Full Description

1.1This guide addresses the evaluation of existing mass masonry walls for the potential addition of interior insulation and continuous air barrier or vapor retarder or other changes to the thermal and moisture management properties of the wall.

1.2This guide describes methods for evaluating causes of water infiltration or other moisture accumulation related problems specific to mass masonry walls. This guide does not apply to walls that include provisions to manage bulk water through internal drainage, flashings, or other measures other than the moisture storage capacity of the wall.

1.3This guide describes analysis, design, and specification of materials with the required thermal and vapor resistance to improve the energy performance of an existing mass masonry wall, but that would not create problematic conditions to the masonry units or within the masonry wall or interior of the building.

1.4This guide applies to walls of solid or multiwythe masonry construction meeting the requirements of a mass masonry wall as defined herein and having an overall thickness of solid masonry not less than 8 in. This guide does not apply to masonry walls that, by design, are intended to manage water as a barrier wall system or drainage wall system.

1.5The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.6This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.