Masonry Contractors Industry Terminology

“Ensure the air barrier is continuous behind the brick veneer with sealed laps and transitions.” “Seal all anchor-penetrations to the air barrier per TMS 602.” “Coordinate air barrier with WRB and vapor retarder to avoid double barriers.”

“Use adjustable stainless-steel veneer anchors at 16 in O.C. each way per design.” “Terminate joint reinforcement and use slip ties across control joints.” “Replace corroded mild-steel ties with Type 304 stainless near the coast.”

“Specify facing brick to ASTM C216, Type FBS.” “CMU shall comply with ASTM C90, medium weight.” “Mortar shall meet ASTM C270, and grout ASTM C476.”

“Maintain uniform 3/8-inch bed joints for brick modular layout.” “Use face-shell bedding for CMU unless full-bed is specified at bearing.” “Keep exterior bed joints solid to improve water resistance.”

“Install a bond beam at the top course to tie the wall and distribute loads.” “Use U-blocks to form the bond beam and place continuous rebar.” “Coordinate bond beam lap splices and grout consolidation.”

“Provide brick veneer over steel-stud backup with adjustable anchors.” “Install through-wall flashing and weeps at the base of the brick veneer.” “Include expansion joints at prescribed spacing in clay brick veneers.”

“Maintain a 2-inch clear cavity with mortar collection devices at shelf angles.” “Install rigid or mineral wool insulation in the cavity without blocking drainage.” “Keep the cavity clean; no mortar bridging across the air space.”

“8x8x16 nominal CMU, ASTM C90, medium weight.” “Grout fully grouted cells at shear wall locations.” “Use split-face CMU for the exposed facade.”

“Place control joints at re-entrant corners and at regular spacing per design.” “Use backer rod and sealant; do not bond mortar across the joint.” “Install slip ties or break joint reinforcement at control joints.”

“Apply asphaltic dampproofing to the exterior face of below-grade CMU.” “Dampproofing is not a substitute for waterproofing under hydrostatic pressure.” “Terminate dampproofing at grade per detail.”

“Set #5 dowels at 32 inches O.C. to anchor CMU wall to footing.” “Use epoxy-set dowels for post-installed connections.” “Provide dowel caps where movement is required across joints.”

“White staining appeared after heavy rains; likely efflorescence.” “Brush off efflorescence and address water entry; avoid immediate acid washing.” “Specify low-alkali materials and IWR to mitigate efflorescence.”

“Provide expansion joints at prescribed spacing in clay brick veneer.” “Include an expansion joint where the veneer meets the concrete frame.” “Use color-matched sealant in expansion joints.”

“Place mortar on the face shells only unless full-bed is specified.” “Full-bed mortar required at bearing and under lintels.” “Ensure face-shell bedding does not reduce structural capacity where full bearing is needed.”

“Provide a 2-hour CMU fire wall per listed assembly.” “Solid grouting increases fire resistance for certain CMU walls.” “Use TMS 216 calculation or UL listings to document ratings.”

“Install through-wall flashing at shelf angles and over lintels with end dams.” “Lap flashing to the air barrier and provide weeps at 24 in O.C. (or per spec).” “Use stainless steel or EPDM where high durability is required.”

“Use coarse grout for cells larger than 2x2 inches; fine grout otherwise.” “Target slump in the 8–11 inch range for proper flow and consolidation.” “Consolidate grout with rodding/vibration per TMS 602.”

“High-lift grouting requires cleanouts and staged placement.” “Limit lift heights and reconsolidate to avoid segregation.” “Follow TMS 402/602 for lift and pour limits.”

“Maintain 3/8-inch head joints for proper alignment.” “Tool head joints concave for exterior durability.” “Do not bridge movement joints with head-joint mortar.”

“Pre-dampen high-absorption units and shade mortar boards.” “Shorten retempering time and protect fresh work from rapid drying.” “Follow TMS 602 hot-weather provisions when temps and wind are high.”

“Design masonry per IBC-referenced TMS 402/602.” “Provide special inspections under IBC Chapter 17.” “Local jurisdiction adopted IBC 2024; verify amendments.”

“Use IWR CMU for single-wythe exterior walls.” “Mortar IWR must be compatible with unit IWR; follow manufacturer.” “IWR helps reduce efflorescence by limiting absorption.”

“Provide ladder-type joint reinforcement every 16 inches vertically (per spec).” “Break reinforcement at control joints.” “Use stainless steel in severe exposure zones.”

“Specify concave tooling for exterior walls.” “Raked joints used for interior aesthetics; avoid on weather-exposed faces.” “Tool after initial set to compact and seal the joint face.”

