Masonry Magazine February 2002 Page. 12
PROPER ANCHORS FOR BRIC
by J. Gregg Borchelt, P.E.
INTRODUCTION
Brick veneer has been used in commercial and residential construction for over 100 years. The requirements for the veneer, its backing, and the anchors have evolved during that time. The original spacing requirements for anchors were based on the use of masonry headers in solid wall construction. These have been modified during the intervening years and additional provisions have been included. This article covers the requirements for and installation of veneer anchors.
BRICK VENEER COMPONENTS
A brick veneer wall has several key components:
* an exterior wythe of brick
* veneer anchors of a given type and spacing
* an air space
* a backing wall of permitted materials
* flashing and weep holes
The brick wythe is used primarily for appearance purposes, but contributes to the fire resistance and thermal performance of the wall. The veneer wythe is not designed to resist loads, but must be able to resist them. The backing provides structural capacity, and is designed to resist wind and seismic loads. The veneer anchors attach the veneer wythe to the backing. In doing so, they transfer the wind and seismic loads from the veneer to the backing. The air space, flashing, and weep holes aid in water penetration resistance and divert water to the outside of the building.
Each of these elements provides an important function in the overall performance of the veneer wall. The mason alone has control over the performance of the anchors.
VENEER ANCHOR REQUIREMENTS
Veneer anchors come in a variety of types and their use is related to the backing used. Model building codes dictate the combination of backing and anchor to be used, and describe the properties and spacing of the anchors. Table 1 contains a summary of the requirements.
TABLE 1. VENEER ANCHOR TYPES AND REQUIREMENTS
| Anchor Type | Physical Properties | Backing Permitted | Maximum Air Space | Wall Area per Anchor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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