Experimental Design, Construction, and Performance Evaluation of a Masonry Parapet Wall Using Local Materials

Abstract

Parapet walls serve as critical components in building construction, providing architectural aesthetics and essential safety functions, particularly at rooftop edges. This study presents the design, construction, and experimental evaluation of a manually constructed masonry parapet wall, built using locally available hollow concrete blocks bonded with a cement-sand mortar mix and finished with a cement-based external plaster layer. The objective was to assess the wall’s mechanical, environmental, and geometric performance through standardized civil engineering test procedures. Five categories of tests were conducted: compressive strength of block units (in accordance with ASTM C140 and BS EN 772-1), deflection under static loading (ASTM E72), resistance to moisture penetration (BS EN 12865), thermal conductivity performance (ASTM C518), and geometric alignment accuracy (evaluated using procedures adapted from BS 5606). Testing was conducted under controlled environmental conditions of 28–32 °C temperature and 55–65% relative humidity to simulate real-world construction environments. Experimental results showed that the average compressive strength of the blocks was 5.8 N/mm², exceeding the minimum required standard. The wall exhibited a maximum deflection of 1.3 mm under applied load, a moisture ingress depth of 0.3 cm after 24 hours of water exposure, and an internal temperature rise of only 1.5 °C. Geometric deviations in verticality and level were minimal, measured at 2.5 mm/m and 1.8 mm/m, respectively. The findings confirm that the wall meets structural, moisture, and thermal performance criteria and highlight the feasibility of constructing safe, durable, and cost-effective parapet walls in resource-constrained settings using basic tools and materials.