Enclosure Masonry Wall Systems Worldwide

Historically, enclosure walls have played a key role in building construction, providing structural safety, while protecting interiors from intrusion. Still in common use across the world today, there is a tremendous variety in types of enclosure walls, depending on such variables as climate and local technologies. New national and international construction standards have contributed to improvements in areas such as thermal insulation and earthquake resistance and have promoted the development of new materials and methods. For this international work, the Commission on Wall Structures of the International Council for Building examines enclosure walls typical to particular countries or regions. Each example considers- ??Characterization of the building sector ??Customary materials used in masonry ??Typical problems and solutions ??Evolutionary trends.