Point Load on CMU (Fill Solid?)

[bumper24]

Existing 7’-8” Tall CMU basement wall (12” CMU 4’-0” below grade, 8” CMU 3’-8” above grade).

House was built in 1928.

House is 2-1/2 story wood frame.

I’m removing bearing walls on the first floor and I will be installing a new beam that will be on wood post or steel columns that will bear on the existing CMU foundation wall.

The Coulmn/wood post has a load of 5,918 lb’s (LL 3,041 lb’s - DL 2,877 lb’s).

The CMU are not filled solid. The existing basement is finished so the few linear feet of CMU wall that I can see looks in very good condition.

Would I need to fill the CMU solid at the new location of the column/post above?

If I do need to fill the CMU solid how many ft. from the center of column to each side?

Thanks,,,,,,

 

[phamENG]

It's usually a good idea, but may not be required. You'll need to direct the contractor to fill at least the top course or put a solid block on top of the wall so you have something to connect to, and that'll give you a little spread. Have you done your bearing capacity checks for the CMU? If you fill the top course or put in a solid 4" bock, you can spread the load a little and then check bearing stresses over the area of the face shells and webs. After that, it's a matter of checking the wall as unreinforced - the necessary equations are all in the code. ACI 530.

 

[XR250]

For that amount of load, I would use the floor band and some additional blocking, if needed, to span over any holes in the top course of the CMU. You should not need to grout it.