National University

College of Architecture

(S.Y 2023-2024 2nd Term)

Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

Submitted to:

Ar. Mark Delfin

Submitted by:

Montes, Kayla Erice

ARC 214

January 22, 2024

Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

Part 1: General

1. Concrete masonry construction shall include the furnishing of all labor,

material, and equipment, and performing all operations necessary to

execute all concrete masonry construction, as specified.

2. The contractor will set up and complete all work required to accept and

adjoin additional projects.

3. Contractor shall personally supervise the work and retain a competent

foreman on duty at all times when he is not there.

4. All masonry construction shall conform to the requirements of the local

building code and the Specification for Masonry Structures.

5. The contractor is responsible for setting up the appropriate storage area at

the job site for building supplies.

Part 2: Materials

1. All materials should conform to the ASTM Masonry Standards.

2. Concrete Masonry Units should conform to the ASTM C90-11b standard

for loadbearing concrete masonry units.

3. CHB

o Concrete Hollow Blocks (CHB) 6”

o Concrete Hollow Blocks (CHB) 4”

4. Mortar and Plaster

a. Mortar shall consist of sand, cement, and water conforming to the

requirements of standard specifications for concrete masonry,

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Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

mixed in the proportion of (1) part cement to (3) parts sand by

volume and sufficient water to obtain the required consistency.

b. Do not use calcium chloride in mortar or plaster.

c. Plaster should be made conforming to the ASTM C476 Proportion

Specification.

i. The ASTM C 476 material requirements are as follows: it

achieves the required compressive strength, or 2000 psi,

whichever is higher, after 28 days when tested in

compliance with ASTM C 1019; it has a slump flow of 24 to

30 inches, as determined by ASTM C 1611; and it has a

Visual Stability Index (VSI), as determined by ASTM C

1611, that is less than or equal to 1.

▪ Eagle Cement Advanced Portland Cement, 40kg bag

▪ Sand

5. Reinforcing Steel

o PNS 49 Grade 230 (size: 10 mm; length: 9 m)

o PNS 49 GRADE 280 (size: 16 mm; length 9 m)

Part 3: Execution

Installation

1. Ensure that the surfaces supporting the masonry work are clear of dirt and

other harmful materials and that they are completed with the correct lines

and grades. Wait until improperly prepared surfaces have been

satisfactorily rectified before starting any work.

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Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

2. The drawings will specify the horizontal and vertical spacing between

anchors that secure the masonry wall to the structural frame. You might

use intersecting walls in place of an anchor.

3. Assemble floors, walls, and other masonry structures using cavity and

composite materials to the specified thickness. Utilizing the designated

nominal thickness units, construct any single-withed walls to the exact

thickness of the masonry units.

4. Leave spaces for equipment to be fitted before completing the masonry

construction. After installing equipment, finish masonry work to match the

work adjacent to the opening.

5. Use water-cooled or motor-driven dry-cutting saws to cut masonry units so

that the edges are crisp, clean, and undamaged. Cut pieces as needed to

fit adjacent work and to create continuous patterns. If at all feasible, use

full-size units without trimming them.

6. Install units with cut surfaces and, if at all possible, with concealed cut

edges.

7. Units shall be placed while the mortar is soft and plastic. Any unit disturbed

to the extent that the initial bond is broken after initial positioning shall be

removed and re-laid in fresh mortar.

8. Do not install cracked, broken, or chipped masonry units exceeding ASTM

allowances.

9. Avoid letting mortar droplets or other debris harm sills, ledges, and offsets

during building. Utilize covers laid on the ground and over the wall surface

to shield the base of walls from rain-splattered mud and mortar. Lost grout

or mortar must be removed right away. Take precautions to prevent stains

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Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

on face materials. When building, take care to avoid damaging door jambs

and corners.

10. Mortar should not be spread too far ahead of units, as it will stiffen and

loose plasticity, especially in hot weather. Mortar that has stiffened should

not be used. ASTM C270 requires that mortar be used within 2 ½ hours of

initial mixing.

Reinforcement for Concrete Hollow Blocks

1. Reinforcement should be done in accordance with the structural plans as

to size, spacing, and other requirements such as 600mm spacing vertically

and every (3) CHB layers horizontally for rebars using 9m length steel

reinforcement.

