Figure 1: Supports for Stone Cladding.

For stone cladding on structural steel supports, this is the

kind of provision for adjustment, with slotted connections, shims, and brackets fabricated on site to
suit, that needs to be planned in advance if improvised solutions devised under the pressure of
construction deadlines are to be avoided. Masonry Canada

Construction Tolerances
Abstract
Problems with construction tolerances are common causes of impaired performance and unacceptable appearance
in construction, and are potential sources of liability to both building designers and contractors. This article
identifies some issues that can arise when tolerances are not adequately considered in the design of construction
details. A brick veneer / steel stud wall detail serves to demonstrate both potential problems and solutions. All
construction requires tolerances to be considered in design, if problems are to be avoided. Professionals must
ensure that accommodation for tolerances is designed into the work from the outset.

Objectives
After reading this article you should

1. understand why tolerances need careful consideration when designing a detail,

2. know where to locate specifications for standard tolerances for concrete, steel, and masonry construction,
3. understand what features are needed in a wall detail for brick veneer / steel stud construction on a concrete
frame with a steel shelf angle (the specific example discussed in detail), to allow it to be constructed within
allowed tolerances, and
4. understand the need to apply a similar approach to other details.

Construction Tolerances Page 1

Introduction
All kinds of assemblies, from microchips to buildings, have to deal with variations in the sizes and positions of
parts. In buildings, each stage of construction is often adapted to the variations in the previous stages. Parts are
made to measure or modified to fit. In most other industries parts are made interchangeable instead. To succeed,
either approach requires planning at the design stage. It is nearly impossible to make any two things absolutely
identical. Interchangeable parts are interchangeable, not because they are exactly the same, but because their
variation is coordinated with the variation of the parts they fit. When nuts and bolts are made, manufacturing
tolerances are coordinated in advance so that any nut will fit any bolt, with enough play between them to
accommodate variation.

The alternative cut-to-fit approach also requires advance planning. Unless adjustable connections or cutting
allowances allow for expected variation, parts may have to be cut or adjusted too much to suit their intended
functions. Errors that are too expensive to correct often force improvised and potentially detrimental alteration of
details. Hence, designers have a part to play in making buildings fit together properly.

The Problem
Most designers think the builder should just cope
when parts are built out of position, and builders Concrete Tolerances. Not all standards and codes
are accustomed to doing so, often all too literally. address tolerances in a systematic way. One that does is CSA
Their methods are sometimes rough and ready. A23.1, which governs tolerances for concrete construction. In
When a part is built too far out of position to fit, it addition to setting default tolerances, an appendix suggests that
is more common to alter the details to ensure the series
acceptable finished appearance, even at the
3, 5, 8, 12, 20, 30, 50,... millimetres plus or minus
expense of function, rather than demolish and
rebuild. represents steps that are more or less equal increments of cost and
effort. This series should be remembered when setting tolerances
It is not difficult to find: for other construction types. As tolerances are tightened,
difficulty and cost accelerate.
• brickwork with too little bearing, because the
structure was built too far back from the face Default concrete tolerances that apply if the professional designer
does not specify otherwise are shown in Tables 1 and 2.
of the wall;
• modified shelf angles, either burned off at the Table 1: Alignment of Concrete Members
outer edge, or with structurally inadequate
extensions; Dimension, mm Tolerance, ± mm
• brick cut to make thinner veneer, and insula-
tion omitted altogether, in order to keep a fin- 0 - 2400 5
ished wall flat where the structure behind it
was too close to the face of the wall; 2400 - 4800 8
• precast panels with joints varying in width
from zero to more that twice the detailed joint
4800 - 9600 12
size; 9600 - 14,400 20
• fasteners for steel stud track that can be
removed without tools, because they were 14,400 - 19,200 30
placed too close to edge of slab, spalling the
concrete. 19,200 - 57,600 50
above 57,600 as specified by designer

Construction Tolerances Page 2

 Concrete Tolerances, cont.
Table 2: Horizontal Offsets Between
Floors, for Concrete

Dimension, mm Tolerance, ± mm
0 - 300 8
300 - 1000 12
above 1000 20

Vertical surfaces and edges are required to be

plumb within 1:400 up to a maximum of plus or
minus 40 mm.

