An important application of stress distribution joint reinforcement is to safeguard the integrity of masonry walls from unexpected and difficult-to-design-for events such as industrial explosions and accidents. Stress Distribution – Continuous joint reinforcement is used to distribute stress concentrations that occur above and below windows, or where wall sections are reduced because of embedded columns, and below concentrated loads such as beams and slabs. Wall Intersections – Partition-Lok® and Corner-Lok® are prefabricated pieces of corner and tee joint reinforcement used to join masonry walls at intersections and corners. Applications of Joint Reinforcement Reinforced Masonry – Joint reinforcement either alone or in conjunction with wider-spaced bond beams contributes to the area of steel requirements in reinforced masonry. Table A (page 2) shows wire size and properties for steel joint reinforcement material. For joint reinforcement to effectively distribute stress it must be adequately bonded through the mortar so that the masonry and reinforcement act together. Joint Reinforcement Joint reinforcement is installed in horizontal mortar joints of masonry for shrinkage stress control.Flex-O-Lok® Ties Adjustable ties are recommended as a veneer or cavity wall tie to connect to structural steel.Horizontal reinforcement is provided by metal reinforcement strips laid into the wet mortar after every third or fourth course of block. Vertical reinforcement is provided by lengths of steel rebar embedded in wet concrete that is poured into block cavities at prescribed intervals. Freestanding block walls can be subject to stresses that can crack joints and destroy walls, so both vertical and horizontal reinforcement is common. For greatest strength, most concrete block walls are assembled so the vertical joints are offset (staggered) from one course to the next. Each row of blocks is joined to the adjoining blocks with either type N (above grade) or type S (below grade) mortar. Most cement block walls will use several different types of blocks, especially stretchers and corner units. Block shapes and sizes are chosen to match the function of the wall and the configuration of the wall. The depth and size of the foundation will vary depending on the size of the concrete block wall and the weight it must support, but a typical freestanding wall requires a foundation that is about twice as wide as the wall itself and which extends about 1 foot down below the frost line. All concrete block walls must rest on a sturdy foundation of poured concrete.

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