2. Reinforcement shall be clean and free from loose, rust, scales, and any

coatings that will reduce bond.

3. When a foundation dowel does not connect with the vertical core to be

reinforced, it must be grouted in direct vertical alignment, even if it is in an

adjacent cell to the vertical wall reinforcing.

Laying Masonry Walls

1. Do not wet concrete masonry prior to laying up units unless written

permission is obtained from the Engineer.

2. Plan your wall layout in advance to ensure that surface bond patterns are

spaced precisely, with consistent joint widths, and that openings,

movement-type joints, offsets, and returns are all located precisely. Less-

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Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

than-half-size units should not be used anywhere possible, especially at

corners and jambs.

3. Lay-up walls with precise course spacing and coordination with other

operations, adhering to the required construction tolerances.

4. Fill the space between hollow metal frames and masonry with mortar,

unless otherwise specified.

5. Grout cores in hollow concrete masonry units to support beams or slabs

beneath bearing plates, beams, lintels, posts, and similar things, unless

otherwise specified.

Mortar bedding and Jointing

1. Concrete masonry units should have a consistent nominal joint thickness

of 10mm conforming to the current masonry codes standard for mortar joint

thickness, unless otherwise specified in the plans.

2. Install solid masonry units and fully-grouted hollow CMU with a filled bed

and head joint. Apply enough mortar to fill head joints and shove into place.

Avoid furrowing bed joints or slushy head joints.

3. Use a round jointing tool to create weather-proof, concave, tooled

connections in exposed surfaces using mortar that is thumbprint hard.

Make strike joints flush on surfaces that will be plastered, covered with

another material, or finished with a surface finish other than paint.

4. Remove any mortar that is protruding into the grouting cells or voids. Do

not allow mortar droppings to clog weep holes. Mortar should not be used

to fill horizontal joints between masonry partitions and concrete or steel

structures unless specified in the plans.

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Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

5. Remove any masonry components that were disturbed during the laying

process; clean and reset in fresh mortar. Avoid pounding jamb corners to

move stretcher units already in place. To make modifications, remove the

units, clean the mortar, and reinstall with fresh mortar.

Construction Stability

1. Provide and install bracing that will ensure stability of masonry during

construction.

2. Allow 16 hours after completing masonry columns and walls to place floor

or roof construction loads. Allow 48 hours before using concentrated loads

like girders, beams, or trusses.

3. Use formwork and shores to temporarily support reinforced masonry

sections.

4. Create formwork that conforms to the shape, line, and measurements

provided. Ensure a tight seal to prevent mortar, grout, or concrete leaks.

Maintain the position and shape of reinforced masonry by bracing, tying,

and supporting it throughout building and curing.

5. Formwork shall be designed and working drawings prepared by a

professional Engineer.

6. Formwork shall not be removed until the reinforced masonry member has

cured enough to support its own weight and additional loads during

construction.

7. Allow at least the following time after completion of the member to remove

shores or forms, if proper curing conditions were attained during the curing

period:
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Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

a. Lintels and beams – 10 days

Grouting

1. Fully grout vertical cells of concrete masonry containing steel

reinforcement.

2. Do not place grout until entire height of masonry to be grouted has attained

sufficient strength to resist grout pressure.

3. Pour grout in one continuous pour over apertures in beams or lintels.

4. Extend reinforcement beyond masonry as needed for splicing when

multiple pours are needed to finish a particular section of masonry. Grout

should be poured to within 1-1/2 inches of the initial pour's top course. Prior

to grouting, lay the masonry units and the reinforcement for the second

pour section once the grouted masonry has cured. If more pours are

needed, repeat the sequence.

Cleaning

1. When mortar is thoroughly set and cured, clean masonry by removing large

mortar particles by hand with wooden paddles a non-metallic scrapes or

chisels.

2. Use a sample wall panel to test cleaning techniques; for comparison, leave

one panel uncleaned.

3. Obtain Architect approval for sample cleaning before cleaning masonry.

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Exercise 5: Masonry Specifications

4. Use waterproof masking tape, polyethylene film, or a liquid strippable

masking agent to shield nearby stone and non-masonry surfaces from the

cleaner.

5. Ensure that the unit masonry work is free of damage and deterioration at

the time of substantial completion by providing the last layer of protection

and maintaining the area in a way that is acceptable to the installer.

*End of Section*

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