TB Manual 5 2018 Web HR
TB Manual 5 2018 Web HR
TB Manual 5 2018 Web HR
Design of
Clay Masonry
Walls for Fire
Resistance
We represent the clay brick and
paver manufacturers of Australia.
4 References....................................................................... 20
Contents
Charts
Chart 1. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 90 mm Clay
Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Four Sides .................................... 11
Chart 10. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 140 mm Clay Masonry
Walls With Simple Supports on Three Sides and One Side Free ................... 15
Chart 11. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 150 mm Clay Masonry
Walls With Simple Supports on Three Sides and One Side Free ................... 16
Chart 12. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 190 mm Clay Masonry
Walls With Simple Supports on Three Sides and One Side Free ................... 16
Chart 13. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 230 mm Clay Masonry
Walls With Simple Supports on Three Sides and One Side Free ....................17
Chart 14. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 90-90 mm Cavity Clay
Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Three Sides and One Side Free ......17
Chart 15. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 110-110 mm Cavity Clay
Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Three Sides and One Side Free ..... 18
Chart 16. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 190 mm Clay Masonry
Walls With Simple Supports on Three Sides and the Top Free ...................... 18
Chart 17. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 230 mm Clay Masonry
Walls With Simple Supports on Three Sides and the Top Free ...................... 19
Chart 18. Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 110-110 mm Cavity Clay Masonry
Walls with Simple Supports on Three Sides and the Top Free ...................... 19
1.0 Introduction
When a masonry wall is subjected to fire, which is usually only on one side,
a thermal gradient is created through the thickness of the wall and the
expansion of the material causes bowing towards the fire source. If this
bowing extends far enough it can cause collapse of the wall. Even if the
wall does not collapse, it can crack because of internal stresses caused by
restraint of the thermal expansion, or it can heat up sufficiently to allow
flammable material on the side away from the fire to ignite. Both these
consequences can cause the fire to spread.
1 Introduction of these periods and always in the Tabulated values are conservative and
same order. For example, an FRL of test results will usually give a more cost-
A large proportion of the National 90/90/90 means a fire resistance effective outcome. However, tabulated
Construction Code (NCC)’ deals with period of 90 minutes each for values can be used by referring only to
the design of buildings for fire safety. structural adequacy, integrity and AS 3700, whereas the use of test results
The NCC sets out the requirements, insulation. will usually require precise knowledge
while the means for satisfying these of the type of masonry unit to be
requirements are detailed in the In setting the required levels for FRL, the used. Rules of interpreting the results
Australian Masonry Structures standard NCC takes into account many factors of fire tests carried out on masonry
AS 3700². The commentary to AS37003 including – walls are given in AS 3700. Where two
also contains useful background or more results of tests on the same
(i) The class of building of which the
information on design for fire resistance type of masonry unit are available,
wall forms a part.
and guidance on using the standard. interpolation and extrapolation from
(ii) The height and size of the building. these results can be used. The third
The NCC specifies that walls must (iii) Whether the wall is loadbearing or alternative, a recognised method of
be designed to achieve three Fire non-loadbearing. calculation, is difficult not practical
Resistance Levels (FRLs). These are given the current state of research.
(iv) How close it is to a boundary or
defined as:
another building (for external
(i) Structural adequacy Structural adequacy and insulation
walls).
The ability of a wall to continue to requirements have been determined
perform its structural function for from an extensive test program
In order to satisfy these requirements
the fire resistance period. conducted since the late 1970’s 4 & 5.
of the NCC, AS 3700 sets out rules for
The results of these tests enable the
(ii) Integrity determining a fire resistance period of
determination of the relationship (or
The ability of a wall to maintain a masonry wall for each of structural
shape of the curve) for these properties.
its continuity and prevent the adequacy, integrity and insulation. The
The structural adequacy charts in this
passage of flames and hot gases fire resistance period (FRP) must be
manual were developed based on table
through cracks in the wall for the equal to or greater than the FRL for each
6.1 of AS 3700 and represent the lower
fire resistance period. mode of behaviour.
bound of the test results.
(iii) Insulation
The FRP may be found by either –
The ability of a wall to provide The FRP for structural adequacy
sufficient insulation such that (i) The use of tabulated values, is specific to the wall type and its
the side of the wall away from (ii) The use of test results, or boundary support conditions. Most
the fire does not exceed a pre- common wall types and sizes are
(iii) A recognised method of
defined temperature during the covered in this manual; for those not
calculation.
fire resistance period. However, shown, designers should refer to the
it should be noted that at this brick manufacturer for test results.
temperature – a rise of 140°C
over the ambient temperature Note: Some masonry members are
or a maximum of 180°C – surface not required by the NCC to confine
finished and furnishings in contact the spread of fire (ie. have an FRL for
with or near the wall may combust. insulation and/or integrity).
