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0 bre press
Connectingwalls C 3 29
and floors Part 1
4 practical guide

The current Building considered at the design of retro-fit fixing systems

Regulations require floors stage for masonry that can bring structures
and roofs to be tied or structures. New structures up to modern safety
strapped to the walls to can be built with this standards, alleviate
maximise the stability and requirement in mind, but bulging in walls and other
robustness of the many older buildings, related stability problems.
structures. While this mainly domestic, do not Part 2 considers design
occurs naturally in frame meet it. This first part of the and performance issues of
structures, it must be Guide examines a number wall and floor ties.

Many buildings in the UK show evidence of either side ofthe stairwell),some bulging
insufficienttying; some have no ties at all. The eventually occurred. This problem also
walls of these buildings can eventually bulge affected larger institutional structures and
and become unstable. Walls at roof level may blocks of flats.
also become susceptible to wind damage. Many older structures relied purely on a
When most ofthese houses were built, it was frictional connection to connect the floor
common practice to span the floor between a with the wall. If the bearing was insufficient,
front or rear wall and a loadbearing spine wall. however, or the load on the floor was
Since there was no dead-load restraint on the small, the wall was still likely to move
flank walls (except, perhaps, trimmer joists outwards eventually.

Figure 1Traditional
cottage with remedial
throughtied gable walls
2
Wall-bulging has traditionally been remedied
by tying right through the structurewith a
metal rod at the first floor or ceiling line. The
end-restraining nuts could be made into a
decorative feature, ifrequired.
Inadequate tying of the masonry gable
triangle walls to the roof structure (Figure 2) is
another common cause of problems. It usually
affects relatively new structuresthat have
cavity walls because these walls resist wind
loads less effectively than traditional one-brick
(215 mm) walls.

Recommendationsfor new build

BS 8103, and Part AV2 ofthe Building
Regulations currently recommend the use of
galvanised steel straps with a cross-section
of 30 mm x 5 mm, spaced at 2 m intervals,
with a turned end built into the wall and
fixed with nails or screws to the top of the
floodceiling joists.
Some commercial alternatives that offer Figure 2 A gable end wall with no restraint ties at
equivalent performance have a thinner the roof verge which collapsedin the
section with edge stiffening. The box on this 1987 gales
page summarises relevant clauses fiom the
Building Regulations. Figure 3 shows a typical
arrangement of a timber ceiling spanning
parallel to the wall. BS 8103 Part 1specifies
other materials and positions.

Figure 3 Atypical new-build restraint strap

 3

As structures age, their walls tend to bulge outwards rather than inwards for the followingreasons:
c
'1 I
Rain and moisture during the winter and thermal expansionduring
the summer tend to expandthe exposed outer layer in relation to
the sheltered inner layer, makingthe external wall bow outwards.
This bow can be temporary but, if it does not recover completely,
it is likely to become more pronouncedover the years.
If the wall carries an eccentric (ie, noncentral)load
and its inside face bears more loadthan its outside
face, the wall will bow outwards.
See Digest246 for a more detaifed explanation.
Floors and internal partitionwalls can prevent

I
external walls moving inwards. If debris has
accumulatedin the gap duringthis seasonal
bowing, it may preventrestoration.

Additional eccentricitywill cause any wall that has a

permanent bow to move further in the same direction.

Recommendationsfor older buildings

For centuries, through-ties have been used to stabilise buildings. is for solidsing1deaf
walls with the joists spanning
More recently, various systems have been developed for making
parallel with the wall. With cavity
fucings to concrete, timber and masonry, and for re-tying masonry
walls, either leaf can be bonded to
cavity walls. With these new systems, ties between walls and the floor; the load is transferredto
floor/roofstructures need to pass through only a small number of the other leaf bythe existingwall
joists. The ties themselves can be invisible or decorative. In this ties. %me systems incorporate
Guide, we describe seven ofthese systems. integralcavty wall ties, others can
be adapted to give a fixing to the
joists spanning on to the wall.
Retro-strap
Conventionalstrapswith a grout or screw Mechanical or
connection to the wall resin anchor to 30 x 5 mm galvanised
These are conventional flat metal straps with a
retro-fit connection at the wall end. You can
use them very conveniently on top of the
ceilingjoists at eaves level or fur them to the
underside ofthe rafters at the verge line. The
wall fucing may not be as effective as the Solid block strutting to
Folding wedges be fixed between joists
conventional new-build types, so ask the
manufacturer/supplier to recommend a
spacing that gives a performance equivalent to Figure 4 New-buildrestraint strap (remedialversion)
the traditional product.

