Identifying Non-Catastrophic Failures in Glazed Architectural Terra Cotta Masonry

The types of non-catastrophic failures in glazed architectural terra cotta masonry are a combination of those for stone masonry, brick masonry, and concrete. They include the problems created by the oxidation of ferrous anchors and ties, expansion and freeze-thaw problems associated with moisture in fired-clay masonry, and delamination. The challenge in assessing the condition of glazed architectural terra cotta masonry is to employ a single, cost-effective method that can quickly identify the various forms of non-catastrophic failures before they develop into imminent public safety hazards. Drawing from the author's experience with accessing mid- and high-rise terra cotta facades in Chicago and Los Angeles, this paper provides a detailed description of the nuances in using the three senses of sight, hearing, and touch - in conjunction with mechanical sounding - to thoroughly assess the condition of glazed architectural terra cotta masonry.