Masonry Horizontal Joint-Reinforcement Takeoff (IRC R606.12.2)

Ladder or truss wire laid in the bed joints of a masonry wall: reinforced courses = ceil(height in / vertical spacing), pieces per course = ceil(length / piece length), total = courses x pieces. IRC R606.12.2 / TMS 402 cap the vertical spacing at 16 in (every other 8 in course); some specs tighten it to 8 in or add wire at bond beams and above and below openings. A 40 x 12 ft CMU wall at 16 in and 10 ft pieces is 9 courses x 4 = 36 pieces; a 30 x 10 ft wall is 24. Wire laps at least 6 in (the lap is not added here). A material count; the spacing, the lap, and the extra wire at openings come from the structural spec and the adopted code.

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Formula and source

reinforced_courses = ceil(wall_height_ft x 12 / vertical_spacing_in); pieces_per_course = ceil(wall_length_ft / piece_length_ft); total_pieces = reinforced_courses x pieces_per_course.

IRC R606.12.2 and TMS 402 masonry horizontal joint-reinforcement provisions, by name; the spacing and lap come from the adopted code and the structural spec.

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