TEK NOTE

June 2016

Concrete Masonry Fire Resistance

Concrete masonry is a noncombustible construction material Concrete masonry units (CMU) are commonly manufactured
possessing excellent fire-resistive properties. The resistance with a combination or blend of aggregate types. The
of concrete masonry to fire is well established by extensive International Building Code covers this condition by
testing to be a function of the type of aggregate used in the reference to standard TMS 216 (ref. 6). The minimum
manufacture of the masonry units and their equivalent equivalent thickness value required for a desired fire
thickness. The rated fire-resistive periods for block walls rating can be determined by interpolating between
can be determined by knowing this information and complying requirements for different aggregate types in proportion to
with Table 721.1(2), item number 3 of the International the percentage by volume of each aggregate used in
Building Code (IBC)(ref. 1). This is an alternative code- manufacture.
recognized method to the Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
listing service. For example, for a standard block manufactured in the
Northwest, which is approximately a 60/40 percentage blend
The equivalent thickness of concrete masonry assemblies, of gravel and pumice aggregates, the required equivalent
TEA, shall be computed as the sum of the equivalent thickness thickness values to achieve various fire ratings are shown in
(average solid thickness as shown in Figure 1) of the concrete Table 2.
masonry unit, TE, plus the equivalent thickness of finishes,
TEF, per code equation 7 - 6. Table 1. Equivalent thickness (in.) for standard concrete
block widths
TEA = TE + TEF (Equation 7 -6)
Nominal Block Block Core Treatment
TE = V/LH Width (in.)
where:
V= net volume of masonry unit, in.3 (per ASTM C-140)(ref. 2)
L = specified length of masonry unit, in.
H = specified height of masonry unit, in.
Empty or Partial Solid Fill
Fill Cores Cores1
Equivalent thickness values for concrete masonry units 4 2.7 3.6
conforming to ASTM standard C-90 (ref 3) meeting minimum 6 3.1 5.6
required faceshell and typical web dimensions are shown in
8 4.0 7.6
Table 1. Individual block manufacturers may have higher
10 4.5 9.6
values based on a greater solid percentage.
12 5.1 11.6
1Cores can be filled with grout, loose-fill insulation, or aggregate
Figure 1. Concrete masonry unit equivalent thickness meeting ASTM C-33 (ref. 4) or C-331 (ref. 5) requirements.

Table 2. Minimum equivalent thickness required (in.) for

standard northwest block wall ratings.

Fire Rating
TE = 0.53 (7.625) = 4.04 in.
1 Hr. 2 Hr. 3 Hr. 4 Hr.

If this hollow unit is 53% solid, the equivalent thickness 2.52 3.80 4.78 5.60
(TE) is 4.04 inches.
 Table 3. Fire-resistance ratings of concrete Figure 2. Two-hour rated walls subjected to the hose-
masonry walls1 stream test of ASTM E-119.
Nominal Wall Block Wall Treatment
Width (in.) Concrete Masonry Wall

Empty or Solid Filled

Partial Filled
Wall2
Wall2
4 1 hour 1 hour
6 1 hour 4 hours3
8 2 hours 4 hours
10 2 hours 4 hours
12 3 hours 4 hours Gypsum Wall
1
Based upon a standard 60/40 blend of gravel and pumice
aggregates in the concrete block mix.

2
Walls can be filled with grout, loose-fill insulation,
or aggregate meeting ASTM C-33 or C-331
requirements. “Partial filled” includes any
percentage of fill other than solid.

3
If the aggregate blend is changed to 70/30 to produce a
denser architectural unit, the fire rating is decreased to
three hours.

