BRICK VENEER TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

The below is the summary excerpt from the document: TN28B.pdf

TECHNICAL NOTES on Brick Construction 28B
December 2005
1850 Centennial Park Drive, Reston, Virginia 20191
www.gobrick.com

Veneer Height:
  • Maximum veneer height permitted to be supported on foundation is 30 ft (9.14 m) to top of wall or 38 ft (11.58 m) to top of gable unless wall is rationally designed
  • Support veneer above this height by shelf angle or other means for each story

Air Space:
  • 2 in. (51 mm) minimum air space recommended; 1 in. (25.4 mm) minimum air space required
  • 41/2 in. (114 mm) maximum distance required between back of brick veneer and steel framing unless anchors are rationally designed

Flashing:
  • Do not stop flashing behind the face of the brickwork
  • Place flashing at all points where air space is interrupted
  • Extend flashing vertically up the backing to 8 in (203 mm) minimum height
  • Lap flashing to 4 in. (102 mm) minimum height under water-resistant barrier or behind sheathing above grade
  • Install base flashing minimum 6 in. (152 mm) above grade
  • Turn up flashing ends into head joint a minimum of 1 in. (25.4 mm) to form end dam

Weeps:
  • Open head joint weeps spaced at no more than 24 in. (610 mm) o.c. recommended
  • Most building codes permit weeps no less than 3/16 in. (4.8 mm) diameter and spaced no more than 33 in. (838 mm) o.c.
  • Wick and tube weep spacing recommended at no more than 16 in. (406 mm) o.c.

Anchors:
  • Corrugated anchors not permitted with steel stud backing
  • Minimum W1.7 (9 gage, MW11) adjustable wire anchors, hot-dipped galvanized, two-piece per ASTM A 153 Class B-2
  • Minimum one anchor per 22/3 ft2 (0.25 m2) of wall area (Note: some building codes may require one anchor per 2 ft2 (0.19 m2))
  • Vertical spacing: maximum 18 in. (457 mm) o.c.
  • Horizontal spacing: maximum 32 in. (813 mm) o.c.
  • Securely attach anchors to the steel studs through the sheathing, not to the sheathing alone
  • For high wind and seismic areas, see Anchors section for anchor placement requirements

Shelf Angles and Lintels:
  • Shelf angles located above the height limit (see Veneer Height) may support no more than one story of brick
  • Size horizontal leg of all shelf angles and lintels to provide a minimum bearing of 2/3 the thickness of the brick wythe

Sheathing:
  • Exterior grade gypsum sheathing or OSB or glass fiber mat-faced sheathing or cement board; minimum 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) thick
  • Exterior grade plywood; minimum 3/8 in. (9.5 mm) thick
  • Closed-cell rigid insulation meeting ASTM C 578 or C 1289; minimum 1/2 in. (12.7 mm) thick

Water-Resistant Barrier:
  • Water-resistant barriers include No. 15 asphalt felt, building paper, qualifying high-density polyethylene or polypropylene plastics (housewraps)
  • Install water-resistant barrier over sheathing
  • Seal water-resistant sheathing per manufacturer to perform as water-resistant barrier
  • Ship lap water-resistant barrier pieces minimum 6 in. (152 mm)

Steel Studs:
  • Galvanized steel studs with minimum G90 coating
  • Restrict allowable out-of-plane deflection of steel studs to L/600 using service level loads
  • Minimum 0.043 in. (18 gage; 1.09 mm) studs for exterior walls
  • Do not field weld steel studs

Screws:
  • Minimum No. 10 self-tapping corrosion-resistant screws with a minimum nominal shank diameter of 0.190 in. (4.8 mm)
  • Corrosion resistance provided by polymer coating, zinc plating or stainless steel

Mortar:
  • Comply with ASTM C 270
  • Type N recommended; Type S alternate

Expansion Joints:
  • Provide vertical and horizontal expansion joints through brick veneer
  • Design and construct expansion joints complying with recommendations of Technical Notes 18 and 18A

Condensation Analysis:
  • Determine if potential for condensation exists in the wall
  • Make necessary changes to the wall design