TEK 5-9A 2004 National Concrete Masonry Association (replaces TEK 5-9)

NCMA TEK
National Concrete Masonry Association
an information series from the national authority on concrete masonry technology
CONCRETE MASONRY
CORNER DETAILS
TEK 5-9A
Details (2004)
Keywords: architectural details, construction details,
corners, modular coordination, unit shapes
INTRODUCTION
A building's corners are typically constructed first, then
the remaining wall section is filled in. Because they guide the
construction of the rest of the wall, building the corners
requires special care. It is essential that the corner be built as
shown on the foundation or floor plan to maintain modular
dimensions.
For maximum construction efficiency and economy,
concrete masonry elements should be designed and constructed
with modular coordination in mind. Corners, however, present
unique situations, because the actual widths of standard units
are 3
5
/8, 5
5
/8, 7
5
/8, 9
5
/8 and 11
5
/8 in. (92, 143, 194, 244 and
295 mm). In order to maintain an 8-in. (203-mm) module,
special corner details have been developed to accommodate
most typical situations.
Figures 2 through 6 show how corners can be constructed
to minimize cutting of units while maintaining modularity of
the construction. Vertical steel, while not always required, is
often used at corner intersections.
UNITS
Unlike stretcher units, units used in corner construction
have square ends (see Figure 1). In addition, all-purpose or
kerf units are available, with two closely spaced webs in the
center that allow the unit to be easily split on the jobsite,
facilitating corner construction. Other special units may also
be available, such as bevelled-end units, forming a 45 angle
with the face of the unit, which are used to form walls
Figure 1Concrete Masonry Units Used for Corner Construction
Single corner unit
Bevelled or mitered unit Return corner unit 45 Outside corner unit 45 Inside corner unit
Bay window or 8 in.
(203 mm) 45 angle
Double corner or
plain-end unit
All-purpose, kerf
or splitter unit
Figure 2Corner Details, 4 Inch (102 mm) Walls
Figure 4Corner Details, 8 Inch (203 mm) Walls
Figure 3Corner Details, 6 Inch
(152 mm) Walls
3
/ in
.
(
9
2
m
m
)
8
5
(
9
2
m
m
)
3
/ in
.
5 8
Bevelled unit
C
u
t
u
n
it
to

f
it
Corner return
unit
e
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
5 8
5
1
5
/ in
.
8
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
(
1
9
4

m
m
)
8
7
/ in
.
5
7
/ in
.
(
1
9
4

m
m
)
5 8
1
1
/ in
.
(203 mm)
(9
2

m
m
)
5
1
1
/ in
.
(
2
9
5

m
m
)
8
3
/ in
.
5
8
8 in.
3
/ in
.
(
2
9
5
m
m
)
(
9
2

m
m
)
5
8
5 8
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
5
8
(
1
9
4

m
m
)
7
/ in
.
5 8
8
5 7
/ in
.
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
8
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
5
(305 mm)
12 in.
(
9
2
m
m
)
8
3
/
i
n
.
5
1
5
/ in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
5
8
12 in.
(305 mm)
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
8
5
(
9
2
m
m
)
3
/ in
.
8 5
8 in. (203 mm) Wall to 8 in. (203 mm) Wall
Using Standard Units
8 in. (203 mm) Wall to 12 in. (305 mm) Wall
4 in. (102 mm)
thick half-length
unit
courses
Alternate
(203 mm)
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
(3
9
7

m
m
)
7
/ in
.
5
8
1
5
/ in
.
8
5
8
(1
9
4

m
m
)
7
/ in
.
5
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
8
8 in.
5
5
1
5
/ in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
8
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
5
8
7
/ in
.
1
5
/ in
.
8
5
(3
9
7

m
m
)
(3
9
7

m
m
)
5
1
5
/ in
.
8
(3
9
7

m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
5
8
(
1
9
4
m
m
) 7
/ in
.
8 5
(
1
4
3

m
m
)
8
5 5


/

in
.
(
3
4
6

m
m
)
1
3


/


i
n
.
8
5
(
1
4
3

m
m
)
5
5


/

in
.
1
3
/
i
n
.
(
3
4
6

m
m
)
8
5 8
(203 mm)
8 in.
1
5


/

in
.
8
5 7


/

in
.
(
1
9
4

m
m
)
1
5


/

in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
5
8
8
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
5
(
1
9
4

