Types

• Autoclaved Aerated Concrete
  Lightweight, cellular precast concrete cured in an autoclave, supplied as blocks and panels for walls.
• Bedrock
  Solid rock beneath loose surface material, the strongest foundation bearing stratum when found at reachable depth.
• Calcium Silicate
  Hydrated calcium silicate board with fibers, used as a noncombustible, moisture-resistant lining and fire-protection board.
• Cast Stone
  Precast concrete made to imitate natural stone, used for trim, sills, copings, and facing.
• Cement
  Fine hydraulic binder, mostly portland cement clinker ground with gypsum, used in concrete, mortar, grout, plaster, and terrazzo.
• Ceramic and Porcelain
  Fired clay bodies, glazed or unglazed, used for tile, with porcelain fired hotter and denser than other ceramics.
• Clay
  Fine-grained earth, fired into brick, tile, and terra cotta, used for masonry walls, veneer, paving, roofing, and sanitary ware.
• Concrete
  Composite of aggregate bound by hydrated cement paste, placed cast-in-place or precast for foundations, slabs, walls, frames, and masonry units.
• Fiber Cement
  Portland cement matrix reinforced with cellulose or other non-asbestos fibers, formed into siding, panels, planks, and backer boards.
• Fly Ash
  Fine glassy coal combustion residue used as a supplementary cementitious material and as a cement replacement in concrete.
• Glass
  Transparent, brittle soda-lime silicate material made by the float process, used for windows, doors, curtain wall, and glazing.
• Grout
  Fluid cement or resin mix that fills tile joints, masonry cells, and voids under plates and anchors.
• Gypsum
  Hydrated calcium sulfate mineral, calcined to plaster and pressed into board, used for interior wall and ceiling lining, plaster, and fire-rated assemblies.
• Lime
  Calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide made by burning limestone, used for plaster, mortar, and stucco.
• Magnesium Oxide Board
  Fiberglass-faced board of magnesium oxide cement, used for fire-resistive and moisture-resistant sheathing and lining.
• Mineral Wool
  Spun fibers of rock or slag, supplied as batts and boards for thermal, acoustic, and fire-resistive insulation.
• Mortar
  Cement, lime, sand, and water mix that bonds masonry units and fills joints, graded by type M, S, N, O, and K.
• Perlite
  Volcanic glass expanded by heat into a lightweight, white aggregate for plaster, insulation, and lightweight concrete.
• Plaster
  Gypsum, lime, cement, or clay paste applied wet to walls and ceilings, hardening to a smooth, fire-resistant finish.
• Quartz
  Silica mineral (SiO2) and the engineered quartz surfaces made by bonding crushed quartz and other stone with resin.
• Slag
  Ground granulated blast-furnace slag, a hydraulic by-product of iron making used as a partial cement replacement in concrete.
• Terra Cotta
  Fired clay, typically red or buff, used for architectural cladding, ornament, and roof tile.
• Vermiculite
  Hydrated mica mineral that expands when heated, used as lightweight fill, fireproofing aggregate, and loose-fill insulation.

Code reference

Always verify the adopted code edition and local amendments for the project jurisdiction.

Governing editions

Concrete

• IBC 2024, Section 1901.2: design per Chapter 19 and ACI 318 as supplemented by Section 1905
• IBC 2024, Section 1901.5: construction documents state f'c at stated ages and rebar grade
• IBC 2024, Section 1901.7.1: cast-in-place tolerances per ACI 117 (precast per ACI ITG-7, Section 1901.7.2)
• IBC 2024, Section 1901.9: lightweight concrete: coarse aggregate saturated surface dry; w/cm 0.50 maximum (lightweight)
• IBC 2024, Section 1903.1: concrete materials and tests per the standards listed in ACI 318; 1903.2 GFRC per PCI 128; 1903.3 insulating concrete form material per ASTM E2634
• IBC 2024, Section 1904.1: structural concrete durability per ACI 318; R-2 and R-3 buildings up to 3 stories: f'c 3,000 psi minimum for basement, foundation, exterior, and weather-exposed vertical walls
• IBC 2024, Section 1904.2: nonstructural concrete minimum f'c 2,500 psi (F0), 3,000 psi (F1), 3,500 psi (F2, F3); air-entrained per ACI 318
• IBC 2024, Section 1905.6.2: no structural plain concrete in SDC C to F except footings and limited dwelling walls
• IBC 2024, Section 1907: slabs on ground at least 3-1/2 in. thick over a 6-mil polyethylene vapor retarder lapped at least 6 in. (exceptions for detached R-3 accessory structures, small unheated rooms, carports, and flatwork)

