Masonry Magazine March 1961 Page. 10
SCREEN WALL UNITS - continued
# Non-reinforced Non-bearing screen Wall
Screen wall concrete block units may be used as non-reinforced, non-bearing walls. When a wall is an exterior wall it is limited to an h/t of 20, that is, 6'-8" maximum between principal supports but is not limited in the opposite direction.
The screen wall must be designed to support its own weight vertically and 20% of its weight horizontally or a wind load of 15 lbs. per sq. ft., whichever is greater. Allowable stresses are as set forth for hollow unit masonry in Chapter 24 of the building code.
# Reinforced Non-bearing Screen Wall
Screen wall concrete block may be used as reinforced non-bearing masonry walls. Where used as an exterior wall wall is limited to a h/t of 30 that is, 10-0" maximum between supports but is not limited in the opposite direction.
The screen wall must be designed to support its own weight vertically and 20% of its weight horizontally or a wind load of 15 lbs. per sq. ft., whichever is greater. Reinforcing steel must be a minimum of two 3/16 round wires at 12" o.c. each way or an equivalent amount of larger reinforcing. For example, the vertical reinforcing might be concentrated embedded steel elements. Allowable stresses are as set forth for hollow unit masonry in Chapter 24 of the building code.
NOTE: Wall mesh to be placed in horizontal joints where wall spans horizontally between vertical supports. Wall-mesh should be placed in both horizontal and vertical joints where wall spans vertically between supports.