Protecting Exposures – Brick Nogging:
This is a very old building feature that has saved many rows of wooden frame buildings from burning to the ground. Found with the wooden/shared party walls within the row, layers of brick and mortar where constructed in the wall bays to act as a fire stop or means of preventing fire from extending from one wood frame building to another. 
I can remember having a conversation many years ago with an old friend and mason who also stated to me that the brick nogging actually increased the R-Value or insulation of the building(s). But as affective as they are meant to be, they can only stop or halt fire from extending from one building to another if the brick nogging is installed all the way up to the underside of the roof deck. In the enclosed photo, a recent Jersey City fire on the top floor of a row of attached wood frames extended into the cockloft. The fire extended into the cockloft and into the exposure building above the brick nogging where the brick was missing. Brick nogging is definitely a plus regarding halting fire spread as long as it is in the right place at the right time.
Stay Safe!
Mike Terpak
Deputy Chief-Jersey City
