1. Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls
20 Cladding With Masonry and Concrete
Masonry Veneer
Curtain Walls
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

2. Construction Sequence and Essential Elements
Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls
Construction Sequence and Essential Elements
Shelf angle is installed on the structural frame
Soft joint or horizontal expansion joint is maintained below the shelf angle
Flashing is installed over the shelf angle and it should project by 1” (25mm) and should be bent downward at a 450 angle.
Flashing is tucked into the backup wall or over the slab
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

3. Construction Sequence and Essential Elements
Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls
Construction Sequence and Essential Elements
A back up wall of concrete or steel studs covered with water resistant sheathing panels of gypsum or cementitious material is constructed
A weather barrier and air barrier are installed over the backup wall followed by insulation
Brick masonry veneer wythe is erected brick by brick or stone by stone with conventional mortar and tied to the backup wall by ties
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
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4. Shelf Angles & Horizontal Joints
Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls
Shelf Angles & Horizontal Joints
Shelf angle attached to a concrete frame with an insert cast into the slab
Shelf angle attached to a steel frame using clip angle and shim plate and wedge shaped slot for adjustments
Soft joint or horizontal expansion joint is shown in the typical detail of brick veneer cavity wall with concrete block backup wall. Joint is designed to absorb column creep, brick expansion, spandrel beam deflection and dimensional tolerances 2 3 1
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

5. Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls
Vertical Joints
Masonry curtain walls must be divided vertically by movement joints called vertical expansion joints to allow the frame and the masonry cladding to expand and contract independently of one another
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

6. Backup Walls and Structural Frames
Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls
Backup Walls and Structural Frames
Detail and Completed Building – Brick Veneer With Steel Stud Backup With Steel Structural Frame
Backup walls may be of concrete or steel studs
Masonry cavity wall may be installed on buildings with structural frames of concrete or steel.
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

7. Prefabricated Reinforced Brick Panel Curtain Walls
Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls
Prefabricated Reinforced Brick Panel Curtain Walls 2
Masons construct the panels while working comfortably at ground level in a factory. Horizontal and vertical reinforcements are laid as required
Panels are self-rigid and need no structural backup 1
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

8. Prefabricated Reinforced Brick Panel Curtain Walls
Masonry Veneer Curtain Walls
Prefabricated Reinforced Brick Panel Curtain Walls
These panels can be fastened to the building in much the same way as precast panels
A steel stud backup wall is required to carry thermal insulation, electrical wiring, and an interior finish layer but has no structural role
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

9. Stone Curtain Walls 20 Cladding With Masonry and Concrete
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

10. Stone Panels Mounted on a Steel Subframe
Stone Curtain Walls
Stone Panels Mounted on a Steel Subframe
Grid-system-supported stone cladding
Vertical members are erected first to transmit gravity and wind loads
The horizontal members are aluminum shapes that engage in slots in upper and lower edge of each stone
Backer rods and sealants fill the joints between the stone
Non structural back-up wall of steel studs and gypsum sheathing is constructed within the frame of the building to provide air barrier, insulation, electrical wiring and interior finishes
Sealant joints are the weak link for water penetration
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

11. Stone Panels and Extruded Aluminum Supports
Stone Curtain Walls
Stone Panels and Extruded Aluminum Supports 2 2 2
Stone cladding installation in progress
The reddish orange material is the weather-resistive membrane. If properly sealed at its seams and edges, this product is also capable of acting as an air barrier
Vertical lines struck on the membrane mark the locations of metal studs in the backup wall. Anchor fasteners must be located over these lines, so that they engage the studs 1
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

12. Stone Panels and Extruded Aluminum Supports
Stone Curtain Walls
Stone Panels and Extruded Aluminum Supports
Anchor close-up. Note the resilient cushioning material where the anchor is slotted into the stone
This image also illustrates several construction deficiencies:
The fasteners appear to be offset so far to one side of the anchor and its shims that the clip may not remain stable when fully loaded by the weight of the next panel above
The continuity of the weather-resistive/air barrier has been interrupted by electrical conduit routed in the space behind the stone 2 1
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

13. Monolithic Stone Cladding Panels
Stone Curtain Walls
Monolithic Stone Cladding Panels
The panels are fastened directly to the frame of the building
The weight is transferred to two steel support plates by means of edge pockets that are cut into both sides at the stone mill
Each panel is stabilized by a steel angle strut
Joints are closed with backer rod and sealant
A non structural backup wall is required
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

14. Stone Cladding on Steel Trusses
Stone Curtain Walls
Stone Cladding on Steel Trusses
Sheets of stone are combined into large prefabricated panels by mounting them on structural steel trusses
Each truss is designed to carry wind loads and dead load of the stone to steel brackets that are used to attach the truss to the building frame
This is a relatively costly system
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

15. Posttensioned Limestone Spandrel Panels
Stone Curtain Walls
Posttensioned Limestone Spandrel Panels
Thick blocks of limestone may be joined with adhesives into long spandrel panels and post-tensioned with strength steel tendons
The assembly is self supporting between columns
This is a relatively costly type of panel
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

