Published: 2017
Solid masonry walls constructed with aggregate blocks externally insulated provide the following attractive opportunities for achieving a wide range of U-values on a standard masonry core, simplicity of construction, improving building airtightness, reducing building costs, minimizing wall width, taking advantage of thermal mass, and many other additional benefits that you will find on this datasheet.
After construction, buildings are subject to small dimensional changes. The main movement in concrete masonry is shrinkage. This data sheet gives guidance on how to accommodate such movements.
This guide has been produced to assist designers and specifiers with the selection and specification of building blocks, which are manufactured in accordance with BS EN 771-3.
This data sheet covers the basic principles required to provide satisfactory acoustic junctions and basic acoustic design to realise the full potential of the construction.
Aggregate concrete block construction provides a valuable contribution to the creation of a sustainable built environment through the development of low carbon construction, efficient use of resources and providing durable, cost-effective construction solutions
Beam and block floor systems are suitable for low-rise housing and similar applications.
Cellular blocks are masonry units that contain one or more formed voids that do not fully penetrate the block. This reduces the weight and the materials used in the block.
The versatility of aggregate concrete blockwork is an attribute which has been recognised for a considerable time. There are many examples of fine buildings which incorporate aggregate concrete blocks as either a facing or a background unit.
This data sheet gives guidance for the specification of blocks in conjunction with full fill and partial fill insulation materials to meet Building Regulation requirements for external walls.
Care needs to be taken in the use of aggregate concrete blocks such that mishandling, incorrect stacking and lack of protection are avoided. It is important for the designer/user to indicate clearly how the units should be installed.
Eurocode 6 requires the normalised strength values of units to be used in design calculations rather than the unit strength required by BS 5628 (withdrawn in 2010).
Published: 2017 Aggregate concrete blocks are a durable and economic solution for partitions and internal walls in all types of buildings. Block partitions are robust, easily erected and compare favourably in cost terms with other types of partition construction.
This guidance note gives application guidance for the successful use of renders on aggregate blocks.
Published: 2017 Much can be done to improve the safe handling and use of concrete blocks by following simple and straightforward good working practices and giving adequate consideration to health and safety aspects at the appropriate stage in the construction programme. Careful consideration of the blocklayer's working area can also contribute significantly to safe working.
The Building Regulations require a wall, which separates dwellings to resist the passage to sound. This data sheet gives guidance on the specification of blocks for separating walls, which if built correctly, meet the requirements indicated.
Beam and block floor systems combine precast concrete beams and infill blocks to produce high performance yet economic ground and intermediate floors in housing and other building types.
The UHB concept is based on a single block selected from a range of 100mm thick solid (Group 1) aggregate blocks so as to meet the precise needs of your specific design.
A blockwork diaphragm wall is a wide cavity wall with two leaves of concrete blockwork bonded together with blockwork cross ribs. These ribs are bonded by steel ties or block bonding to allow the wall cross section to act integrally as a series of box sections producing a high section modulus and radius of gyration.
Aggregate concrete blocks have been used successfully below ground level for many years. A significant proportion of these will have been used on sites where sulphates are present, and no failures of precast aggregate concrete blocks from sulphate attack have been reported.
Aggregate concrete blocks have been used below damp proof course for many years where they have proved to be durable, efficient and highly economical. Aggregate concrete blocks permit fast on-site working since the standard dimension of a block is equivalent to six bricks.