Bd – K – EXPANSION JOINTS

Salient Features

‰ Details of Expansion Joints

‰ Sketches of various types of expansion joints
‰ General guide for provision of movement joints in buildings
‰ Cracks in building

The notes attached herewith are for information

only. The Rates of the DSR have no bearing on
the notes enclosed herewith.
In case of any dispute regarding interpretation
of item it’s specifications etc. the reference to
original specifications shall be made.

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 Details of Expansion Joints

Item and Description Spacing of Joints See Fig. No.

A. Walls
Load bearing walls with cross No joints necessary
walls at intervals
(Traditional type of 20 cm
thickness or more)
Walls of warehouse type
Construction Expansion joints in walls at 20 to 25 m
intervals. (if the walls are panel walls
between columns at not more than 9 m
centres, no joints are necessary).
Control joints over centre of openings
may be given at half the spacing of
expansion joints.
B. Chajjas and Balconies
Continuous taking off from No joints are necessary except where
R.C.C. bands expansion joint exists at any section
from other considerations.
Taking off from walls without Joints at 12 m intervals and at
R.C.C. bands changes in direction.
C. Roofs
Ordinary roof slabs of R.C.C. 1. 20 to 30 m intervals 1 and 2
protected by layers of mud 2. At changes in directions as in
phuska or other insulating L, T, H, & V shaped structures
media in unframed 15 m intervals
construction.
Thin unprotected slabs
D. Frames
Joint in structure through Corners of L, H, T & C shaped 3,4,5,6 (a) & 6 (b)
slab, beams, columns, etc. structures and at 30 m intervals
dividing the building into in long uniform structures
two independent structural units.

E. Bearing of Roof Slabs over Walls 1. Where slabs project outside the 7
support
2. Where slabs bear on part thickness 8
of the external wall.

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 GENERAL GUIDE FOR PROVISION OF MOVEMENT JOINTS IN BUILDINGS

Sr. No. PARTICULARS MOVEMENT JOINT AND OTHER MEASURES

(1) (2) (3)

i) Load bearing Provide vertical expansion joints 20 to 40 mm wide,

structures: 25 to 40 mm apart. For these purpose introduce twin
walls or a wall and a beam or twin beams at the
a) Buildings with flat
expansion joint. Joints should start from DPC level
roof having cross walls
and should be through walls-as well as floors, roof
at intervals as in
and parapet in RCC roof slab, provide additional
residences, hostels,
expansion joints such that length of a slab does not
hospitals, office
exceed 15 to 20 m. It is necessary to take expansion
buildings, business
joints at change of direction and at sections of
premises, schools, etc.
substantial change in height of a building concealing
the joints in recesses, where feasible. When blocks
of buildings, such as residential flats are built in
continuous rows, expansion joints should be provided
at junctions of blocks as shown.

b) Buildings of Provide vertical expansion joints, 20 to 40 mm wide at

warehouse type of 20 to 30 m intervals with twin beams at the joints in
factory buildings with case pillars or columns are provided in a building to
flat roof having no or support the beams, it will be necessary to provide twin
very few cross walls. pillars columns at the joints. If walls, are panel walls
between columns which support roof beams, vertical
expansion joints should be provided 25 to 40 m apart,
as in (i) (a) above.

c) Buildings of For expansion of walls in the longitudinal direction,

warehouse type of expansion joints should be provided as in (i)(b), with
factory buildings either twin trusses at the joints of single truss on one
having sloping roof with side of the joint and slotted holes in purlins resting
sheets of tiles on over the truss to allow for movement in the longitudinal
trusses. direction. No joints are required in roofing sheets and
other purlins since slight play in bolt- holes is enough
to take care of thermal movements in these items.
For steel trusses with inverted joints no provision
for movement of trusses in the transverse direction
for spans up to 15 m is necessary as slight play in
inverted joints allows for necessary movements. For
spans between 15 and 25 m in case of riveted trusses
and spans up to 25 m in case of welded trusses, one
end of the truss should be fixed and the other end
should have slotted holes with a slip joint at the support
to allow for transverse movement. Trusses exceeding
25 m in length should have roller and rooker bearing
arrangement.

