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Why Expansion Joints:

Are Needed The key to successful building

design is recognizing that while the individual
members in a structure may only experience
small changes in length, the cumulative
effects of these changes can become
significant and should always be considered.
This is especially important when looking
at buildings with a large horizontal dimension.
Expansion joints that separate the entire structure
and roofing membrane will allow for the release
of internal stresses that would otherwise build up.
This will help to ensure that relatively brittle cladding,
particularly masonry, is not subjected to excessive
displacements and consequential separation or
cracking, which could allow water to penetrate into
interior spaces.

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Federal Construction Council Technical Report No. 65,
Expansion Joints in Buildings, published by the
National Research Council (NRC) in 1974, is an
excellent referenceon thermal expansion in buildings,
determining when potential thermal movement must
be addressed, and the design of expansion joints
where required. The report recommends a maximum allowable building length
without the use of an expansion joint in terms of design temperature change and
building material.
Figure 1 was developed considering beam and column construction, hinged column
bases, and heated interiors. If actual conditions differ from those assumed
conditions, a percentage factor is applied to the results obtained in the figure
following these guidelines:
1. If the building will be heated only and will have hinged column bases, use the
allowable length as specified.
2. 2. If the building will be air-conditioned as well as heated, increase the allowable
length by 15% (provided the environmental control system will run
continuously). 3. If the building will be unheated, decrease the allowable length
by 33%.

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Material & Techniques
The gap of expansion joints is never left open. It is filled with a compressible material
soas to make it water tight. The following materials are required to render the expansion
jointwatertight.
1) Joint filler:
Bitumen, bitumen containing cellular materials, cork strips,
rubber, mineralfiber, expanded plastic, pith, coconut, etc.
are the usual joint filler materials. Joint fillershould be
compressible material tightly fitted in the gap. Being
compressible, theyreadily allow free expansion of adjacent
parts. It should regain 75% of its originalthickness when
external pressure is removed from it. They should be rigid,
durable andresistant to decay.
2) Sealing compound:
its function is to seal the joint against passage of moisture
And to prevent the ingress of dust, grit or other foreign
matter into the joint. It should be tintless, non-toxic,
insoluble and readily workable. Mastic or Hot-applied
bituminoussealing compound is mostly used for the purpose.
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3)Water bars:
the function bars are to seal the joints against
passage of water. Water barsmay be made of
rubber, P.V.C., G.I. sheet, copper, or aluminum
sheets. G.I. Water barshould not be used under
corrosive conditions. Width of water bar may be
varied fromthe 15cm. to 20cm.and thickness
should not be less than 0.56 mm. they are given
U or Vfold to allow expansion and contraction at
the joints

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Treatment by simple slab construction

Treatment using rubber gasket and aluminium sheet:

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1) Walls: The joints in the wall are not left exposed.
They are covered with covering sheets which may be of
aluminum, hard board, AC sheet or timber plank.
Normally A.C. sheet is used to cover the joint. The
covering sheet is fixed to the wall on one side of the
joint with screws and on the other side by screws
through oval shaped slots. The oval slots permit
movement at the joint without causing any damage to
the covering sheet. Expansion joint in the roof shall
invariably be provided with joint filler and water bar.
Joint in floor shall be invariably sealed to prevent
accumulation of dirt, dust, therein. The joints in the
wall are not left exposed. They are covered with
covering sheets which may be of aluminum, hard
board, AC sheet or timber plank. Normally A.C. sheet is
used to cover the joint. The covering sheet is fixed to
the wall on one side of the joint with screws and on the
other side by screws through oval shaped slots. The
oval slots permit movement at the joint without
causing any damage to the covering sheet. Expansion
joint in the roof shall invariably be provided with joint 9
filler and water bar. Joint in floor shall be invariably
sealed to prevent accumulation of dirt, dust, therein.
2) Framed Walls: In case of framed structure, it is necessary to provide two
frames, one on either side of the expansion joint. The treatment of joints is
similar to those given to the masonry wall expansion joint.

3) Roofing Slab: The gap of the joint should be sealed with a water bar and
sealing compound. In order to prevent cracks in the masonry above or below the
expansion joint R.C.C or plain concrete bed blocks should be provided in the
masonry below the expansion joint in the slab

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