What is Load Bearing, Masonry, Partition, Retaining, Curtain wall?. 11 types of Walls

What is Load Bearing, Masonry, Partition, Retaining, Curtain wall?. 11 types of Walls


Wall is defined as the superstructure elements that are built to divides the various rooms of the buildings. It is used for security purposes also. According to their functions wall is either load bearing structure or non load bearing structure. It provides security, privacy and protection against to the temperature rain. 

In this articles i have explained the 11 types of wall which is used in modern construction work.I have after reading this article you will familiar with all the basic types of wall.

Following are the types of wall generally used in modern construction: 
  • Load Bearing Wall 
  • Partition wall 
  • Brick masonry Wall 
  • Course rubble stone masonry wall 
  • Retaining wall 
  • Curtain wall 
  • Parapet wall 
  • Shear wall 
  • Drop wall 
  • Compound or Boundary wall 
  • Precast wall
Let us explained details of all types of wall 

1. Load Bearing Wall: This wall is designed to transfer the load from wall to foundation to soil. Suppose the beam and column are not used in the structure then load transfer from slab to wall and walls to foundation. So these types of wall are called as load bearing wall. All the structure rest on this load bearing wall.

Silent Features of Load Bearing Walls: 
  • Minimum thickness of load bearing wall = 200 mm 
  • Slenderness ration should not be more than 27.
  • Slenderness ration is the ration of effective length or effective height to thickness.
2. Partition Walls: The Walls which divides the one room to another room is called partition wall.

Salient features of partition walls: 
  • This partition wall rests on floors.
  • This partition wall doesn't subject the load from floor and roof. 
  • It carries self weight only.
  • It requires less materials 
  • These walls are thin as compared to load bearing wall.
3. Masonry wall: The wall which is constructed with bricks is called as Brick masonry wall.
Silent features of Masonry Walls: 
  • Thickness of wall of 10 or 20 cm 
  • For single brick wall, the thickness wall is 10 cm
  • For Double Brick masonry, the thick wall is 20 cm. 
  • Unit weight of brick is 1900 kg / m3
4. Course rubble stone masonry wall The wall which is constructed with stones of irregulars sizes and shape is call as Rubble masonry.

Silent Features of Course rubble masonry wall: 
  • In this rubble masonry wall, consumption of mortar is more.
  • Course rubble masonry is used for the construction of public and residential building. 
  • UN coursed rubble masonry is used for the construction of foundations, compound wall etc.
5. Retaining Wall This wall which is retained the soil mass and land sliding after earth work excavation on site. This wall is made up of concrete blocks, timbers. This wall retained the lateral pressure of soils. Movement of wall signifies the instability of wall. 

6. Curtain Wall The wall which is constructed with glass, aluminum or steel etc. is called as Curtain Wall. This Wall allows the light into the building. Curtain Wall made with light weight materials and it reduces the construction cost.

7. Parapet wall The wall which is constructed on the top roof of the building is called as parapet wall. This wall is constructed for safety purposes. Minimum height of parapet wall is 1 m and maximum height of the Wall is 1.5 m.

8. Shear Wall: This Shear wall is generally constructed around the water sump, lift pit or staircase .This Wall is used to to retain the soil. It resist the water pressure, soil pressure and wind pressure. 

9. Non Load Bearing wall or Drop wall: This doesn't bear any kinds of load into the structure. This wall is very thin of having thickness of 1 inch to 2 inches. This wall is constructed with Chicken wire mesh and cement and mortar plaster. In India chicken wire mesh. 

10. Boundary Wall: The wall that is constructed around the Built up area with some setback distance is called as Boundary Wall. 
Minimum height of the boundary wall is 1 m and maximum height is 1. 5 m.

11. Precast Wall: The wall which is already made in industry and bring it into the construction site and installed on site.Such type of wall is called as precast wall.
Source: civilfieldwork

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