Adobe Building Code

§ 150-030 Purpose.
The purpose of this subchapter is to establish an “Adobe Building Code” for the use in
construction with unburned or burnt clay masonry (adobe) within the city limits,
recognizing the average rainfall and low humidity.
('80 Code, § 7-56) (Ord. 2021, passed 7-1-81)
§ 150-031 Scope.
(A) This subchapter is applicable to:
(1) All new construction.
(2) Remodeling and damage repairs to existing buildings as follows:
(a) Fifty percent: Entire building shall comply.
(b) Twenty-five percent: Only portion remodeled or repaired.
(c) Less than 25%: May use the existing method of construction, providing there
are no life safety hazards in the method of construction.
(B) This subchapter is not applicable to architect/engineer-designed buildings but
shall serve as a design guide equal or exceed the safety limits.
('80 Code, § 7-57) (Ord. 2021, passed 7-1-81)
§ 150-032 General Construction Techniques and Standards.
(A) Wall height and length.
(1) Adobe masonry of unburned clay units shall be classified as natural (raw)
adobe or stabilized adobe and shall not be used in any building more than one story in
height. The unsupported height or length of every wall of these units shall be not more
than ten times the thickness of such walls; provided, however, when the wall is laterally
supported at the ceiling line by means of ceiling joists or rafters, the length may be
increased to 24 times the thickness of such walls.
(2) Exterior walls shall in no case be less than 14 inches thick and interior adobe
walls shall not be less than ten inches thick. Foundation (stem) walls which support
masonry of unburned clay units shall extend to an elevation of not less than six inches
above the adjacent ground at all points and shall be of the same thickness as the wall
they support. Frame interior walls shall be of standard construction and anchored to the
exterior walls by use of “gringo” blocks or other approved methods.
(3) Adobe shall not be used for foundation (stem) or basement walls. Footing shall
be of a continuous concrete design. The footing width and depth shall be governed by
the allowable bearing pressure of the soil and allowable concrete' stresses.
(B) Classes of adobe.
 (1) The term STABILIZED ADOBE UNIT(S) is defined as adobes made of soil to
which certain admixtures, emulsified asphalt, or other approved material is added in the
manufacturing process in order to limit the adobe's water absorption capacity to comply
with the Uniform Building Standard.
(2) Natural (raw) or untreated adobes are adobes which do not meet the water
absorption specifications. This shall hold even if some water absorption protective agent
has been added.
(C) Material.
(1) Adobe is defined as clay masonry units made from a suitable mixture of soil,
day and stabilizing agent. The soil used shall contain not more than ten-hundredths
percent of soluble salts and shall contain not less than 25% and not more than 45% of
material passing a No. 200 mesh sieve and 100% shall pass through a one-fourth-inch
mesh sieve and be free from deleterious matter. The soil shall contain sufficient clay to
bind the particles together and be mixed with clean potable water to the proper working
consistency.
(2) Units shall be protected from moisture while curing, be sun-baked for at least
one week and stacked for another two weeks before being laid in the wall. Weather
conditions may require a longer curing period.
(D) Testing.
(1) All units shall be tested in accordance with Uniform Building Code Standard 24-
14.
(a) Compressive strength. The units shall have an average compressive
strength of 300 pounds per square inch. One sample out of five may have a
compressive strength of not less than 200 pounds per square inch.
(b) Modulus of rupture. The unit shall average 50 pounds per square inch.
(c) Moisture content. The moisture content of each unit shall be not more than
four percent by weight.
(d) Absorption. A dried four-inch cube cut from a sample of a stabilized adobe
unit shall absorb not more than two and one-half percent moisture by weight. If the
sample absorbs more than two and one-half percent moisture by weight, the material
shall be classified as natural (raw) adobe.
(e) Shrinkage cracks. No unit shall contain more than three shrinkage cracks,
and no shrinkage crack shall exceed three inches in length or one-eighth inch in width.
(2) Sample testing shall be made daily by the manufacturer. A minimum of monthly
random tests shall be made for the manufacturer by an independent testing laboratory.
Test reports shall be maintained a minimum of three years.
(E) Construction. At the time of laying, all units shall be clean and damp at the
surface. All joints shall be solidly filled with mortar. Units may be laid with adobe mortar
made of the same materials as the units or with Type M or S mortar. In all cases bond
must be achieved between the mortar and the adobe units. No more than seven
courses per day shall be laid when using adobe mortar. Units shall be laid in a running
bond with a 50% lap. Use of natural (raw) adobes is prohibited within four inches above
the finish floor grade.
(F) Plastering.
(1) Natural (raw) adobe shall have all exterior walls plastered on the outside with
Portland cement plaster, minimum thickness three-fourths inch in accordance with
Chapter 47, Uniform Building Code, current edition. Protective coatings other than
plaster are allowed, provided such coating is equivalent to Portland cement plaster in
protecting the untreated adobes against deterioration and/or loss of strength due to
water. Plaster screens shall be used around the bottom row of adobe to prevent water
wicking.
(2) Natural (raw) adobes may be left exposed on the exterior walls if the following
protection or other approved methods are provided against any flow of water on, or
upon those walls, other than falling rain:
(a) A cap or cornice of brick or concrete units, or equal, or parapet walls, laid to
drain water onto the roof.
