Designation: A 951 – 02

Standard Specification for

Masonry Joint Reinforcement1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation A 951; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope* A 82–_______, hot-dip galvanized to ASTM A 153 – _______, conform-

ing to ASTM A 951 – _______.
1.1 This specification covers masonry joint reinforcement
fabricated from cold drawn steel wire. Joint reinforcement 4. Materials and Manufacture
consists of longitudinal wires welded to cross wires.
4.1 Wire used in the manufacture of masonry joint rein-
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
forcement shall be round and shaped and conform to the
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for
applicable provisions of Specification A 82 or A 580, Type
information only.
304, except as modified herein.
2. Referenced Documents 4.2 Masonry joint reinforcement shall be assembled by
automatic machines or by other suitable mechanical means that
2.1 ASTM Standards:
will assure accurate spacing and alignment of all members of
A 82 Specification for Steel Wire, Plain, for Concrete Re-
the finished product.
inforcement2
4.3 Longitudinal and cross wires shall be securely con-
A 153/A 153M Specification for Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on
nected at every intersection by an electric-resistance welding
Iron and Steel Hardware3
process that includes both fusion welding together with applied
A 185 Specification for Steel Welded Wire Fabric, Plain, for
pressure to join the materials.
Concrete Reinforcement2
4.4 Longitudinal wires shall be deformed. One set of two
A 496 Specification for Steel Wire, Deformed, for Concrete
deformations shall occur around the perimeter of the wire at a
Reinforcement2
maximum spacing of 0.7 times the diameter or width of the
A 580/A 580M Specification for Stainless and Heat-
wire, but not less than eight sets per inch (25 mm) of length.
Resisting Steel Wire4
A 641/A 641M Specification for Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) NOTE 2—Wire used for joint reinforcement is knurled to form defor-
Carbon Steel Wire3 mations and as such it does not come under the deformation requirements
in Specification A 496.
3. Ordering Information
5. Mechanical Requirements
3.1 Orders for material to this specification should include
the following information: 5.1 Tensile Properties—Wire used in the fabrication of
3.1.1 Quantity (linear feet) (metres), masonry joint reinforcement shall conform to the requirements
3.1.2 Type (truss, ladder), of Table 1 based on nominal area of the wire.
3.1.3 Width (nominal thickness of masonry wall), 5.2 Tension Tests:
3.1.4 Wire size and wire specification, 5.2.1 Tension tests shall be made on individual wires cut
3.1.5 Finish (see Section 6), from the finished product and tested either across or between
3.1.6 Packaging (see Section 12), and the welds. No less than 50 % shall be across welds.
3.1.7 ASTM designation number and year of issue. 5.2.2 Tension tests across a weld shall have the welded joint
located approximately at the center of the wire being tested.
NOTE 1—A typical ordering description is as follows: 5.2.3 Tensile strength shall be the average of four test values
10 000 ft joint reinforcement, No. 8 standard (W1.7) truss, wire to ASTM determined by dividing the maximum test load by the specified
nominal cross-sectional area of the wire.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee A01 on Steel,
5.3 Reduction of Area—The ruptured section of the tensile
Stainless Steel, and Related Alloys and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee specimen is measured to determine this property. The measure-
A01.05 on Steel Reinforcement. ment shall be made only when rupture has occurred at a
Current edition approved Nov 10, 2002. Published June 2003. Originally sufficient distance from the center of the weld to permit an
published as A 951 – 96. Last previous edition A 951 – 98 (2001).
2
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.04. accurate measurement of the fractured section. Additional
3
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.06. testing is permitted when a suitable ruptured section is not
4
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 01.03.

