Last reviewed 16 Sept 2026 · 7 min read
Classification of walls
| Wall | Function |
|---|---|
| Load-bearing wall | Carries loads from floors and roofs to foundations (masonry buildings) |
| Non-load-bearing wall | Carries only its own weight |
| Partition wall | Thin internal wall dividing spaces within a building; usually non-load-bearing |
| Panel (infill) wall | Non-load-bearing wall filling the frame of a framed structure between columns and beams |
| Curtain wall | External non-structural facade (commonly glass and aluminium) hung from the structural frame, carrying only its own weight and wind loads |
| Cavity (hollow) wall | Two separate leaves with a continuous cavity, tied together |
| Parapet wall | Low wall at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or bridge |
| Compound (boundary) wall | Encloses a plot |
| Retaining wall | Resists lateral earth pressure |
| Shear wall | Structural RCC or masonry wall resisting lateral (wind/seismic) forces |
| Fire wall / fire-separating wall | Provides fire compartmentation |
Partition walls
Requirements
- Light in weight — to reduce load on floors and beams.
- Thin — to save floor space.
- Strong and stable enough to resist impacts and support fixtures (shelves, fittings, doors).
- Sound insulation between rooms (privacy).
- Fire resistance.
- Moisture resistance in wet areas.
- Easy and quick to construct, and easy to relocate where flexibility is needed.
- Economical and good in appearance.
- Resistance to termites and vermin; allowance for services (conduits, pipes).
Types of partitions
| Partition | Features |
|---|---|
| Brick partitions | Half-brick walls in cement mortar — sound, fire resistant, durable; need reinforcement or hoop iron (e.g. every third or fourth course) and should be tied to main walls; heavy |
| Reinforced brick partitions | Brickwork with reinforcement (bars/mesh) in joints — thinner and stronger |
| Clay or concrete hollow block partitions | Hollow units — lighter, better insulation; faster laying |
| AAC and fly ash block partitions | Lightweight blocks — quick, insulating (common in modern framed buildings) |
| Glass partitions | Glass blocks (translucent, sound insulating) or framed glass panels (toughened/laminated glass in aluminium or timber frames) — light transmission, modern offices |
| Timber partitions | Studded (framed) partitions — timber studs, sills, heads and noggings covered with boards, plywood or lath and plaster; trussed partitions for spans without intermediate support; light but combustible |
| Gypsum board (drywall) partitions | Light gauge steel studs and tracks clad with gypsum boards on both sides; insulation (mineral wool) in the cavity for acoustics and fire resistance; quick, dry construction; moisture-resistant boards for wet areas |
| GFRG panel partitions | Glass fibre reinforced gypsum panels — rapid construction |
| Fibre cement / cement bonded particle board partitions | Boards on metal or timber frames — moisture and termite resistant |
| Plaster slab partitions | Precast gypsum/plaster slabs |
| Metal lath and plaster partitions | Expanded metal lath on studs, plastered |
| Wood-wool and straw board partitions | Lightweight, acoustic panels |
| Aluminium and modular office partitions | Prefabricated panels (glass, laminates) — easily relocated |
| Movable / folding / sliding partitions | Operable walls in halls, conference rooms |
Cavity walls
A cavity wall consists of two separate leaves (skins) of masonry with a continuous cavity between them, the leaves being connected by metal wall ties.
Purpose / advantages
- Prevents rain penetration — water reaching the outer leaf cannot cross the cavity to the inner leaf.
- Thermal insulation — the air space (and insulation within it) reduces heat transfer.
- Sound insulation — improved compared with solid walls of similar weight.
- Prevents efflorescence and dampness on the inner face.
- Economy — thinner leaves can be used compared with a thick solid wall for equivalent weather resistance.
- The inner leaf can be of cheaper or load-bearing units; the outer leaf of facing bricks.
Disadvantages
- Requires skilled workmanship and supervision.
- Mortar droppings can bridge the cavity and transmit dampness.
- Wall ties may corrode if not galvanised/stainless.
- Additional details (cavity trays, weep holes, closers) increase cost.
- Openings, junctions and fixings need special care; somewhat lower strength than an equivalent solid wall.
Construction details
| Detail | Practice |
|---|---|
| Leaves | Commonly a half-brick outer leaf and an inner leaf of half or one brick (inner leaf usually load-bearing) |
| Cavity width | Commonly about 50–75 mm (up to about 100 mm; wider cavities need stronger ties) |
| Wall ties | Galvanised steel or stainless steel ties (wire butterfly, double-triangle, twisted flat strips) with a drip at the centre so water does not travel along the tie; commonly spaced about 900 mm horizontally and 450 mm vertically, staggered, with extra ties near openings |
| Base of cavity | Cavity carried down below the DPC level (commonly at least about 150 mm) and the bottom filled with lean concrete, sloped outward; weep holes (open perpends) at the base of the outer leaf |
| DPC | Horizontal DPC in both leaves at plinth level; vertical DPC at jambs of openings where the cavity is closed |
| Cavity trays | Stepped DPC over lintels and openings (and above obstructions) sloping outward to direct water to weep holes in the outer leaf |
| Closing the cavity | At jambs, sills and top of walls using closers with DPC; cavity closed at eaves/parapet with capping |
| Keeping the cavity clean | A timber batten placed in the cavity on ties is raised as work proceeds to catch mortar droppings; cleaning holes at the base |
| Ventilation | Air bricks where required to keep the cavity dry |
| Insulation | Partial fill (insulation boards fixed to the inner leaf, leaving a clear air gap) or full fill (mineral wool, beads) — with care to avoid bridging moisture |
| Construction sequence | Both leaves raised together; ties placed as courses rise |