Masonry Magazine May 1962 Page. 17
M. Means More Work
Nothing-not to be allowed under any circumstances.
Star Joints:
Head-must be full; but eliminate extrusion into the middle mortar wythe.
Bed full, slightly beveled at the back. Do not force mortar into wythe by cutting any extrusions. Beveling will minimize any extrusions.
Grouting:
Should be sufficiently (not excessively) fluid to flow into collar joint and surround steel, leaving no voids. It should be wet enough to prevent rapid stiffening. Grout should be of such consistency that it will not stick to trowel.
After outer wythe of brick is up three or four courses lay inner wythe of brick, grouting course by course.
To avoid "blowouts" bricklayers must not be closer than 10 to 15 feet.
Grout must be thoroughly stirred to prevent segregation. Pouring from receptacles such as coal scuttles is ideal. Use of such receptacle will prevent splashes on faces of wall. Grout must always be kept down approximately one inch from top of inner wythe. Grouting may be done in one or two passes. Puddle grout immediately after pouring. One mason may pour while another puddles. Do not puddle too late or deeply. This causes "blowouts." At the end of the days operation, both inner and outer wythes should be at same height and grout of an inch down from top.
Reinforcing Steel:
Always in center of grout wythe. Verticals always spaced and braced by horizontal 2" x 4". Horizontal steel to be placed while wall progresses. Splice of reinforcing steel shall be: Vertical 12", Horizontal 12".
We have seen in this story of the auditorium wall a good example of how reinforced brick masonry can be promoted with more work created for the masonry industry. Formerly used only in earthquake regions, RBM is today becoming widely recognized as a superior wall system to meet a wide variety of building needs. In most cases, it is ideally suited for retaining walls, high-rise bearing walls, free-standing walls or pylons, and hydraulic structures such as filtration pools and swimming pools. Its high strength makes it particularly adaptable in designing for high lateral forces such as hurricans, earthquakes, tornadoes and even atomic blast. In shelter design, no better wall exists for combination blast and fallout protection than RBM.
Reinforced brick masonry walls can do practically everything except talk. If they could, they would surely tell the architects where and how they can be used and how much money they can save. But this is a task that is left up to us, promoting RBM any time and any place that we can. If we keep alert to the potential uses of this wall, and continually inform our friends the architects what a truly good thing it is, then we can not fail to create more work for ourselves and a highly deserved future for RBM.
No one is exempt from talking nonsense. The mistake is to do it solemnly. -Michael E. de Montaigne.
Many men can rise to the occasion, but few know when to sit down.- J. Fields.
WIRE PRODUCTS COMPANY
Manufacturers of Custom Engineered Masonry Reinforcements Designed for Maximum Effectiveness for any Mortar Joint.
ONLY STEEL IN TENSION CONTROLS CRACKS!
THIN JOINT FOR THE 1/4" MORTAR JOINT
#11 ga., 120 dia. longitudinal wires: #12 ga., 1055 dia. cross ties.
STANDARD BLOK-LOK® FOR " MORTAR JOINT
#9 ga., 148 dia. longitudinal wires: #9 ga., 148 dia. cross ties.
F. S. STANDARD BLOK-LOK FOR 3/8" MORTAR JOINT
# ga., 162 dia. longitudinal wires: 19 ga., 148 dia. cross ties.
HEAVY DUTY BLOK-LOK FOR THICK MORTAR JOINT
3/16" longitudinal wires; 9 ga., .148 dia. cross ties.
BLOK-LOK plants in Chicago, Ill.; Dallas, Texas and Toronto, Canada
WIRE PRODUCTS COMPANY 714 E. 61st Street, Chicago, Illinois PH: MI 3-8203