New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 14 - HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION
Chapter 7 - BUILDING CODES GENERAL
Part 4 - 2021 NEW MEXICO EARTHEN BUILDING MATERIALS CODE
Section 14.7.4.10 - CLASSES OF ADOBE
Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 18, September 24, 2024
A. Stabilized adobe. The term "stabilized" is defined to mean water-resistant adobe made of soil to which certain admixtures are added in the manufacturing process in order to limit water absorption into the adobe. Exterior walls constructed of stabilized mortar and adobe requires no additional protection. Cement stucco or other waterproof coating is not required. The test required is that a dried four inch cube cut from a sample unit shall not gain more than two and a half percent in weight when placed upon a constantly water-saturated porous surface for seven days. An adobe unit that meets this specification shall be considered "stabilized."
B. Unstabilized adobe. Unstabilized or "natural" adobes are adobes that do not meet the water absorption specifications indicated in Subsection A of 14.7.4.10 NMAC above. Use of unstabilized adobes is prohibited within four inches of the finished floor grade. Stabilized adobe or waterproof masonry units and mortar may be used for the first four inches above finished floor.
C. TerrÓn. The term "terrnÓn shall refer to a cut sod brick. Their use is permitted if units are dry and the wall design is in conformance with this code.
D. Burned adobe. The term "burned adobe" shall refer to mud adobe bricks that have been cured by low-temperature kiln firing. This type of adobe is not generally dense enough to be "frost-proof" and may deteriorate with seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. Its use for exterior locations is discouraged in climate zones with daily freeze-thaw cycles.
