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Selection, Design, and Installation of Dimension Stone Attachment Systems
Selection, Design, and Installation of Dimension Stone Attachment Systems
Selection, Design, and Installation of Dimension Stone Attachment Systems
for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: C1242 − 23
INTRODUCTION
Natural building stone is chosen as a building’s cladding for its beauty which endures with minimal
maintenance. Stone is durable when used properly. Exercising good judgment when selecting the
particular stone, determining the quarrying and fabrication techniques, designing the method of
attachment, and installing all components correctly maximizes these benefits. A properly executed
stone cladding is designed and installed within the capabilities and limitations of the stone and support
system to resist all forces that work on them.
This guide presents design principles that require consideration when designing anchorages and
evaluating exterior stone to be compatible with its proposed use. It is an overview of current
techniques and a review of minimum requirements for sound stone engineering and construction. The
guide does not list all possible methods of attachment nor does it provide a step-by-step procedure for
stone anchor engineering. Knowledge gained from new engineering designs, testing of applications,
and the investigation of existing problems are continually reviewed to update this guide. Comment
from users is encouraged.
Good judgment by architects, engineers, and contractors when specifying, designing, engineering,
and constructing stone and other work that interfaces stone is necessary to use this guide. Users of this
guide should combine known performance characteristics of the stone, the building’s structural
behavior, and knowledge of materials and construction methods with proven engineering practice.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
FIG. 6 Spring-Clip Cast-in Anchorage – anchor in horizontal or vertical plane can support gravity and lateral loads (prefer horizontal
clip orientation to support combined loads)
FIG. 7 Separated Pins Cast-in Anchorage – anchor in horizontal or vertical plane can support gravity and lateral loads (prefer horizon-
tal dowel or bolt orientation to support combined loads)
FIG. 8 Dowel Anchorage (brake-formed version) to support combined gravity plus lateral reactions
FIG. 9 Dowel Anchorage (brake-formed version) to support only lateral reactions; gravity reactions supported elsewhere
6.3.1 Engage panel with a fixed or loose dowel made of ally designed with open joints, fill joints between panels with
materials following 8.1 “Metals”. Avoid dowel misalignment compressible gasket or compatible sealant with proper profile
in hole and maintain clearances where shown to reduce over backer rod. If anchor is not recessed enough to allow the
resulting prying on stone panel or unintended load path. backer rod to be continuous across the face-of-anchor, place
6.3.2 Transfer lateral and gravity reactions (Fig. 8) or only bond breaker at anchor and place backer rod between anchors
lateral reactions (Fig. 9) from stone to backup with anchor to prevent three-sided sealant bond that could cause premature
shown as a brake-formed shape. Anchor can also be other sealant failure.
shapes. If a slot must be used instead of a hole, prevent 6.3.7 Provide clearance between top-of-stone and bottom-
unintended slip at slot according to 6.1.2. of-anchor to avoid contact and weight transfer unless cladding
6.3.3 Size thickness and height of anchor that engages stone system is designed to stack. Clearance must allow for differ-
to be capable of resisting intended reactions without allowing ential movement including thermal volume change, creep,
deformations that induce prying or reduce anchorage capacity. seismic and lateral drift, fabrication and installation tolerances.
Size portion of anchor carrying weight of stone to support 6.3.8 Provide interior edge distance, the thickness of stone
weight without allowing deformations that induce prying or from hole to back-face-of-stone, capable of resisting negative,
reduce anchorage capacity. or outward reactions, and also stone weight unless the anchor
6.3.4 Place bearing shim to transfer weight of stone to only supports lateral reactions. Maintain distance even when
anchor and adjust its height to maintain clearances where stone panel is at minimum overall thickness. Also provide
shown to avoid unintended stress or load path. sufficient exterior edge distance, the thickness of stone from
6.3.5 Minimize hole depth to improve anchor capacity. Do hole to front-face-of-stone, capable of resisting positive or
not allow floor-to-floor building movements to be accommo- inward reactions. Keeping this dimension constant could en-
dated as movement within the holes. Provide minimum 3⁄8 in. able installers to align the panels’ finished faces during setting.
