Masonry Cladding

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Types of masonry cladding

• Traditional brick and block cladding• Pre-cast brick panels• Brick slip and brick tile systems• Pre-cast concrete, stone, granite or slate panels

Pre-cast brick panels

These units are pre-cast and manufactured in production plants away from the construction site where they are to be used. These pre-cast panels are usually much thinner in section than traditional brick outer leaves and are fixed back to the main structure or to themselves.

Brick slip and brick tile systems

This type of cladding consists of brick slips or tiles of approximately 25 mm–35 mm in thickness fixed to a pre-fabricated panel which is in turn fixed to the main structure.The slips or tiles are fixed either by using a special adhesive or by mechanical fixing methods. All joint finishing is normally carried out once the installation is complete.Joint finishing is achieved by pumping a special cement-based mortar into the vertical and horizontal joints and then forming a joint finish in the normal way.

Supporting/fixing masonry cladding (1)

The use of concrete support beams has become less common since the introduction of metal support systems. Continuous lengths of metal supporting beams can be fixed to the structural concrete by purpose-made expansion bolts or other specially designed channel bolts.

Supporting/fixing masonry cladding (2)

In most instances, brickwork cladding will be supported at each floor level when using metal support systems.

Supporting/fixing masonry cladding (3)

Metal support beams used in steel frame structures

Supporting/fixing masonry cladding (4)

Supporting cladding above openings

Supporting/fixing masonry cladding (5)

Alternative cladding methods

One method involves the fixing of timber studs to the main framework to which

individual brick course units are secured.

Prevention of fire spread in timber framed structures

Regulations require that for any timber frame dwelling of two storeys or more cavities must be closed at specified intervals with the use of cavity barriers. The spacing and positioning of these barriers will be identified within the specifications and drawings.

The following illustrations show examples of positioning of cavity barriers in timber frame construction.

Clout Nails

Cavity Barrier

External brick leaf

Breather MembraneCavity

Clout Nails or StaplesTimber Frame

Cavity barriers at separating wall positions