NCMA TEK

National Concrete Masonry Association

an information series from the national authority on concrete masonry technology

CONTROL JOINTS FOR CONCRETE MASONRY TEK 10-2B

Movement Control (2005)
WALLS - EMPIRICAL METHOD
Keywords: bond beams, construction details, control
joints, crack control, joint reinforcement, reinforcing bars,
reinforced concrete masonry, shrinkage, wall movement

INTRODUCTION tensile stresses due to shrinkage of the concrete masonry

units, mortar, and when used, grout. They are essentially
Concrete masonry is a popular construction material vertical separations built into the wall at locations where
because its inherent attributes satisfy the diverse needs of stress concentrations may occur. These joints reduce re-
both exterior and interior walls. While these attributes are straint and permit longitudinal movement.
the primary basis for concrete masonrys popularity, perfor- Control joints are typically only required in exposed
mance should not be taken for granted. Like all construction concrete masonry walls, where shrinkage cracking may
systems, design decisions significantly influence field per- detract from the appearance of the wall. Shrinkage cracks
formance of the concrete masonry wall system. Proper in concrete masonry are an aesthetic, rather than a struc-
application of crack control measures, including control tural, concern. In addition, walls with adequate horizontal
joints when required, can help ensure satisfactory perfor- reinforcement may not require control joints, as the
mance of the concrete masonry. reinforcement effectively reduces the width of shrinkage
Control joints are one method used to relieve horizontal cracks. Foundation walls traditionally do not include
control joints due to concerns with
waterproofing the joint to withstand
hydrostatic pressure. Additionally,
since foundation walls are subjected
to relatively constant temperature and
At maximum of Between main and moisture conditions, shrinkage crack-
one-half control intersecting wall
joint spacing ing in below grade walls tends to be
from corners less significant than in above grade
At changes
in wall walls.
height This TEK focuses on cracking
Adjacent
to opening resulting from internal volume change
of the concrete masonry. Potential
cracking resulting from externally ap-
plied design loads due to wind, soil
pressure, seismic forces, or differ-
ential settlement of foundations is
controlled by limiting the design
stress in allowable stress design or by
At pilasters and providing adequate strength when
changes in wall Adjacent strength design is used. These design
thickness to opening considerations are not covered here.
Where external loads are an issue in
combination with internal volume
change, the design should consider
Figure 1Typical Control Joint Locations the combined effects of these influ-
ences on cracking.

TEK 10-2B 2005 National Concrete Masonry Association (replaces TEK 10-2A)
 Table 1Recommended Control Joint Spacing for openings over 6 ft (1.83 m) wide. Control joints can be
Above Grade Exposed Concrete Masonry Wallsa away from the opening if adequate tensile reinforce-
ment is placed above, below, and beside wall openings.)
Distance between joints should not exceed the lesser of: 6. adjacent to corners of walls or intersections within a
Length to height ratio or ft (m) distance equal to half the control joint spacing.
1 25 (7.62)
EMPIRICAL CRACK CONTROL CRITERIA
a
Notes:
1. Table values are based on the use of horizontal reinforcement For walls without openings or other points of stress
having an equivalent area of not less than 0.025 in.2/ft (52.9 concentration, control joints are used to effectively divide
mm2/m) of height to keep unplanned cracks closed (see Table 2). a wall into a series of isolated panels. Table 1 lists recom-
2. Criteria applies to all concrete masonry units. mended maximum spacing of these control joints based on
3. This criteria is based on experience over a wide geographical empirical criteria. This criteria has been developed based
area. Control joint spacing should be adjusted up or down where
on successful, historical performance over many years in
local experience justifies but no farther than 25 ft (7.62 m).
various geographical conditions. The empirical method is
the most commonly used method and is applicable to most
building types. An engineered method is presented in TEK
Table 2Maximum Spacing of Horizontal 10-3 Control Joints for Concrete Masonry walls - Alterna-
Reinforcement to Achieve 0.025 in.2/ft (52.9 mm2/m) tive Engineered Method (ref. 1). It is generally used only
Criteria when unusual conditions are encountered such as dark
colored units in climates with large temperature changes.
Maximum spacing, The provisions in this TEK assume that units used in the
Reinforcement size in. (mm) construction comply with the minimum requirements of
2a x W1.7 (9gage)(MW11) 16 (406) ASTM C 90 Standard Specification for Loadbearing
2a x W2.1 (8gage)(MW13) 16 (406) Concrete Masonry Units (ref. 2) and that a minimum amount
2a x W2.8 (3/16 in.)(MW18) 24 (610) of horizontal reinforcement is provided as indicated in
4b x W1.7 (9gage)(MW11) 32 (813) Footnote 1 of Table 1. It is intended to provide the most
4b x W2.1 (8gage)(MW13) 40 (1016) straightforward guidelines for those cases where detailed
4b x W2.8 (3/16 in.)(MW18) 48 (1219) properties of the concrete masonry are not known at the
No. 3 (M#10) 48 (1219) time of design. As indicated in Footnote 3 of Table 1, local
No. 4 (M#13) 96 (2348) experience may justify an adjustment to the control joint
No. 5 (M#16) or larger 144 (3658) spacings presented in the table.
To illustrate these criteria, consider a 20 ft (6.10 m) tall
Notes: warehouse with walls 100 ft (30.48 m) long. Table 1
a. Indicates 2 wires per course, one in each faceshell. indicates control joints spaced every 25 ft (7.62 m). In
b. Indicates 4 wires per course, two in each faceshell. this example, the maximum spacing of 25 ft (7.62 m)
governs over the maximum length to height ratio of 1 times
CONTROL JOINT PLACEMENT 20 ft (6.10 m) or 30 ft (9.14 m). For walls containing masonry
parapets, consider the parapet as part of the masonry wall
When required, control joints should be located where below if it is connected by masonry materials such as a bond
volume changes in the masonry due to drying shrinkage, beam unit when determining the length to height ratio.
carbonation, or temperature changes are likely to create The control joint spacings of Table 1 have been devel-
tension in the masonry that will exceed its capacity. In oped based on the use of horizontal reinforcement to keep
practice, this can be difficult to determine, but several meth- unplanned cracks closed as indicated in Footnote 3. The
ods are presented in the following sections to provide guid- minimum area of reinforcement given, 0.025 in.2/ft (52.9
ance in locating control joints. mm2/m) of height, translates to horizontal joint reinforce-
In addition, care should be taken to provide joints at ment spaced as indicated in Table 2.
locations of stress concentrations such as (see Figure 1):
1. at changes in wall height, CONSTRUCTION
2. at changes in wall thickness, such as at pipe and duct
chases and pilasters, Common control joints are illustrated in Figure 2. The
3. at (above) movement joints in foundations and floors, joints permit free longitudinal movement, but may need to
4. at (below) movement joints in roofs and floors that bear transfer lateral or out-of-plane shear loads. These loads can
on a wall, be transferred by providing a shear key, as shown in Figure 2a,
5. near one or both sides of door and window openings, 2d and 2f. Figure 2e shows smooth dowel bars placed across
(Generally, a control joint is placed at one side of an the control joint to transfer shear. The dowels are typically
opening less than 6 ft (1.83 m) wide and at both jambs of greased or placed in a plastic sleeve to reduce bond and allow
 Vertical reinforcement,
Joint reinforcement, as required Joint reinforcement,
as required as required

