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Chapter 21 — MASONRY

Section 2107

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.

2107.1 General.

The design of masonry structures using allowable stress design shall comply with Section 2106 and the requirements of Chapters 1 through 8 of TMS 402 except as modified by Sections 2107.2 through 2107.3. [OSHPD 1R, 2B & 5] through 2107.7.

2107.2 TMS 402, Section 6.1.6.1.1, lap splices.

As an alternative to Section 6.1.6.1.1, it shall be permitted to design lap splices in accordance with Section 2107.2.1.

2107.2.1 Lap splices. The minimum length of lap splices for reinforcing bars in tension or compression, ld, shall be:

ld = 0.002 db fs (Equation 21-1)

For SI: ld = 0.29 db fs

but not less than 12 inches (305 mm). The length of the lapped splice shall be not less than 40 bar diameters. where:

db = Diameter of reinforcement, inches (mm)

fs = Computed stress in reinforcement due to design

loads, psi (MPa). In regions of moment where the design tensile stresses in the reinforcement are greater than 80 percent of the allowable steel tension stress, Fs, the lap length of splices shall be increased not less than 50 percent of the minimum required length, but need not be greater than 72 db . Other equivalent means of stress transfer to accomplish the same 50 percent increase shall be permitted. Where epoxy coated bars are used, lap length shall be increased by 50 percent.

2107.3 TMS 402, Section 6.1.6.1, splices of reinforcement.

Modify Section 6.1.6.1 as follows:

6.1.6.1 – Splices of reinforcement. Lap splices, welded splices or mechanical splices are permitted in accordance with the provisions of this section. Welding shall conform to AWS D1.4. Welded splices shall be of ASTM A706 steel reinforcement. Reinforcement larger than No. 9 (M

TYPE OF MASONRY MAXIMUM RATIO
UNSUPPORTED
HEIGHT OR
LENGTH TO
THICKNESS2,3		 NOMINAL
MINIMUM
THICKNESS
(inches)
BEARING OR SHEAR WALLS:
1. Stone masonry
2. Reinforced grouted masonry
3. Reinforced hollow-unit masonry		 14
25
25		 16
6
6
NONBEARING WALLS:
4. Exterior reinforced walls
5. Interior partitions reinforced		 30
36		 6
4

1. For walls of varying thickness, use the least thickness when determining the height or length to thickness ratio. 2. In determining the height or length-to-thickness ratio of a cantilevered wall, the dimension to be used shall be twice the dimension of the end of the wall from the lateral support. 3. Cantilevered walls not part of a building and not carrying applied vertical loads need not meet these minimum requirements but their design must comply with stress and overturning requirements.

2107.6 [OSHPD 1R, 2 & 5] Modify TMS 402, Section 8.3.4.4 by the following:

8.3.4.4 by the following:

Reinforced masonry walls, columns, pilasters, beams and lintels that are subjected to in-plane forces shall have a maximum flexural tensile reinforcement ratio, ρ max , not greater than that computed by Equation 8-20.

#29) shall be spliced using mechanical connections in accordance with Section 6.1.6.1.3.

2107.4 [OSHPD 1R, 2 & 5] TMS 402, Section 8.3.7, maxi-mum bar size.

mum bar size. [OSHPD 1R, 2 & 5] Add the following to Chapter 8:

8.3.7 – Maximum bar size. The maximum bar diameter shall conform to the requirements of TMS 402, Section 9.3.3.1.

2107.5 [OSHPD 1R, 2B & 5] TMS 402, Section 8.3.4.4 Walls.

Walls. Modify TMS 402 by adding Section 8.3.4.4 as follows by adding:

8.3.4.4.1 The minimum thickness of walls is given in this section. Stresses shall be determined on the basis of the net thickness of the masonry, with consideration for reduc- tion, such as raked joints. 8.3.4.4.2 The thickness of masonry walls shall be designed so that allowable maximum stresses specified in this chap- ter are not exceeded. Masonry walls shall not exceed the height or length-to-thickness ratio or the minimum thick- ness as specified in this chapter and as set forth in Table 8.3.4.4. 8.3.4.4.3 Every pier or wall section with a width less than three times its thickness shall be designed and constructed as required for columns if such pier is a structural mem- ber. Every pier or wall section with a width between three and five times its thickness or less than one half the height of adjacent openings shall have all horizontal steel in the form of ties except that in walls 12 inches (305 mm) or less in thickness such steel may be in the form of hair-pins.

TABLE 8.3.4.4 MINIMUM THICKNESS OF MASONRY WALLS 1, 2

21-8 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

limitations of Section A.1.2 of TMS 402, masonry shall be designed in accordance with the engineered design provisions of Section 2101.2 or the foundation wall provisions of Section 1807.1.5.

Section A.1.2.2 of TMS 402 shall be modified as follows:

A.1.2.2 – Wind . Empirical requirements shall not apply to the design or construction of masonry for buildings, parts of buildings, or other structures to be located in areas where Vasd as determined in accordance with Section 1609.3.1 of the California Building Code exceeds 110 mph.

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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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