Typically, the face shells and webs are tapered on concrete masonry units. Concrete masonry units are manufactured in different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures to achieve a number of finishes and functions. Depending on the core molds used in the manufacture of the units, face shells and webs may be tapered with a flare at one end, or may have a straight taper from top to bottom. Concrete blocks are made from cast concrete (e.g. 5). Concrete / Masonry Tools & Equipment Rentals: Browse Sunbelt Rentals’ Concrete & Masonry Tools for your construction projects today. Concrete masonry unit shapes have been developed for a wide variety of applications. For this reason, high seismic zones typically only allow fully grouted walls in their building codes. Concrete blocks are manufactured in required shape and sizes and these may be solid or hollow blocks. Typical applications include exterior fences, interior partitions, and openings within interior concrete masonry walls. The units are procured with the help of the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA). The bearing of unit upon unit required the use of mortar to distribute the contact stresses. (mm) (203 mm) by 16 in. U-shaped blocks or knockout blocks with notches to allow the construction of bond beams or lintel assemblies, using horizontal reinforcing grouted into place in the cavity. Local manufacturers can provide detailed information on specific products, or the feasibility of producing custom units. We are experienced professionals that are driven to be the best. If you have questions about specific products or services we provide, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The taper provides a wider surface for mortar and easier handling for the mason. A core also allows for the insertion of steel reinforcement to span courses in order to increase tensile strength. Redline Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) Redline blended lightweight masonry is a successful time-tested product which is identified by a visible red stripe running vertically on the end of the block. Portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel, for high-density blocks). Lightweight concrete masonry unit: A unit whose oven-dry density is less than 105 lb/ft 3 (1,680 kg/m 3). Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Each 4-inch Chicago Green concrete masonry unit (cmu) contains up to 20% post-consumer recycled glass aggregate (by weight). Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units, ASTM C90 (ref. In addition, because of its modular nature, different concrete masonry units can be combined within the same wall to achieve variations in texture, pattern, and color. Concrete brick may be 100% solid or cored, provided that the cored area of the brick does not exceed 25% of the gross cross-sectional area. Nominal dimensions refer to the module size for planning bond patterns and modular layout with respect to door and window openings. Standard Specification for Concrete Facing Brick, ASTM C1634-15, ASTM International, 2015. Bevelled-end units, forming a 45° angle with the face of the unit, are used to form walls intersecting at 135° angles. Special textures may be produced by splitting a ribbed or solid two-block unit; such factory-produced units are called "split-rib" or "split-face" blocks. Concrete block masonry which is also known as concrete masonry unit (CMU) have advantages over brick and stone masonry. 2/ft2 (mm2/m2) The house is the first in a 36-unit development, which is planned to be completely made-up of concrete masonry homes. Concrete masonry is one of the most versatile building products available because of the wide variety of appearances that can be achieved using concrete masonry units. For over a century, Euclid Chemical has built a reputation on quality products, innovation, and putting people first. [5] Recycled materials, such as post-consumer glass, slag cement, or recycled aggregate, are often used in the composition of the blocks. Pilaster and column units are used to easily accommodate a wall-column or wall- pilaster interface, allowing space for vertical reinforcement in the hollow center. 2), are available in a wide array of nominal lengths and heights; typically with a nominal 4 in. Retaining walls, which also can be constructed of concrete blocks, either using blocks designed to be set back each course and used with a sand base and without mortar or reinforcing (gravity wall), or using blocks (typically an architectural style of block or clad with a veneer such as brick) with a concrete base, steel reinforcing and mortar (piling wall). have been used for a number of years with concrete, steel frame and steel stud backing systems, and are recognized as … Most CMUs have two cores, but three- and four-core units are also produced. Sash block can be laid with the grooves adjacent to one another to accommodate a preformed control joint gasket. Typically, the face shells and webs are tapered on concrete masonry units. Redline Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) Redline blended lightweight masonry is a successful time-tested product which is identified by a visible red stripe running vertically on the end of the block. Afterwards, they are palletized and readied for shipping. Slot-type ties (dovetail, channel slot, etc.) The use of blockwork allows structures to be built in the traditional masonry style with layers (or courses) of staggered blocks. In addition to these standard sizes, other unit heights, lengths, and thicknesses may be available from local concrete masonry producers. Other very common, non-structural uses for concrete block walls (especially in American schools) are as interior fire-rated and extremely durable partition walls, and as exterior backup curtain walls for attachment of building envelope systems (rigid foam insulation and an air/vapor barrier) and veneers (stucco, steel, brick, or split-face concrete block). This is accomplished by grouting the voids of blocks containing rebar with concrete. Blocks with a channel on the end, known as "jamb blocks", allow doors to be secured to wall assemblies. Redline has an average weight of 28 pounds per 8x8x16 unit. Horizontal bond beam reinforcement is easily accommodated in these units. The various shapes and sizes of concrete masonry units described above are often available in a choice of surface finishes. 