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Chapter 21 — MASONRY

Section 2103

California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2022 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

2103.1 Masonry units.

Concrete masonry units, clay or shale masonry units, stone masonry units, glass unit masonry and AAC masonry units shall comply with Article 2.3 of TMS 602. Architectural cast stone shall conform to ASTM C1364 and TMS 504. Adhered manufactured stone masonry veneer units shall conform to ASTM C1670. [OSHPD 1R, 2B & 5] Architectural cast stone construction shall be considered as an alternative system.

Exception: Structural clay tile for nonstructural use in fireproofing of structural members and in wall furring shall not be required to meet the compressive strength specifications. The fire-resistance rating shall be determined in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263 and shall comply with the requirements of Table 705.5.

2103.1.1 Second-hand units. Second-hand masonry units shall not be reused unless they conform to the requirements of new units. The units shall be of whole, sound materials and free from cracks and other defects that will interfere with proper laying or use. Old mortar shall be cleaned from the unit before reuse.

2103.2 Mortar.

Mortar for masonry construction shall comply with Section 2103.2.1, 2103.2.2, 2103.2.3 or 2103.2.4.

2103.2.1 Masonry mortar. Mortar for use in masonry construction shall conform to Articles 2.1 and 2.6 A of TMS 602.

2103.2.2 Surface-bonding mortar. Surface-bonding mortar shall comply with ASTM C887. Surface bonding of concrete masonry units shall comply with ASTM C946.

2103.2.3 Mortars for ceramic wall and floor tile. Portland cement mortars for installing ceramic wall and floor tile shall comply with ANSI A108.1A and ANSI A108.1B and be of the compositions indicated in Table 2103.2.3.

2103.2.3.1 Dry-set Portland cement mortars. Premixed prepared Portland cement mortars, which require only the addition of water and are used in the installation of ceramic tile, shall comply with ANSI

A118.1. The shear bond strength for tile set in such mortar shall be as required in accordance with ANSI A118.1. Tile set in dry-set Portland cement mortar shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.5.

TABLE 2103.2.3 CERAMIC TILE MORTAR COMPOSITIONS

LOCATION MORTAR COMPOSITION
Walls Scratchcoat 1 cement;1/5 hydrated lime;
4 dry or 5 damp sand
Walls Setting bed and
leveling coat		 1 cement;1/2 hydrated lime;
5 damp sand to 1 cement;
1 hydrated lime, 7 damp sand
Floors Setting bed 1 cement;1/10 hydrated lime;
5 dry or 6 damp sand; or
1 cement; 5 dry or 6 damp sand
Ceilings Scratchcoat and
sand bed		 1 cement;1/2 hydrated lime;
21/2 dry sand or 3 damp sand

2103.2.3.2 Latex-modified Portland cement mortar. Latex-modified Portland cement thin-set mortars in which latex is added to dry-set mortar as a replacement for all or part of the gauging water that are used for the installation of ceramic tile shall comply with ANSI A118.4. Tile set in latex-modified Portland cement shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.5.

2103.2.3.3 Epoxy mortar. Ceramic tile set and grouted with chemical-resistant epoxy shall comply with ANSI A118.3. Tile set and grouted with epoxy shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.6.

2103.2.3.4 Furan mortar and grout. Chemical-resistant furan mortar and grout that are used to install ceramic tile shall comply with ANSI A118.5. Tile set and grouted with furan shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.8.

2103.2.3.5 Modified epoxy-emulsion mortar and grout. Modified epoxy-emulsion mortar and grout that are used to install ceramic tile shall comply with ANSI A118.8. Tile set and grouted with modified epoxyemulsion mortar and grout shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.9.

2103.2.3.6 Organic adhesives. Water-resistant organic adhesives used for the installation of ceramic tile shall comply with ANSI A136.1. The shear bond strength after water immersion shall be not less than 40 psi (275 kPa) for Type I adhesive and not less than 20 psi (138 kPa) for Type II adhesive when tested in accordance with ANSI A136.1. Tile set in organic adhesives shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.4.

ves.** Water-resistant organic adhesives used for the installation of ceramic tile shall comply with ANSI A136.1. The shear bond strength after water immersion shall be not less than 40 psi (275 kPa) for Type I adhesive and not less than 20 psi (138 kPa) for Type II adhesive when tested in accordance with ANSI A136.1. Tile set in organic adhesives shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.4.

2103.2.3.7 Portland cement grouts. Portland cement grouts used for the installation of ceramic tile shall comply with ANSI A118.6. Portland cement grouts for tile work shall be installed in accordance with ANSI A108.10.

2103.2.4 Mortar for adhered masonry veneer. Mortar for use with adhered masonry veneer shall conform to ASTM C270 for Type N or S, or shall comply with ANSI A118.4 for latex-modified Portland cement mortar.

21-4 2022 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. Any unauthorized reproduction or distribution is a violation of the federal copyright act and the license agreement, and subject to civil and criminal penalties thereunder.