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Sr. No. PARTICULARS MOVEMENT JOINT AND OTHER MEASURES
(1) (2) (3)

In hot and dry regions the North India, where variation

d) RCC roof slab in temperature are more than 15OC, provide expansion
having adequate Joints in slabs 20 to 25 mm wide and 15 to 20 m apart.
thermal insulation on Where variations in temperature are less than 15OC.
top.
additional joints apart from those of (i)(a) are not needed.

c) RCC roof slab Provide expansion joints in slab 10 to 15m. apart.

having no or very little
thermal insulation or
protective cover on top

d) Supports for RCC Provide slip joint between the slab and the bearing wall.
slabs exceeding 4 to 6 Keeping a gap of about 12 mm width between slab and
m length. brick cover.

ii) RCC Panel Provide vertical expansion joints 25 to 40 mm wide, at

structures 40 to 45 m interval joints should be provided by
a) RCC-framed introducing twin columns and twin beams, twin columns
structure having combined looking. It is necessary to locate some
expansion joints at change of direction and at sections
of substantial change in height of a building concealing
the joints in recesses, where feasible. Roof slab should
have adequate thermal insulation on top.

b) Panel walls for Provide a horizontal expansion joint about 10 mm in

cladding width between the top of panel and soffit of beam. This
gap can be filled up with mastic compound finished with
some sealant or filled with weak mortar up to a depth of
3 cm on the external face and left open on the internal
face. If structurally necessary, internal restraint to the
panel at the top should be provided by using telescopic
anchorages.
In case of panels longer than 5 to 8 m, either provide a
groove in the plaster at the junction of RCC column
and brick panel, or fix a 10 cm wide strip of metal mesh
or lathing over the junction before plastering the
reinforced strip of plaster can accommodate differential
movement elastically, without cracking to some extent.

c) Masonry partitions Provide horizontal expansion joints as in (ii) (b)

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Sr. No. PARTICULARS MOVEMENT JOINT AND OTHER MEASURES
(1) (2) (3)

iii) Junction between Provide vertical slip joints or expansion joints, depending
old and new structures upon the length of the old new portions make suitable
arrangement for preventing seepage of rain water into the
joint from top and sides.

iv) Long compound Provide vertical expansion joints 5 to 8 mm wide at 5 to 8

walls of masonry m interval from grade level upwards; also provide
expansion joints at changes of direction; provide additional
control joints in coping stones mid-way.

v) Concrete Provide expansion joints 20 to 25 mm wide at 25 to 40 m

pavements interval together with control joints at 5 to 8 m. interval,
depending on thickness of pavement, extent of
temperature variation anticipated, and local conditions.
Thinner the pavement, closer the spacing of control and
expansion joints. Joints are needed both in longitudinal
and transverse direction. In the transverse direction, a
spacing of 3 to 5 m for control joint is generally adopted
depending upon the size of construction equipment
available control joints normally function as construction
joints as well. As far as possible, panels should be
squarish, in shape length to breadth ratio should not
exceed 1.5 . Incidence of shrinkage cracking in panels
which are rectangular in shape is comparatively more than
that of square panels.

vi) a) RCC sun-shades Provide expansion joints 5 to 8 mm wide and 4 to 6 m

apart; joints should be only in the exposed portion, that is
projected portion; some joints should invariably be located
at change of direction; reinforcement should not be
continued through the joint. It is not necessary to fill the
joint with any jointing material.

b) RCC facia Provide expansion joints as in (vi)(a).

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 GENERAL GUIDE FOR PROVISION OF MOVEMENT JOINTS IN BUILDINGS
Sr. No. PARTICULARS MOVEMENT JOINT AND OTHER MEASURES
(1) (2) (3)

c) RCC balcony Provide vertical expansion joints 8 to 12 mm wide and 6

to 9 m apart, with water bar, filled with mastic compound.

d) RCC railing Provide expansion joint 5 to 8 mm wide, and 6 to 9 mt.

apart.

e) Open verandah with Provide vertical expansion joints in slabs parallel to the
RCC slab, floors, roof span 10 to 15 mm wide and 6 to 9 m apart, joints should
be located at the centre of supporting pillars, joints may
be filled with mastic compound and V - grooved at the
bottom and suitable arrangement made at the top to
prevent leakage of water through the joint.

