Building Code Glossary
Bed Joint: Building Code Definition
How the IBC 2009 define bed joint, where the wording differs, and which chapters depend on the term.
On this page
Last updated September 7, 2026 · Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The [ICC code library](https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes) publishes the current model text and the [ICC adoption maps](https://www.iccsafe.org/advocacy/code-adoption-maps/) show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Direct answer
Bed joint is a defined term in the International Building Code (IBC) 2009, in Masonry. The code's own words are: “The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is laid.” No other I-Code in this corpus defines it, so the IBC 2009 definition is the one to work from. The term is used in 6 chapters of this corpus, most often in Masonry (IBC 2009), Wall Construction (IRC 2009), Wall Covering (IRC 2009). These pages transcribe the 2009 model text; verify the definition against the edition and amendments your authority having jurisdiction has adopted. Record the jurisdiction, the adopted edition, the application date and any local amendment that rewrites the definition before you use it on a live project, because a term redefined by amendment changes every requirement that depends on it.
Content and cited inputs reviewed by Scott Barrington, Harth founder and architectural technology specialist · Published 2026-09-07 · Updated 2026-09-07.
What does this term mean?
Bed Joint — IBC 2009, Masonry:
The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is laid.
What must be verified before using this guidance?
Bed Joint is defined once in this corpus, in the Masonry chapter of the International Building Code (IBC) 2009:
The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is laid.
Where bed joint is used in the code
The term appears in 6 chapters of the 2009 I-Codes hosted here. The chapters that lean on it hardest are the ones to read next.
| Chapter | Code | Mentions |
|---|---|---|
| Masonry | IBC 2009 | 15 |
| Wall Construction | IRC 2009 | 14 |
| Wall Covering | IRC 2009 | 8 |
| Chimneys and Fireplaces | IRC 2009 | 4 |
| Soils and Foundations | IBC 2009 | 3 |
| Definitions | IBC 2009 | 1 |
The term in use
How the code actually writes about bed joint, quoted from the 2009 text hosted here:
Joint reinforcement shall be placed in the bed joint immediately below and above openings in the panel.
The terms bed joint is built out of
The definition above leans on 3 other defined terms. Each carries its own code definition, and a local amendment to any of them changes what bed joint covers:
- Masonry Unit — IBC 2009: Brick, tile, stone, glass block or concrete block conforming to the requirements specified in Section 2103.
- Masonry — IBC 2009: A built-up construction or combination of building units or materials of clay, shale, concrete, glass, gypsum, stone or other approved units bonded together with or without mortar or grout or other accepted methods of joining.
- Mortar — IBC 2009: A plastic mixture of approved cementitious materials, fine aggregates and water used to bond masonry or other structural units.
Bed Joint: what to open, and in what order
Every row is a document this term depends on. The ICC code library and the ICC adoption maps cover the middle rows.
| Check | Where | Confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Read the definition in the adopted IBC | Masonry | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Masonry (IBC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Wall Construction (IRC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Wall Covering (IRC 2009) | |
| Re-check the requirement that uses it | Chimneys and Fireplaces (IRC 2009) | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Masonry Unit | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Masonry | |
| Confirm the dependent definition | Mortar | |
| Local amendment to any of the above | Jurisdiction's amendment list |
A research aid, not a code determination. The authority having jurisdiction decides which edition and which amendments apply.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all glossary guidance
- Masonry Unit: Building Code Definition
- Masonry: Building Code Definition
- Mortar: Building Code Definition
Sources and method
Definitions quoted from the 2009 International Codes as transcribed in this site's building-codes collection, with the source chapter linked for each quotation. Usage counts are computed over the chapters hosted here, one copy per code. The ICC code library publishes the current model text and the ICC adoption maps show which edition a jurisdiction has adopted; those sources control.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What is the code definition of bed joint?
The International Building Code (IBC) 2009 defines it in Masonry as: “The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is laid.” The 2009 model text is reproduced here; the definition that binds your project is the one in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted, as amended locally.
Which parts of the code depend on bed joint?
In this corpus the term is used across 6 chapters, led by Masonry in the IBC 2009. Those are the sections whose scope moves if the definition is amended locally, so read them together with Chapter 2 rather than on their own.
What is the difference between head joints and bed joints in masonry?
Masonry is a separate defined term. The IBC 2009 defines it as: “A built-up construction or combination of building units or materials of clay, shale, concrete, glass, gypsum, stone or other approved units bonded together with or without mortar or grout or other accepted methods of joining.” That is not the same as bed joint, which the IBC 2009 defines as “The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is laid.” — read both before applying either, and confirm the wording in the edition your jurisdiction has adopted.
What is a masonry bed joint?
In the 2009 I-Codes hosted here it is a defined term rather than a description. The IBC 2009 states, in Masonry: “The horizontal layer of mortar on which a masonry unit is laid.” It is defined in IBC 2009. It is not the same as Masonry, which the IBC 2009 defines separately as “A built-up construction or combination of building units or materials of clay, shale, concrete, glass, gypsum, stone or other approved units bonded together with or without mortar or grout or other accepted methods of joining.” Because it is a defined term, whatever the adopted edition says it means is what every section using it means — so check Chapter 2 of that edition and any local amendment before relying on this wording.
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