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 A 951 – 02
TABLE 1 Tension Test Requirements 7.3 Width—The width of joint reinforcement is defined as
Tensile strength, min, ksi (MPa) 80 the out-to-out distance of outside longitudinal wires. Width
(550) shall not vary by more than 1⁄8 in. (3 mm) from the manufac-
Yield strength, min, ksi (MPa) 70
(485) turer’s specified standard dimension. Width shall be measured
Reduction of area, min, % 30 as follows:
7.3.1 Ladder Type Joint Reinforcement— At opposite weld
points, and
7.3.2 Truss Type Joint Reinforcement— From a weld point
obtained from the initial test. The wire shall meet the minimum on one longitudinal wire perpendicular to a point on the
reduction of area requirements of Table 1. opposite wire between adjacent weld points.
5.4 Weld Shear Strength—The least weld shear strength in 7.4 Length—The length of pieces of joint reinforcement
pounds-force shall be not less than 25 000 multiplied by the shall not vary by more than 1⁄2 in. (13 mm) from the specified
specified nominal area of the larger wire in square inches (or in length.
Newtons shall not be less than 172 multiplied by the nominal 7.5 Dimensions:
area in square millimetres). 7.5.1 The required dimensions shall be measured on three
NOTE 3—Since industry practice is to use butt welds in the manufacture samples of joint reinforcement prior to galvanizing or on three
of joint reinforcement, the weld shear strength in pounds-force is samples from which the galvanizing has been removed.
prescribed as 25 000 times the area of the larger wire rather than 35 000 7.5.2 Measure the dimensions of both longitudinal and cross
times the area of the larger wire. wires to the nearest 0.001 in. (0.03 mm).
5.5 Weld Shear Strength Tests: 7.5.3 Measure the gaps between the ends of deformations
5.5.1 Test specimens shall be obtained from the finished around the circumference of the wire to the nearest 0.001 in.
product by cutting a section of longitudinal wire that includes (0.03 mm).
one weld.
5.5.2 Weld shear strength tests shall be conducted using a 8. Number of Tests
fixture of such design as to prevent rotation of the cross wire. 8.1 Number of Tests—One set of each test described herein
The cross wire shall be placed in the anvil of the testing device shall be performed for each 300 000 linear feet (91 500 m) of
which is secured in the tensile machine and the load then joint reinforcement, but not less than one set each week.
applied to the longitudinal wire.
5.5.3 Weld shear strength shall be the average test load in 9. Inspection
pounds (Newtons) of four test specimens selected at random.
5.6 Bend Tests: 9.1 The inspector representing the purchaser shall have free
5.6.1 Test specimens shall be obtained from the fabricated entry at all times, while work on the contract of the purchaser
product by cutting a section of longitudinal wire without welds. is being performed, to all parts of the manufacturer’s works
5.6.2 The test specimens shall be bent at room temperature that concern the manufacture of the material ordered. The
through 180° around a pin, the diameter of which is equal to manufacturer shall afford the inspector all reasonable facilities
the nominal diameter of the specified wire. Shaped wires shall to assure that the material is being furnished in accordance with
be placed on the pin so that the minimum dimension is this specification.
perpendicular to the axis of the pin. 9.2 Except for yield strength, all tests and inspections shall
5.6.3 The specimen shall not break nor shall there be visible be made at the place of manufacture prior to shipment, unless
cracks of the base metal on the outside diameter of the bend. otherwise specified. Such tests shall be conducted so as not to
interfere unnecessarily with the operation of the works.
6. Other Requirements 9.3 If the purchaser considers it desirable to determine
6.1 When corrosion protection of joint reinforcement is compliance with the strength requirements of Specification
provided, it shall be in accordance with one of the following: A 82, tension tests shall be made by a recognized laboratory, or
6.1.1 Mill Galvanized—Zinc coated, in accordance with the by the wire supplier, observed by the purchaser’s representa-
hot-dip method of Specification A 641, with a minimum of 0.1 tive if desired, provided such tests do not interfere unneces-
oz of zinc per square foot (30 g/m2) of surface area. The sarily with the mill operations.
coating may be applied before fabrication.
6.1.2 Hot-Dip Galvanized—Zinc coated, by the hot-dip 10. Rejection and Rehearing
method, in accordance with Specification A 153, Class B 10.1 Material that does not meet the requirements of this
(average of 1.50 oz of zinc per square foot (458 g/m2)). The specification, shall be subject to rejection. Unless otherwise
coating shall be applied after fabrication. specified, any rejection shall be reported to the manufacturer
within five days from the time of selection of test specimens.
7. Dimensions and Tolerances 10.2 In case a specimen fails to meet the tension or bend
7.1 Longitudinal Wires—The minimum size of longitudinal test, the material shall not be rejected until two additional
wires shall be W1.1 (11 gage). specimens taken from other wires in the same bundle have
7.2 Cross Wires—The minimum size of cross wires shall be been tested. The material shall be considered as meeting the
W1.1 (11 gage). Cross wires shall not project beyond the specification in respect to any prescribed tensile property,
outside longitudinal wires by more than 1⁄8 in. (3 mm). provided the tested average for the three specimens, including