f) Brick filling over mud Brick tiles should be laid with joints 8 to 10 mm wide,
phuska for roof grouted with mortar 1 cement, 1 lime, 6 sand, no
terracing. expansion joints are required.

g) Lime concrete Provide 10 mm to 15 mm wide dummy joints 4 to 6 m

terrace over roof slab apart; fill the joints with some mastic compound.

h) Precast concrete Sizes of slabs should be 0.6 to 0.75 m square and these
slabs over lime should be laid in lime mortar with 10 mm wide expansion
concrete terracing joints, 4 to 6 m apart in both directions; joints should be
filled with some mastic compound.

i) Concrete /terrace Provide control joints 1 to 2 m apart. Alternatively provide

flooring strips of glass, aluminium or some plastic material at 0.75
to 1.20 m interval at both directions joints of strips are
required mainly to prevent shrinkage cracks when laying
floor over and RCC structural slabs, ensure good bond
with RCC slab by thorough cleaning of slab surface
(roughening it by hacking if necessary and pointing with
cement stuff) Alternatively provide a lime concrete course
5 to 7.5 cm thick over the structural slab.

j) Plaster work Joints in brick masonry should be raked to 10 mm depth

while mortar is green. Plastering should be done after
masonry has been cured and dried.

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 (1) (2) (3)

At the junction of wall and ceiling provide a groove

about 10 mm in width. When plastering over long
masonry walls abutting RCC column either give a
vertical groove in plaster at the junction or cribed in
the plaster over the junction a 10 cm wide strip of
metal mesh or lathing as in item (ii) (b)

Sometimes longitudinal cracks occur in the plaster

along conduits pipes embedded in chases in masonry
avoid these cracks conduits, pipes should be placed
at least 15 mm below the wall surface and embedded
up to wall surface in concrete 1:2:3 cement
:sand:coarse aggregate, using well graded coarse
sand and 6 mm down graded coarse aggregate.
Concrete surface should be finished rough and
plastered over after 7 days or more at the time of
general plastering of the wall.

Note - For sesmic Zones III, IV & V, expansion joints have to be much wider for which IS:4126-1976
Code of practice for earthquake resistant design and construction of buildings.

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 CRACKS IN BUILDING

Cracks in buildings are of common occurence. A building component develops cracks whenever
stress in the component exceeds its strength. Stress in a building component could be caused by
externally applied forces such as dead, live, wind or Sesmic loads or foundation settlement or it
could be induced internally due to thermal movements, moisture changes, chemical action etc.

Cracks could be broadly classified as

Structural cracks Non Structural cracks

(Due to incorrect design, faulty construction (Due to internally induced stresses in building
materials and do not directly result in structural
or overloading and may endanger the safety
weaking. In course of time, non structural cracks
of a building.)
may because of penetration of moisture through
them or weathering action result in corrosion of
reinforcement and may render the structure
unsafe. Non structural cracks may not
endanger the safety of the building but may look
unrightly or may create an impression of faulty
work. In some situations cracks may because
of penetration of moisture through them spoil
the internal finish thus adding to cost of
maintenance.

Principal causes of occurrence of cracks in buildings are

a) Moisture change
b) Thermal variation
c) Elastic deformation
d) Creep
e) Chemical reaction
f) Foundation movement and settlement of soil
g) Vegetation.

Internal stresses in building components could be compressive, tensile as shown most of the
building material, that are subject to cracking namely masonry, concrete, mortar etc. are weak in
tension and shear and thus forces of even smaller magnitude when they cause tension or shear in
a member are able to cause cracking.

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Cracks may be of uniform width throughout or may be narrow at one end gradually widening at the
other. Cracks may be straight, toothed, stepped, map pattern or random and may be vertical,
horizontal or diagonal. Cracks may be only at the surface or may extend to more than one layer of
materials. Occurrence of closely spaced fine cracks at surface of a material is sometimes called
“Crazing”. Cracks from different causes have varying characteristics and by careful observations
of these characteristics, the cause of cracking can be diagnosed.
Depending on certain properties of building materials, shrinkage cracks may be wider but further
apart or may be thin but closely spaced. As a general rule thin cracks even though closely spaced
and greater in number are less.