1) is the most frequently referenced standard for concrete masonry units. Lintel units are similar to bond beam units except the bottom of the unit is solid to confine grout to the lintel. Blocks with grooved ends permit the construction of control joints, allowing a filler material to be anchored between the un-mortared block ends. Traditional concrete masonry is made from dull grey virgin mined rock that is processed with lots of energy and water. For the UK TV series, see, "A new invention by two female engineers could be the solution to Gaza's rebuilding problems - The Independent", "Rebuilding Gaza: 'Green Cake' could be the phoenix rising from Gaza's ashes - Middle East Eye", "Masonry & LEED v4: Continuing Education from Echelon Masonry", "Concrete Block (CMU) Sizes, Shapes, and Finishes", "EPS Insulation | Geofoam, Styrofoam, EPS & Polystyrene | Universal Foam Products", "Comprehensive Strength of Hollow Concrete Blockwork", "Properties of Concrete Blocks — Strength", How Products Are Made: Volume 3 Concrete Block, Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada, International Federation for Structural Concrete, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Concrete_masonry_unit&oldid=1019705210, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 24 April 2021, at 23:06. (mm). In New Zealand and Canada they are known as concrete blocks (a name common in the United States also). Concrete Masonry Walls can even be the veneer system itself with options such as smooth face, split-face, ground face, polished face & glazed face units. In New Zealand, they are also called construction blocks. The common size of concrete blocks is 39cm x 19cm x (30cm or 20 cm or 10cm) or 2 inch, 4 inch, 6 inch, 8 inch, 10 inch and 12-inch unit configurations. Overall unit dimensions (width, height, and length) are permitted to vary by ± 3/8 in. In addition to the unit sizes above, concrete brick complying with ASTM C1634, Standard Specification for Concrete Facing Brick (ref. This distinctive feature allows quick confirmation that the product being used in the wall is indeed the fire-rated product specified. A concrete masonry unit (CMU) is a standard size rectangular block used in building construction.CMUs are some of the most versatile building products available because of the wide variety of appearances that can be achieved using them. Bond beams in concrete masonry walls can be accommodated either by saw-cutting a portion of the webs out of a standard unit, or by using bond beam units. [9], A variety of specialized shapes exist to allow special construction features. Here at Hi-Way Concrete Products, we offer a lot more than just concrete block and brick. One of the common foundation types for American suburban houses is the "crawl space foundation" which consists of a concrete block wall around the perimeter on which dimensional lumber floor joists are supported. Some common unit configurations are shown in Figure 2. Where required, units may be manufactured to closer tolerances than those stipulated by ASTM C90. You might be here because you’re wondering how many concrete blocks you’ll need for your project. Depending on the core molds used in the manufacture of the units, face shells and webs may be tapered with a flare at one end, or may have a straight taper from top to bottom. Disclaimer: Although care has been taken to ensure the enclosed information is as accurate and complete as possible, NCMA does not assume responsibility for errors or omissions resulting from the use of this TEK. W = Nominal unit width, in. Web areas can be reduced by reducing the web height or thickness, reducing the number of webs, or both. Figure 1 illustrates nominal and specified dimensions for a nominal 8 x 8 x 16 in. They can provide the thermal mass necessary to help reduce heating and cooling costs. A concrete masonry unit (CMU) is a standard size rectangular block used in building construction. Figure 3 shows units developed for specific wall applications. This eliminates the need to lift units over the top of the reinforcing bar, or to thread the reinforcement through the masonry cores after the wall is constructed. Concrete Masonry Walls used in a single wythe application can serve in both a structural capacity and also be the finished face of the wall. Those that use cinders (fly ash or bottom ash) as an aggregate material are called cinder blocks in the United States, breeze blocks (breeze is a synonym of ash)[2] in the United Kingdom, and hollow blocks in the Philippines. [10], Concrete masonry units may be formulated with special aggregates to produce specific colors or textures for finish use. Although the development is expected to include a broad range of Lower density blocks may use industrial wastes, such as fly ash or bottom ash,[3][4] as an aggregate. We are growing and seeking great candidates. In Australia, New Zealand and Canada, blocks are usually 390 mm × 190 mm × 190 mm (15.4 in × 7.5 in × 7.5 in) excluding mortar joints. Other features, such as radiused corners known as "bullnoses" may be incorporated. ASTM C90 also defines the difference between hollow and solid concrete masonry units. An all-purpose or kerf unit contains two closely spaced webs in the center, rather than the typical single web. Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units, ASTM C90-16, ASTM International, 2016. Each sample consists of six 4x8x8 inch units for a total of twelve units. Our team of industry experts provides service and support that make working with us easy. Anw = Normalized web area, in. Specifying Chicago Green can make a significant contribution toward achieving LEED® Materials and Resources Credits for Recycled Materials 4.1 and 4.2. 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