brick veneer as load bearing

[zennis]

can an existing exterior brick veneer for a residential structure become a load bearing wall if a new addition is added to the structure? can a ledger be attached to the brick veneer? (the existing exterior wall becomes a interior wall and the wood stud walls all remain intact with ties)

 

[civilperson]

No, attach to the stud partition with the new joist hanger 2x10 or whatever and leave the brick to carry its own weight and wind.

 

[zennis]

i do realize this is not good practice and really should not even be practiced. however we were called out to review this type of construction. for the loads (a small one room shed roof addition with ceiling joists) the evaluation as non-reinforced masonry per ACI 530 indicates that it would work (h/r > 99). i guess i am trying to find a residential code violation or similar.

thanks

 

[csd72]

I doubt that there would be a specific code clause covering this.

So you have justified it for standing up under vertical loads, but what about under lateral loads. If the extension is not designed to be completely self supporting under wind then you are relying on some veneer ties to resist the majority of the racking loads.

csd

 

[zennis]

i have looked at shear lateral loads for the brick wall itself. as stated i do not think this is good practice and i do know some city/county ordinances prohibit this (more specifically for decks). however, i could not find any code references that do not allow this and was looking for input

thanks to all

 

[concretemasonry]

Brick veneer is just a very high quality siding material from a structural standpoint.

Ledgers cannot be attached to veneer. They must be attached directly to the bearing wall.

Everyone knows brick veneer provides substantial rigidity to a wood frame structure, but codes do not recognize the reliability because the construction methods and connections are not designed for the additional loads that it does resist. There is no structural tie between the wood frame and the brick that permits proper load distribution, plus the two materials are not compatible.

Granted, the brick veneer itself may have greater more vertical load capacity than the wood frame wall, you have to look at the structure and its behavior considering that stiffer materials will take more load even if they are not planned to.

Dick

 

[DaveAtkins]

I have used face brick for structural support on occasion.

If you are confident in your analysis, for vertical loads and lateral loads, then you can be comfortable with this design. As far as I know, there are no prohibitions against this.

DaveAtkins

 

[csd72]

zennie,

I was talking about loads perpendicular to the wall.

csd

 

[twinnell]

I have spoken to the department of insurance in my state (they have jurisdiction over the codes) about this and even though it is not in the residential code (IRC) it is understood by them, at the higher level, that you can not attach to it. I don't know what the inspectors are doing in smaller counties and towns...I see deck ledgers expansion anchored into the brick veneer only and the contractor says they have built thousands of these this way and never had a problem. I don't think the IBC has a specific section that states you can't resist load with it, except for its very definition...Only allowed to support its own weight.

 

[zennis]

per my discussion with the city/county inspector he quoted the 2003 IRC R703.7.3-Lintels (in the wall covering section) stating, "...masonry veneer shall support any vertical load other than the dead load of the veneer above." Why this falls under the Lintels section in wall coverings and not elsewhere I do not know. And also he referenced Chapter 14 of the IBC regarding how veneers are non-structural wall coverings and ornamental.

I do think there may be a limited or very limited circumstance that an existing veneer can essentially become a change in use (from an ornamental/non-structural to a structural non-reinforced masonry).

Thank you all for input.

 

[csd72]

zennie,

should that statement be 'shall not' or are they okaying any vertical loads?

csd

Also is it technically a veneer if it is no longer on the outside of the building?

 

[zennis]

sorry, you are correct the statement should have said "...masonry veneer shall not support any vertical load other than the dead load of the veneer above."

i wondered about the technical definition of veneer, the IRC does have a section for interior masonry veneer (that it should be properly supported)

 

[csd72]

This is the problem when building codes try to cover everything- catch all statements like that always have exceptions to the rule.

Since you dont have any wind load on the brick anymore can you justify that the brick can stand up by itself and does not need the support of the timber stud wall? If you can, then it is no longer acting as a veneer.

csd