Application of the information in Tables 1 and 2 results Fire-resistance rated wall assemblies are commonly evaluated
in the listing of concrete masonry wall fire ratings in using ASTM Standard E-119 (ref. 7). The standard is used to
Table 3. determine the wall’s hourly fire rating and to indicate its
expected durability during a fire. A wall tested according to
E-119 undergoes both fire exposure and water hose-stream
Fire-Resistance Rating Increases/Decreases
testing.
Finishes on concrete masonry walls can increase the fire-
resistance rating. If wall finishes are used see IBC Section
The hose-stream test provides a meaningful measure of
722.3.2. Contributions of plaster or gypsum wallboard shall
durability during a fire. It provides an indication of how well
be determined from IBC Tables 722.2.1.4(1) and 722.2.1.4(2).
the wall can endure fire exposure as well as falling debris,
pressure waves due to explosions, actual fire hose-streams
Additional masonry wythes can also increase the fire-resistance
and other rough usage that often occurs during a real fire,
rating of wall assemblies. Equation 7-7 of IBC section 722.3.3
which can never be truly replicated in a laboratory test.
addresses multi-wythe masonry walls.
According to ASTM E-119, the hose-stream exposure test may
If the specified CMU density is increased, the proportions of
be performed in one of two ways. The basic test, typically
blended aggregates will vary from the 60/40 percentage
used for frame wall construction, permits the use of two
example used in Tables 2 and 3. There will be more heavy
identical assemblies. The first one is subjected to the fire
weight aggregate and less lightweight aggregate in the
exposure test to determine its hourly fire-resistance rating.
concrete mix and some ratings may decrease (see footnote 3
The second specimen is subjected to the fire exposure test
in Table 3 above).
for only one half the recorded rating period (but not for more
than one hour). The second assembly is then removed and
Fire Resistance Testing hose-stream tested. The more rigorous optional E-119 test
It is important to remember that the term “fire-resistance method is commonly used for concrete masonry assemblies.
rating” is a legal term utilized by building codes to regulate This second test method requires the hose-stream to be
building construction. While the ratings are based upon a applied to the same specimen that has undergone the full fire
standard fire test exposure, assemblies having the same exposure test.
rating, but constructed with different materials, often perform
quite differently.
By including both hose-stream test procedures, ASTM E-119 Improving Fire Safety
includes two distinct levels of durability performance. Clearly, Hourly fire ratings alone do not adequately address structural
application of the hose stream to a specimen that has performance and durability under real world fire conditions.
undergone the full fire-exposure test is more rigorous and
This means that some “rated” walls may not be able to provide
indicates a high level of durability. In a real building fire, a
the level of fire safety expected. However, concrete masonry’s
wall assembly doesn’t get a second chance to perform. In
typical code applications, however, no distinction is made inherent non-combustibility coupled with excellent strength
between the two tests and, as a result, assemblies that pass and durability combine to provide fire rated walls whose
the duplicate specimen test are assumed to have the same performance is exceptional. Masonry walls offer the following
“durability rating” as those passing the more rigorous optional fire safety benefits:
test method. This is an erroneous assumption (see Fig. 2).
• Protect building egress
Control Joints • Prevent fire-spread within a building and to adjacent
Movement control joints in fire rated wall assemblies should buildings
also be rated. Figure 3 shows the types of control joints
available in accordance with standard TMS 216 to maintain • Maintain the structural integrity of bearing walls
the fire-resistance rating of the wall in which they are • Provide firefighter protection
constructed.
Building owners and designers should consider the
advantages offered by durable, noncombustible concrete
masonry wall systems over other systems having equivalent
Figure 3. Fire Rated Control Joints fire-resistance ratings. The added protection provided to
both life and property should not be overlooked.

To provide the best fire protection for occupants and the

greatest opportunity to escape, the masonry industry
recommends that building codes require a balanced
design approach comprised of three key elements: fire
detection, suppression, and containment by
compartmentation. Fire detection includes the
installation of smoke detectors and fire alarms; active
fire suppression includes the use of sprinkler systems; and
fire containment includes interior firewalls, and exterior
walls built of noncombustible fire- resistant materials
such as concrete masonry. Concrete masonry construction
can contain the spread of fire while not emitting toxic gases
or smoke, allowing precious additional time for building
occupants to exit. Unfortunately, building and fire codes
have strayed significantly from this balanced design
approach to fire safety. Codes often except (trade- off)
the requirements to use noncombustible construction when
certain fire sprinkler requirements are met.

Today’s building code officials should be encouraged to develop

code provisions that provide an improved level of
redundancy for life safety and property protection and to
eliminate sprinkler trade-offs. Owners and designers should
be aware of the benefits of balanced design. Consider
the reliability of protection from only individual fire-safety
components versus the redundancy provided by the
complementary features of the balanced-design system.
For example, in the event the sprinkler systems fails to
properly operate during a fire, the built-in protection
offered by concrete masonry fire-separation walls will help
contain the fire until it can be controlled. Along with this
built-in fire protection, concrete masonry provides
property protection, and ensures building stability to
allow occupants to safely exit. Without this level of
protection, safety can be jeopardized.
 Wildfire blackened the landscape surrounding this residence,
but the concrete masonry walls were unharmed. (Photo
courtesy of Concrete Masonry Association of California/Nevada)

References
1. International Building Code. International Code Council, Inc., 2015.
2. Sampling and Testing Concrete Masonry Units, ASTM C-140-13. ASTM International, 2013.
3. Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units, ASTM C-90-13. ASTM International, 2013.
4. Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates, ASTM C-33-13. ASTM International, 2013.
5. Lightweight Aggregates for Concrete Masonry Units, ASTM C-331-10. ASTM International, 2010.
6. Code Requirements for Determining Fire Resistance of Concrete and Masonry Construction Assemblies, ACI/TMS 216.1-14
American Concrete Institute/The Masonry Society, 2014.
7. Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials, ASTM E-119-12A. ASTM International, 2012.

For further information on how to put concrete masonry to work for you contact:
Basalite Concrete Products, LLC Western Materials
www.basalite.com www.westernmaterials.com

Central Pre-Mix Concrete Products Co. White Block Co.

www.centralpremix.com www.whiteblockcompany.com

Mutual Materials Co. Willamette Graystone, Inc.

www.mutualmaterials.com www.willamettegraystone.com

Northwest Concrete Masonry Association

16300 Mill Creek Blvd, #208
Mill Creek, WA 98012
425.697.5298
www.nwcma.org

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