Tn 18A web-nov06. indd

TYPES OF MOVEMENT JOINTS

The primary type of movement joint used in brick construction is the expansion joint. Other types of movement 

joints in buildings that may be needed include control joints, building expansion joints and construction joints. Each 

of these is designed to perform a specific task, and they should not be used interchangeably.

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Brick Industry Association

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TN

 

18A 

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Accommodating Expansion of Brickwork 

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An expansion joint separates brick masonry into segments to prevent cracking caused by changes in 

temperature, moisture expansion, elastic deformation, settlement and creep. Expansion joints may be horizontal 

or vertical. The joints are formed by leaving a continuous unobstructed opening through the brick wythe that may 

be filled with a highly compressible material. This allows the joints to partially close as the brickwork expands. 

Expansion joints must be located so that the structural integrity of the brickwork is not compromised.

A control joint determines the location of cracks in concrete or concrete masonry construction due to volume 

changes resulting from shrinkage. It creates a plane of weakness that, in conjunction with reinforcement or joint 

reinforcement, causes cracks to occur at a predetermined location. A control joint is usually a vertical gap through 

the concrete or concrete masonry wythe and may be filled with inelastic materials. A control joint will tend to 

open rather than close. Control joints must be located so that the structural integrity of the concrete or concrete 

masonry is not affected.

A building expansion joint is used to separate a building into discrete sections so that stresses developed in one 

section will not affect the integrity of the entire structure. The building expansion joint is a through-the-building joint 

and is typically wider than an expansion or control joint.

A construction joint (cold joint) occurs primarily in concrete construction when construction work is interrupted. 

Construction joints should be located where they will least impair the strength of the structure.