m
m
)
5
7


/

in
.
8
(254 mm)
10 in.
Cut unit to fit or use nominal
14 in. (356 mm) units
Cut unit to fit or use nominal 14 in. (356 mm) units
Corner return
unit
Figure 5Corner Details, 10 Inch (254 mm) Walls Figure 6Corner Details, 12 Inch (305 mm) Walls
(for unreinforced corners only)
(
9
2

m
m
)
5
8 (
2
9
5
m
m
)
1
1
/ in
.
3
/ in
.
5 8
(
2
9
5

m
m
)
1
1
/ in
.
5 8
(
9
2

m
m
)
5
3
/ in
.
8
(
2
9
5
m
m
)
1
1
/ in
.
8 5
1
1
/ in
.
(
2
9
5
m
m
)
5
8
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
5
8
1
5
/ in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
8
5
4 in.
(102 mm)
1
1
/ in
.
5 8
(
2
9
5

m
m
)
(102 mm)
4 in.
1
1
/ in
.
(
2
9
5
m
m
)
8 5
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
5
8
7
/ in
.
8
5 7
/ in
.
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
5 8
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
5
8
1
5
/ in
.
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
5
8
7
/ in
.
5
8
8
5
7
/ in
.
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
8
5
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
8 5
1
5
/ in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
5
8
Alternate
courses
5 5 5
3 / x 3 / x 7 / in.
(92 x 92 x 194 mm)
8 8 8
(for unreinforced corners only)
1
5
8
x 5
5
8
x 7
5
8
in.
(41 x 143 x 194 mm)
1
5
8
x 5
5
8
x 7
5
8
in.
(41 x 143 x 194 mm)
6 in.
(152 mm)
9


/

in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
(
2
4
4
m
m
)
8
6 in.
(152 mm)
1
5
/ in
.
9
/ in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
(
2
4
4

m
m
)
5
8
8
5
5
9


/

in
.
(
2
4
4

m
m
)
8
1
5
/ in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
8
5
(152 mm)
6 in.
5 8
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
7
/ in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
1
5
/ in
.
5
8
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
7
/ in
.
8
5
5
8
1
5
/
i
n
.
(
3
9
7

m
m
)
5
8
8
5
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
5 8
(
1
9
4
m
m
)
7
/ in
.
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
1
5
/ in
.
8
5
(
1
9
4

m
m
)
7
/ in
.
8
5
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
8
1
5
/ in
.
5
Alternate
courses
5
1
5
/ in
.
8
5
(
3
9
7
m
m
)
9
/ in
.
(
2
4
4

m
m
)
8
8
1
5
/ in
.
5
5
(for unreinforced corners only)
Cut unit to fit
or use nominal
14 in. (356
mm) units
Cut unit to fit
or use nominal
14 in. (356 mm)
units
NATIONAL CONCRETE MASONRY ASSOCIATION To order a complete TEK Manual or TEK Index,
13750 Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20171 contact NCMA Publications (703) 713-1900
www.ncma.org
Disclaimer: Although care has been taken to ensure the enclosed information is as accurate and complete as possible, NCMA
does not assume responsibility for errors or omissions resulting from the use of this TEK.
intersecting at 135 angles. The Concrete Masonry Shapes
and Sizes Directory (ref. 2) contains illustrations of additional
corner units, including those with architectural surfaces. Units
in adjacent courses overlap to form a running bond pattern at
the corner. Architectural units, such as those with split or
scored faces, are often available with the architectural finish
on two sides to accommodate corner construction.
Local manufacturers should be contacted for information
on unit availability.
CODE PROVISIONS FOR INTERSECTING WALLS
Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures
(ref. 4) stipulates three options to transfer stresses from one
wall to another at wall intersections, each requiring the
masonry to be laid in running bond. These three options are
via: running bond; steel connectors; and bond beams. Corner
construction lends itself to providing shear transfer by relying
on running bond. Running bond (defined as the placement of
masonry units such that head joints in successive courses are
horizontally offset at least one-quarter the unit length) ensures
there is sufficient unit interlock at the corner to transfer shear.
When any of these conditions are not met, the transfer of shear
forces between walls is required to be prevented.
REFERENCES
1. Annotated Design and Construction Details for
Concret e Masonry, TR 90B. National Concrete
Masonry Association, 2003.
2. Concrete Masonry Shapes and Sizes Directory, CM260A.
National Concrete Masonry Association, 1997.
3. Reinforced Concrete Masonry Inspector's Handbook, 4th
edition. Masonry Institute of America, 2002.
4. Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures, ACI
530-02/ASCE 5-02/TMS 402-02. Reported by the Ma-
sonry Standards Joint Committee, 2002.
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