Masonry has been widely used as a construction method. However, there is a lack of information on its fire behavior due to the multitude of variables that could influence this method. This paper aimed to identify the influence of loading and mortar coating thickness on the fire behavior of masonry. Hence, six masonries made of clay tiles laid with mortar were evaluated. The mortar coating had a thickness of 25 mm on the face not exposed to high temperatures, while the fire-exposed face had thicknesses of 0, 15, and 25 mm. For each mortar coating thickness, two specimens were tested, with and without loading of 10 tf/m. The real-scale specimens were subjected to the standard ISO 834 fire curve for four hours, during which the properties of stability, airtightness, and thermal insulation were assessed. Results showed that loaded specimens yielded smaller deformations than unloaded ones. Samples that lacked mortar coating on the fire-exposed face underwent fire resistance decrease of 27.5%, while the ones with 15 mm decreased by 58.1%, and the ones with 25 mm decreased by 41.0%. As mortar coating thickness increased, the plane deformations decreased from 40 mm to 29 mm and the thermal insulation properties of the walls improved significantly. For specimens with mortar coating thickness of 25 mm, the load application resulted in a reduction of 23.8% of the thermal insulation, while the unloaded specimen showed a decrease of 43.3%, as well as a modification of its fire-resistance rating.

After the publication of NBR 15575 (ABNT, 2013) standard, it became necessary that the constructive systems used in residential buildings go through verification processes concerning the performance requirements. Considering the security requirements, it is necessary to evaluate the fire resistance of vertical sealing systems. Within the scope of habitability, the standard specifies that these systems must have an adequate acoustic performance. Regarding this scenario, this study has the purpose of evaluate the performance of two non-structural vertical sealing systems in ceramic bricks by comparing two different layouts of horizontal air gaps. Therefore, laboratory tests were performed, following the prescriptions of NBR 10636 (ABNT, 1989) and ISO 10140-2 (ISO, 2010). It was verified that the system with higher air gaps number had a better performance on fire resistance, and that the acoustic performance was very similar between the two systems.Keywords: laboratory test; vertical sealing systems; acoustic performance; fire resistance; ABNT NBR 15575-4:2014.Estudio comparativo de resistencia al fuego y desempeño acústico de paredes en bloques cerámicos en cuestión de NBR 15575 en edificios residenciales de Brasil Resumen Con la publicación de la norma NBR 15575 (ABNT, 2013), ha sido necesario que los sistemas constructivos utilizados en edificios residenciales se sometiesen a ensayos para el cumplimiento de los requisitos de desempeño. En el ámbito de los requisitos de seguridad solicitados por la norma, existe la necesidad de la evaluación de la resistencia al fuego de los sistemas de aislamiento vertical. Dentro de la habitabilidad, la norma recomienda que estos sistemas tienen un desempeño acústico adecuado. Dentro de este escenario, el objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar el desempeño acústico de dos sistemas de pared compuestos por diferentes tipos de bloques cerámicos con agujeros horizontales. Para este análisis, fueron realizados ensayos de laboratorio de acuerdo con las normas NBR 10636 (ABNT, 1989) y ISO 10140-2 (ISO, 2010). Se verificó que el sistema con mayor densidad presentó desempeño sensiblemente mejor acerca la resistencia al fuego, con desempeño prácticamente idéntico en el análisis del aislamiento acústico.Palabras clave: ensayos de laboratorio; sistema de aislamiento vertical; desempeño acústico; resistencia al fuego; ABNT NBR 15575-4:2014.

The discussion on fire safety is necessary in Brazilian buildings. Current legislation requires construction with compartmentalized areas separated by walls with structural ceramic blocks capable of resisting fire for an amount of time pre-determined in norm NBR 14432 (ABNT, 2001). However, a lack of building standards requires experimental tests according to NBR 5628 (ABNT, 2001) to determine the necessary configuration to achieve fire resistance. For this purpose, this study analyzed the effect of fire on structural walls covered with a mortar coating. Experiments were conducted in real scale in a standardized vertical oven and the fire growth curve of ISO 834 (ISO, 1999). Three types of walls were tested, each with a different mortar coating: (a) lime; (b) 0.6 kg/m³ polypropylene fiber and 1.2 kg/m³ polypropylene fiber. The mortar coatings were 1.5 cm thick on the side facing the fire and 2.5 cm thick in the outside. The wall was composed of structural blocks measuring 14 cm x 19 cm x 29 cm. Fire experiments evaluated the structure stability, impermeability to hot gases and smoke and thermal insulation of each sample. Results showed that the structural system with 1.2 kg/m³ polypropylene fiber mortar coating obtained the best thermal insulation effect with the longest fire resistance time of 176 min.

Recomendações para ensaio de resistência ao fogo em sistemas de paredes Editores Recomendações para ensaio de resistência ao fogo em sistemas de paredes