The ICF - Masonry Veneer Tie system consists of a Plate (a vertically orientated, flat plate), a V-Tie™ (a V-shaped wire), and a reusable tie spacer. These individual components are shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4, respectively. The installed ICF-Masonry Veneer Tie system is shown in vertical elevation on the cover illustration, and on plan section in Figure 3. The ICF-Masonry Veneer Tie system is specifically designed to facilitate placement of masonry veneer over ICF (Insulated Concrete Form) construction using an adjustable multi-component tie system.

Tensile and compressive lateral loads applied to the masonry veneer are transferred through the V-Tie™ to the vertically-oriented Plate, which transfers these loads axially to the concrete structural backing by direct embedment of its inboard end into the concrete core of the ICF. The vertical slot in the exterior end of the Plate through which the wire V-Tie™ is inserted provides a positive connection without the possibility of V-Tie™ disengagement during construction and in-service (in compliance with requirements in CSA A370, “Connectors for Masonry”, and ACI 530/ASCE 5/TMS 402, “Building Code Requirements for Masonry Structures”). The slot permits up to 64 mm (2.5”) of in-situ vertical adjustment, which ensures that a masonry veneer bed joint will always be coincident with the V-Tie™. The slot also accommodates vertical differential movement between the masonry veneer and the ICF structural backing. The ICF-Masonry Veneer Tie system is an “embedded” tie system, this being a positive connector that does not rely on mechanical fasteners in tension or shear to transfer structural loads from the veneer to the structural backing.

The ICF-Masonry Veneer system can accommodate a range of insulation thicknesses from 0 to 102 mm (0 to 4”), and air space widths of 25 mm (1”) and greater. The Plate is easily inserted through a clean cut in the ICF foam insulation panel. It has sufficient length to embed in the ICF concrete core not less than 50 mm, to traverse the thickness of the ICF board insulation, and to extend 18 mm (0.7”) into the air space in order to expose its leading edge and facilitate in-situ placement of the V-Tie™. The V-Tie™ is inserted through the vertical slot along the leading edge of the Plate coincident with the mortar bed joint so as to extend horizontally and normally to the structural backing without reducing tie capacity. The legs of the V-Tie™ are positioned along the centreline of the veneer within the placement tolerances permitted by the building code having jurisdiction. Adjustment normal to the wall is facilitated by selecting an appropriate length of V-Tie™.