Masonry Magazine April 1988 Page. 25
TABLE 2
Recommended Minimum Tie Diameters and Gages
| Tie System | Minimum Specified Dimension¹ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| | Diameter (in.) | Gage |
| Standard Ties | | |
| Unit | 3/16 | — |
| Rectangular and "Z" Corrugated | — | 22 |
| Joint Reinforcement Ladder and Truss Tab | — | 9 |
| Adjustable Ties | | |
| Unit | 3/16 | — |
| Rectangular and "Z"" | | |
| Dovetail/Channel Slot Wire | 3/16 | — |
| Corrugated | — | 16 |
| Connector Slot | — | 22 |
| Slotted Plate | | |
| Wire | 3/16 | — |
| Slot Plate | — | 14 |
| Backer Plate | — | 14 |
| Joint Reinforcement Standard Section Tabs | 3/16 | — |
¹Thicker diameters and gages are available.
Recommendations — The past performance of metal ties in regard to corrosion has generally been satisfactory. At present, there are no widely accepted methods for predicting corrosion rates or specific levels of required corrosion protection. Until research can produce accurate methods of assessing corrosion potential and predicting adequate levels of protection, the Brick Institute of America suggests minimum levels of corrosion protection for metal ties and hardware, as indicated in Table 5. As with all other engineering considerations minimum recommendations may not be adequate in every situation, and should not serve as substitutes for engineering investigation or judgment. Decisions must be based on individual project conditions, performance requirements and safety.
SUMMARY
This Technical Notes is the third in a series addressing brick masonry anchor bolts, fasteners and wall ties. It is primarily concerned with the types of wall ties commonly used in brick masonry construction, their function, selection, specification and installation. Other Technical Notes in this series individually address anchor bolts and fasteners for brick masonry.
The information and suggestions contained in this Technical Notes are based on the available data and the experience of the technical staff of the Brick Institute of America. The information and recommendations contained in this publication must be used in conjunction with good engineering judgment and a basic understanding of the properties of brick masonry and related construction materials. Final decisions on the use of the materials and recommendations contained in this publication are not within the purview of the Brick Institute of America and must rest with the project architect, engineer, owner or all.
REFERENCES
1. DeVekey. R.C., "Corrosion of Steel Wall Ties: Recognition, Assessment and Appropriate Action", Building Research Establishment Information Paper, IP 28/79, Building Research Establishment, Garston, Watford, England, October 1979.
2. Fishburn, C.C., "Water Permeability of Walls Built of Masonry Units", Report BMS 82, National Bureau of Standards, Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C., April 1942.
3. Allen, M.H., Research Report No. 10, "Compressive and Transverse Strength Tests of Eight-Inch Brick Walls", Structural Clay Products Research Foundation, Geneva, Illinois, October 1966.
4. Allen, M.H., Research Report No. 14, "Compressive Strength of Eight-Inch Brick Walls with Different Percentages of Steel Ties and Masonry Headers", Structural Clay Products Research Foundation, Geneva, Illinois, May 1969.
5. Bortz, S.A., "Investigation of Continuous Metal Ties as a Replacement for Brick Ties in Masonry Walls", Summary Report ARF 6620, Armour Research Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, June 1960.
6. "Investigation of Masonry Wall Ties", ARF Project B870-2 (Revised), Armour Research Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, December 1962.
7. "Flexural Strength of Cavity Walls", ARF Project B870, Armour Research Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, March 1963.
8. Brown, R.H. and Elling. R.E., "Lateral Load Distribution in Cavity Walls", Proceedings of the Fifth International Brick Masonry Conference, Washington, D.C., October 1979.
9. Bell, G.R. and Gumpertz, W.H., "Engineering Evaluation of Brick Veneer/Steel Stud Walls, Part 2- Structural Design, Structural Behavior and Durability", Proceedings of the Third North American Masonry Conference, Arlington, Texas, June 1985.
10. Arumala, J.O. and Brown, R.H., "Performance of Brick Veneer With Steel Stud Backup", Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, April 1982.
11. "Development of Adjustable Wall Ties", ARF Project No. B869, Armour Research Foundation, Chicago, Illinois, March 1963.
12. Catani, Mario J., "Protection of Embedded Steel in Masonry", The Construction Specifier, January 1985.
13. Catani, Mario J. and Whitlock, A. Rhett, "Coping With Wide Cavities", The Construction Specifier, August 1986.