CMU Running Bond Pattern I haven't seen before

It's difficult to see the bond in the picture. Can you describe it a little, or sketch it? It looks like a half-block in in the wall in a couple of places.

Yes, Sorry about that. Try this. I outlined the joints in Red.

It's possible that there is an original 12" wall behind this, and that they tied an 8" wythe to the existing 12" Wall with these "header" type courses. Has anyone seen this before?

Yeah, it looks like it could be a take on traditional common bond in brick.

"It is imperative Cunth doesn't get his hands on those codes."

Running bond with every fourth course irregular. But the irregular courses are not uniform. I've seen neatly laid masonry with courses to be hidden by architectural features laid "sloppy" but not like this.

"Boss said we have to use up these irregulars. Just lay them like this and nobody will notice".

I hope that isn't a 6" block with sideways blocks every 4 courses tying it together? similar to multi-wyth brick.

Very odd indeed, if all the blocks are solid my gut would be architectural reasons. But what do i know, I'm not an architect.

There really is no definition of "running bond". It is "other than stack bond". There is no requirement that the alternating "head joints" be offset by 1/2 of the masonry unit length.

You might be looking at a wall with buttresses at the location on the smaller units. The smaller units (wall face lengths could be the ends of the buttress wall used to tie the walls together and you would likely have vertical steel at the location of the buttresses.

6" CMUs can be used for high loadings depending on the wall lengths and the lateral loads on the walls. There are 6" "L corner" units made to preserve the bonding of intersection partially reinforced walls on tall multi story buildings, but the building shown is likely one or two stories, especially with the joists parallel to the walls shown.

Dick

Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.