Masonry

• IBC 2024, Section 2101.2: masonry design per TMS 402, 403, or 404 (empirical design not permitted, Section 2101.2.3)
• IBC 2024, Section 2101.4: shear walls in running bond only
• IBC 2024, Section 2103.1: concrete, clay or shale, stone, glass unit, and AAC masonry units per TMS 602 Article 2.3; architectural cast stone per TMS 504
• IBC 2024, Section 2103.2: mortar per TMS 602 Articles 2.1 and 2.6 A; surface-bonding mortar ASTM C887; adhered veneer mortar TMS 402 Section 13.3
• IBC 2024, Section 2103.3: grout per TMS 602 Article 2.2
• IBC 2024, Section 2104.1.1: below-grade and elevator shaft walls solid grouted
• IBC 2024, Section 2104.1.2: corrugated metal brick ties not permitted
• IBC 2024, Sections 2104.1.6 and 2104.1.7: CMU control joints per NCMA TEK 10-2C or 10-3; brick expansion joints per BIA Technical Notes 18 and 18A

Glass

• IBC 2024, Section 2403.1: tempered glass permanently marked
• IBC 2024, Section 2403.3: framing deflection limit L/175 for edges to 13'-6", L/240 plus 1/4 in. for longer edges
• IBC 2024, Section 2404: wind load design per Section 1609 and ASTM E1300
• IBC 2024, Section 2406.2: safety glazing per CPSC 16 CFR 1201 or ANSI Z97.1 Class A; hazardous locations in Section 2406.4
• IBC 2024, Section 2407.1: glass in guards laminated fully tempered or heat-strengthened, 1/4 in. minimum

Gypsum and plaster

• IBC 2024, Section 2506: gypsum products identified by manufacturer and protected from weather; standards in Table 2506.2 (ASTM C1396, C1278, C1177, C1658, C474, C475)
• IBC 2024, Section 2508: installation per GA-216 or ASTM C840; gypsum wallboard and plaster not used on exposed exterior surfaces or where directly exposed to water or continuous high humidity
• IBC 2024, Section 2508 (Table 2508.6): gypsum diaphragm ceilings: 1/2 in. panels, 16 in. o.c. framing 90 plf, 24 in. o.c. 70 plf
• IBC 2024, Section 2509: tile backing in showers and water closets per Table 2509.2 (ASTM C1178, C1288, C1325); water-resistant gypsum backing not over a vapor retarder in shower or tub compartments
• IBC 2024, Section 2510: lath for cement plaster per ASTM C926 and C1063
• IBC 2024, Section 2512: exterior plaster three coats over lath, weep screed 0.019 in. minimum, 4 in. above earth or 2 in. above paved areas; cement plaster applied above 40°F

Referenced standards

Sources

• UpCodes: 2024 IBC Chapter 19 concrete, https://up.codes/viewer/department-of-defense/ibc-2024/chapter/19/concrete
• UpCodes: 2024 IBC Chapter 21 masonry, https://up.codes/viewer/department-of-defense/ibc-2024/chapter/21/masonry
• UpCodes: 2024 IBC Chapter 24 glass and glazing, https://up.codes/viewer/department-of-defense/ibc-2024/chapter/24/glass-and-glazing
• UpCodes: 2024 IBC Chapter 25 gypsum board, gypsum panel products and plaster, https://up.codes/viewer/department-of-defense/ibc-2024/chapter/25/gypsum-board-gypsum-panel-products-and-plaster