UNDERSTANDING collar joints When specified, they should be filled 100% solid with high-slump grout to provide the wall system with composite action and a water barrier By Water Laska ollar joints are one of tne C onants in a masonry wall Architects typically specity collar Joints to act as a water barrier! in contrast, enginoers specify them exclusively for structural purpos es, But can a collar joint success fully pertorm either tunetion? Tine ACI S30/ASCE 5/TMS 102 Building Code Requiremenns for Masonry Structures (MSJC Code) ‘cal longitudinal space between wythos of masonry or between an ‘outer masonry wythe and another backup systam, Often this space is specified to be filled solid with mortar or grout, but sometimes collar-joint treatment is left un specified, Accrimrcomemennaeres, walls containing a collar joint is indicated in Figure 1. This watt system consists of @ dbinch nomi- nal outer wythe of masonry and either a 4-or an Brinch nominal in nner wythe of masonry. The overall wall thicknoss is 8 or 12 inchos, and the remaining space is @ Sriner wide cottar joint (3% inches + 34 inches +4 inch = 8 inches; 34 inch os + Phinches +4 inch = 12 inches) Collar joint function Architects commonly design @ wall system with the collar joint to be filled solid with mortar or grout. In this systom, the collar Joint might be intended to act as a barrier to stop the inward migra Structural engineers specity solldly filed collar joints to create 2 composite masonry structure, In theory, the solid collar joint bonds the two wythes togathor and helps generate composite action by transferring stress be- tween the two wythes. In affect, Typical collar joint detail Figure 1 Representing » typical collar joint detail this wall systam Consists of a 4-inch meminal outer wythe of briek, a 4-inch nominal ‘an implied cinch collar joint. How= larjoint to be Tito 2 inches wide, the combs ied wythes act together ssa a atggs aia Crips masonry design is common tor 8 Ineh-wicte wats Composite masonry walls and barriar walls work conceptually. Howover, these wall systoms rare ly pertarm and are rarely con- structed as intended, This is par Heularly true fer mertarfilled Figure 2. Reproserting the proferablo way to detail collar joints this well system consists of a 4-inch nominal outer wytne of brick, 9 d-ineh nom: fend @ Tks to 2ainch collar joint. This Collar Joint ls wide enough ta be [groutod solid with high-skump grout so ean perform as intended. Thecollar joints Collar joints: the reality Crooks ond veida In collar joints filled with mortar are common of reasons (see Photo 1). Separa tlon cracks sometimes develop sonry units and the collar joint This can be duo to the aitterent absorption rates of each masonry filled cotlar joints aren't compact- fed. (In contrast, compaction oc curs in head and bess joints as a result of tooling.) In adaition, thermal movement {expansion and contraction) can cause the outer wythe of mason Fy to separate from the collar joint. Moreover, given the absorp: Uvoness of both wythes, mortar Used in a collar joint doosn't con: ain enougn water to runy nyorate the cement; consequently, shrink age cracks occur, and low strength develops, Voids in a mortar-filied collar Joint inevitably occur. This is par- ‘tleularty true fora teinch-wice Joint, which can be recucod to 1b tolerances are considered. Be cause mortar sn’t fluid, a}-ine wide Joints simply too difficult to fill completaly with mortar. The MSIC Code claes nat allow collar joines to be slushed (tiled witha trowel).Therefore,themeth fd by which a mason can fill a colton joint with mortar (a limitod, ‘Amason can either butter the bback of the brick bafore laying the Unit or parge the concrete mason: ry backup shortly before laying the outer wytne of brick, But nel thor method Is foolproof, and the suill exists. Grouting a vinerwide space may prove more successful than trying to fill the space with mor tar. However, mortar extrusions. fond mortar éroppings, which are aiticult to remove trom a narrow space, can cause grout to "hang up,” leaving voids in the collar joint Research has indicated that walls with collar joints teak, even Photo 1. When a cottarjointis hited ‘with monar, voids and cracks are the inevitable rest ‘with average to dood workman ship (Reference). Voids and cracks In the collar jaint create pockets ter bridges to the interior of the building oF contributes to the de- terloration of masonry on the building exterior. The worst-case scanario can ‘occur when a wail is designed with a collar Joint that was not spocifiod to be filled solid oF loft void, What results sa space that Is halt-tilieg with mortar extru sions (can Phorn 7). This craatos Photo 2. Whan a wail is designed with 9 collar joint thatwas not specitied 10 be filed solid, what re: fan environment that Is ideal for the collection and transportation of penetrating water What are the remedies? The only way to be assured that coltar joints are filled 100% sore ts to grout them. The MSIC Code allows the grout space in a com posite wall to be a minimum of Inch. However, to eroate a tune: tional barrier wall, this space should be surticlenthy wide Tete 2 inenos—so that the mason can keep It clear ofall mortar obstruc: tions (see Figure 2). Futing the space with high-siump grout and onsolieiating that grout wil pro duce a 100% solid collar joint that posite action and a water barrier However, walls Bulle with solic ly grouted Tito 2:nen collar joints sometimes are not practical ‘and can be costpronibitive, So the best option might be to elim nate the tnd design and construct a dairy ‘age wall systom. (For information fon cavity wall design, sae "Watt Cavities: Dosign vs. Construction,” August 1997, pages 445-446) collar joint altogether Watin: Lonkall te senior conan an president of Masoney Technologies Ine: in owners Grove; lly art to technical consultant for Masonry Carr tetruction. He alee te the author of Mo 2onry and Stee! Detailing Handbos published by The Aberdeen Group. For tore information on this hook, cal '800323:3550, Reference CCuayteraT, Grim, "Water Parmeance ot ASTM STP 778, 1982, Armicar Society for Tostng and Matis, 100 Barr Harte Dr West Conchonaenen, PA 19428, PUBLICATION #970559 Copyright ® 19897 The Aberdoen Group Allrights raserved