Masonry load-bearing walls, constructed from materials like brick, stone, or concrete masonry units, serve as a crucial component in building structures by supporting the loads from floors and roofs and transferring them to the foundation. These walls, known for their compressive strength, can be reinforced or unreinforced to suit different building needs, accommodating both the dead and live loads while maintaining safety through lower working stresses compared to the materials' ultimate strength.
Buildings of low to medium height, such as schools or office buildings, masonry load-bearing walls are used alongside interior columns to provide a durable structural frame that also acts as the enclosure of the building. They are suitable for designs that feature repetitive, compartmentalized layouts like hotels and multi-family housing, benefiting from the masonry's linear configuration and fire resistance. However, for taller buildings, the preference often shifts to framed structures due to the need for deeper foundations to support heavy masonry walls.
When a building's exterior veneer is chosen from materials with structural capabilities, like brick, concrete block, or stone, masonry load-bearing exterior walls become an attractive option, potentially offering a simplified construction process and aesthetic appeal. However, this approach is typically suited for low to mid-rise buildings, as high-rises generally require stronger framing systems like steel or reinforced concrete to handle increased loads.
