Building Construction Handbook, Eighth Edition

Location ~ specifically in positions of high stress.
Reinforcement ~ expanded metal or wire mesh (see page 328).
Mortar Cover ~ 13 mm minimum thickness, 25 mm to external faces.

Openings~
600 mm minimum

door

opening

blockwork

wall

bed joint

reinforcement

lintel

Concentrated Load ~

padstone load bearing beam

bed joint

reinforcement

stepped in

three courses

Suspended Floor~

bed joint reinforcement

in first two courses

of blockwork

upper floor subject

to deflection

(also direct bearing

ground floor that

may settle)

Differential Movement ~ may occur where materials such as steel,
brick, timber or dense concrete abut with or bear on lightweight
concrete blocks. A smooth separating interface of two layers of
non-compressible dpc or similar is suitable in this situation.

Reinforced Bed Joints