Cracks may appreciably vary in width from very thin hair cracks barely visible to naked eye (about
0.01 mm in width) to gaping cracks 5 mm or more in width. A commonly known classification of
cracks based on their width is
a) Thin less than 1 mm in width
b) Medium 1 to 2 mm in width
c) Wide more than 2 mm
damaging to the structure and are not so objectionable from aesthetic and other considerations as
a fewer number of wide cracks.
Modern structures are comparatively tall and slender, have thin walls, are designed for higher
stresses and are built at a fast pace. These structures are therefore more cracks prone as compared
with old structures which used to be low, had thick walls, were lightly stressed and were built at a
slow pace. Moreover moisture from rain can easily reach the inside and spoil the finish of a modern
building which has thin walls. Thus measures for control of cracks in buildings have assumed
much greater importance on account of present trends in construction.

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 Measures for Prevention of cracks

a) Choice of materials

b) Specification for mortar and concrete

c) Architectural design of buildings

d) Structural design

e) Foundation design

f) Construction practices and techniques

g) Environments.

a) Burnt clay bricks and other burnt clay products should not be used in masonry for a period
of at least 2 weeks in summer and 3 weeks in winter after these have been unloaded from
kilns. These should be kept exposed to atmosphere during this period.

b) Bricks to be used shall be well burnt

c) Use of burnt clay bricks containing excessive quantity of soluble sulphates (

< 1% for
parapet, free standing wall and masonry in contact with damp soil as in foundation and
retaining wall and
< 3% in case of walls in less exposed locations) If use of such bricks is
unavoidable use rich cement lime, sand mortar (1: ½ : 4 ½ or 1: ¼ :3) for masonry and
plaster else use suplhate resistant cement.
d) When using units having high values of dry shrinkage like blocks of normal or light weight
concrete or sand lime bricks, allow them to mature and dry before use of allowing time lag
of at least one month after manufacture. They should also be protected from getting wet at
site due to rain. Work in progress should be protected in wet weather, units should only be
lightly wetted before use, use of strong and rich mortar for laying units should be avoided.
Mortar should have high water retentivity thus cement lime composite mortars should be
preferred. Use 1 cement : 2 lime : 9 sand mortar for work done in summer and 1 cement :
1 lime : 6 sand mortar for work done in winter i.e. in cold weather.

e) For masonry work stone which are porous and liable to shrinking on dry (e.g. sand stones)
should be avoided.

f) Use of fine aggregate for mortar and concrete which is two fine or contains two much of
clay or silt and is not well graded should be avoided. Percentage of clay and silt in fine
aggregate should not exceed 3%

g) Coarse aggregate for concrete should be well graded to obtain concrete of high density.

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h) Maximum size of coarse aggregate should be largest possible consistent with the job
requirement.

i) Coarse aggregate for concrete should not be of stone that are porous and have high
shrinkage coefficient.

j) Use of aggregate made from alkali react the stone should be avoided.

k) Coarse aggregates should not contain fines exceeding 3%

l) In massive structures in order to limit heat of hydration use of low heat cement should be
made.

m) Gypsum plaster should not be used for external work or internal work in locations which are
likely to get or remain wet. The gypsum and portland cement are in compatible since in the
presence of moisture a harmful chemical reaction takes place.

n) Use of rich cement mortars for masonry & plaster which have high shrinkage should be
avoided. Composite cement lime mortar should be preferred.

o) Cement concrete mix should not be richer than what is required from strength considerations.
Aim should be to obtain strong and durable concrete by careful mix design, grading of
aggregates, control of water cement ratio, thorough mixing, proper compaction and adequate
curing. An over sanded mix should be avoided.

p) Quantity of water used in concrete should be the minimum consistent with requirements
for laying and proper compaction. This is one of the most important single factor which
influences shrinkage and consequent cracking in concrete.

q) Masonry work should proceed at a uniform level all round so as to avoid differential loading
on the foundation. Mortar for masonry should not contain excessive water. Curing for masonry
work should be done for a minimum period of 7 to 10 days.

r) Masonry work on RCC slabs and beams should not be started till at least 2 weeks have
elapsed after striking of centering.

s) Whenever feasible concrete should be compacted by vibration so as to enable use of low

slump concrete.