(10 mm) engagement or depth determined to be appropriate by 6.3.9 Bore hole for dowel with non-percussive means.
testing in accordance with Test Method C1354/C1354M. Locate hole in center third of panel thickness. Minimize hole
Increased engagement may increase anchorage capacity, and diameter to maximize anchor capacity and proportion interior
could reduce capacity. and exterior edge distances to reactions being resisted while
6.3.6 Size joint to allow for anchor, tolerances, clearances, satisfying 6.3.8. Size hole diameter for minimum clearance
designed movement, and capability of the joint filler. Do not around dowel.
accommodate movement occurring in joints in the backup with 6.3.10 Fill holes with compressible and non-absorbing ma-
this type of anchor. Unless stone cladding system is intention- terial such as low-modulus sealant or closed-cell foam to
FIG. 10 Kerf Anchorage (brake-formed split tail version) to support combined gravity plus lateral reactions
FIG. 11 Kerf Anchorage (brake-formed split tail version) to support only lateral reactions; gravity reactions supported elsewhere
6.4.8 Provide interior edge distance, the thickness of stone fit does not create secondary stresses or an unintended load
from kerf to back-face-of-stone, capable of resisting negative, path, and also to reduce prying or expansive forces on stone
or outward, reactions, and also stone weight unless the anchor panel.
only supports lateral reactions. Maintain distance even when 6.5.2 Transfer lateral and gravity reactions from stone to
stone panel is minimum overall thickness. Also provide suffi- backup with anchor shown as sleeve with collar, fastened to
cient exterior edge distance, the thickness of stone from kerf to hardware connected to backup.
front-face-of-stone, capable of resisting positive, or inward,
6.5.3 Size diameter and depth of anchor that engages stone
reactions. Keeping this dimension constant could enable in-
to be capable of resisting intended reactions without allowing
stallers to align the panels’ finished faces during setting.
deformations that induce prying or reduce anchorage capacity.
6.4.9 Sawcut kerf for anchor with non-percussive means.
Nor should arrangement of anchors induce stress or reduce
Locate kerf in center third of panel thickness. Minimize kerf
panel capacity. In general, number and location of anchors
width to maximize anchor capacity and proportion interior and
exterior edge distances to reactions being resisted while should follow factors in Section 5, “Selection Considerations”.
satisfying 6.4.8. Size kerf width for minimum clearance around 6.5.4 Anchor hole depth and diameter, along with the
anchor leg. anchor’s embedment depth into the hole, are the critical
6.4.10 Fill kerfs with compressible and non-absorbing ma- elements determining the anchorage assembly’s capacity for
terial such as low-modulus sealant or closed-cell foam to transferring forces from the panel to its support. Prepare
prevent moisture accumulation. The fill also cushions bearing undercut holes, insert anchor into hole, and engage anchor into
of anchor leg on sides of kerf to minimize point bearing and undercut in strict accordance with the instructions from the
stress concentrations. Wax or wrap tape on anchor leg to allow manufacturer of that particular anchor.
sliding where adhesion is not desired, and only small slip is 6.5.4.1 For panels up to 2 in. (50 mm) thick, embed anchors
needed. between a minimum of 3⁄8 in. (10 mm) and a maximum of
6.5 Undercut Anchorage—(refer to Fig. 12): two-thirds the panel thickness, unless consideration of specific
6.5.1 Engage panel with an anchor having a sleeve and an panel configurations, manufacturer’s directions, or project
expanding collar or head into a wider-bottomed bell-shaped requirements dictate otherwise.
hole or milled into backside of panel (Fig. 12). Avoid misalign- 6.5.4.2 For panels greater than 2 in. (50 mm) thick, embed
ment in collar undercut. Confirm proper fit of collar or head in anchors between a minimum of 3⁄4 in. (20 mm) and a maximum
undercut and maintain clearances where shown so the anchor of one-half the panel thickness, unless consideration of specific
panel configurations, manufacturer’s directions, or project provided by manufacturer of anchor to verify hole and under-
requirements dictate otherwise. cut are fabricated properly.
6.5.4.3 Panel thickness should only consider the plane of 6.5.8 Insert un-expanded collar-end of anchor into properly
structural integrity and omit projections and incised or carved fabricated hole with collar undercut after verifying all debris is
reliefs and false joints. removed and collar undercut is clean. Use minimum 1⁄4 in.
6.5.4.4 Test specific configurations by Test Method C1354/ (6 mm) diameter bolt or threaded rod matched to fit into the
C1354M to confirm capacity and optimize configuration. sleeve part of the anchor. Verify anchor is inserted to full hole
6.5.4.5 To potentially increase anchor capacity, increase depth and is properly aligned before fastening connection
hole depth and anchor embedment to a project-specific depth hardware. Verify anchor sleeve extends behind back-of-stone
that achieves capacity required by engineering or testing. to prevent pulling the collar or head against the undercut when
Increased quantity of anchors in a panel may not increase connecting the support hardware, and thus developing unin-
anchorage or panel capacity, and could reduce capacity by tended secondary stresses that can reduce anchor capacity or
creating a weak plane across holes, or by transferring deflec- damage stone.
tions from the backup that induce flexure. 6.5.9 If required to reduce risk of water entry that might
6.5.5 Mill hole and undercut for anchor with non-percussive stain stone or freeze and expand, cover the gap between the
tool. Keep holes and undercuts at an angle of 90° to the face of hole in the stone and anchor’s sleeve with non-staining and
stone. Size hole and undercut diameters, and embedment non-migrating, compressible low-modulus sealant to prevent
depth, to conform with that anchor manufacturer’s require- moisture from entering or accumulating around anchor. Sealant
ments to attain required anchorage capacity. Maintain mini- must be compatible with and adhere to stone material.