MASONRY

webs of hollow units are used as supports for horizontal reinforcement. Reinforcement, embedded items and bolts shall be solidly embedded in grout.

2104.2.3 TMS 602, Article 3.4 D Anchor bolts. Replace TMS 602, Article 3.4 D.3 and add Articles 3.4 D.5 and 3.4 D.6 as follows:

  1. Anchor bolts in the wythe or face shells of hollow masonry units shall be positioned to maintain a minimum of 1 /2 inch (12.7 mm) of grout between the bolt circumference, the wythe or the face shell. For the portion of the bolt that is within the grouted cell, maintain a clear distance between the bolt and the face of masonry unit and between the head of the bolt and the formed surface of grout of at least 1 /4 inch (6.4 mm) when using fine grout and at least 1 /2 inch (12.7 mm) when using coarse grout. Bolts shall be solidly embedded in grout.

5. Bent bar anchor bolts shall not be allowed. The maximum size anchor shall be 1 /2-inch (13 mm) diameter for 6-inch (152 mm) nominal masonry, 3 /4- inch (19 mm) diameter for 8-inch (203 mm) nominal masonry, 7 /8-inch (22 mm) diameter for 10-inch (254 mm) nominal masonry, and 1-inch (25 mm) diame- ter for 12-inch (304.8 mm) nominal masonry.

6. Bolts shall be accurately set with templates or by approved equivalent means and held in place to pre- vent dislocation during grouting.

2104.2.4 TMS 602, Article 3.5 C Grout pour height. Add to TMS 602, Article 3.5 C the following:

1. For grout pours not greater than 4 feet (1219 mm) or 5 feet 4 inches (1651 mm) for 10-inch (254 mm) nominal or wider hollow unit masonry, the top of grout pour shall be at the top of constructed masonry, or within 8 inches (200 mm) of the top of the constructed masonry. After construction of each grout lift height of wall, column, pier or beam, masonry cells or cavities shall be inspected prior to placement of grout. Grout pours not terminated at the top of constructed masonry shall comply with TMS 602, Articles 3.5 C.3.a through 3.5 C.3.e.

2. Grout pours in excess of 4 feet (1219 mm) or 5 feet 4 inches (1651 mm) for 10-inch (254 mm) nominal or wider hollow unit masonry shall be subject to approval of the enforcement agency.

a. Grout pours in excess of 4 feet (1219 mm) or 5

feet 4 inches (1651 mm) for 10-inch (254 mm) nominal or wider hollow unit masonry shall be subject to the following:

Grouting shall be done in a continuous pour in lifts not exceeding 4 feet (1219 mm) or 5 feet 4 inches (1651 mm) for 10-inch (254 mm) nominal or wider hollow unit masonry.

b. An approved admixture of a type that reduces

early water loss and produces an expansive action shall be used.

2103.3 Grout.

Grout shall comply with Article 2.2 of TMS 602.

2103.4 Metal reinforcement and accessories.

Metal reinforcement and accessories shall conform to Article 2.4 of TMS 602. Where unidentified reinforcement [OSHPD 1R, 2B & 5] , or bar reinforcement without mill certification, is approved for use, not less than three tension and three bending tests shall be made on representative specimens of the reinforcement from each shipment and grade of reinforcing steel proposed for use in the work. [OSHPD 1R, 2B & 5] Alternatively, the frequency of sampling for unidentifiable reinforcing bars specified in Section 1910.2 can be used.

2103.5 Air entrainment.

[OSHPD 1R, 2B & 5] Air-entrain- ing materials or air-entraining admixtures shall not be used in grout.

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▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Appendix N — REPLICABLE
  6. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED
  7. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  8. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  9. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
  10. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  11. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  12. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  13. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
  14. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  15. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  16. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  17. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  18. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  19. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  20. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  21. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  22. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  23. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  24. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  25. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  26. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. ▸Chapter 21 — MASONRY
    Overview
    1. Section 2101
    2. Section 2102
    3. Section 2103
    4. Section 2104
    5. Section 2105
    6. Section 2106
    7. Section 2107
    8. Section 2108
    9. Section 2109
    10. Section 2110
    11. Section 2111
    12. Section 2112
    13. Section 2113
    14. Section 2114
    15. Section 2115
    16. Section 2101A
    17. Section 2102A
    18. Section 2103A
    19. Section 2104A
    20. Section 2105A
    21. Section 2106A
    22. Section 2107A
    23. Section 2108A
    24. Section 2109A
    25. Section 2110A
    26. Section 2111A
    27. Section 2112A
    28. Section 2113A
  29. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  30. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  31. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  32. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  33. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  34. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  35. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  36. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  37. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  38. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  39. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  40. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  41. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  42. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  43. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  44. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  45. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  46. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  47. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  48. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  49. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  50. Appendix H — SIGNS
  51. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  52. Appendix J — GRADING
  53. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  54. Appendix P — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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