Howto instati aface-iix retro-strap

1 Carefullyfollow the safety guidance in Healthand safety check and Structural safety
(seeboxes on page 8).
2 Remove skirting boards and floorboards, if necessary, and notchthe top of the joists. This will
allow the top of the tie to lay flush with the top surface of the joists. (This is unnecessary in
unboardedroofs). You can then hide the wall connection behind skirting boards or coving.
3 Install noggins (wooden struts) betweenthe joists along the path of the tie. The tops of
the noggins should be flush with the bottom of the notches.
4 Positionthe strap in the notches in the joists, then bolt or screw the end to the wall using
expansionbob or resin anchors; screw/plug kings are not recommended.
5 Screw or nail the strap to the joists/noggins then replace all flooring and skirting. If necessary,
rebate the back of the skirtingto cover the strap fixing.
4
Through tie
Traditionaltie bolted fiom one wall to
opposite wall
See belmfir imhllatzon notes. Tie bar drilled through
clearance hdes to joists
Retro-stud
Stud tie bolted to a series ofjoists and fured to
the wall
Decorative pattress plate
The traditional remedy for tying floors to walls
has been to fuc a tie-rod right through the
structure. There is nothing technicallywrong Figure 5 Through tie
with this option provided the exposed part is
protected against corrosion. Installing the rod
can be a disruptive process, because the rod
needs to pass through every interveningjoist Colourmatched 'lug
Nut and plate
and wall. This means you will need to remove a [,Polyester resin washer
lot of floorboards and carehlly check that the /
route is not blocked by impassable objects or
made dangerous by services.
The stud tie can provide an alternative: it 3
needs to go through only a fewjoists and can 1Folding wedges
also give a degree ofstrutting.

Figure 6 Retro-studtie, bolted to joists and fixed

to the walls

How to installa through tie/rem-otud tie

1 Carefullyfollow the Health and safety check (see box on page 81.
2 Remove any floorboardsalong the path of the tie and check that there are no
major obstructions.
3 Drill a clearance hole through the masonry wall from the outside and through the first
joist. Gentry probe with the drill between each penetrationto check that there are no
unseen obstructions.
4 Use a shortened dummy tie to mark the positionfor subsequent holes in joists normal to
the tie direction, then drill.
5 Drill out through the opposite wall for the through tie. It is safer first to use a small pilot drill.
Switch off any hammer action for the final penetrationto avoid shattering the outer part of
the wall.
6 Fit interveningstrutting if it will improve stability and protect the floors from crushing.
7 If you are using a through tie, clean the hole. Thread the through tie into place, fit load-
spreading washers at each end and tightenthe restraining nuts to the specified torque.
8 If you are installing a stud tie,thread it through and screw on a nut and a washer for each side
of each joist that it passes through (two in each gap). When the tie is in its final position, screw
the nuts tight against either face of eachjoist and tighten with a spanner. Finally, fix the tie to
the wall using a nut and washer or another suitable fixing system. For a performance
that is equivalent to a conventionalstrap, the overall diameter ofthe washers must be at least
three times that of the bolt and the thickness must be at feast 0.25 times the bolt diameter.
 5
Driven screw
To use this system you need a circular bar with
at least two threaded sections with the threads I 2, part polyester or epoxy resin

standing filly proud of the root diameter of the

bar. The start ofthe two threads is set apart by
the pitch of the floor joists. A suitable anchor is
attached to the outer end. Figure 8 shows a
typical product with an expansion anchor at
the wall end. Digest 329 gives advice on anchor
types for various wall situations.This advice is
L- Shaft from 8 mm dia. grade 304 austenitie
stainless steel (length variable)

summarised in the table on page 3 ofpart 2 of

this Guide. Figure 7 Driven screw tie fixed to joists and
resin-groutedto the wall
How to instal a driven screw tie
1 Carefullyfollow the safety guidance in Healthand
safety check and Structuralsafety (seeboxes on
page 8).
2 Drill a clearance hole through the masonry wall from
the outside.
3 Drill a root diameter hole through the first joist.
4 Gently probe with the drill to check that there are no
unseen obstructions.
5 Pushthe drill against the second joist and
drill through.
6 Withdraw the drill and clean the hole as necessary.
7 Drive the special tie with a power screwdriver
simultaneouslyinto the two joists.
8 Carry out a proof test to ensure the system is
performingsatisfactorily.
9 Make the outer fixing (eg pump resin grout into the Figure 8 Driven screw tie fixed to joists and fixed to
hole or tighten an expander nut).
the wall using an expansion anchor
10 Make good with a matching mortar.

Self-tap helix
This is a long helical self-tappingtie bar
which is screwed to the secondjoist and
resin-grouted to the wall.

I
HowtoimtrWasotf-taphelixtia
1 Carefullyfollow the Healtt, and safetycheck (see box
on page 8).
2 Drilla clearance hole through the masonry wall from
the outside.
I
4
3 Drilla clearance hole through the first joist.
4 Fit a support sleeveto the drill loadedwith a tie.
Gently probe to check that there are no I
unseen obstructions. Figure 9 Self-tap helix tie fixed to the remote joist
5 Pushthe tie against the secondjoist and and resin-groutedto the wall
hammerdriveit home.
6 Withdraw the drive sleeve and clean the hole.
7 Carry out a proof test to ensurethe system is
performingsatisfactorily
8 Fit a resin plug sleeve through the wall to the back of
the hole.
9 Make the outer fixing by pumping resin grout into
the hole.
10 Make good with a matching mortar.
6
Self-drilling stud Colour matched resin plug
This continuous threaded stud can self-drill Self drilling anchor drives
through pilot holes in joists
and self-tap through two joists.