CSA A23.1 states concrete tolerances

that are plus or minus the value stated,
90% of the time. So, unless details
accommodate greater variation, expect
errors to require correction 10% of the
time on average, through no fault of the
builder. To make details work 99% of the
time requires 1.5 times the tolerance
specified in the standard.

No single error can be rejected using a tolerance of

this type. To reject a contractor’s work you would
need multiple measurements, and a statistical
estimate of the variance of the population from
which the measurements were taken, to determine if
there was a significant difference between the 10%
Figure 2: Variations in Concrete Construction. Some error rate allowed by the standard, and the
window openings here are misaligned from floor to floor by contractor’s actual error rate. To make the allocation
more than 100 mm. Building Envelope Engineering Ltd. of risk clear to the builder, details should show how
much variation they will accommodate, and
contracts should assign to the contractor the cost of correcting instances that don’t fit. The contractor can then decide how
to balance the cost of correction against the cost of precision layout and rigid formwork.

It is not always obvious how these tolerances are to be applied. Perhaps two floors must have their edges within 12 mm of
each other in vertical alignment at all corresponding points, 99% of the time. However, if the overall dimension of the slab
is 15 metres, they are allowed to be different by as much as plus or minus 45 mm, 99% of the time. For our example, floor
to floor alignment, which is the most restrictive tolerance that might apply (plus or minus 8 mm), requires a detail to
accommodate plus or minus 12 mm at the very least to get a 1% failure rate. Therefore, a detail able to accommodate plus
or minus 25 mm is more realistic.

Construction Tolerances Page 3

The Problem, cont.
When gaps are designed into assemblies to provide for
structural live and dead load deflections, creep, and
differential movement caused by thermal expansion
and contraction or moisture, oversized or
mispositioned parts may reduce the required gaps.
Such problems are not confined to the brick veneer
steel stud example. Tolerances need to be considered in
the design of all building assemblies.
Builder and designer often share responsibility for
these problems. Construction variations commonly
exceed established norms. However, applicable codes
and standards often explicitly allow variations that
details do not accommodate. When there is no formal
codification of allowed variation, the common
practices of trades involved establish de facto
standards. Designers who do not state an alternative
implicitly adopt these standards, even if they are
unaware of having done so.
The wall cavities measured during a study by CMHC a
few years ago, were as much as 17 mm smaller, and as
much as 20 mm larger than the dimension indicated in
the details. The range from smallest to largest on the
same building averaged 19 mm. The difference
between the largest and smallest cavities on a building
was never less than 10 mm, and in the worst case it was
37 mm. For most construction types, there is not much
information available about what levels of accuracy are
Steel Tolerances. CAN/CSA S16.1 defines
tolerances for steel structures. Unlike the standard for
concrete, it does not state an implied reject rate. The
standard provides the following tolerances:
plumbness of columns: to within 1:1000, to a
cumulative total of up to -25 or + 50 mm in the first 20
stories with an additional allowance of 2 mm per story up
to a maximum of -50 or +75 mm for taller structures.
alignment of horizontal members: in plan to within
1:1000, except that plus or minus 3 mm is always
acceptable and more than plus or minus 6 mm is never
acceptable.
Construction Tolerances
being achieved. Similar levels of variation do occur in
other kinds of construction.
Designers should explicitly determine if the tolerances
implied by the relationships between parts and
provisions for adjustment in a detail are realistic. If a
detail cannot accommodate variation that is acceptable
under the applicable standards, by established trade
practice, or by tolerances stated in the specifications,
what will happen on site? The detail would have to be
revised, perhaps at additional cost. Or, the builder may
leave some insulation off to make room for the
structure to avoid an ugly bulge in the wall. Some
brickwork may be left insecure because of inadequate
bearing. If the designer allows for adequate tolerances,
and the builder meets them, there will be a great
reduction of such problems.
The Solution
The designer should take the following steps to avoid
building problems into a detail:
• Determine how much each component can be
expected to vary in size and position. For some
items there may be no published standards, but
professional designers should allow for some toler-
ance, and specify what will be accepted. If nothing
is said, it is reasonable for standard trade practice
to prevail whatever it may be. For many items,
applicable standards will state tolerances.
elevation of horizontal members: correct to within plus
or minus 10 mm and not sloping more than 1:500. If they
have connections that provide adjustment, then the
maximum slope is 1:1000. Where ends meet, alignment is
required within plus or minus 3 mm, or within plus or
minus 2 mm if the connections provide for adjustment.
If a shelf angle is fixed in relation to a concrete
structure, the position of the angle will be physically
dependent on the tolerance allowed for the concrete. It
will not meet the steel tolerances unless
adjustment is provided in the connection.
Page 4
• Look at each step in the order of construction. Will brickwork at it’s extreme position reduce the cavity to
less than the minimum needed for venting and drainage, exceed the span or adjustment of the ties, or have
inadequate bearing? Can the shelf angle be allowed to wander freely within allowed tolerance without con-
straining the brickwork? Follow the order of construction of the detail through mentally, asking at each step
what will happen subsequently if the component just constructed is at it’s allowable smallest, largest, furthest
up, furthest in, or other extreme of size and position. Can the remaining components be properly added,
with allowance for their extremes as well?
• If it seems unreasonable to accommodate the established tolerances, consider specifying narrower
tolerances. However, make sure that the reduction is physically and economically possible, and communi-
cated clearly to the builder.
• Revise the detail if necessary so that adjustments are available to compensate for extremes at
each stage, to make completion of the detail possible without reducing tolerances for subsequent stages.

