2. • A wall may be defined as a vertical load-bearing member, width of
which exceeds four times the thickness
• Function of walls
enclose or divide space of building to make it more functional and useful
Provide privacy
Afford security
Give protection against heat, cold, sun and rain
Provide support to floors and roofs
• Walls should have following provisions while designing
Strength and stability
Weather resistance
Durability
Fire resistance
Thermal insulation
Sound insulation
3. Types of walls
• Divided into 2 types:
Load bearing walls: which are designed to carry super-imposed loads
transferred through roofs in addition to their own weight
Non- load bearing walls: which carry their own load only
• Each type may further be divided:
External walls: enclosing walls
Internal walls: divide walls
4. • Partition walls: thin internal wall which is constructed to divide the
space within the building into rooms or areas; either be load bearing
or non-load bearing; load bearing partition wall is called internal wall
• Party wall: separates adjoining building belonging to different owners;
may or may not be load-bearing
• Separating wall: separates different occupancies within the same
building
• Curtain wall: self-supporting wall carrying no other vertical loads but
subject to lateral loads; may be laterally supported by vertical or
horizontal structural members where necessary
Curtain Wall
5. Load Bearing walls
• Solid masonry walls: built of individual blocks of material(eg bricks, stones)
usually in horizontal courses, cemented together with suitable mortar; may
have openings for doors and windows
• Cavity wall: consist of two leaves, each leaf separated by cavity and held
together with metal ties(to ensure two leaves act as single structural unit)
• Faced wall: in which facing and backing are of two different materials which
are bonded together to ensure common action under load
• Veneered wall: facing is attached to backing but not bonded as to result in a
common action under load
Veneered wall
Faced wall
