Wall ties connect the outer and inner leaf in cavity walls and facing walls. Here are the minimum numbers per wall type, edge rules and when the ties must be corrosion-resistant.
Introduction
Wall ties (wire ties) are a safety-relevant element: they are the only mechanical connection between the outer plaster/outer leaf and the inner leaf. Quantity, placement and corrosion protection are regulated in EN 1996-1-1 and the Danish national annex.
Minimum number per wall type
| Wall type | Min. binders/m² | Max. mutual distance |
|---|---|---|
| Cavity wall (combination wall) | 4 stk./m² | 400 mm |
| Shell wall (anchorage) | 2 stk./m² | 400 mm |
| Double wall | 16 stk./m² | — |
| Massiv mur (≥ 1/1-stens) | 16 × Ø4 mm wire ties/m² | — |
Bending and corrosion protection
- 01Bend radius: minimum 1.5 × binder diameter.
- 02Hot-dip galvanised ties MUST NOT be bent/straightened — the zinc layer cracks and the corrosion protection is lost.
- 03Hot-dip galvanised is only permitted in a passive environment (MX1).
- 04Outside a passive environment the ties must be corrosion-resistant: in MX2 and MX3, stainless steel 1.4301 or tin bronze meets the requirement according to Danish experience, and with salt (MX4) molybdenum-alloyed stainless steel is used (Mur & Tag, «Wall ties»; DS/EN 1996-2 annex C).
Binder types
- 01Wire tie (Z- or ø-/hairpin shape) — the common connection in cavity and facing wall, bent from stainless wire and laid in the bed joint.
- 02Flat binder — flat binder for thin joints and special connections.
- 03Adjustable / sliding tie (telescopic) — allows vertical movement between front and rear wall; used where the rear wall settles or shrinks differently from the front wall (e.g. concrete rear wall or great heights).
- 04Insulation holder / clips — a washer or clips on the tie that holds the insulation board pressed up against the back wall in the cavity.
Diameters and built-in
Tie wires come in diameters such as Ø3, Ø4 and Ø5 mm — the larger the load and cavity, the stronger the tie. The tie must be led well into the bed joint in both the outer and inner wall so it has full bearing in both; the necessary embedding depth and the permitted diameter are stated in the tie's performance declaration (DoP) according to DS/EN 845-1. Bend radius is at least 1.5 × the tie diameter, so the wire is not weakened at the bend.
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