It is important when thinking about tolerances, or laying out the next stage of work at the site, to refer
all measurements back to a common datum, so that errors do not accumulate.

Ÿ 90 Brick Veneer
An Example
Ÿ 25 Cavity
Ÿ 75 Rigid Insulation To illustrate how this process might work, take
Ÿ Air/Vapour Barrier the example of the detail at the floor line for a
Ÿ 12.7 Gypsum Sheathing brick veneer wall, supported on steel shelf
Ÿ 92 Steel Stud Framing angles on a multi-storey concrete building, with
Ÿ 12.7 Gypsum Board
steel stud backup. Figure 3 shows a simplified
version of such a typical detail at the edge of a
concrete floor slab. Are there any potential
problems? How can they be prevented?

First, what are the applicable tolerances? Figure

4 shows how the masonry tolerance specified
by CSA for the face of the wall (plus or minus
20 mm) would affect the detail. The shading
centered on the faces of the brickwork shows
where it might fall in relation to the nominal
positions of other components. Assume for the
moment that the insulation and steel studs can
be positioned with perfect accuracy. The cavity
could be as little as 5 mm or as much as 45 mm
Figure 3: Typical Brick Veneer/Steel Stud Slab Edge Detail due to allowed variation in the brickwork alone.
If 25 mm is the minimum cavity for effective
drainage and drying of the cavity, either the
nominal cavity has to be increased by 20 mm, or the brickwork must be held to a closer tolerance.

The shaded zone around the slab and shelf angle in Figure 4 describes the extremes allowed for these components
(on the assumption that the angle is cast into the slab). The tolerance shown is plus or minus 20 mm up or down,
and plus or minus 25 mm in or out.

When the shelf angle is as far outward as this allows, it will stick out past the brick face, even if the brick is
halfway between extreme positions. The same thing happens if the brick is at the allowed inward position with the

Construction Tolerances Page 5

 shelf in the indicated position. On the other hand, if the angle is at the
inward limit, even the average brick position has too little bearing.

Since the standard tolerance for brickwork seems larger than

necessary, and because the exterior wall should look flat from the
street, the brick tolerance might be reduced to plus or minus 5 mm
from the plus or minus 20 mm stipulated in CSA A371.

However, unless it can be adjusted relative to the slab, the shelf angle will
sometimes stick out of the wall, and sometimes provide inadequate
bearing. Unless we plan to cut and fit, burning off projections or welding
extensions to the shelf, adjustment must be provided. Consider too the
vertical direction and the tolerances allowed for bed joints in brickwork.
This will lead to the conclusion that adjustment is required vertically as
well as horizontally.

