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BUILDING CODE REQUIREMENTS TEK 1-3D

FOR CONCRETE MASONRY Codes & Specs (2011)

INTRODUCTION concrete masonry provisions made between the 2008 and

2011 editions of the MSJC code and specification. Note
The majority of jurisdictions in the United States that the scope of the MSJC code and specification covers
adopt a national model code, most commonly the Inter- structural design and construction. Hence, requirements
national Building Code (IBC) (refs. 1, 2), as the basis of for items such as fire resistance, sound insulation and
their building code. The intent of the IBC is to reference energy efficiency are not addressed in the MSJC docu-
and coordinate other standardized documents, rather ments.
than to develop design and construction provisions from
scratch. With this in mind, the IBC masonry design and
construction provisions are based primarily on Building
Code Requirements for Masonry Structures (MSJC code) Consensus process
(refs. 3, 4) and Specification for Masonry Structures N
(MSJC specification) (refs. 5, 6). a
The code adoption process is shown schematically in t
i
Figure 1. In adopting the MSJC code and specification,
o
the IBC can amend or modify some provisions. Similarly, n
depending on state laws, modifications can be made a MSJC Code and
to the IBC at the state or local level to better suit local l Specification
building practices or design traditions. However, most
p
state codes require that any modifications to the IBC be r
adoption with modifications
more stringent than the corresponding requirement in and additions
o
the IBC. c
Because significant changes can be introduced into e International
subsequent editions of both the MSJC and IBC, the s Building Code
s
edition referenced by the local building code can be an
important consideration when determining the specific adoption, possibly
requirements to be met. Note that code officials will often with modifications
accept more current design and construction standards State/
local State or Local
than those referenced in the code, as they represent more
process Building Code
state-of-the-art requirements for a specific material or
system.
To help determine which code provisions apply and
highlight changes of note, this TEK outlines the major
modifications to concrete masonry provisions of the Figure 1—Masonry Structural Code
2009 and 2012 IBC, as well as the principal changes to Development Process

Related TEK: Keywords: building codes, construction, masonry design,

1-2C, 9-2B, 12-6, quality assurance, specifications
14-7C

NCMA TEK 1-3D 1

2009 INTERNATIONAL BUILDING CODE provisions previously in Chapter 2 (allowable stress
design) were deleted. The pseudo-strength design
The 2009 International Building Code (ref. 1) adopts method provided a method that the user could apply
by reference the 2008 editions of the MSJC code and to scale the allowable stress design values up to a cor-
MSJC specification (refs. 3, 5). The MSJC code covers responding strength-level design for application with
the design of concrete masonry, clay masonry, glass unit factored loads.
masonry, stone masonry, autoclaved aerated concrete • To help ensure the uniform distribution of prestressing
(AAC), as well as masonry veneer. The MSJC code forces, prestressed masonry is required to be laid in
requires compliance with the MSJC specification, which running bond unless a bond beam or other technique
governs masonry construction requirements and quality is used to distribute anchorage forces.
assurance provisions (see also TEK 1-2C, ref. 7).
Previous editions of the IBC either contained many Construction and Quality Assurance
of the same provisions as the MSJC, or contained conflict- Specification revisions relative to concrete masonry
ing provisions. The majority of the changes incorporated included:
into the 2009 IBC were made to remove the redundant • Tables 3, 4 and 5, outlining quality assurance require-
language and instead directly reference the MSJC. ments now include a minimum inspection frequency for
In addition, a reference to TMS 0302, Standard Method each inspection task. Inspection frequencies are either:
for Determining the Sound Transmission Class Rating for periodic, requiring intermittent observation of masonry
Masonry Walls (ref. 8), was included in the 2009 IBC for work; or continuous, requiring full-time presence in the
the first time. area while masonry work is underway. The tables were
also reformatted for clarity.
The 2008 MSJC Code and Specification • The specification now allows bending of foundation
Compared to earlier editions of the MSJC code and dowels, up to 1 in. (25 mm) horizontally for each 6 in.
specification, updates included in the 2008 edition are (152 mm) of vertical height. This provision is similar
summarized below. to that used for reinforced concrete construction.
• Provisions for the use of self-consolidating grout
Masonry Design were incorporated into the 2008 MSJC specification.
Changes to concrete masonry design provisions Self-consolidating grout is a specially-formulated ma-
included: sonry grout which does not require consolidation and
• For flexurally dominated (M/Vd > 1.0) special rein- reconsolidation by mechanical vibration or puddling.
forced masonry shear walls designed by the allowable See TEK 9-2B, Self-Consolidating Grout for Concrete
stress design method, a limit on the maximum flexural Masonry (ref. 9) for more information.
reinforcement used to resist in-plane loads was intro- • Previous masonry codes have required that grout be
duced. This limit does not apply when the axial load placed within 1.5 hours after water is introduced to the
is less than or equal to 0.05f'mAn or when checking the mix. The 2008 specification waives this requirement
reinforcement ratio in the out-of-plane direction. for transit-mixed grout as long as it meets the specified
• A moment magnifier approach to determining P-delta slump requirement.
effects was introduced for the design of unreinforced • The 2008 specification requires a grout key when grout
masonry using the strength design method. This pro- is permitted to set between pours (grout keys are not
cedure is presented as an alternative to a more compre- permitted within masonry bond beams or lintels). The
hensive second-order analysis for determining bending grout key helps provide structural continuity between
moments. the grout pours. This provision was previously only in
• Provisions for checking the size and spacing of open- the IBC.
ings in empirically designed masonry shear walls were • A minimum lap length of 6 in. (152 mm) for splicing
added into the 2008 MSJC code. Previous editions were bed joint reinforcement was introduced. Previous edi-
silent on the incorporation of openings in empirically tions were silent on determining minimum lap length
designed masonry shear walls. of wire reinforcement.
• With the adoption of a formal strength design proce-
dure into the MSJC code, the pseudo-strength design