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 A 951 – 02
the specimen originally tested, is equal to or exceeds the 11. Certification
required minimum for the particular property in question, and 11.1 If outside inspection is waived, a manufacturer’s cer-
further provided that none of the three specimens develops less tification that the material has been tested in accordance with
than 80 % of the required minimum for the tensile property in and meets the requirements of this specification shall be the
question. The material shall be considered as meeting this basis of acceptance of the material. The certification shall
specification in respect to bend test requirements provided both include the specification number, year-date of issue, and
additional specimens satisfactorily pass the prescribed bend revision letter, if any.
test. 11.2 A material test report, certificate of inspection, or
10.3 Any material that shows injurious imperfections sub- similar document printed from or used in electronic form from
sequent to its acceptance at the manufactuer’s works, shall be an electronic data interchange (EDI) transmission shall be
subject to rejection and the manufacturer shall be notified regarded as having the same validity as a counterpart printed in
promptly. the certifier’s facility. The content of the EDI transmitted
10.4 Welded joints shall withstand normal shipping and document must meet the requirements of the invoked ASTM
handling without becoming broken, but the presence of broken standard(s) and conform to any existing EDI agreement be-
welds, regardless of cause, shall not constitute cause for tween the purchaser and the supplier. Notwithstanding the
rejection unless the number of broken welds per bundle absence of a signature, the organization submitting the EDI
exceeds 1 % of the total number of joints in a bundle. transmission is responsible for the content of the report.
10.5 In the event of rejection because of failure to meet the
weld shear requirements, four additional specimens shall be NOTE 4—The industry definition as invoked here is: EDI is the
taken from four different bundles and tested in accordance with computer-to-computer exchange of business information in a standard
format such as ANSI ASC X12.
5.5. If the average of all the weld shear tests performed does
not meet the requirement, the material shall be rejected. 12. Packaging and Marking
10.6 In the event of rejection because of failure to meet the
requirements for dimensions, the amount of material rejected 12.1 Joint reinforcement shall be assembled in bundles
shall be limited to those bundles which fail to meet this containing 250 to 500 linear feet and securely fastened
specification. together.
10.7 Rust, surface seams, or surface irregularities will not 12.2 Each bundle shall have attached thereto a suitable tag
be cause for rejection provided the minimum dimensions, bearing the name of the manufacturer, description of the
cross-sectional area, and tensile properties of a hand wire material, ASTM A 951, and other such information as may be
brushed test specimen are not less than the requirements of this specified by the purchaser.
specification.
10.8 Rehearing—Rejected materials shall be preserved for a 13. Keywords
period of at least two weeks from the date of inspection, during 13.1 cross wires; deformed; galvanized wire; hot-dipped
which time the manufacturer may make claim for a rehearing galvanized; joint reinforcement; ladder type; longitudinal
and retesting. wires; tensile properties; truss type; weld shear strength

APPENDIX

(Nonmandatory Information)

X1. WELD SHEAR TESTING

X1.1 Scope—This appendix provides information leading people had the notion that joint reinforcement was used in a
to a better understanding of the purpose and significance of the manner similar to wire mesh. A significant difference between
weld shear strength provisions of this specification. wire mesh and joint reinforcement arose when an attempt was
made to fashion the requirements for weld shear strength after
X1.2 Background—Joint reinforcement has been used in those in Specification A 185.
the masonry industry since 1940. For most of the period since
then, its manufacture has been limited to a relatively small X1.3 Manufacturing Differences—Welded wire mesh is
group of producers and users who simply referred to “manu- manufactured with lap welds while almost all of the manufac-
facturers’ recommendations” as the standard of quality and turers of joint reinforcement use butt welds so that the total
acceptance. With the adoption of a new consensus standard for thickness of material at a weld is as small as possible. This is
the design of masonry, it became clear that a standard for the important since there is not much room to install joint
manufacture of joint reinforcement was needed. In developing reinforcement in conventional mortar bed joints. In addition,
this standard it was decided to use a format similar to that used virtually all of the wire mesh manufactured is square or
for the ASTM Standard for Welded Wire Fabric, Plain, for rectangular with intersecting wires perpendicular to each other.
Concrete Reinforcement, Specification A 185, since many This is not the case with joint reinforcement where the majority

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 A 951 – 02
of product is produced with a “truss” configuration. Com- the method used by manufacturers to ensure that they are
pounding the difference is the fact that the angle of intersection producing “satisfactory welds.” For ladder type joint reinforce-
varies for each different width of product produced since the ment, manufacturers use a setup similar to that used for wire
pitch between welds is a constant 16 in. mesh (see Fig. X1.1 and Fig. X1.2). For truss type, the method
used is to attach the opposite jaws of a testing machine to the
X1.4 Weld Tests—Because the shape of truss type joint
longitudinal and diagonal wires as shown in Fig. X1.3 and Fig.
reinforcement is so variable, the established test method used
X1.4. The strength of the weld used to connect longitudinal and
for wire mesh does not apply and reference to it has caused
problems. It was decided that the best way to handle the testing cross wires of joint reinforcement is not critical.
was to omit any description of the test setup and to simply state
the minimum acceptable weld strength, recognizing that this is

a
FIG. X1.1 Test Set-up for Ladder-Type Joint Reinforcement (a)

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 A 951 – 02

b
FIG. X1.2 Test Set-up for Ladder-Type Joint Reinforcement (b)

a
FIG. X1.3 Test Set-up for Truss-Type Joint Reinforcement (a)

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 A 951 – 02

b
FIG. X1.4 Test Set-up for Truss-Type Joint Reinforcement (b)

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee A01 has identified the location the location of the following changes to this standard since A
951–00 that may impact the use of this standard.

(1) Added Section 11.2 and Note 4.

ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentioned
in this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the risk
of infringement of such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.

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