Infill wall

Partition walls, made with both vertically and horizontally perforated clay blocks, represent two-thirds of the corresponding market.

However, as usually the more traditionally used materials (blocks, bricks and mortar) are not fuel products, it is relatively easy to achieve the requirements relating to the limitation of spread of fire, thermal insulation and structural strength, which in severe cases, must be guaranteed for 180 minutes.

To meet these demands new products and building systems, which ensure that the thermal resistances requested by the regulations will be provided, are developed.

It is likely that in the near future traditional construction solutions with double leaf walls (with new, more thermally efficient bricks and blocks) will be adapted, and there will be increased use of thermal insulation systems for exterior (ETICS), such as use of single leaf walls.

To ensure durability and waterproofing, the most important thing is to avoid errors in design and construction, leading to the appearance of (structural and non-structural) pathologies.

The proper use of paints, protection against moisture and the correct preparation and application of traditional plasters, among others, are important factors When there is the perimeter contact between the masonry infill walls and the frame, in ordinary situations of adherent robust infill walls, the effect of stiffness increase (and also dissipation) influences the building response.

In this case, the most important effects of the structure-infill interaction are: The main problems in the local interaction between frame and infill are the formation of short beam, short column effect in the structural elements.