04 00 01 Owner General Requirements and Design Intent

.01 General

A sample brick panel of 100 face brick selected for the project shall be laid up with specified jointing for approval by the Professional and the University prior to starting exterior face brick installation.
Should the initial sample panel be unsatisfactory, the Contractor will be required to erect additional samples until the brick work and jointing are approved by both the Professional and the University.
Admixtures: will be permitted only if directed and approved by the Design Professional.
Temperature: ACI 305/306 shall be followed for the placement of concrete during hot and cold weather conditions.
Anchors and Tie Systems: all embedded anchors and ties shall be coated or of corrosion resistant materials.
Flashing: shall be provided at all shelf angles, lintels, ledges, sills, doors, louvers, and windows to provide proper flow of moisture.
Efflorescence: As this is a naturally occurring process, particular care must be taken in the selection of materials and in design and detailing of exterior walls to prevent efflorescence in brick and stone masonry. This requires addressing efflorescence before or after construction as this is more effective than removal. This will save time and money in the future. On new construction this involves choosing materials wisely and isolating building materials from salt and water sources.
Here are a few design and construction considerations to prevent efflorescence:

Design Considerations

· Architecture adjustments

Ensure building plans include eaves, overhangs, and flashing to reduce the chance water has of entering the wall from above.

· Air Space – Incorporate an air space between the exterior brick and wall assembly. Keep dry during construction.

· Landscaping adjustments

Ensure landscape plans include adequate runoff areas, moving water away from masonry. Water sprinkler systems should be set up in a way to not direct water at the building or wall. Also, consider adding a gravel mowing strip at the building base as a buffer.

· Capillary break

Use vapor barrier sheeting between masonry construction and the ground. This will prevent both water entry and salt absorption.

· Damp-proofing:

Provide below and behind stone masonry to prevent moisture from getting behind the material and potentially drawing out the salts to the surface.

· Consolidated grout

Mechanical vibration and dense mortar joints can remove voids from the grout and decrease porosity, slowing the travel of water and salts between bricks, blocks, or stones.

· Grout admixtures

Certain grout admixtures can be used to improve grout flow, reduce water content, and reduce porosity.

· Surface sealer (water repellent)

Mortar: As a final step after mortar tooling and final clean-down, application of a hydrophobic sealer prevents external absorption of water from rain and snow.

·Masonry:

Consider/discuss this to help minimize the risk of moisture being absorbed as some sealers can trap salt deposits. Consult an expert prior to this recommendation for compatibility with the stone type and condition. Sealers should not be used as the sole treatment to control efflorescence.

· Finish

Consider the finish and the masonry location… ie. Smooth finish and an above or below ground, some finishes are open to interpretation by fabricators like smooth.

Construction Considerations

Use reputable and experienced contractors to ensure good quality mortar, concrete, and water during construction. Allow all stone to thoroughly dry prior to use.

· Weather

Build, whenever possible in dry weather and cover unfinished walls at the end of each day to prevent moisture from getting behind the stone.

· Isolating storage

Store masonry materials off the ground and cover them with waterproof sheeting. This will prevent them from absorbing excess water or salts.

· Proper drainage

When installing pavers, ensure bedding material and grading allow for proper drainage. Permeable geotextiles can prevent salt absorption from the ground.

· Certification/Testing

Certification shall be provided if brick and any masonry trim material has passed the "wick" test (ASTM C67).

· Washing

When washing brick, consider using hand washing instead of pressure washing to preserve the integrity of the brick and mortar.

Existing Building Considerations

In brickwork less than a year old with efflorescence “new building bloom” needs to be determined. The “New building bloom” will dissipate if the brickwork is allowed to dry after completion under normal weather conditions. Efflorescence that occurs a year

or more after construction completion is generally attributed to excessive water penetration or poor drainage and refer to possible causes listed above.

For more resources and recommendations see: Natural Stone Institute https://www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/

Limestone Institute https://iliai.com/

Brick Industry Association https://www.gobrick.com/resources/technical-notes

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