Brick Tolerance
Vertical Tolerances
Slab Tolerance

Figure 5 shows the reduced tolerance previously suggested for the

Figure 4: Brick Veneer & Concrete
brickwork. For the shelf angle the tolerance shown is plus or minus 5 mm.
Slab Tolerances The shelf angle size must change so that it and the slab do not interfere in
the worst case. The detail is still not complete, since just how the new
angle relates to the air barrier and insulation, and how it connects to the slab, is not indicated. In the vertical
direction, if a bed joint of 13 mm is indicated as the norm for the first course, then the positioning of the shelf angle
could result in a joint anywhere between 8 and 18 mm. This leaves the mason 2 mm additional leeway at each end
of the allowed range of 6 - 20 mm for bed joint thickness.

When the brick coursing is worked out in relation to the floor-to-floor dimension, the following dimensions should
be added:

• thickness of shelf angle Masonry Tolerances. The tolerances in CSA A371 were
• thickness of membrane and metal flashing on previously non-mandatory, but as of 1994 they apply
top of the shelf automatically unless the designer specifies otherwise. Like the
• 13 mm first bed joint standard for steel construction, A371 does not state an implied
• number of courses of brick times 200/3, less reject rate.
10 mm from the total (assuming metric brick)
Table 3: Masonry Tolerances
• minimum size of joint under shelf (to permit
anticipated movements and changes of Item Tolerance, mm
dimension determined in consultation with
the designer of the building structure) Wall face location ±20
• 5 mm shelf angle tolerance
• 5 mm brick tolerance Head joint alignment ±13
Lateral alignment ±13
The open joint under the shelf angle, required to
avoid causing the brickwork to carry unintended Level of bed joints and exposed ±13
loads imposed by the building structure, should wall tops
appear in the drawings as the sum of the last 3
items. Level of concealed bed joints ±25

Construction Tolerances Page 6

 Horizontal Tolerances

We know that the cavity must be increased if the minimum

size is actually to be 25 mm. How much tolerance should be
allowed for positioning of the steel stud framing (and hence
the sheathing, air barrier, and insulation)? Assume a
tolerance of plus or minus 5 mm for the location of the
framing. (The best of the buildings measured by Keller
achieved a total range of 10 mm, so this tolerance is
possible.) With these tolerances, the cavity should be
indicated as 35 mm at least, and the framing should be
located 90 mm (for the brick), plus 35 mm (for the cavity),
plus 75 mm (for the insulation), plus 3 mm (for the air Slab Tolerance
barrier including laps), plus 13 mm (for the sheathing), or a
Shelf Tolerance
total of 216 mm or more back of the desired exterior face of
wall. Brick Tolerance

Where does this put the edge of slab? In the original detail,
Figure 5: Revised Tolerances for Slab,
the steel stud track would stick out past the edge of the slab
half of the time, by up to at least 25 mm. The inside flange Shelf, and Brick Veneer
of the track would be 92 mm, on average, from the edge of
the slab, but as little as 67 mm in some cases, putting a fastener located in the centre of the track only 25
mm from the edge of slab. If the minimum edge distance specified by the fastener manufacturer is more
than this, there will be a problem even if the track and the fastener are placed precisely. For example,
minimum edge distance specified for powder-actuated low velocity direct fasteners is typically 50 mm.

Masonry Tolerances, cont. Fasteners

Table 3: Masonry Tolerances Other fastener types require anywhere
from 1.5 to 3.0 times depth of
Item Tolerance, mm embedment, which depends in turn on
Level of load-bearing wall tops ±13 load, concrete strength, and fastener size.
No matter what fastener is selected, it is
Level of non-load-bearing wall ±20 unlikely that less than 50 mm minimum
tops will do. This means that the normal
position for edge of slab must be 50 mm
Section thickness +13 to -6 (or more, for minimum edge distance
depending on fastener type), plus around
Typical 10 mm joint thickness ±3
10 mm (for fastener placement), plus 25
Bed joint thickness 6 - 20 mm (for slab position error), minus 46
mm (half the stud depth). That is a total
Flatness 6 in 3000 of 35 to 40 mm from the outside face of
framing. The error in position of the
The tolerance for wall face location is bigger than necessary, except that framing does not enter into this
when details provide no adjustment, it may be the only way the mason calculation, if the framing is positioned
can accommodate errors in prior work. However, most relative to the shelf angle after the angle
designers like to see walls that are flat to better than is installed and adjusted.
plus or minus 20 mm over 10 metres.

