Document Archives

Fire Resistance of Walls of Lightweight-Aggregate Concrete Masonry Units

• ID:

  81

• ESCSI:

  3220.040

• Author:

  Foster, Harry D.; Earl R. Pinkston; S.H. Ingborg

• Publication Name:

  Building Materials and Structures Report BMS 117

• Type of Publication:

  Paper

• Publisher:

  U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Standards

• Dated:

  1950

• Issue/Volume:

  May 1

• Other ID:

• Page(s):

  1-23

• Reference List:

  N

• Abstract:

  The results of fire-endurance and hose-stream tests of 16 walls of lightweight-aggregate concrete masonry units are given. The aggregates used in the manufacture of the units were cinders, expanded shale, pumice, or expanded slag. The constructions ranged from 3-in. nonload-bearing partitions to 10-in. load-bearing walls with no framed-in members and included brick-faced exterior bearing walls.The fire-resistance values indicated by the tests varied with the thickness of the wall, the moisture content at the time of the test, and the kind of aggregate used in the units and ranged from 1 hr 9 min for a 4-in. unplastered partition to 7 hr 3 min for an 8-in. bearing wall faced with brick and backed with 4-in. lightweight-concrete units.
  Hose-stream tests conducted at the end of the fire-endurance tests indicated that walls of lightweight-aggregate concrete masonry units met the requirements of this test for their respective fire-resistance values.