CAN/CSA-A371-04 (R2014)

Preface

This is the fourth edition of CSA A371, Masonry construction for buildings. It supersedes the previous editions, published in 1994, 1984, and 1980.

This Standard specifies minimum requirements for masonry materials and masonry construction. It is based on the requirements of the National Building Code of Canada, 2005. The goal of CSA A371 is to help ensure construction of safe and serviceable masonry structures consistent with the intent and engineering principles of CSA S304.1, Design of masonry structures. To enable this Standard to be used with CSA S304.1 and CSA A370, Connectors for masonry, the Technical Committee responsible for preparing this Standard has worked closely with the Technical Committees responsible for preparing CSA S304.1 and CSA A370.

Significant changes in this edition include the following:

(a) there are many new and revised definitions;

(b) there is a revised list of acceptable flashings and damp proofing materials;

(c) there are more comprehensive mandatory construction tolerance requirements for unit masonry, with improved illustrations provided in Annex C;

(d) design requirements for lateral support at the top and sides of masonry walls have been withdrawn;

(e) consistent with the usage in CSA A370, “non-conventional connectors” are now termed “connectors”, and “conventional connectors” are now termed “prescriptive connectors”;

(f) installation requirements for prescriptive connectors have been clarified;

(g) prescriptive installation requirements for sawn stone veneer have been withdrawn;

(h) for veneer secured by mortar adhesion, prescriptive design requirements have been separated from installation requirements and are now dealt with in Annex A;

(i) prescriptive design requirements for thin veneers secured by metal anchors have been replaced by a more comprehensive set of installation requirements;

(j) the requirements for low lift and high lift grouting have been clarified;

(k) the placement requirements for wire joint reinforcement have been changed;

(l) there are updated air, water, thermal, and vapour protection provisions pertaining to both installation and design (design is dealt with in Annex B);

(m) the annexes (formerly called appendices) dealing with masonry bond and patterns, tooled masonry joints, cleaning of masonry, and parapet and roof connections have been withdrawn; and

(n) unlike Appendix C in the previous edition of this Standard, Annex C of the current edition does not include lists of acceptable waterproofing and damp proofing materials, air and vapour barrier materials, thermal insulating materials, and sealants.

This Standard is prescriptive and is directed largely toward masonry contractors. Users of this Standard should note that it is not intended to assign responsibility to either the designer or the contractor. However, some effort has been made by the Technical Committee to separate design requirements from construction requirements, to present only construction requirements in the main body of this Standard, and to present related design requirements in the annexes. The Technical Committee intended that this Standard should contain only requirements that a contractor could reasonably be expected to understand and comply with. To prevent user confusion concerning mandatory versus non-mandatory requirements, information of an advisory or educational nature has been minimized. Non-mandatory material necessary for understanding this Standard, or for the sake of completeness, is located either in notes to the appropriate clause or in an annex.

This Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Masonry Construction, under the jurisdiction of the Strategic Steering Committee on Masonry, and has been formally approved by the Technical Committee.

This Standard has been developed in compliance with Standards Council of Canada requirements for National Standards of Canada. It has been published as a National Standard of Canada by CSA Group.

Scope

1.1

This Standard specifies minimum requirements for masonry materials and masonry construction.

Notes:

(1) Requirements for structural design of masonry are specified in CSA S304.1.

(2) If a requirement specified in Part 9 of the National Building Code of Canada differs from a requirement specified in this Standard, the requirement specified in this Standard should be followed.

1.2

This Standard does not apply to prefabricated panelized unit masonry construction.

1.3

In CSA Standards, shall is used to express a requirement, i.e., a provision that the user is obliged to satisfy in order to comply with the standard; should is used to express a recommendation or that which is advised but not required; and may is used to express an option or that which is permissible within the limits of the standard.

Notes accompanying clauses do not include requirements or alternative requirements; the purpose of a note accompanying a clause is to separate from the text explanatory or informative material.

Notes to tables and figures are considered part of the table or figure and may be written as requirements.

Legends to equations and figures are considered requirements.

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