1 Scope
NOTE This standard governs anchored masonry veneer: a non-load-bearing masonry wythe separated from a structural backup by a continuous air space and held to that backup by corrosion-resistant mechanical anchors. (1.1)
NOTE The veneer carries only its own weight and transfers out-of-plane wind and seismic forces to the backup through the anchors; it provides no structural support to the building and is not part of the lateral or gravity load path of the structure. (1.2)
NOTE Anchored veneer versus adhered veneer is the most common scope confusion in submittals and is settled here at the outset. (1.3)
NOTE Anchored veneer is supported by an air space and mechanical ties and is the only system covered by this standard. (1.3.1)
NOTE Adhered veneer (mortar-set thin brick or thin stone bonded directly to the substrate with no air space, governed by TMS 402 Chapter 12 Part 3) uses no mechanical anchors and is outside this scope. (1.3.2)
NOTE Covered veneer unit types are clay brick, concrete masonry unit (CMU) veneer, natural dimension stone, and manufactured (cast) stone, each set in a structural air space over a backup wall. (1.4)
NOTE Covered backup substrates are cold-formed steel stud framing, CMU, cast-in-place concrete, and wood stud framing. (1.5)
NOTE The covered anchorage assembly includes veneer anchors and ties, joint-reinforcement anchors, shelf and base support angles, the air space and cavity, flashing at the base and at each shelf angle, and the weep system that drains the cavity. (1.6)
NOTE Excluded systems are governed by their own standards. (1.7)
NOTE Load-bearing and reinforced structural masonry is governed by
Unit Masonry.
(1.7.1) NOTE Air-barrier membranes and their continuity behind the veneer are governed by
Air Barriers.
(1.7.2) NOTE Sealant joints at expansion joints, shelf-angle reglets, and material transitions are governed by
Joint Sealants.
(1.7.3) 2 Referenced Standards
2.1Materials, anchorage design, and installation shall comply with the latest adopted edition of each of the following unless a specific edition is cited.
2.2Where referenced standards conflict, the more stringent requirement shall govern unless the Engineer of Record directs otherwise in writing.
NOTE The governing masonry code edition is set by the adopting jurisdiction, and the adoption cycle creates version mismatches that the Contractor shall reconcile before submittal. (2.3)
NOTE IBC 2021 references TMS 402/602-16 as its masonry standard, while jurisdictions adopting IBC 2024 reference TMS 402/602-22, which carries completely revised anchored-veneer provisions aligned with ASCE/SEI 7-22. The edition in force is the one named by the project's adopted building code. (2.3.1)
| Standard |
Title |
| TMS 402/602 |
Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures (Chapter 12, Veneer) |
| IBC |
International Building Code (Section 1405, Masonry Veneer) |
| ASCE/SEI 7 |
Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures |
| ASTM A153/A153M |
Zinc Coating (Hot-Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware |
| ASTM A580/A580M |
Stainless Steel Wire |
| ASTM A1064/A1064M |
Carbon-Steel Wire and Welded Wire Reinforcement for Concrete |
| ASTM A240/A240M |
Chromium and Chromium-Nickel Stainless Steel Plate, Sheet, and Strip |
| ASTM A653/A653M |
Steel Sheet, Zinc-Coated (Galvanized) or Zinc-Iron Alloy-Coated by the Hot-Dip Process |
| ASTM C270 |
Mortar for Unit Masonry |
| ASTM C1242 |
Selection, Design, and Installation of Exterior Dimension Stone Anchoring Systems |
| BIA Technical Note 28B |
Anchored Brick Veneer, Wood Frame and Steel Stud Construction |
| CMHA TEK 12-01B |
Anchors and Ties for Concrete and Clay Masonry |
3 Submittals
NOTE Action submittals establish that the proposed anchorage assembly satisfies the design loads, exposure, and code edition before any material is procured. (3.1)
3.1.1The Contractor shall submit the following action submittals for review:
- Product data for each veneer anchor, tie, and joint-reinforcement anchor, including base metal, gauge or wire diameter, and corrosion-protection class.
- Product data for shelf and base support angles, including section size, steel grade, and slotted-hole fastener detail.
- Shop drawings showing anchor type and spacing, air-space dimension, mortar-joint thickness, and seismic interlock detail where required.