Construction Tolerances Page 7

Where the slab should be located depends in part
on how the stud track fasteners are placed. Are
their locations eyeballed, measured relative to
slab edge, or measured from face of framing? If
the fasteners are individually placed by
measurement from the slab edge, and if they do
not have to be centred on the track, the framing
can be placed closer to the nominal slab edge
position than if they are required to be centred.
Clearly, the insulation at edge of slab will be less
than 75 mm thick, most of the time. Eliminating
the insulation at slab edge, and securing the shelf
angle to the slab with shims and grout has been
advocated as a way of keeping this location dry
and frost-free. The energy-efficient alternative is
to use a smaller shelf angle, supported on
brackets, with the space behind it filled with
insulation that can adapt to available space, either
foam-in-place, or, if firestopping is also needed,
ceramic fibre batt.
Other Wall Component Tolerances. For steel studs,
the only commonly referenced tolerance is in the National Master
Specification: 1:1000, a level of accuracy that seems
unreasonable. For fasteners, manufacturer’s design manuals
generally give minimum distances to edges, but no definite
information about how accurately mechanics can place them is
available. Most other components do not have mandatory
tolerances. Where there is no accepted standard to rely on,
designers should still allow for variation, based on their own field
experience or on consultation with others,
A Blessing in Disguise. Tolerances don’t add up!
Tolerances in the example are based on adjustment of the 10%
reject rate implied by the concrete standard to encompass 99% of
the expected variation. However, the slab and track won’t be at
opposite extremes 1% of the time. This should only happen
0.0025% of the time unless one error tends to make the other
more likely (as is the case when errors are allowed to
accumulate). Adding tolerances is conservative.

Fitting Pieces Together

We have now

• Determined how much each component can be expected to vary in size and position.
• Looked at each step in the order of construction.
• Proposed a change to the standard, but aesthetically unacceptable, tolerances for brickwork.

It remains to revise the detail so that adjustments are available to compensate for extremes at each
stage. This will make completion of the detail possible without reducing tolerances for subsequent stages. One
possible revision is to adopt the slab edge detail shown in Figure 6. The slab position tolerance is the same as
before. The brick position tolerance is plus or minus 5 mm. The shelf angle tolerance is 5 mm in any direction. The
steel stud position tolerance is a more reasonable plus or minus 10 mm.

The shelf angle is shown supported on HSS brackets, with coarse adjustment of position provided by selecting an
appropriate bracket size from a range of sizes, and positioning each bracket on the slab in relation to the datum
floor level, not the local floor level. This brings the shelf angle close enough to make minor adjustments with shims
and slotted bolt holes. While this appears more complicated than the typical detail in Figure 3, it is not necessarily
more expensive. An angle cast in the slab would have to be heavier, because of the increased moment arm
supporting the brick. It would also have to be cut when it projects beyond the brick, and extended when it does not
provide enough bearing, and touched up afterward to prevent corrosion. Additional modifications would be needed
in the vertical direction, concealed behind a larger flashing. A larger angle, with shims and grout between it and the
floor slab is a possible solution. The resulting significant thermal bridge may be seen as an advantage, or
disadvantage, depending on climate, location, and design objectives. The cavity would be larger than necessary so
that at the bottom where the shelf obstructs it, there would be a minimum of 25 mm to ensure drainage.

