Masonry Magazine February 2005 Page. 30
ticularly as each connecting weld must be sound and construction details can be problematic. The technique is therefore relatively expensive.
Steel Stud Partition
Steel studs (as opposed to timber studs) are used in many forms of modern building construction. Vertical steel studs are fixed between floors and support reinforced gypsum board or
QUALITY MASONRY TOOLS
KING BRICK HOO
WTOOLS...
www.czarweldtools.com
4619 Creek Road House Springs. Mo. 63051
Pa (036) 671-4187 Fax: (636) 375-3625
Talle: 1-800-245-3544
CIRCLE 154 ON READER SERVICE CARD
A vinyl solution to an ironclad problem.
Vinyl Angle Iron Covers
The unpleasant sight of a rusty, corroded angle iron over your home's entryways and doors may now be easily avoided by using the new Vinyl Angle Iron Covers!
Available in 5 designer colors!
Visit us @ www.angleironcover.com
For information on becoming a distributor or to locate a dealer closest to you, call (800) 407-6266
laminated glass (Figure 4). This partition is then placed at least 300mm (11.81") inside the existing, non-loadbearing wall to act as a catcher screen. The system is easy to install, requiring no surface preparation, but can only be used for relatively light blast loads.
Elastomeric Spray
Elastomeric spray, a relatively new concept, uses a urea- or polyurea-based coating up to 15mm (.59") thick applied directly to the rear face of an existing masonry wall. Once dry, the coating forms a tensile membrane enhancing the flexural capacity of the masonry and significantly reducing spalling. The coating is relatively inexpensive, but the wall must be thoroughly prepared, and considerable attention must be paid to the cleanliness of the masonry surface (Figure 5). The system has been exposed to blast pressures up to 35psi and impulses of 215psi-ms, successfully reducing spalling, but cannot be used on loadbearing walls without the support of another loadbearing system.
Figure 4. Steel stud partition wall and window.
Geotextiles
Tests where geotextile fabrics have been secured to the rear of masonry walls and subjected to blast loads use technology developed in the geotechniques industry for the stabilization of weak soils. The fabrics have been either mechanically attached to the floors above and below or glued to the internal face of the masonry wall. In so doing, they act as a "catcher system," (Figure 6) restraining spalled and broken masonry from entering the building envelope. While effective, considerable attention must be paid to securing fabric top and bottom or ensuring there is an effective bond between the fabric and the masonry. Further, special arrangements must be made for loadbearing walls and walls with windows.
Retrofitted Reinforced Masonry
Reinforced masonry is stronger and more ductile
Figure 5. Elastomeric spray applied to hollow concrete Mock (CMU) wall