(b) Canals or scruppers, properly flashed, of sufficient length to drain water from
the roof so that it will not fall against the wall.
(c) Window sills of brick or concrete units, or equal, sloped and with sufficient lip,
to drain water so that it will not fall against the wall.
(G) Lintels. Members supporting unburned clay masonry units shall be reinforced
concrete, masonry, steel or pressure treated heavy timber. The adobe units may
overhang the lintel a maximum of two inches on each face. Heavy timber lintels shall be
limited to eight-foot openings.
(H) Bond beams and anchorage. Bond beams shall be provided to support and
anchor all roof construction. Bond beams utilizing adobe shall have continuous rows of
joint reinforcing between the required member of courses to resist uplift forces. Ledger
and partition bolts shall extend through exterior and interior adobe walls and the
attaching member. It shall be required to provide plate washers on the exterior face of
the adobe wall. Plate washers shall be a minimum of one-eighth inch thick by four
inches by four inches in size or equivalent anchorage. Top wall plates and anchor bolts
shall be designed to resist the uplift forces (minimum one-half inch in diameter and 20
inches embedment, 24 inches on center spacing) and provided with washers at least
one-eighth inch by four inches by six inches in size embedded in the adobe. Oversize
washers, minimum two inches in diameter, shall be used on the wood top plate.
(I) Stresses. Unburned clay masonry (adobe) units shall conform to the stresses set
forth in Table I (§ 150-033).
(J) Joint control. Joint control shall be maintained as follows:
(1) Raw adobe: All joints shall be struck smooth or concave to allow stucco.
 (2) Stabilized adobe: All style joints are permitted.
(K) Wood appendage. Wood appendage, including vigas, latillas and corbels, shall
be permitted.
('80 Code, § 7-59) (Ord. 2021, passed 7-1-81) Penalty, see § 150-999
§ 150-033 Burnt Adobe Masonry Units.
(A) Compressive strength standard. Burnt adobe units shall have an average
ultimate compressive strength of not less than 600 pounds per square inch. One unit
out of five may have a compressive strength of not less than 500 pounds per square
inch. Tests in accordance with ASTM C-67 for an approved testing agency shall be
applied to five sample units selected at random for each 5,000 units used.
(B) Construction. All units shall be laid in running bond with full head and bed joints
and a 50% lap. Walls shall be supported on foundation (stems) to maintain a minimum
of six inches above adjacent ground at all points. Burnt adobe units shall not be used in
any building more than one story in height. The unsupported height of every wall shall
not be more than 15 times the thickness of such walls except that when gable
construction is used, an additional four feet is permitted to the peak of the gable. Walls
shall in no case be less than eight inches in thickness.
(C) Sealing. The surface of exposed walls shall be protected from water absorption
by either exterior plastering or a chemical water-repellent sealer compound.
(D) Bond beams and anchorage. Bond beams shall be provided in support and
anchor all roof construction. Bond beams shall have a minimum of three continuous
rows of joint reinforcing between the required number of courses to resist uplift forces.
Top plate anchor bolts shall be designed to resist the uplift forces (minimum one-half
inch diameter and 20 inches embedment, 24-inch-on-center spacing) and provided with
washers at least one-eighth inch thick by four inches by four inches welded to bolt. Top
plate washer shall be a minimum two inches in diameter.
(E) Stresses. Burnt adobe masonry shall conform to the stresses set forth in Table
1.

Table 1
Type M Type S Type M or Type S Mortar Type N
Material Compression 1
Compression Shear or Tension Tension in
1
Compression Shear or Tension
in Flexure2,3
Flexure 4
in Flexure
Unburned clay 30 30 8 4
(adobe) masonry
Burnt adobe 85 85 8 60
1
Allowable axial or flexural compressive stresses in pounds per square feet in gross cross-sectional area (except at
notes). The allowable working stresses in bearing directly on the concentrated loads may be 50% greater than these
values.
2
This value of tension is based on tension across a bed joint, i.e., vertically in the normal masonry work.
3
No tension allowed in stack bond across heat joints.
4
The value shown here are for tension in masonry in the direction of running bond, i.e., horizontally between supports.
5
Mortar in masonry shall not be considered to resist axial tension.
('80 Code, § 7-60) (Ord. 2021, passed 7-1-81) Penalty, see § 150-999
§ 150-034 Electrical Requirements.
(A) Electrical wiring shall be run in channels in the adobe. Channels shall be not less
than three inches deep.
(B) Electrical wiring may be type UF cable or other type cable assemblies approved
for direct burial. Conduit shall be used for all other type wiring conductors. Minimum
wire size shall be No. 12 copper; a ground wire shall be provided for all runs except
metal conduit.
(C) Channels shall be filled flush to the wall with adobe mud or approved mortar.
(D) Electrical J-boxes shall be recessed flush and grouted in place with mud or
approved mortar.
('80 Code, § 7-61) (Ord. 2021, passed 7-1-81) Penalty, see § 150-999
§ 150-035 Plumbing.
Vertical plumbing line shall be recessed in channels of sufficient size and depth to
prevent nail holes in lines. Channels shall be filled flush to the wall with adobe mud or
approved mortar.
('80 Code, § 7-62) (Ord. 2021, passed 7-1-81) Penalty, see § 150-999