How to install a se&drilling rtud

1 Carefullyfollow the Heatthand safety check (see box
on page 8).
2 Drill a clearance hole through the masonry wall from
the outside.
3 Clean the hole.
4 Drivethe self-tappingdevice through two joists. Figure 10 Selfdrilling stud fixed to joists and resin-
5 Carry out a proof test to ensure the system is grouted to the wall
performingsatisfactorily.
6 Fit a resin plug sleeve to the back of the hole through
the wall if necessary.
7 Make the outer fixing by setting expander or by
pumping resin grout into the hole.
8 Make good with a matching mortar.

Grouted ties with an integral filter sock

J
This system consists of a hollow tubular
stainless steel tie with an overlying filter sock. It Figure 11 Selfdrilling stud fixed to joists and fixed
is fitted into a pre-drilled hole. Grout is to the wall with an expanding anchor
pumped along the tube and emerges through
holes in the tube to inflate the sock. The
inflated section between thejoists will give
some strutting action. The connection to the Grouted sock expands in gaps to give
wall is normally made simultaneously using a both pull-out resistance and strutting actmn
I
hrther length of sock.
This system may be used in conventional
timber floors and is especially suitable for
hollow concrete plank floors.

How to install a groutedtie with fitter sock

1 Carefully follow the Health and safety check (see box Figure 12 Grouted sock over steel tube tie installed
on page 8). into a timber floor
2 Drill a 30 mm clearance hole through the wall from
the outside (tryto get a slight inward taper).
3 Drill a clearance diameter hole through the first joist
or through the side of the concrete plank.
4 Gently probe with the drill to check that there are no
unseen obstructions.
5 Pushthe drill against the second and subsequent
joists/solid sections and drill through.
6 Withdraw the drill and clean the hole.
7 Insertthe tie and pump the grout to fill the k expands to form key
sock system.
8 lf proof tensile tests are specified, they can be Figure 13 Grouted sock over steel tube tie installed
carried out only on specialties which do not bond into a concrete plank floor
to the walls in the same operation as bondingto
the floor.
9 Make good with a matching mortar.
 7

Fixings to the roof verge

It is not advisable to make fixings very near to
the edge ofwalls as they are likely to be very Mechanical or
fragile when there is no vertical load.
Heavy-duty screw-in ties are not
1 resin anchor to
,brickwork 30 x 5 mm galvanised mild
steel strap screwed to joists
,@
recommended for trussed rafter elements since
they can be too thin to give an adequate fixing.
For open lofts with any roof type, the
preferred solution is to install solid struts
(noggins) between the first three rafters, then
a \
@
install a retro-strap (see page 3) by fixing it to
the wall and screwing it to the noggins.
If you are dealing with trussed &er roofs Figure 14 Two alternative fixing positionsfor a
that are inaccessible,you could use a larger remedialversion of the newbuild
number of self-tap helix or alternative restraint strap
light-duty ties. Install these into the rafters to
distribute the load (see page 5).
If you can’t access the roof fiom inside, you
could install screwed-in fixings (see pages 5
Mechanical or resin
and 6) into rafters in traditional cut roofs. It is anchor to hrickwork
essential to have some form of load spreader
plate to share the forces along the wall edge.

Fixing to joists bearing on the wall

A number oftechniques are available for
attaching ties to joists spanning on to walls.
0 You can simply bolt remedial straps to the
Plan
wall and screw them to the side of the joist
between the floorboards,see A on Figure 14, Figure 15 Alternative style remedial restraint strap
or to the top ofthejoist, see page 3 and B on
Figure 14.
0 You can use a special remedial strap which
fmes to two adjacentjoists (Figure 15).
0 You can install a strut parallel to the wall Mechanical or resin Stud with washers
anchor to brickwork and nuts
between two adjacentjoists and any of the /
techniques applicable forjoists parallel to the
wall can be used. Remember, however, that
the strut should be installed well away from
the ends of the joists. It should be
strengthened by blocks fmed to the floor
joists on either side. The thickness ofthe
strut will have to be equivalent to the
combined thickness ofthe number ofjoists Figure 16 Ties restraining struts fixed betweenjoists
that the fixingwould normally be installed
into to achieve equivalent performance to
the normal usape (Firmre 16).
 Further reading :tural safety 3
*A
Building Research Establishment
BRE Digests
246 Strength of brickworkand blockwork walls:
designfor vertical load
329 Installingwall ties in existing construction
GoodBuildingGuide
GBG 28 Part 3. Domestic floors: assessingthem for
replacementor repair. Timber floors and decks.

Department of the Environment and the Welsh OMce

BuildingRegulations1991. PartA1/2. London,
HMSO, 1991.

British Standards Institution

BS 5628 Code of practice for use of masonry
Part 1:1992 Structural use of unreinforcedmasonry
Part 3: 1985 Materials and components, design and
workmanship
BS 8103 Structuraldesign of low-rise buildings
Part 1:1995 Code of practicefor stability, site
investigation, foundations and ground floor slabs
for housing.

Some of the systems shown in

this Guide are proprietarydesigns
and may be the subject of patents 0
and design copyrights.

dd.8 I
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D I R C C T O I ~ I C

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