Vertical
Stop joint Stop joint reinforcement,
reinforcement reinforcement at as required
at control joint Preformed control joint
Ceramic fiber
gasket felt (alumina-
Concrete masonry sash unit silica fiber)

Sealant Backer rod

Sealant Backer rod

Figure 2aPreformed Gasket Figure 2b4 Hour Fire Rated Control Joint

Joint reinforcement,
Joint reinforcement, as required
as required

Vertical Vertical
Stop joint reinforcement, Stop joint
reinforcement,
reinforcement at as required reinforcement
as required
control joint at control joint
Raked mortar
Building paper joint
or other
bond break

Sealant Backer rod Backer rod

Sealant

Figure 2cDiscontinuous Horizontal Reinforcement Figure 2dFormed Paper Joint

Vertical reinforcement,
as required
No. 2 (M #6) at 16 in.
(406 mm) on center or Joint reinforcement, Female concrete
as required masonry unit
as dictated by design
Concrete masonry
bond beam or Male concrete
knock out unit, typ Stop joint masonry unit
reinforcement at
Horizontal control joint
reinforcement, Raked mortar
as required joint, 1 2 in. (13 mm)
(terminate 2 in. min. depth
(51 mm) from Backer rod
control joint except Sealant Sealant Backer rod
when reinforcement
is required
structurally)

Figure 2eDoweled Joint (for Shear Transfer) Figure 2fSpecial Shaped Units

Figure 2Typical Control Joint Details

the wall to move longitudinally. Control joints also must be the type of facing, considerations should be given to crack
weather-tight when located in exterior walls. control in the facing material as well.
Nonstructural reinforcement, such as horizontal joint re- For example, control joints should extend through plaster
inforcement which is mostly used for crack control only, should applied directly to masonry units. Plaster applied on lath which
not be continuous through a control joint, since this will restrict is furred out from masonry may not, however, require vertical
horizontal movement. However, structural reinforcement, such separation at control joints.
as bond beam reinforcement at floor and roof diaphragms that
resists diaphragm cord tension, must be continuous through REFERENCES
the control joint.
Where concrete masonry is used as a backup for other 1. Control Joints for Concrete Masonry Walls - Alternative
materials, consider the following: Engineered Method, TEK 10-3. National Concrete Ma-
1. control joints should extend through the facing when sonry Association, 2003.
wythes are rigidly bonded, 2. Standard Specifications for Loadbearing Concrete Ma-
2. control joints need not extend through the facing when sonry Units, ASTM C 90-03. ASTM International,
bond is flexible (i.e. metal ties). However, depending on 2003.

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

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