Beam bearing on piers

[DRsquare]

I'm biding on a remodel/rebuile of a small historic house (1200 SF). The architect has specified brick faced piers on foundation pads with rebar and tie downs. The pier is to be constructed by laying the brick in an open box shape and filling it with concrete. The bricks will have tabs that extend into the area filled with concrete. Fine and good to this point, but the house beams (three 2x10's) will sit on the edge of the pier, mostly on the brick. The joist are hung on the beam, and there is no other bearing on the pier except on the brick edge. This seeems like it should have a bearing plate, a bond brick into the center or something. I questioned this but was told it was fine. Any comments or suggestions?

 

[UcfSE]

I'd make some written documentation of your question(s) and conversation with whomever said it was good and make sure to copy everyone involved, or maybe submit an RFI. If you are questioning it I think you should document that you have done so.

I don't think we can say if it's right or wrong necessarily, since we are only on the internet, but you can at least cover yourself just in case.

 

[dik]

Some bricks don't like being buried... in particular if water is present. Might consider using concrete to 6"above grade.

Dik

 

[DRsquare]

Thanks, I do need to get it on paper. The bricks piers sit on a concrete foundation and would be above ground. It just seems like the load is on a brick veneer, which isn't entirely true because the brick sits on the concrete. Intuition isn't always right, but it's dangerous to ignore it. Maybe it's OK, but it's not the best way. I've been an engineer too long, made too many mistakes, had too many things go wrong, so I'm a "belt and suspenders" believer.

DR

 

[DRC1]

I don't like it. I have not seen a pier poured that way. I would have some questions about the pier holding itself together during the pour. The 2x's should bear on the Concrete not the brick, especially if the brick is common instaed of structural.I would put a flat 2x for a form and extend the concrete slightly above the brick, pitched to drainand bear on a sleel plate.

 

[DRsquare]

Thanks DRC1,
Thant's a good sugestion. I hadn't thought about the pier holding together during the pour. Even a switch to structural brick would be an improvement. It is common now, to make it look historic.