Stone Veneer Question

[texasinspector]

I have a municipal inspector in North Texas contending that a single-family residential foundation edge (brick ledge) will not suffice for the stone intended. This is a structurally supported (piered) post-tensioned slab. The stone is medium-density limestone weighing 150 lbs. per cubic foot. The stone units are an average of 5 inches thick. The tallest wall is 20 ft. in height. He contends that the weight of the stone will exceed what is allowed in IRC Table 703.8(1).

Is he right?

 

[Wstubbs]

the table shows the weight in psf... which 50 psf to 150 cubic makes sense? too much math for a friday for me

 

[Yankee Chronicler]

Table R703.8(1) is not about the capacity of the brick shelf supporting the vertical weight of the veneer, it's about the ability of the wall framing (wood or light gauge steel studs) to support the weight/mass of the veneer in case of a seismic event. That's why the weight is expressed in pounds per square foot (of wall area) rather than pounds per lineal foot (or brick shelf).

5 inches is 41.67% of a foot, so if the stone's density is 150 pounds per cubic foot, one square foot at a thickness of 5 inches weighs 150 x .4267 = 64 pounds per square foot. The table limits you to 50 psf for all seismic categories, so the inspector is right, for the wrong reason.

 

[texasinspector]

Table R703.8(1) is not about the capacity of the brick shelf supporting the vertical weight of the veneer, it's about the ability of the wall framing (wood or light gauge steel studs) to support the weight/mass of the veneer in case of a seismic event. That's why the weight is expressed in pounds per square foot (of wall area) rather than pounds per lineal foot (or brick shelf).

5 inches is 41.67% of a foot, so if the stone's density is 150 pounds per cubic foot, one square foot at a thickness of 5 inches weighs 150 x .4267 = 64 pounds per square foot. The table limits you to 50 psf for all seismic categories, so the inspector is right, for the wrong reason.

Thanks