“Submit EPDs for brick and CMU to support LEED credits.” “Divert masonry waste to meet the project’s diversion goal.” “Light-colored pavers can contribute to heat island reduction.”

“Provide galvanized steel angle lintels with end dams and flashing.” “Use reinforced CMU lintels for long spans.” “Confirm required bearing length at jambs.”

“Specify mortar cement Type S for higher bond in structural applications.” “Do not substitute masonry cement without approval.” “Verify compliance with ASTM C91 (masonry cement) vs C1329 (mortar cement).”

“Build a full-height corner mock-up showing joints, flashing, and weeps.” “Use the mock-up for water-testing the veneer head detail.” “Approved mock-up becomes the quality benchmark.”

“Type S for CMU shear walls and exterior veneers.” “Type N for standard brick veneer above grade.” “Type O for interior or historic repointing where lower strength is desired.”

“Verify brick veneer with foam insulation passes NFPA 285.” “Submit assembly reports documenting compliance.” “Switch to mineral wool to simplify NFPA 285 requirements.”

“CMU nominal 8x8x16; actual 7-5/8 x 7-5/8 x 15-5/8.” “Use nominal dimensions for layout and coursing.” “Allow for 3/8-inch joints when coordinating openings.”

“Establish a limited access zone during wall erection.” “Brace freestanding walls until the grout cures and design bracing is in place.” “Follow scaffold and hoisting rules in parallel with Subpart Q.”

“Install through-wall flashing at the parapet base with weeps to the exterior.” “Cap with properly sloped copings and drip edges.” “Provide movement joints to accommodate thermal swings.”

“Repoint chipped joints and clean efflorescence per punch list.” “Replace spalled brick at coordinates noted.” “Close all punch items before substantial completion.”

“Preinstallation meeting and mock-up approval are QA steps.” “Daily QC checks ensure joint thickness and tooling meet TMS 602.” “Log test reports for mortar and grout compressive strength.”

“Use mortar nets to keep the rainscreen cavity clear.” “Vent the top of the cavity behind the veneer.” “Coordinate WRB/air barrier continuity in the rainscreen.”

“RFI 023 clarifies shelf angle elevations at grid C.” “Submit an RFI to resolve conflicting details between A7.2 and S3.1.” “Track schedule impacts associated with late RFI responses.”

“Provide #5 vertical bars at 24 inches O.C. in grouted cells.” “Bond beams at every third course tie the diaphragm to the wall.” “Lap splices and development lengths per TMS 402.”

“Use mast climbers for the 6-story brick facade.” “Inspect planks and tie-ins daily per OSHA.” “Do not overload platforms with pallets of brick beyond rated capacity.”

“Install continuous galvanized shelf angle at each floor line.” “Provide thermal break pads behind the shelf angle.” “Flash over the shelf angle and provide weeps.”

“Submit shop drawings for shelf angles and anchors with calculations.” “Provide mortar and grout mix designs and EPDs.” “Maintain a submittal log to track approvals.”

“Design based on f'm = 2,000 psi per structural notes.” “Document f'm via unit-strength method; no prism tests required.” “Adjust grout or unit strengths if field tests do not support f'm.”

“Add thermal shims at shelf angles to reduce bridging.” “Detail veneer anchors with thermal isolation to limit heat loss.” “Model linear thermal transmittance (psi-value) in the energy analysis.”

“Install adhered manufactured stone with polymer-modified mortar.” “Use rainscreen mats behind thin brick over exterior sheathing.” “Provide movement joints per system manufacturer.”

“Comply with TMS 602 for workmanship, tolerances, and curing.” “Design walls per TMS 402 strength design provisions.” “Reference TMS details for control and expansion joints.”

“The wall assembly must achieve U-0.055 to meet energy code.” “Shelf angles increase U-value; add thermal breaks to compensate.” “Submit COMcheck showing wall U-values comply.”

“VE: switch to CMU backup from cold-formed studs to reduce cost.” “VE: use Type N mortar instead of S where structurally acceptable.” “VE: replace stainless brick ties with galvanized in non-corrosive zones.”

“Avoid placing an interior vapor retarder behind an impermeable exterior veneer in hot-humid climates.” “Use a smart vapor retarder for mixed climates.” “Coordinate vapor control with air barrier and insulation placement.”

“Provide weeps above lintels and shelf angles over the flashing.” “Use mesh or rope weeps; keep them free of mortar.” “Space weeps per spec to ensure drainage and ventilation.”

“Single-wythe CMU wall with IWR.” “Brick veneer wythe tied to CMU backup.” “Historic two-wythe solid brick walls require different detailing.”