- Shop drawings showing flashing extent, end dams, weep type and spacing, and expansion-joint locations at shelf angles.
- Structural calculations for anchor capacity and spacing under the project wind and seismic demands, signed and sealed by a licensed engineer where required by the jurisdiction.
- Material certificates for stainless steel grade or galvanized coating class confirming compliance with the specified exposure zone.
☐ Anchor and tie product data
☐ Shelf and base angle product data
☐ Anchorage shop drawings
☐ Flashing and weep shop drawings
☐ Anchor capacity and spacing calculations
☐ Corrosion-protection material certificates
NOTE Closeout submittals document the as-built corrosion protection and warranty terms for the building record. (3.2)
3.2.1The Contractor shall submit the following closeout submittals:
- Manufacturer field reports for any required anchor pull-test program.
- Executed warranty documents for proprietary anchor and flashing components.
- Marked-up record drawings showing actual anchor spacing and flashing locations where they differ from the approved shop drawings.
☐ Anchor pull-test field reports
☐ Executed warranties
☐ Record drawings of as-built anchorage
4 Quality Assurance
NOTE Veneer anchorage is a concealed, life-safety assembly: once the veneer is laid, the anchors and flashing cannot be inspected or corrected, so verification happens during installation, not after. (4.1)
NOTE A failed veneer anchorage releases masonry units from the wall face, which is a falling-object hazard, so the qualification and inspection requirements below are mandatory, not advisory. (4.2)
4.2.1The masonry installer shall have completed at least three projects of comparable veneer area, backup type, and exposure within the preceding five years.
4.2.2A pre-installation conference shall be held before veneer work begins to review anchor type, spacing, flashing sequence, and air-space protection with the installer and the air-barrier and flashing trades.
4.2.3Special inspection of veneer anchorage shall be provided where required by the adopted building code for the project's Seismic Design Category and risk category.
4.2.4The inspector shall verify anchor type, spacing, embedment, and corrosion class against the approved shop drawings before each lift of veneer is closed.
4.2.5A sample panel of not less than 4 ft by 4 ft shall be built showing the veneer unit, mortar joint, tie embedment, weep, and flashing, and shall be approved before production work proceeds.
4.2.6Approved sample panels shall remain available at the site as the workmanship standard until veneer work is complete and accepted.
NOTE Anchor pull testing confirms in-place capacity when the backup or fastener substrate is variable or when required by the Engineer of Record. (4.3)
Not required
Required where directed by the Engineer of Record
Required for all stainless anchors into concrete backup
Required at a sampling rate set by the structural drawings
5 Environmental and Service Conditions
NOTE Corrosion is the dominant durability failure mode for veneer anchorage: the tie is buried in mortar that wicks moisture and, in some exposures, chlorides, and a corroded tie loses cross-section until it can no longer transfer wind load. (5.1)
NOTE The corrosion-protection level shall be selected for the building's exposure zone, not for the lowest first cost, because re-anchoring a failed veneer requires removing the masonry. (5.2)
5.2.1Hot-dip galvanized carbon steel anchors and ties shall be limited to interior or protected exterior service away from chloride exposure.
5.2.2Type 304 stainless steel anchors and ties shall be used for general exterior service, including humid climates and freeze-thaw exposure.
5.2.3Type 316 stainless steel anchors and ties shall be used in coastal, marine, de-icing-salt, and other chloride-laden exposures.
5.2.4Galvanized carbon steel shall not be specified for coastal or chloride-exposed environments, where ASTM A153 zinc coatings corrode and lose section.
