Using Quinn Lites at Wallplate Level

05Mav

Hi There,

I was wondering has anyone closed their cavity with a slate and Quinn Lite Blocks and then strapped the wallplate to them.
I have seen a drawing of this but not in practice and was wondering how they would fix the wallplate strap to the Quinn Lite.
It doesn't take much to break them.

Johnnyhpipe

There are special fixings required for use with QL blocks. Standard screws/anchors will just split the block over time or during installation. Your Engineer would need to calculate the wind uplift and associates shear per fixing. Using QL this may result in a tighter L-strap spacing.

It's possible of course, but personally I'm not a fan of these blocks for structural use.

dathi

http://www.environ.ie/en/Publications/DevelopmentandHousing/BuildingStandards/FileDownLoad,18751,en.pdf details for top of cavity wall page 12 onwards

Drift

Sticking to the ACDs makes it easier when calculating thermal bridging for your DEAP calculations - it's not impossible to use other methods and calculate the thermal bridging factors but a lot of people like to stick with the defaults.

It has been a bit of a shock to the system for most specifiers/builders moving away from the cavity closer block mentality, and one would question if it is the right move structurally, but these are the Part L times in which we live!!

BryanF

OP have you considered 'thermoblock' or similar

05Mav

Thanks for the reply's.

I have looked over the link provided before and it just showed a block, no mention of Quinn Lite, it was just i seen a Quinn Lite on a drawing of a similar detail and wondered about how it was fixed.

I am getting a truss roof and asked the supplier and he said he doubts it would hold but would look into it.

The engineer wanted me to close the cavity with a block on the flat.

My arch tech said to close with slate and block on the edge on inner leaf for wall plate and fill with rock wool.

My Eng. didn't even realise what's in the link is sufficient.

I have a 150mm cavity and i am using 150 full fill from extra therm it is a story and a half construction. I believe some people may have an issue not closing the cavity with a block on the flat on a story and half construction.

I haven't looked at the thermoblock but would guess they are too expensive for me. The full fill is already burning a hole in my pocket.

What about a Quinn Lite on the flat, cut the overhang of and then put a soap bar on top for the wall plate.

Drift

Even with a Quinnlite block I think it would still be a significant cold bridge. Someone familiar with thermal bridging calculations could probably tell you how much.

Has your engineer looked at the possibility of increased heavy duty wall ties near the top of the wall and an unclosed (but fire stopped!) cavity? I can understand his reluctance to not have a closer block btw. Just asking.

hexosan

Drift wrote: »

Even with a Quinnlite block I think it would still be a significant cold bridge. Someone familiar with thermal bridging calculations could probably tell you how much.

Has your engineer looked at the possibility of increased heavy duty wall ties near the top of the wall and an unclosed (but fire stopped!) cavity? I can understand his reluctance to not have a closer block btw. Just asking.

If it's Unclosed what can you use as a fire stop

Drift

As far as I'm aware (although I'm not a fire expert) a fire resistant cavity closer like you'd use around a window that had no L-block.

I think Rockwool and Kingspan both do them and I suspect Xtratherm probably do too. I think "Rockreveal" is the name of the rockwool product.