2 NCMA TEK 1-3D

Differences Between the 2009 IBC and the 2008 reserved for commentary. Hence, commentary appears
MSJC directly next to the applicable text, rather than in a separate
The 2008 editions of the MSJC code and specifica- section at the back of the document. Other substantive
tion are included in their entirety (by reference) in the changes are summarized below.
2009 IBC. The IBC modifies several areas of the MSJC
code and specification applicable to concrete masonry. Masonry Design
The most significant of these are summarized below. In
• Allowable stresses (Chapter 2) were recalibrated, re-
addition, quality assurance provisions are close, but not
sulting in the removal of the 1/3 stress increase for load
identical between the IBC and MSJC.
combinations including wind or seismic loads. Hence,
Allowable Stress Design the ongoing conflict between the MSJC allowable stress
For masonry designed using allowable stress design design loading provisions which permitted the 1/3 stress
procedures, the IBC: increase and the ASCE 7-05 (ref. 10) prohibition of the
• modifies load combinations to be based on IBC section 1
/3 stress increase was eliminated. The MSJC commit-
1605, rather than those in MSJC code section 2.1.2.1, tee used both research data and trial designs as a basis
• modifies minimum inspections required during construc- for the revisions. The correlation between the strength
tion, predicted by the equations and the values bound by test
• modifies the minimum required lap splice length for is much better with the new provisions and this should
reinforcing bars. See TEK 12-6, Splices, Development increase confidence in the design. See TEK 14-7C, Al-
and Standard Hooks for Concrete Masonry (ref. 12),
lowable Stress Design of Concrete Masonry Based on
for more detailed information, and
the 2012 IBC & 2011 MSJC (ref. 11) for more detailed
• sets a maximum reinforcing bar size based on the size
of the cell or collar joint where the reinforcement is information.
placed. • Allowable stress design and strength design shear
provisions were harmonized. See TEK 14-7C for more
Strength Design information.
For masonry designed using strength design proce- • A new Appendix B, Design of Masonry Infill, was added.
dures, the IBC modifies welded and mechanical splice • Provisions for the design of deep beams were added.
requirements. Lap splices were modified such that they • Lap splices are permitted to be reduced where transverse
need not be longer than 72 bar diameters. reinforcement is placed within 8 in. (203 mm) of the end
of the splice if it is fully developed in grouted masonry.
Empirical Design • The beneficial effect of larger cover for computation of
For empirically designed elements, the IBC includes
development length was changed.
provisions for empirically-designed surface-bonded ma-
• Strength of reinforcement in compression is permitted
sonry walls and for adobe construction.
when checking the maximum reinforcement requirement
but is still ignored when computing nominal strength.
2012 International Building Code
• Commentary guidance on seismic coefficients for pre-
stressed masonry shear walls was added.
The 2012 International Building Code (ref. 2) adopts
by reference the 2011 editions of the MSJC code and MSJC
Construction and Quality Assurance
specification (refs. 4, 6). The following section highlights
• Anchor bolt installation requirements were revised.
the major changes between the 2008 and 2011 MSJC code
• For walls with laterally restrained or laterally unre-
and specification.
strained unbounded prestressing tendons, a revised
The 2012 IBC revisions to the MSJC remain largely
equation was incorporated in the document.
unchanged from the 2009 IBC. In IBC Chapter 17, Struc-
• Clarification was added to indicate that drips are not
tural Tests and Special Inspections, detailed inspection
permitted in wire anchors and joint reinforcement cross
requirements were removed. The chapter now refers the
wires and tabs.
user to the MSJC specification for inspection requirements.
• Provisions for single pintle anchors were added.
• Grout pour heights were increased slightly to 5' 4" (1.63
The 2011 MSJC Code and Specification
m) to accommodate modular construction dimensions.
The format of the 2011 edition was substantially
• Prism testing provisions for specimens cut from con-
changed, in that the right-hand side of each page is now
struction were included.

NCMA TEK 1-3D 3

 REFERENCES
1. International Building Code 2009. International Code Council, 2009.
2. International Building Code 2012. International Code Council, 2012.
3. Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures, TMS 402-08/ACI 530-08/ASCE 5-08. Reported by the Masonry
Standards Joint Committee, 2008.
4. Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures, TMS 402-11/ACI 530-11/ASCE 5-11. Reported by the Masonry
Standards Joint Committee, 2011.
5. Specification for Masonry Structures, TMS 602-08/ACI 530.1-08/ASCE 6-08. Reported by the Masonry Standards Joint
Committee, 2008.
6. Specification for Masonry Structures, TMS 602-11/ACI 530.1-11/ASCE 6-11. Reported by the Masonry Standards Joint
Committee, 2011.
7. Specification for Masonry Structures, TEK 1-2C. National Concrete Masonry Association, 2010.
8. Standard Method for Determining the Sound Transmission Class Rating for Masonry Walls, TMS 0302-07. The Masonry
Society, 2007.
9. Self-Consolidating Grout for Concrete Masonry, TEK 9-2B. National Concrete Masonry Association, 2007.
10. Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures, ASCE 7-05. American Society of Civil Engineers, 2005.
11. Allowable Stress Design of Concrete Masonry Based on the 2012 IBC & 2011 MSJC, TEK 14-7C. National Concrete
Masonry Association, 2011.
12. Splices, Development and Standard Hooks for Concrete Masonry, TEK 12-6. National Concrete Masonry Association,
2007.

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accuracy and the application of the information contained in this publication.

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4 NCMA TEK 1-3D