NOTE The exposure zone is a single project-wide decision that drives every anchor, tie, and fastener material call-out. (5.3)
Hot-dip galvanized carbon steel (ASTM A153 Class B / B-2)
Type 304 stainless steel
Type 316 stainless steel
Interior or protected
General exterior
Freeze-thaw / high humidity
Coastal / marine / chloride
NOTE Thermal performance at the anchor penetration is a service condition where the veneer is over exterior continuous insulation, because each metal anchor that bridges the insulation is a thermal short. (5.4)
5.4.1Where veneer anchors penetrate exterior continuous insulation, thermally broken anchors with a nonconductive isolator at the attachment shall be used to limit thermal bridging, coordinated with Building Thermal Insulation. ● Required
○ Not required (no continuous insulation in assembly)
6 Anchors and Ties
NOTE The anchor is the load path between veneer and backup, and the correct anchor type is governed first by the backup substrate, then by the seismic design category. (6.1)
NOTE Corrugated sheet-metal ties are prohibited with cold-formed steel-stud backup; TMS 402 permits only adjustable two-piece anchors for that substrate, and specifying corrugated ties with steel studs produces a non-compliant submittal and field rejection. (6.2)
6.3 Anchor Types
NOTE Adjustable two-piece veneer anchors consist of a screw-attached base plate or barrel fixed to the backup and a separate pintle or wire tie embedded in the veneer bed joint, allowing vertical adjustment between the two wythes. (6.3.2)
6.3.3Corrugated sheet-metal ties, where permitted, shall be used only with CMU or cast-in-place concrete backup and only in non-seismic applications.
6.3.4Corrugated sheet-metal ties shall not be used with cold-formed steel-stud framing.
6.3.5Wire-loop anchors embedded in a CMU mortar joint shall be used for CMU-backed veneer where a protruding eye receives the veneer wire tie.
6.3.6Continuous joint-reinforcement anchors of ladder or truss type with cross-wire ties shall be used where horizontal joint reinforcement in the backup CMU also serves as the veneer anchorage.
Cold-formed steel stud framing
Concrete masonry unit (CMU)
Cast-in-place concrete
Wood stud framing
Adjustable two-piece screw-attached anchor
Adjustable plate anchor with wire pintle
Corrugated sheet-metal tie
Wire-loop anchor in CMU joint
Continuous joint-reinforcement anchor
6.4 Anchor Material and Gauge
6.4.1Carbon-steel wire ties and joint-reinforcement anchors shall conform to ASTM A1064.
6.4.2Stainless steel wire ties shall conform to ASTM A580 in the grade required by the exposure zone.
6.4.3Galvanized sheet-steel corrugated ties and plate anchors shall conform to ASTM A653 with the coating weight required by the exposure zone.
6.4.4Stainless steel sheet-metal anchor plates and screw-attached anchor bodies shall conform to ASTM A240 in the grade required by the exposure zone.
6.4.5Hot-dip galvanized carbon-steel anchors and ties shall be coated after fabrication to ASTM A153, Class B-2 for sheet-metal components and Class B for wire components.
G90 (protected exterior service)
G185 (severe exposure)
0.18750.25
Default: 0.1875 in
6.5 Anchor Spacing
NOTE Anchor spacing sets how much veneer each tie restrains against wind and seismic pull-off, and it tightens at openings, corners, and in higher seismic design categories where the demand per anchor rises. (6.6)
6.6.1Veneer anchors shall be spaced so that each anchor supports no more than 2.67 ft² of wall area, per TMS 402.
6.6.2Anchor spacing shall be reduced at openings, corners, movement joints, and the top of the veneer where tributary area concentrates.
6.6.3Maximum horizontal anchor spacing shall not exceed 32 in. on center, and maximum vertical anchor spacing shall not exceed 18 in. on center, subject to the more restrictive of code or the design calculation.
6.6.4Additional anchors shall be installed within 12 in. of the perimeter of openings, spaced not more than 24 in. on center around the opening.
6.7 Seismic Anchorage
NOTE In Seismic Design Category C and higher, TMS 402-22 Chapter 12 requires that the veneer tie mechanically interlock with the backup connector so the connection resists load reversal, which a plain friction-set pintle cannot do reliably under cyclic motion. (6.8)
6.8.1In Seismic Design Categories C through F, veneer anchors shall include a seismic clip, hook, or interlocking pintle that mechanically engages the veneer wire to resist out-of-plane load reversal.
6.8.2Standard adjustable anchors without a seismic interlock shall not be used in Seismic Design Category C or higher.
6.8.3Continuous joint reinforcement shall be provided in the veneer at the spacing required by TMS 402 for the project's Seismic Design Category.