When the shelf angle is too far inward by 5 mm, and the brick is too far out by the same amount, there will still be
65 mm of bearing. At the other extreme, the toe of the angle will be 5 mm back from face of brick (on average, it

Construction Tolerances Page 8


Ÿ 90 Brick Veneer
Ÿ 52 Cavity
Ÿ 75 Rigid Insulation
Ÿ Air/Vapour Barrier
Ÿ 12.7 Gypsum Sheathing
Ÿ 92 Steel Stud Framing
Ÿ 12.7 Gypsum Board
HSS SUPPORT BRACKET,
SIZE TO SUIT, WELDED TO
SLAB EDGE WELD
PLATES
Tolerances
BOLTED CONNECTION:
HOR. SLOT IN SHELF, VERT.
SLOT IN HSS BRACKET,
STEEL SHIMS AS REQ'D
Figure 6: Slab Edge Detail
be impaired by having fasteners consistently off the centre of the track, and that 27 mm is adequate tool clearance
for installing the fastener. When they are installed, the fasteners have to be positioned from the slab edge, not the
stud track.
should be 15 mm back). From the preceding
discussion, we know that the bed joint indicated
should be 13 mm, and that the gap under the shelf
angle, if 5 mm of movement is anticipated, should
be indicated as at least 15 mm. A larger gap is
needed if sealant will be used.
The problem of minimum fastener distance to
slab edge is resolved by allowing fasteners to be
off the centre of the stud track. The stud tracks
50 MIN.
should be positioned relative to the same datum
used to position the shelf angle. Cumulative
errors would result if they were measured from
the edge of the slab, or the toe of the shelf angle.
If the studs are at their outward limit where the
slab is at the inward limit, the track might hang
out beyond the edge of the slab by up to 22 mm.
If the fasteners have a 50 mm minimum edge
distance they might have to be 75 mm from the
outside face of stud, leaving 27 mm clear from
the centerline of the fastener to the inside leg of
CMHC Best Practice Guide for BV/SS
the track. Before deciding that this is acceptable,
confirmation is needed that performance will not

The cavity, nominally about 52 mm allowing for bumps in the air barrier, could actually be anywhere from 37 mm
(with the studs all the way out and the brick all the way in) to 67 mm. The distance from face of insulation to the
middle of the wythe of brick, normally 97 mm, will vary from 82 to 112 mm, a range of 30 mm. Ties fitting this
range may not be a standard size. More to the point, because the other halves of the ties won’t be fastened to the
studs with perfect accuracy, two sizes of wire insert will have to be available to the mason at the jobsite, so that he
can keep the ties bedded in the middle 30 mm of the brick wythe.

The vertical direction for the brick tolerances has already been considered. What about the stud length? If all the
studs are precut, allowance is needed for errors in cutting. Consider also the expected structural deflection, plus 20
mm for variation in slab position. If the studs are cut 30 mm shorter than the average floor to ceiling dimension,
then a connection is needed (such as clips) that still engages the studs and maintains the required stiffness when the
gap from end of stud to underside of slab is 50 mm. The nested track connection shown will require studs to be cut-
to-fit or selected from an assortment of lengths.

Conclusion
Details that don't take allowed tolerances into account don't work on the job. They can lead to improvisations that
may, or may not, impair future performance. “May” is more likely. Good practice dictates that professionals should
design enough leeway into the details to allow for acceptable tolerances. This will take some extra effort in design,
but if a designer gets a reputation for buildable details, or if he does design-build work, the added effort should pay
off in the long run. Unless the project's specifications explicitly supplant the tolerances specified in applicable
standards or established by trade practice, the designer could be found responsible for resulting problems if the

Construction Tolerances Page 9

details do not accommodate those tolerances. If nothing else, he'd have to accept brick walls as much as 20 mm out
of plane. This has not always been true - tolerances are gradually being incorporated into the mandatory sections of
standards that once mentioned them in non-mandatory appendices, or not at all.

At present, there is not enough information available about most construction materials and methods to determine
with confidence the probability of an error of a given magnitude. When standards use statistical tolerances (as in
the case of concrete), the contract should establish a definite cut-off between what the details will accommodate,
and what the builder will be required to correct at his own expense. A tolerance of “plus or minus 15 mm 90% of
the time” cannot be used to reject any single instance and does not rule out larger errors with lower frequencies of
occurrence.