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t) As far as possible concreting job should not be done when it is very hot, dry and windy. If
unavoidable precautions should be taken to keep down temperature of fresh concrete and
to prevent quick drying. Curing should be done for a minimum period of 7 to 10 days. It
should be terminated gradually so as to avoid quick drying.

u) In case of RCC members which are liable to large deflections under load (e.g. cantilevered
beams of slabs) removal of centering and imposition of load showed be deferred as much
as possible so that concrete attains sufficient strength.

v) As far as possible frame work should be completed before starting work of panel walls for
cladding and partition walls. Work of construction of panel walls and partitions should be
deferred as much as possible and it should be proceeded with from top downward.

w) Horizontal movement joints should be provided between top of panel walls & soffit of beam
and when structurally necessary lateral support of the walls should be provided at top by
using telescopic anchorages.

x) When partition walls are to be supported on floor slab or beam upward camber in the slab
beam should be provided to forestall deflection.

y) A horizontal expansion joint should be provided between top of a partition wall and soffit of
slab /beam, filling the gap with same compressible jointing material.

z) If a door opening is to be provided in a partition wall a central opening should be preferred to

an off centre opening.

AA) Plaster work on panels and partitions should be deferred as much as possible.

AB) Control joints should be provided in concrete and terrace floors either by laying floors in
alternate panels or by interposing dividing strips.

AC) When flooring is to be laid on RCC slabs either a base course of lime concrete should be
provided between the RCC slab and the flooring or surface of slab should be well roughened,
cleaned and primed with cement slurry before laying the concrete terrace floors.

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AD) Bearing for RCC lintels should be rather on the liberal side when spans are large so as to
avoid concentration of stress at the jambs.

AE) Items of finish on walls, namely distemper and painting etc should be carried out after the
plaster has completely dried and undergone drying shrinkage.

AF) RCC work in exposed situations namely sunshades, balconies, canopies, open verandahs
etc. should be provided with adequate quantities of temperature reinforcement so as to
prevent shrinkage cum contraction cracks.

AG) When glazed, terrazo, marble tiles are to be bonded to vertical surfaces it is necessary to
allow movement of background due to elastic deformation, shrinkage and creep to take
place before fixing of tiles, otherwise tile work is likely to get dislodged.

AH) When making a horizontal extension to an existing building a slip joint expansion joint should
be introduced between old and new work so that settlement of soil under the load of new
portion may not cause cracks at the junction of the two.

Al) When making vertical extension to an existing building i.e. adding one or more additional
floors work should proceed at a uniform level all round so as to avoid differential loading on
the foundation. Inspire of this precaution however sometimes cracks appear in the lower
floors (old portion) at the junction of RCC columns carrying heavy loads and lightly loaded
brick masonry due to Increase in elastic deformations and creep in RCC columns. Such
cracks cannot be avoided. Renewal of finishing coats on walls of old portion however should
be deferred for 2 to 3 months after imposition of additional load due to new construction so
that most of the likely cracking should take place before finish coat is applied. Thus concealing
cracks.

AJ) In massive concrete structures, heat of hydration of cement if not properly taken care of
could lead to cracking. To prevent such cracks it is necessary to control heat of hydration by
using low heat cement or addition of pazzolanas in the concrete and either to pre cool
aggregates and mixing water or to cool the freshly laid concrete by circulating retrigrated
water through pipes embedded in the body of concrete.

AK) When it is proposed to give some treatment on external walls rich in cement namely artificial
stone finish, terrazo etc. the finish should be laid in small panels with deep grooves in both
directions.

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AL) When a building is founded on shrinkable soil, trees, particularly fast growing trees should
not be grown within a distance of expected height of trees.

AM) If old trees exist close to an old building (within a distance of the height of the tree) these
trees should not be removed all at once in one operation. If removal of trees is unavoidable
it should be done in stages.

AN) When a site having shrinkable soil has been newly prepared for construction of buildings by
cleaning off existing trees and vegetation, construction work should not be started till the
soil which had been dessicated by tree roots has normalised in regard to its moisture
content.

AO) Concrete done in hot weather is highly cracks prone due to high shrinkage. Concreting
done in dry weather is likely to get dried quickly after laying which would result in plastic
cracking. If windy conditions prevail and ambient temperature is high damaging effect will
be much more severe.

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