● Required (Seismic Design Category C-F)
○ Not required (Seismic Design Category A-B)
7 Air Space and Cavity
NOTE The air space is the heart of a drained veneer wall: it breaks capillary contact between the wet veneer and the backup, gives water a clear path down to the flashing, and lets the cavity vent. (7.1)
NOTE When mortar or insulation fills the air space, that drainage path is lost and water reaches the backup, so the clear dimension is measured to the back face of the veneer, not to the insulation. (7.2)
7.2.1A clear air space of not less than 1 in. shall be maintained between the back of the veneer and the face of the backup or the face of any cavity insulation.
7.2.2A clear air space of 2 in. should be provided where cavity insulation occupies part of the cavity, to preserve drainage and tolerance for construction debris.
7.2.3The clear air space shall be measured to the back face of the veneer from the nearest projecting surface, including insulation, sheathing, and the air-barrier membrane.
7.2.4Mortar shall not bridge the air space, and the air space shall be kept free of mortar droppings that would wick water to the backup.
7.2.5Mortar collection devices, mesh, or beveled mortar-deflection boards shall be installed in the cavity during construction to keep droppings off the flashing and weeps.
No cavity insulation (continuous insulation on backup face)
Mineral wool board in cavity
Rigid board on backup face within cavity
Mineral wool batt between studs only
NOTE Cavity insulation interacts with anchor length and clear air space, so the insulation thickness and the anchor reach shall be coordinated as one decision with
Building Thermal Insulation.
(7.3) 7.3.1Veneer anchors shall be long enough to reach through the cavity insulation and engage the veneer bed joint at the specified embedment while preserving the clear air space.
8 Mortar and Joints
NOTE The mortar bed joint both bonds the veneer and embeds the wire tie, so the joint must be thick enough to fully cover the tie with mortar; a thin joint leaves the tie partly exposed and unbonded. (8.1)
8.1.1Mortar shall conform to ASTM C270 in the type required by the veneer unit and exposure.
8.1.2The veneer bed-joint thickness shall be at least twice the tie wire diameter, per TMS 402, so the tie is fully embedded in mortar.
8.1.3The specified mortar-joint thickness and the selected anchor gauge shall be coordinated on the shop drawings so the tie cross-section fits within the joint.
8.1.4Ties shall be fully embedded in mortar with not less than 5/8 in. of mortar cover to the outside face of the veneer.
0.3750.5
Default: 0.375 in
9 Shelf Angles and Base Support
NOTE Veneer cannot span unlimited height on its own foundation, so it is carried at intervals on steel shelf angles attached to the structure; each shelf angle restarts the veneer above a horizontal expansion joint. (9.1)
NOTE Shelf-angle design is structural work: the angle size, bearing length, and embed plates carry the dead load of the veneer above and must appear on the structural drawings, not be delegated to the masonry subcontractor. (9.2)
9.3 Shelf Angle Support
9.3.1Veneer shall be supported on a steel shelf angle at each floor line or at the maximum vertical interval established by the veneer weight and the calculated height, per the structural drawings.
9.3.2The shelf-angle section size, steel grade, bearing length, and connection to the structure shall be shown on the structural drawings.
9.3.3Shelf angles shall be attached with slotted fastener holes or shimmed connections that permit thermal and structural movement of the supporting frame.
9.3.4A horizontal expansion joint shall be provided in the veneer immediately below each shelf angle so the veneer above bears on the angle and not on the veneer below.
9.3.5The horizontal expansion joint at each shelf angle shall be left open for sealant and shall not be filled with mortar, coordinated with Joint Sealants. At each floor line
At every other floor line
At the interval set by the structural drawings
ASTM A36 carbon steel, hot-dip galvanized
ASTM A572 Grade 50, hot-dip galvanized
Stainless steel (chloride exposure)
0.66671
Default: 0.6667 in
9.4 Base Support
9.4.1Veneer shall bear on a foundation, grade beam, or base support angle that places the bottom of the veneer above finished grade and above the base flashing.
9.4.2The base of the veneer shall be detailed with through-wall flashing, end dams, and weeps so that water entering the cavity drains to the exterior at the base.
10 Flashing and Weeps
NOTE Flashing and weeps are the drainage system that makes an air-space veneer work: flashing collects water that reaches the cavity and directs it out, and weeps are the openings through which it leaves. (10.1)
NOTE The single most common field error is placing weeps a course or more above the flashing, which lets water pond on the flashing and back up into the cavity; weeps must sit directly on top of the flashing. (10.2)
10.3 Flashing
10.3.1Through-wall flashing shall be installed at the base of the veneer, at each shelf angle, and at all sills, heads, and other cavity interruptions.
