In a double wythe masonry wall with a 2-inch cavity, what is the required spacing of reinforcing metal ties?

In a double wythe masonry wall with a 2-inch cavity, what is the required spacing of reinforcing metal ties?

• A. 3 1/2 square feet
• B. 3 square feet
• C. 4 1/2 square feet
• D. 2 1/2 square feet

Answer: (C)

In a double wythe masonry wall, reinforcing metal ties keep the two wythes connected and help transfer shear and wind/seismic loads between them. For a wall with a 2-inch cavity, the standard spacing is defined as how much wall area a single tie should hold together, which is 4 1/2 square feet. This density ensures the ties effectively connect the wythes without being overly dense or too sparse. If the area per tie were larger than 4 1/2 square feet, the wythes could separate under load; if it were smaller, the ties would add unnecessary cost without added benefit. So the required spacing corresponds to 4 1/2 square feet per tie, typically achieved by a grid that yields that pattern.

In a double wythe masonry wall, reinforcing metal ties keep the two wythes connected and help transfer shear and wind/seismic loads between them. For a wall with a 2-inch cavity, the standard spacing is defined as how much wall area a single tie should hold together, which is 4 1/2 square feet. This density ensures the ties effectively connect the wythes without being overly dense or too sparse. If the area per tie were larger than 4 1/2 square feet, the wythes could separate under load; if it were smaller, the ties would add unnecessary cost without added benefit. So the required spacing corresponds to 4 1/2 square feet per tie, typically achieved by a grid that yields that pattern.