Fixing of windows with fall protection / Befestigung von absturzsichernden Fensterelementen

Glass areas in modern building are becoming ever larger and in refurbishment, window openings are sometimes enlarged. Window elements with fall protection are often used, which undertake the additional function of fall protection, for example of a handrail. Furthermore, opening casements over the entire window height are often installed and “French balconies" of metal are replaced, for example, by appropriate glass panel fillings screwed directly to the window frames. This means that the fixing of the window frame is as important as that of glazing with fall protection. The article describes the current status of this subject and explains fixing into the structure.     

Burglary resistance of thermal insulating clay unit masonry / Einbruchwiderstand von wärmedämmendem Ziegelmauerwerk

The number of burglaries in Germany has increased during the last 10 years. The weak points in external walls are windows and doors. One important aspect is the fixing of these elements in the external masonry walls. The German Clay Masonry Industry has carried out a number of tests verifying the resistance class RC2 of windows fixed in external thermal insulating clay masonry walls.     

Veneer walls of masonry as specified in EC 6 (DIN EN 1996‐2/NA) / Zweischaliges Mauerwerk nach EC 6 (DIN EN 1996‐2/NA)

This article deals with the production of veneer walls as specified in DIN EN 1996‐2/NA [3]. Against this background of the extensive revision of the section for veneer walls an exposition in accordance with the previous requirements as specified in DIN 1053‐1 can hardly be recommended. The necessity for a basic revision of the section for veneer wall construction has already been discussed in detail and justified in several technical articles published in previous years, see [4] to [7]. With many changes and corrections in the section for veneer walls in the National Annex of DIN EN 1996‐2 [8] it is certainly not a question of new rules for this method of building, but an adjustment of the requirements in the previous standard on the basis of the practical experience gained over several years. The new requirements for the execution of cavity facing masonry enable a simple and economic implementation of this external wall construction.     

Masonry buildings at the borderline to high‐rise – Part 1 / Mauerwerksbauten an der Hochhausgrenze – Teil 1

The interaction of vertical and horizontal loads is the decisive combination of actions for multi‐storey buildings with masonry shear walls in most cases. This article presents a simple and clear method, which can be used with modern open floor plans to verify a favourable load transfer of the vertical actions for masonry walls. The method is extended in the second part of the article to be published in one of the coming issues of the journal Mauerwerk for horizontal actions and explained with an example.     

Development of a clinker brick façade to exploit solar thermal energy / Entwicklung einer Klinkerfassade zur Nutzung solarer Wärmeenergie

The featured research project was intended to develop and test a specially modified brick façade, which would convert solar radiation on the façade into thermal energy for heating purposes. The main objective was to measure the energy extraction potential but all other issues concerning technical feasibility also had to be taken into account. To this end a masonry structure had to be developed, which allowed integration of the inserted pipe to dissipate the energy introduced, while allowing simple, practicable installation. Various tests were carried out on masonry walls and individual bricks. On sunny winter days, an energy extraction potential of 1.9 kWh per square metre of façade and day was measured. During summer days, an extraction potential of up to 2.6 kWh/(m²·d) could be observed. The initial findings allow the assumption that this energy could be utilized with the use of a heat pump.