mum clearance around anchor sleeve and around anchor’s 6.5.10 Attach undercut anchor to support hardware so that
expanding collar or head to achieve fit and function defined in stresses are not induced into stone at anchor or panel. The
6.5.1. connection to the hardware must be isolated from the anchor
6.5.6 Do not fill holes or annular gap between anchor and engagement into the stone. This isolation can be achieved by
hole. placing a bearing shim or threaded stress-less disc to bear
6.5.7 Before inserting anchor into hole with collar undercut, directly against the end-of-sleeve protruding from the back-of-
remove loose dust and debris from hole with compressed stone, between stone and connecting hardware. Thickness of
desiccated air and wire brush, and verify hole and collar bearing shim to be equal to or greater than the protrusion of
undercut are fabricated to proper size, depth, and diameters to sleeve from back-of-stone. Install the connecting hardware
achieve fit and function defined in 6.5.1. Use tool or device parallel to the back-of-panel to prevent torque and prying.
NOTE 1—Use where edge of stone is exposed or not accessible by anchor. Anchor beneath linear can support gravity and lateral loads (figure as section
view). Anchor on side or top of liner can support only lateral loads (figure as plan or inverted section view).
FIG. 14 a: Stone Liner Block with Kerf
NOTE 1—Anchor is placed under liner block and can support only gravity loads (figure as section view). Provide lateral support with additional anchors.
Parts 3, 4, 10, 22, and 26 are not used on Fig. 14b.
FIG. 14 b: Stone Liner Block without Kerf (continued)
when bottom edge occurs directly over an opening more than 6.11.7 Provide movement joints to relieve in-plane move-
5 ft (1.5 m) above grade without supplemental mechanical ment stresses and prevent development of excessive in-plane
anchors. Keep adhered systems a minimum 6 in. (150 mm) shear between the cladding and backup support. To limit
above grade. Do not allow the stone or setting bed’s top edge, cracking, unless engineering analysis proves different joint
or the bonding plane, to be exposed to precipitation. spacing or joint width is appropriate, movement joint minimum
6.11.4 Total weight of stone cladding system, consisting of width should be 3⁄8 in. (10 mm). Movement joint should extend
stone panels, joint filler, setting bed and all other lath or full depth through scratch coat, be sealed with backer rod and
waterproofing adhered to the backup substrate shall not exceed sealant or equal, and be spaced maximum 15 ft (5 m) apart.
25 lb/ft2 (120 kg/m2). Limit maximum stone weight to 15 lb/ft2 6.11.8 Most masonry standards limit deflection of support-
(70 kg/m2). ing substrate to span/600 to 800 when laterally bracing
6.11.5 Maximum panel size should not exceed 3 ft2 conventional brick veneer in a cavity wall. Supporting sub-
(0.25 m2) and maximum height or width should not exceed strate must be stiffer than the stone cladding to limit cracking
2 ft (600 mm), except for stone adhered to a structural backing caused by deflection. Deflection causes curvature that can
in a manufacturing process. Maximum panel size can be develop excessive in-plane shear that cracks adhesive bond and
increased to 5 ft2 (0.42 m2) and maximum height or width can tension that can crack mortar and panels. To limit cracking,
be increased to 3 ft (0.9 m) if the supporting substrate meets limit deflection of span between supports to span/1000 or
6.11.8 stiffness criteria horizontally and vertically, and 6.11.9 stiffer under design loads.
adhesion parameters are visually verified for every panel 6.11.9 Capacity and integrity of adhered system must be
during installation. tested by assuring all cladding is fully adhered. Fully adhered
6.11.6 Use only stone material having physical properties means a 4 in. (100 mm) wide continuous perimeter of the
that are suitable for mechanically-attached systems, free of panel’s back face is 100 % bonded, and the remaining area
cracks, seams, and any other characteristic that could compro- inside the perimeter is 95 % bonded. Where governing Build-
mise the structural integrity of the panel or its adhesive ing Code dictates minimum shear capacity requirements for an
attachment. Clean the back surface to be adhered of all dirt, adhered stone attachment system, before installation begins,
debris, loose stone or sediment before applying adhesive. confirm the system’s shear capacity meets governing Building
NOTE 1—Parts 1–12, 14, 16–18, 21–23, 25, 27, and 28 are not used on Fig. 14c.
FIG. 14 c: Plan View Showing Horizontal Toenailing of Primary Dowels (continued)
Code minimum in accordance with Test Method C482. Verify panels are fully adhered by removing panels to observe
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