
• Prisms with h/t ratios within
specified limits
• Prisms with at least one bed joint
The average compressive
strength of three prisms, corrected
for the actual h/t ratio, is com-
pared with the specified compres-
sive strength of masonry, f’m, for
each wythe. When prism tests are
required, one test should be con-
ducted before construction and
one test for each 5,000 square feet
of wall surface. Even on a project
where the unit strength method is
specified for most of a building,
the prism test method can be
specified for specific parts of the
building.
Movement joints
In its deliberations, the commit-
tee that developed the new Code
found that in many cases masonry
distress was caused by improper
details for accommodating dimen-
sional changes, especially those
caused by temperature, drying
shrinkage, moisture expansion,
and creep. Traditionally, the detail-
ing and layout of movement joints
(expansion joints or control join. )
was voluntary and often not clear-
ly handled by project documents,
making contractors responsible for
their design and location. The new
Code makes it clear that the loca-
tion and design of movement
joints is the designer’s responsibili-
ty. If joints are not shown and de-
tailed, contractors should point
this out to designers and have
them do the layout.
Anchors and ties
The Code also requires design-
ers to lay out and design anchors
and ties. Section 4.3 states, “Type,
size, and location of connectors
shall be shown or indicated on the
Project Drawings.”
This doesn’t mean that the de-
signer can simply list a number of
manufacturers in the project speci-
fications. By indicating specific ties
and anchors on the drawings, the
designer assumes responsibility
for the connectors. After indicating
connectors on the drawings, he or
she should list approved manufac-
 Table 3 Inspection Requirements in ACI 530.1/ASCE 6
(e) Ties shall have at least two 3⁄6-
Section Paragraph Description inch-diameter pintle legs.”
1 - General Requirements 1.5 Quality assurance For nonadjustable ties, the Code
1 - General Requirements 1.6 0 Cornpressive requires one #9-gauge tie for each
strength 22⁄3 square feet of wall or one 3⁄16-
determination inch-diameter tie for each 41⁄2
2 - Masonry 2.1.2 Subrnittals square feet. When ties with drips
2 - Masonry 2.1.3 Quality assurance are used, the tie spacing must be
2 - Masonry 2.3.1 Inspection & test- halved or evidence must be pro-
ing vided to show that the drip ties
3 - Reinforcement/Accessories 3.1.2 Submittals are as strong as ties without drips.
Z ties can be used only with solid
3 - Reinforcement/Accessories 3.3.1 Inspection
masonry units. Rectangular ties
4 - Grout 4.1.2 Submittals can be used with any units, hol-
4 - Grout 4.1.3 Quality assurance low or solid. Ties should be
4 - Grout 4.3.1 Inspection spaced no more than 36 inches
Source: ACI 530.1/ASCE 6 horizontally and no more than 24
inches vertically.
The new Code and Specifications assume that all masonry work will be inspected.
The level of inspection is up to the designer, but contractors must be sure they know
precisely what level of inspection is required. Corrosion protection
Depending on the environmen-
Table 4 Who Pays for Inspection tal exposure, the Specifications re-
Test or Inspections Paid by Contractor Paid by Owner quire two levels of galvanizing for
To document submittals X metal joint reinforcement, ties, and
anchors. In noncorrosive environ-
To certify product X
compliance ments, these metal embedments
must have a Class 1 coating (0.40
To establish mix design X
To get changes accepted X ounce of zinc per square foot), in
accordance with ASTM A 641 (Ref.
To appeal rejections X
4). In exterior walls and other cor-
To inspect foundations for X
rosive environments, they must
tolerance compliance
have a hotdipped coating (1.50
To inspect work in X
ounces of zinc per square foot) af-
progress for acceptability
ter fabrication, in accordance with
Source: ACI 530.1/ASCE 6, Section 1.5.
ASTM A 153 (Ref. 5). There are
The contractor and owners share the cost of inspection other requirements for metals
completely embedded in mortar or
grout but the times when the ap-
plicable conditions occur are rare.
turers in the specifications. As with “(a) One tie shall be provided for
joints, if ties and anchors aren’t de- each 1.77 square feet of wall Inspection required
tailed on the drawings, contractors area. The new Code and Specifica-
should notify the designer and re- tions assume that all work will be
(b) Horizontal and vertical spacing
quest specific information. Con- inspected whether the building is
shall not exceed 16 inches.
tractors should no longer accept designed empirically in accor-
responsibility for determining con- (c) Adjustable ties shall not be used dance with Chapter 9 or analytical-
nector design and location. when the misalignment of bed ly in accordance with Chapters 5,
This Code is the first masonry joints from one wythe to the 6, and 7. The inspection require-
code to recognize adjustable wall other exceeds 1l⁄4 inches. ments are covered in the sections
ties. Prescriptive requirements for (d)Maximum clearance between of the Specifications listed here in
adjustable ties are given in detail: connecting parts of a tie shall be Table 3. The level of inspection is
1
⁄16 inch. up to the designer.
 Contractors must be careful to
review project specifications to
learn precisely what level of in-
spection is required. In general, if
no mention of inspection is made
in the project specifications, a mini-
mal amount of testing, submittal,
and inspection is required. Testing
and inspection are paid for by the
contractor or the owner, as out-
lined here in Table 4.
A major change
The new Code and Specifica-
tions represent a major change in
the way many masonry buildings
will be designed and built. For ma-
sonry contractors, a state-ofthe-art
standard specification mandated
by law should make the quality of
masonry work more consistent
and thus reduce the risk involved
when bidding work. Once estima-
tors become familiar with the stan-
dards, the time required to esti-
mate work should be reduced.
All in all, the development and
use of the new standards should
improve masonry construction. As
with all standards, the new Na-
tional Masonry Standards Joint
Committee (NMSJC) is still at
work refining and improving the
documents. Any contractor or de-
signer interested in participating in
this activity should contact Gregg
Borchelt, Secretary, NMSJC, %
Brick Institute of America, 11490
Commerce Park Drive, Reston,
Virginia 22091 (703-6200010).
References
1. ACI 530/ASCE 5, Building Code
Requirements for Masonry Structures,
and ACI 530.1/ASCE 6, Specifications
for Masonry Structures, published by
American Concrete Institute and
American Society of Civil Engineers,
available from The Aberdeen Group,
426 South Westgate, Addison, IL
60101.
2. Specification for Grout for Rein-
forced and Nonreinforced Masonry,
ASTM C 476, ASTM, 1916 Race St.,
Philadelphia, PA 19103.
3. Test Methods for Compressive
Strength of Masonry Prisms, ASTM E
447, ASTM.
4. Specification for Zinc-Coated (Gal-
vanized) Carbon Steel Wire, ASTM A
641, ASTM .
5. Specification for Zinc Coating (Hot-
Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware,
ASTM A 153, ASTM .
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