10.3.2Flashing shall be turned up the backup and lapped into or sealed to the air-barrier membrane to maintain water and air continuity, coordinated with Air Barriers. 10.3.3Flashing shall be formed with end dams at the ends of each flashing run and at jambs to contain water and direct it to the weeps.
10.3.4Flashing shall terminate at the veneer face with a drip edge or shall extend beyond the veneer face so water is shed clear of the wall below.
10.3.5Flashing laps shall be sealed and shall be shingled so that upper flashing laps over lower flashing in the direction of drainage.
Stainless steel sheet
Copper sheet
Lead-coated copper
Composite (metal-reinforced) sheet flashing
Self-adhered flexible flashing membrane
10.4 Weeps
10.4.1Weeps shall be located immediately above the flashing, in the first mortar bed joint above the flashing, so the cavity drains fully to the flashing level.
10.4.2Weeps shall not be located one or more courses above the flashing, where water would pond on the flashing and infiltrate the backup.
10.4.3Weeps shall be spaced not more than 33 in. on center, and 24 in. on center is recommended practice.
10.4.4Weep tubes, where used, shall have an inside diameter of not less than 3/16 in.
10.4.5Cavity venting shall be provided at the top of the veneer and below each shelf angle so the drained cavity can vent and dry.
Open head joints
Weep tubes
Vented rope wicks
Cellular vent / weep inserts
0.18750.375
Default: 0.1875 in
11 Movement Joints
NOTE Brick veneer expands over its service life and concrete and CMU backups shrink, so the veneer and its backup move differently; movement joints relieve that differential strain before it cracks the veneer or shears the ties. (11.1)
11.1.1Vertical expansion joints shall be provided in brick veneer at corners, at offsets, and at spacing established by the design to accommodate moisture and thermal expansion.
11.1.2Horizontal expansion joints shall be provided below each shelf angle to separate the veneer above from the veneer below.
11.1.3Movement joints shall pass clear through the veneer wythe and shall not be bridged by mortar, ties, or reinforcement.
Per drawings — veneer movement-joint layout
12 Installation
NOTE Sequence governs whether the drainage system actually works: flashing, air-barrier tie-in, mortar control, and weeps must be installed in the right order and protected as the veneer rises, because none of them can be corrected after the wythe is closed. (12.1)
12.1.1Anchors shall be fastened to the backup with the fasteners and embedment shown on the approved shop drawings before the corresponding veneer course is laid.
12.1.2Anchors shall be installed level or sloping slightly toward the veneer so that water does not track along the anchor to the backup.
12.1.3The air space shall be kept clear of mortar droppings as the veneer rises, using mortar-collection devices and daily cleanout at the base.
12.1.4Flashing shall be installed continuously with sealed laps and formed end dams before the veneer is laid over it.
12.1.5Weeps shall be installed in the bed joint directly above the flashing as the veneer is laid, not cut in afterward.
12.1.6Ties shall be embedded in fresh mortar as each course is laid and shall not be pushed into mortar that has begun to set.
12.1.7Veneer shall be protected from rain at the top of incomplete work and from freezing during cold-weather installation until the mortar has cured.
13 Delivery, Storage, and Handling
13.1Masonry units, anchors, and flashing shall be delivered in the manufacturer's packaging and stored off the ground on pallets, covered, and protected from moisture and contamination.
13.2Stainless steel anchors and ties shall be stored separately from carbon steel to prevent surface contamination that can initiate corrosion.
13.3Galvanized components with damaged coatings shall be field-repaired with a zinc-rich coating or rejected, at the direction of the Engineer of Record.
14 Warranty
14.1The Contractor shall warrant the veneer anchorage and flashing installation against defects in materials and workmanship for the period required by the Contract, and not less than one year from Substantial Completion.
14.2Proprietary anchor, flashing, and weep components shall carry the manufacturer's standard written warranty, transferred to the Owner.
15 Spare Parts
15.1The Contractor shall deliver to the Owner a documented quantity of each veneer unit, anchor type, and weep component used, for future repair and matching.
15
Default: 2 percent of installed quantity