The resultant fire resistance level
is expressed in minutes for each
Table 1: Maximum Slenderness Ratio for Structural Adequacy For housing, where the external walls are closer than 0.9m to
of Clay Masonry Walls the boundary, or closer than 1.8m to another building on the
Fire site (that is not a class 10a building) there is a requirement
resistance for 60/60/60 FRL (see the NCC). Brick walls in accordance
period for with AS4773.16 are deemed to satisfy this requirement.
30 60 90 120 180 240
structural
adequacy
(mins) 2.6 Reinforced Masonry
There are several additional requirements specified by AS 3700
Maximum for reinforced masonry:
slenderness 25.0 22.5 21.0 20.0 18.0 17.0
ratio (i) Minimum reinforcement for member spanning
horizontally – such that the member can withstand a
design lateral load of 0.5 kPa.
The FRP for structural adequacy is specific to the wall type (ii) Minimum reinforcement for a member spanning
and its boundary support conditions. Most common wall vertically – such that the member can withstand the
types and sizes are covered in this manual; for those not greater of:
shown, designers should refer to the brick manufacturer for
(a) A flexural moment equivalent to the applied
test results. The use of the charts and design from test results
vertical compressive loads times height/36, or
are explained and illustrated with examples in Section 3.1.
(b) A design lateral load of 0.5 kPa.
2.2 Integrity (iii) Protection of reinforcement – for structural adequacy,
Tabulated values for integrity resistance are not provided the cover to the face exposed to fire should not be less
in AS 3700. A member is deemed to have the required fire than the appropriate value summarised in Table 2.
resistance for integrity if that level is met for both structural
adequacy and insulation. Put simply, the fire resistance for Table 2: Protection for reinforcement for structural adequacy
integrity can be taken as the lesser of the values tabulated for
structural adequacy and insulation. Design from test results Fire resistance
is also an option and this is explained in Section 3.2. period for
structural 30 60 90 120 180 240
adequacy
2.3 Insulation (mins)
The FRP for structural adequacy is specific to the wall type and its boundary support
conditions. Most common wall types and sizes are covered in this manual; for those not
shown, designers should refer to the brick manufacturer for test results.
Table 3: Minimum material thickness of clay masonry for the protection of structural steel
Filled 50 50 50 65 90
≤3
Unfilled 50 50 65 - -
Filled 50 50 50 75 100
4
Unfilled 50 50 65 - -
Notes:
(1) Fire Resistance Level (FRL) expressed in terms of minutes for: insulation / integrity / structural adequacy
(2) Maximum 25% coring allowed
(3) Filled column space means that all the area surrounding the column, including re-entrant zones (eg. between flanges of a
universal column), is completely filled with grout and masonry.
Design from test results is illustrated by example in Section L = The clear length of the member
3.1.5.
and the other symbols are as defined before.
(i) A thickness equal to two-thirds of the sum of the (ii) Connections should be capable of resisting the load on
thicknesses of the two leaves; and the member derived from (i) multiplied by 1.25.
Where cavity walls are constructed with leaves of different As discussed in the introduction, structural adequacy charts
masonry unit types, represent lower bound values and specific test results, where
the structural adequacy should be based on the less fire- available, can be used to obtain a more favourable result.
resistance material.
Where two or more test results are available, and
3.1.3 Slenderness Ratio (i) the test results are for walls built with the same type
of clay masonry units, which AS 3700 defines as having
For structural adequacy design, using either the charts
the same mineralogy and geological type, blended in
or test results, the slenderness ratio (Srf) is determined in
the same proportions and manufactured by similar
accordance with Clause 6.3.2.2 of AS 3700 as follows:
processes,
For vertically spanning walls (with no support along either (ii) the slenderness ratios of the specimens cover a
vertical edge): minimum range of two, and
(iii) the slenderness ratio of the member is not more than
Srf = avf H (1) two outside the tested range,
t
then the fire resistance period is obtained by determining a
Where – coefficient C5 as the lowest value from substituting the test
results in the following equation.
avf = Vertical span coefficient (0.75 where there is lateral support on the
top edge, otherwise 2.0)
C5 = (Srf -13)
(5)
ln(720/tf)
H = Clear height of the member
This minimum value can then be used in Equation 5 to For these purposes, a cored unit is one with voids not greater
determine the FRP for a member with a slenderness ratio not than 30 per cent of the total unit volume. For a wall built
more than two outside the test range. from hollow unit (with voids greater than 30 per cent) the
material thickness is the net volume of the unit divided by
Example: the area of the exposed vertical face of the unit where the
Test 1: Srf = 18 tf = 180 therefore C5 = 3.61 net volume of the unit equals total volume minus volume
of voids. Illustrated in Figure 1 (as examples to illustrate the
Test 2: Srf = 21 tf = 90 therefore C5 = 3.85 concept) are four typical hollow clay units.
