Aconcrete block, also known as acinder block inNorth American English,breeze block inBritish English, orconcrete masonry unit (CMU), or byvarious other terms, is a standard-size rectangular block used inbuilding construction. The use of blockwork allows structures to be built in the traditionalmasonry style with layers (or courses) of staggered blocks.
Concrete blocks may be produced with hollow centers (cores) to reduceweight, improveinsulation and provide an interconnected void into which concrete can be poured to solidify the entire wall after it is built.
Concrete blocks are some of the most versatilebuilding products available because of the wide variety of appearances that can be achieved using them.[1]
Those that use cinders (fly ash orbottom ash) as anaggregate material are calledcinder blocks in the United States. They are also known asbreeze blocks, a term derived frombreeze, referring to the small cinders and cinder-dust that are created by partially burned coal.[2][3] However, in the United Statesbreeze blocks also refers specifically to decorative blocks used on exterior walls to allow the breeze through, which were an important feature of Mid-Century Modern design,[4] popularised byEdward Durrell Stone.
In Australia, they are often known asbesser blocks (because theBesser Company was a major supplier of machines that made concrete blocks), and also asgrey blocks or concrete masonry units (CMUs).[5]
Clinker blocks useclinker (ash created as a waste product from impurities in minerals such as coal, limestone and iron-ore), also called slag.[2]
Concrete blocks are made fromcastconcrete (e.g.portland cement andaggregate, usually sand and finegravel, for high-density blocks). In the western United States, where they are easily obtainable, porous lava rock gravels are used for weight reduction. They also have an added decorative effect to certain types of block, such as split-face, due to their distinct red and black colors. Lower-density blocks may useindustrial wastes, such asfly ash orbottom ash,[6][7] as an aggregate.[8]
Recycled materials, such as post-consumer glass, slag cement, or recycled aggregate, are often used in the composition of the blocks.[9] Use of recycled materials within blocks can create different appearances in the block, such as aterrazzo finish, and may help the finished structure earnLEED certification.
Lightweight blocks can also be produced usingautoclaved aerated concrete; these are widely used for construction in Finland and other Scandinavian countries, as well as in the UK and central Europe, for the material's inherent thermal insulation characteristics, as areexpanded clay aggregate blocks.
Blocks come in modular sizes, with the most popular typically referred to (by their thickness) as "4-inch", "6-inch", "8-inch", and "12-inch". In the US, concrete blocks are nominally 16 in (410 mm) long and 8 in (200 mm) wide. Their actual dimensions are3⁄8 inch (9.5 mm) less than the nominal dimensions (to allow for3⁄8-inch mortar joints between blocks in any orientation).[10] In Ireland and the UK, blocks are usually 440 mm × 215 mm × 100 mm (17.3 in × 8.5 in × 3.9 in) excluding mortar joints. In Australia, New Zealand and Canada,[11] blocks are usually 390 mm × 190 mm × 190 mm (15.4 in × 7.5 in × 7.5 in) excluding mortar joints.
Block cores are typically tapered so that their top surface (as laid) has a greater surface on which to spread a mortar bed and for easier handling. Most concrete blocks have two cores, but three- and four-core units are also produced. A core also allows for the insertion ofsteel reinforcement to span courses in order to increasetensile strength. This is accomplished bygrouting the voids of blocks containing rebar with concrete. Thus reinforced, concrete block walls are better able to resist lateral forces such aswind load and seismic forces.[12] Cores may also be filled withexpanded-polystyrene (EPS) block foam insulation, substantially increasing theR-value of the resulting wall to be in compliance with the US national energy code.[13]
A variety of specialized shapes exist to allow special construction features. U-shaped blocks, or knockout blocks, have notches to allow the construction ofbond beams orlintel assemblies, using horizontal reinforcing grouted into place in the cavity. Blocks with a channel on the end, known as "jamb blocks", allow doors to be secured to wall assemblies. Blocks with grooved ends permit the construction ofcontrol joints, allowing a filler material to be anchored between the un-mortared block ends. Other features, such as radiused corners known as "bullnoses", may be incorporated. A wide variety of decorative profiles also exist.[14]
Concrete blocks may be formulated with special aggregates to produce specific colors or textures for finish use. 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.[15] Blocks may be scored by grooves the width of a mortar joint to simulate different block modules. For example, an 8-by-16-inch (200 mm × 410 mm) block may be scored in the middle to simulate 8-by-8-inch (200 mm × 200 mm) masonry, with the grooves filled with mortar and struck to match the true joints.[16]
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Concrete block, when built with integralsteel reinforcement, is a very commonbuilding material for theload-bearing walls of buildings, in what is termedconcrete block structure (CBS) construction. One of the common foundation types for Americansuburbanhouses is the "crawl space foundation" which consists of a concrete block wall on the perimeter on which dimensional lumber floor joists are supported.Retaining walls, which can also be constructed of concrete blocks, can be constructed, 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). 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).
Concrete masonry walls may be ungrouted, partially grouted, or fully grouted, the latter two enhancing their structural strength. Additionally, steel reinforcement bars (rebar) can be used both vertically and horizontally inside a concrete block wall to maximize its structural performance. The cells in which the rebar is placed must be grouted for the bars to bond to the wall. For this reason, high-seismic zones typically allow only fully grouted walls in their building codes. The American design code that guides design engineers in using concrete blocks as a structural system is theMasonry Standards Joint Committee's Building Code Requirements & Specification for Masonry Structures (TMS 402/602-16).[17]
Thecompressive strength of concrete blocks and masonry walls varies from approximately 3.4 to 34.5 MPa (500–5,000 psi) based on the type of concrete used to manufacture the unit, stacking orientation, the type ofmortar used to build the wall, and whether it is a load-bearing partition or not, among other factors.[18][19][20][21]
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