16. Very Thin Stone Facings
Stone Curtain Walls
Very Thin Stone Facings
Extremely thin sheets of stone may be stiffened with a structural backing such as a metal honeycomb and mounted as spandrel panels in in an aluminum mullion system
Very thin sheets of stone may be used as facings for precast concrete curtain wall panels
When specifying the thicknesss of stone for any exterior cladding application, the designer should work closely with stone supplier.
Thin stones have been a cause of number of failures of cladding systems
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

17. Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
20 Cladding With Masonry and Concrete
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

18. Precast Concrete Aesthetics
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Precast Concrete Aesthetics
Precast concrete cladding panels can be conventionally reinforced and be prestressed
They can come in variety of sizes and surface finishes, from glassy smooth to rough, exposed aggregates
Ceramic tiles, thin bricks or stone facings may be attached to precast panels
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

19. Precast Concrete Manufacture of Sandwich Panel
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Precast Concrete Manufacture of Sandwich Panel 2
Ribbed surface finish being applied to precast concrete before the concrete sets
Insulation can be incorporated into the precast concrete panel in a sandwich panel system 1
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

20. Typical Detail of Precast Concrete Curtain Wall
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Typical Detail of Precast Concrete Curtain Wall
Precast on sitecast concrete frame
Panels shown are full story high containing a fixed window. Bottom half of one panel (1) and top half of the lower panel (2) are shown
The reinforcing bars are omitted for clarity but outline of thermal insulation and interior finishes (3) on the interior is shown 3 1 2
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

21. Precast Concrete Cladding Installation
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Precast Concrete Cladding Installation
Precast concrete spandrel panels and brick veneer column covers hung off of a cast-in-place concrete frame structure
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

22. Precast Concrete Cladding Installation
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Precast Concrete Cladding Installation
End view of a precast concrete spandrel panel
Two polyisocyanurate rigid foam insulation boards (1) are visible on the back of the panel.
The slightly darker colored band of insulation (2), at slab level between the two insulation boards, is safing, intended to restrict the passage of smoke and fire between floors. 1 2 1
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

23. Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Curtain Walls - Fabrication
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Curtain Walls - Fabrication
GFRC is a relatively new cladding material
Its admixture of short glass fibers provides enough tensile strength that no steel reinforcing is required
Panel thickness and weight are about one quarter of those for precast
They can be molded into variety of shapes
The panels may be self-stiffened with GFRC ribs but the usual practice is to attach a welded frame of light gauge steel studs to the back of GFRC
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

24. Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Curtain Walls - Attachment
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Curtain Walls - Attachment
GFRC panels can be attached with a diagonal brace and downrigger
GFRC panels can be attached with angle with oversized hole
Steel rod anchors can flex to accommodate small amounts of movement between the facing and the frame 1 2 3 3
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

25. Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Curtain Walls – Joint Treatment
Precast Concrete Curtain Walls
Glass-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Curtain Walls – Joint Treatment
Edges of the GFRC panels are flanged to provide surface for sealant at joints
Edge of the GFRC panels at transition between components need to be designed for receiving membrane and cap flashing
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

26. Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems
20 Cladding With Masonry and Concrete
Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

27. EIFS – Essential Elements
Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems
EIFS – Essential Elements
Exterior insulation and finish system (EIFS) consists of
Layer of plastic foam insulation adhered or mechanically fastened to a backup wall
A reinforcing mesh that is applied to the outer surface of the foam
A base coat of a stucco like material which embed the mesh
An exterior finish coat of a similar stucco like material that is troweled over the base coat
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

28. EIFS – Panelized System
Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems
EIFS – Panelized System
EIFS can be constructed in place over a backup of concrete masonry or steel studs
EIFS can also be prefabricated
Steel studs are welded together to make a backup frame
Rigid sheathing is screwed to the frame and finished with EIFS
The finished panels are lifted and bolted to the building frame
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

29. Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems
EIFS – Drained Systems
EIFS typically is designed as a barrier type system which has resulted in numerous cases of water damage in EIFS faced buildings
EIFS producers now market water managed or water-drainage EIFS
These systems utilize a layer of drainage matting behind the foam insulation that can capture water and conduct it to plastic flashings and weeps at the base of the walls
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

30. Future Directions in Masonry and Stone Cladding
20 Cladding With Masonry and Concrete
Future Directions in Masonry and Stone Cladding
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

31. Need For Rainscreen Systems
Future Directions in Masonry and Stone Cladding
Need For Rainscreen Systems
Most masonry and concrete cladding systems except brick veneer are barrier systems
There is no well organized system of secondary drainage
There are cavities behind these systems but are interrupted by framing and attachment components
There have been isolated efforts to design true rain screen details for stone and concrete cladding systems but more research is needed
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.

32. MasterFormat Sections For Masonry and Concrete Cladding
20 Cladding With Masonry and Concrete
MasterFormat Sections For Masonry and Concrete Cladding
Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials & Methods, 5th Edition
Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons. All rights reserved.