Thor Helical reinforcing bars can form deep masonry beams that strengthen existing walls. Two parallel layers of bed joint reinforcement, each layer containing a pair of helical bars, represent a brick beam’s upper and lower flanges. The deep masonry beams can span areas of masonry failure, redistribute applied loads, and enhance the wall’s tensile, shear, and flexural capacity.
Non-reinforced masonry panels are strong in compression but comparatively weak in shear and tension loads resistance. Walls can deflect and crack when subjected to increased loads and stresses. Such stresses may be induced by; localised ground movement/ subsidence, lintel failure or moisture/ temperature variations.
Reinforced masonry has greater resistance to shear and tension loads as ductile steel reinforcement enhances it.
Reinforced brick masonry can strengthen masonry wherever it has lost its load-bearing capacity. It is commonly used to span areas of localised ground movement to alleviate the need for partial underpinning. In other instances, it can span between concrete pads or piles to reduce the cost of subsidence repairs. Bed joint reinforcement can also span window openings, strap external corners, stitch cracks, increase resistance to wind loading, and extend the centres of movement joints.
An engineer should establish span and applied-loading to design a retrofit system to form effective deep masonry beams in existing walls. Using load tables from the BRE report on creating reinforced brick beams using Thor Helical bars, the specifier can determine the vertical distance between each pair of bars to establish the depth of the beam.
Forming masonry beams with helical bars can form part of a more comprehensive masonry repair scheme, including additional lateral and vertical restraint reinforcement. For example, retrofit masonry reinforcement systems and other retrofitted products for tying walls add restraint by securing reinforced masonry to timber floors or reconnecting external walls to internal walls at weak junctions.
What makes the Thor Helical reinforcing bars a cut above the rest?
- BRE report load tables for deep masonry beams
- Fully concealed masonry reinforcement for forming brick beam lintels
- Patented manufacturing process delivers consistency in tensile strength (1050-1200N/mm² band)
- Highly deformed helical bar combines with WHO-60 grout to produce an excellent bond within the wall
- Quick and easy to install and conceal
- Conforms to conditions for UKCA and CE marking according to BS EN 845-1 2013
- Mean tensile performance is greater than 8k/N at 400mm embedment
