Brickwork expansion joints

woogas · 28 Feb 2009

Can any just confirm re expansion joints in brickwork for a house. Im aware of 6m runs, but need confirmation of minimum distance from a corner.

The house is 9.15m long of which 3.25m is only single storey (5.9m double storey). The expansion joint therefore can be placed in the single storey part or at least where the join, thefore reducing the overall height required. Is this correct.

Its a new build property.

Regards

karlosmaximos · 1 Mar 2009

from what ive learned in the past and confirmed by building inspectors, you should be ok in placing the expansion joint inline with where the upstairs part is going to be
if this is anew build as you say,then your local inspectoe should be able to offer advice,if not,hes not doing his job properly

mikric · 1 Mar 2009

Depends on your brick type really (clay fired, calcium silicate, concrete etc) but I would say on a standard brick a 9m run should not really need one.If you do decide you need one BS is about 1mm per meter run I think.

woogas · 1 Mar 2009

Untitled

woogas
1 Mar 2009
1

Red line to indicate proposed expansion joint, repeated on opposite flank

^woody^ · 1 Mar 2009

I don't recall ever seeing an expansion joint in a house - even a large house with 10-15m elevations.

noseall · 1 Mar 2009

^woody^ said:
I don't recall ever seeing an expansion joint in a house - even a large house with 10-15m elevations.

Me neither.

I have a a similar side elevation to my own house. This particular wall is south facing, has an unobstructed view of the sun all day and has shown no signs of having needed an expansion joint.

woogas · 1 Mar 2009

The house is already built, but BCO has requested retrospective movement joints at 6m runs before signing off.

Its gonna be a bugger to cut in and stich to internal brickwork.

Is he being overzealous as it appears the consensus is that it may not be needed.

mikric · 1 Mar 2009

12m is the norm

6m is for 225mm walls

woogas · 1 Mar 2009

stich to internal brickwork

sorry internal blockwork

jono_h · 1 Mar 2009

I thought expansion joints were required at 12m intervals - although that was taught to me at colege by a Surveyor who wasn't all that.

That said I have seen over-sailing of the DPC on a flank wall of a house at 11.5m long, which probably wouldn't have occured with an expansion joint.

hotrod · 1 Mar 2009

woogas said:
The house is already built, but BCO has requested retrospective movement joints at 6m runs before signing off.

Its gonna be a b*****r to cut in and stich to internal brickwork.

Is he being overzealous as it appears the consensus is that it may not be needed.

Ask him what his source of reference is for that standard, as that does not align with the figures quoted in BS5628-3:2005 "Code of practice for the use of masonry". Methinks he is maybe being overzealous and knows not what he talketh about.

^woody^ · 1 Mar 2009

Tell the BCO to do one.

Ask him for the reference or authority on 6m wall lengths - because NHBC, Zurich or BRE don't mention this unless for external blockwork.

When necessary, movement joints are in the external leaf only.

Also ask him how you are supposed to tie-in and strengthen the wall either side of this [unecessary] joint?

He is asking for significant unnecessary work, and it is not something which should prevent him signing it off as he will lose any challenge to this

mikric · 1 Mar 2009

Agree with Hotrod and Woody on this one.

woogas · 1 Mar 2009

Ask him for the reference or authority on 6m wall lengths - because NHBC, Zurich or BRE don't mention this unless for external blockwork.

I must admit, after much googling, i couldn't see any relevance to 6m.

stuart45 · 1 Mar 2009

Is the external skin brick or block?

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Brickwork expansion joints

hotrod

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