A simple, if conservative, way to see if a detail will accommodate construction tolerances is to take the following
steps:

• determine the tolerances specified in standards, or achievable for each material or system involved,
• work through the order of construction, checking to see if positions or tolerances at each stage are constrained
by possible errors in previous stages,
• consider establishing tolerances different from the standards, if this seems likely to be the most economical
way to resolve conflicts, and
• revise the detail by adding adjustable connections, variable toppings, larger and more variable gaps, or other
means of adjustment to eliminate tolerance overlaps.

Zero tolerance is not reasonable, or even possible. Provide for what you think is reasonable, and think through the
consequences to make sure the stated requirements are consistent with one another. If the applicable standards and
personal experience don’t provide enough information, consult with experienced trades people. (For example, ask a
mason about concrete tolerances). Finally, let the builder know what you’ve allowed for, and who has to pay when
accidents happen anyway.

Questions
1. What is the problem with locating the next component in an assembly by measuring from the last one?
2. How far can the edge of a concrete slab be, horizontally, from the position given in the drawings, before it is
not acceptable under A23.1?
3. How much variation in horizontal edge of slab position do you think your details should accommodate?
4. How much variation must a detail accommodate in relation to specified concrete tolerances to limit the “no
fault” reject rate to 1%.?
5. How far up or down can a concrete slab be away from correct elevation before it is not acceptable under
A23.1?
6. Where two sections of shelf angle meet end to end, how much misalignment is acceptable if the connections
are fixed?
7. How far away from correct elevation can a steel shelf angle be?
8. If 25 mm is the minimum wall cavity that will drain and dry properly, what is wrong with showing a 25 mm
cavity in a detail?
9. What is the permitted range of thickness for the first bed joint of a masonry wythe?
10. What is the permitted range of thickness for a nominal 10 mm mortar joint?
11. Describe how to evaluate a detail so as to avoid interference fits, lack of adequate bearing, and similar diffi-
culties in construction.

Construction Tolerances Page 10

Answers to Questions
1. Cumulative error.
2. There is no limit for a single instance.
3. 0 to 12 mm: Good Luck!, 12 to 18 mm: you’re an optimist, 18 to 30 mm: you’re a realist, 30 mm or more:
you’ve been around the jobsite too much!.
4. 1.5 times the specified tolerance.
5. There is no limit for a single instance.
6. Plus or minus 3 mm.
7. 10 mm up or down.
8. The as-built cavity will be too small 50% of the time, at best, unless some other element of the wall can be
adjusted to maintain the minimum dimension.
9. 6 to 20 mm.
10. 7 to 13 mm.
11. Imagine the order of construction, and work out if the detail still works with each element built at any
extreme of allowed size and position, taking advantage of adjustments provided in the detail, as follows:
• determine the tolerances specified in standards, or achievable for each material or system involved,
• work through the order of construction, checking to see if positions or tolerances at each stage are con-
strained by possible errors in previous stages,
• consider establishing tolerances different from the standards, if this seems likely to be the most economi-
cal way to resolve conflicts, and
• revise the detail by adding adjustable connections, variable toppings, larger and more variable gaps, or
other means of adjustment to eliminate tolerance conflicts.

References
Canadian Standards Association. Masonry Construction for Buildings (CSA A371-94). Rexdale, CSA 1994.

Canadian Standards Association. Concrete Materials and Methods of Concrete Construction (CSA A23.1-
94). Rexdale, CSA 1994.

Canadian Standards Association. Limit States Design of Steel Structures (CSA S16.1-M89). Rexdale, CSA
1989. (Current Edition is 1994).

Posey, James B. Brick Veneer Steel Stud (Best Practice Guide: Building Technology). Ottawa, Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation 1994.

Useful Information
Canadian Standards Association. Tel: 1-800-463-6727
Fax: (461) 747-4287
Web: www.csa.ca
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, Research Division. Web: www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/research/highrise
Ontario Association of Architects

This article was prepared by CMHC with funding provided by the Government of Canada under the National
Housing Act, and by the Ontario Association of Architects. The detail used as an example is one of several in
CMHC’s “Brick Veneer Steel Stud, Best Practice Guide, Building Technology” Cat. No. NH15-132/1996E, also
available in French, one of many items of information published by CMHC with the assistance of federal funds.

Construction Tolerances Page 11