Therefore adopt C5 = 3.61 as the minimum. This value can then For cavity walls, the material thickness is equal to the sum of
be substituted in Equation 5 for the design of walls having the material thicknesses of the separate leaves.
slenderness ratios between 16 and 23.
For a rendered wall, any render up to 20 mm thickness
It could therefore be calculated that a member made from applied to the face of the wall not exposed to fire may be
the same type of clay masonry units with Srf = 23 would considered part of the material thickness. On a face exposed
have a time to failure of 45 minutes for structural adequacy. to fire, render is assumed to be ineffective.
Therefore, adopt an FRP of 30 minutes for this wall.
3.3.2 Insulation by Tabulated Values
It should be noted that the results of tests on non-
loadbearing walls must only be applied to design of other Material thicknesses for insulation are tabulated in AS 3700,
non-loadbearing walls, not to the design of loadbearing from which Table 3 is a summary applicable to clay masonry.
walls.
Table 3: Material Thickness of Clay Masonry for Insulation
Resistance
3.2 Integrity
Fire
3.2.1 Integrity from Tabulated Values resistance
period for 30 60 90 120 180 240
As explained in Section 2.2, a member is deemed to have insulation
the required fire resistance for integrity if that level is met (mins)
for both structural adequacy and insulation. For design
from tabulated values, the FRP is determined for structural Material
adequacy and insulation, and the fire resistance for integrity thickness 60 90 110 130 160 180
is the lesser of these values. (mm)
then the FRP of the masonry member may be linearly (ii) the material thicknesses of the test specimens cover a
interpolated between the test results. Extrapolation is not minimum range of 20mm,
permitted. then the fire resistance period is obtained by determining a
coefficient Ci as the lowest value from substituting the test
3.3 Insulation results in the following equation.
3.3.1 Material thickness
For a solid wall built from cored or solid units (including
those with frogs), or from hollow units fully grouted, the
material thickness is the overall thickness of the wall.
Example:
Test 1: tm = 110mm tc = 90 min therefore Ci = 0.030
Test 2: tm = 180mm tc = 240 min therefore Ci = 0.035
Chart 2.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 110 mm Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Four Sides
Chart 4.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 150 mm Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Four Sides
Chart 6.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 230 mm Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Four Sides
Note: It is assumed that both leaves are approximately equally loaded (see Section 3.1.2)
Chart 8.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 110-110 mm Cavity Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Four Sides
Note: It is assumed that both leaves are approximately equally loaded (see Section 3.1.2)
Chart 10.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 140 mm Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Three Sides and
One Side Free
Chart 12.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 190 mm Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Three Sides and
One Side Free
Chart 14.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 90-90 mm Cavity Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Three
Sides and One Side Free
Note: It is assumed that both leaves are approximately equally loaded (see Section 3.1.2)
Note: It is assumed that both leaves are approximately equally loaded (see Section 3.1.2)
Chart 16.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 190mm Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Three Sides and the
Top Free
Chart 18.
Structural Adequacy FRP (minutes) for 110-110 mm Cavity Clay Masonry Walls with Simple Supports on Three
Sides and the Top Free
Note: It is assumed that both leaves are approximately equally loaded (see Section 3.1.2)
1 N
ational Construction Code (NCC), Australian Building Codes
Board, Canberra, NCC: 2016.
2 A
S 3700:2018 Masonry Structures, Standards Australia,
Sydney, 2018.
3 A
S 3700 Supp 1: 2012 Masonry Structures –
Commentary, Standards Australia, Sydney, 2012.
6 A
S 4773.1: 2015 Masonry in small buildings –
Part 1: Design, Standards Australia, Sydney, 2015.
7 A
S4100 – 1998 Steel Structures,
Standards Australia, Sydney, Reconfirmed 2016.
Original prepared by Roger Taggart & Associates Pty Ltd, This publication, its contents and format are copyright of Think
published March 1993. Revised March 1999, September 2006, Brick Australia. It may not be reproduced, copies or stored in
February 2007, July 2013 and July 2018. any medium for commercial distribution without prior, written
authorisation from the institute. Think Brick Australia is wholly
sponsored by the clay brick, block and paver industry of Australia.
Local or state regulations may require variation from the practices
and recommendations contained in this publication. Whilst
Cover image: the contents of this publication are believed to be accurate and
Gympie Aquatic Recreation Centre. Finalist, Horbury Hunt complete, the information given is intended for general guidance
Commercial Awards 2017. and does not replace the services of professional advisers on
specific projects. The author and Think Brick Australia cannot
Architect: Liquid Blu accept any liability whatsoever regarding the contents of this
publication.
Photographer: Christopher Frederick Jones
Manua
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Notes