Tag Archives: Concrete masonry unit

Failures: Curious case of floating concrete masonry unit

At a residential high-rise, staff reported concrete masonry cracking and water infiltration on the top floor of the parking garage during rain. Upon inspection, a continuous horizontal crack, up to 14.3 mm (0.5625 in.) wide, was found near the top of the concrete masonry unit (CMU) exterior wall, extending almost the entire length of one facade.

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What lies beyond the veneer?

Water leakage through the exterior wall was reported at a 30-year-old, one-story commercial building in the Midwest. The building had been constructed with concrete masonry unit (CMU) bearing walls clad with brick masonry veneer, and steel open-web joists supporting a steel roof deck. The portion of the building experiencing leakage had been extensively renovated approximately 15 years ago, including modifications to the exterior façades, to create new storefronts for multiple commercial tenants.

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