Cavity walls

What is a Cavity Wall?

 Cavity wall is a double wall consisting

of two separate walls, called “skins”
or “leaves” of masonry separated by
an air space and joined together by
metal ties at suitable intervals.
 These walls are generally exterior
walls, although sometimes used as
interior walls.
Early Cavity Walls

 Most walls comprised two half-brick

Construction Details General features:
 The two leaves of a cavity wall may be
of equal thickness if it is a non load
bearing wall, or the internal leaf may
be thicker than the external leaf, to
meet the structural requirements.
 The inner and outer skins of the wall
are adequately tied together by
means of special wall ties at the rate
of at least five ties per square meter
of wall.
 The cavity should neither be less than
40 mm nor more than 100 mm in
width.
 To prevent moisture to enter, it is
essential to provide a vertical damp
Building Regulations
proof course at window and door
reveals. The damp proof course
should be flexible.
leaves with a 50mm cavity.
 The two halves of the wall were tied
at regular intervals with steel or
wrought iron wall ties. The external
leaf of brickwork was laid in facing
bricks, the internal leaf in commons.
 A few early cavity walls had an
external leaf one brick thick and, in
some early forms of construction, the
DPC ran right across the cavity.
 DPCs (to prevent rising damp) were in
common use by the early 1900s. They
could be made from lead, pitch,
asphalt and slate.
 According to building codes the
double wall is generally 265mm or
275mm thick, consisting of 102.5mm
inner and outer skins and a 60-70 mm
cavity (adequate for 2 storied
domestic building) .
  The inner leaf is increased to 215 mm
or more in thickness when heavier
load or floors have to be supported
 For stone faced buildings, the outer
leaf is 103-206mm and inner leaf is
102.5mm. The width of cavity in
between varies from 50-75mm.

Position of Cavity at Foundations: Cavity

Extending up to Concrete Bed

 The cavity extends right upto the base

of the footing, of the footing, with
damp proof course introduced just
below the floor level. This is the more
common arrangement.
 However, if the brick work below G.L. Position of Cavity at Parapet Level
is not carefully constructed, water will
 In the case of flat roofs, with a
enter through the joints, collect in
parapet, the cavity may extend either
cavity and travel through inner leaf,
up to the bottom of coping or upto a
causing dampness in the flooring. The
level slightly above the flat roof.
following type remedies the stated
 When the cavity extends upto the
problem.
bottom of coping, D.P.C. course is
provided between the bottom of
coping and top of cavity, so that rain
water does not enter the cavity.
 When the cavity is terminated just
above the flat roof, one D.P.C. is
provided over the top of the cavity
and another

Position of Cavity at Foundations

 The portion of the cavity between top

of the foundation concrete and the
G.L. be filled with 1:2:4 concrete at
least 150 mm below D.P.C.
 Separate D.P.C. is provided for both Insulation in Cavity Walls
the leaves.
 Rain water gaining access to the
cavity through the outer leaf, and
collecting in the cavity may be drained
off by the provision of narrow outlets
or weep holes.
Wall ties Example

 Wall ties are mostly mild steel Present house in Jaipur built in 2005 is an
thoroughly galvanised or dipped in exposed bricks(wire cut bricks) house with
hot tar and sanded to protect from cavity walls. Two brick and mortar walls
rust. having a gap of 4" in between. For strength,
 Stainless steel is used now used. both walls have been tied at regular intervals
 These are various patterns; the by placing 5mm "S" shaped rod - thus giving
washer shown is to hold insulation the outer wall the strength of a normal 9"
boards in position against the inner one.
leaf.
 These ties must be placed at distances
not exceeding 900 mm horizontally
and 450 mm vertically, and should be
staggered.
 Ties must be placed at 300 mm
vertical intervals at all angles and
door and window jambs to increase
stability.
Advantages of cavity walls.

 Advantages of cavity walls: There is

no possibility of the moisture
travelling from the outer wall to the
inner wall.
 The layer of air in the cavity being
non-conductor of heat, and reduces
the transmission of heat from the
external face to internal one.
 This acts as damp barrier, reduces the
cooling cost of the building.
 Economy- A 275 mm cavity wall costs
less to construct than a 328 mm solid
wall
Weep holes  Cheaper than exterior or interior wall
insulation.
 Maintains existing wall thickness.
 Minimal disruption to install
 Can reduce condensation
Disadvantages

 Cavity walls were first built, in

exposed coastal areas, in order to
keep out wind-driven rain. Filling the
cavity with insulation will always hold
the risk that moisture will be able to
find its way across to the inside,
whatever the insulation material.
 There is also the possibility that the
installation will leave unfilled air
pockets –causing ‘cold spots’ on the
inside walls which attract
condensation.
 Another problem concerns wall-tie
corrosion; cavity insulation makes the
outer brick leaf colder, and therefore
wetter, which can accelerate rusting
of the wall ties. And if the ties then
have to be replaced, there is no
satisfactory way of refilling the holes
in the insulation, whatever the
material.
 Thermal bridging problems.
 Thickness of insulation is restricted by
width of cavity.
 Significant parts of the UK are
unsuitable due to their exposure.
 There are significant number of
buildings with mortar droppings on
ties within the cavity which result in
penetrating dampness.
 Settlement and saturation of cavity-fill
leading to cold bridging

Precautions

 Damp proof course should be laid

separately for two walls.
 The cavity should be properly drained
and ventilated by providing weep
holes.
 Cavity should be kept clear of
dropping of mortar or brick, rubbish
etc during construction.
 Vermin's or mosquitoes should not be
there in the cavity wall.