54
3220.013
Menzel, Carl A.
Tests of the Fire Resistance and Strength of Walls of Concrete Masonry Units
Book
Portland Cement Association
1934
January
i-x and 1-215
N
This report presents the principal results obtained in a comprehensive and systematic investigation of the fire-resistant and load-carrying properties of 215 walls of concrete masonry units when subjected to standard fire endurance and load tests. The tests covered studies of the relative influence of such factors as type and grading of aggregate, cement content, design of unit, type of mortar, workmanship, and application of plaster.With the exception of size of wall, the fire endurance tests were conducted strictly in accordance with current Standard Specifications for Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials. Both because of limitations in the space available for the test equipment and the excessive cost of a series of tests of this magnitude, walls about 5 1/2 ft. wide and 6 ft. high with a total area of about 33 sq. ft. were employed instead of walls 9 ft. in height and 100 sq. ft. in area required by the specifications. To compensate for the reduction in size of the test walls as well as to improve the precision with which such tests are usually conducted, a particularly rigid test technique was adopted. It is believed that the technique followed gives a reliable basis for comparison of the relative fire-resistant properties of the walls and of the relative influence of the various factors studied.
Information is presented on the load-carrying ability of the walls before and after severe fire exposure for a wide range in composition and design of the units and of the type of mortar and workmanshipemployed in the construction of the walls.