Concrete Masonry Unit

Katie Tanis

CMU Specification
Concrete

Masonry Units are more commonly referred to CMU blocks. Concrete products precast in molds of various shapes. Some New Jersey manufactures of CMU blocks are:
Clayton

Block Co. Anchor Concrete Products Inc. Gray Rock Supply Company Inc.

CMU Background

Concrete blocks are made from cast concrete, i.e. Portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel for high-density blocks. Lower density blocks may use industrial wastes as an aggregate. Lightweight blocks can also be produced using aerated concrete. Concrete blocks may be produced with hollow centers to reduce weight or improve insulation. The use of block work allows structures to be built in the traditional masonry style with layers (or courses) of staggered blocks. Blocks come in many sizes. In the US, with an R-Value of 1.11 the most common nominal size is 16 8 8 in (410 200 200 mm); the actual size is usually about 38 in (9.5 mm) smaller to allow for mortar joints. The concrete commonly used to make concrete blocks is a mixture of powdered portland cement, water, sand and gravel. The production of concrete blocks consists of four basic processes: mixing, molding, curing and cubing. Concrete block, when built in tandem with concrete columns and tie beams and reinforced with rebar, is a very common building material for the load-bearing walls of buildings, in what is termed "concrete block structure" (CBS) construction.

CMU Properties and Finishes

Load bearing inexpensive Resistant to fire Modular unit

CMU Application

The acoustic properties of any concrete block structure depend on the form of construction, the junctions and connections between the blocks and the properties of the materials used during manufacture of the blocks. Following concrete block installation recommendations as provided by the ACI and other organizations significantly increases acoustic control within the building. While concrete blocks vary by type, their primary structural property is compressive strength. The American Concrete Institute's (ACI) Publication 318, "Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete," contains the structural property standards for concrete and 7-day and 28-day testing methods used to insure that the concrete blocks manufactured meet or exceed building codes throughout the United States. ACI's 228.1R-03, "In-Place Methods to Estimate Concrete Strength," outlines the standard in-place strength tests that estimate concrete strength during construction or estimate concrete strength during the evaluation of existing concrete block structures. Inserting rebar (steel rods) into the cells (the openings in blocks--most blocks have holes for ease of construction) or solid grouting the cells produces a significantly stronger concrete block.

Acoustic CMU

ACOUSTA-WAL sound-absorbing masonry units are your acoustical and aesthetic solution in one product. It is available in a broad range of sizes and colors including, standard grey, burnished, and glazed. While acoustical units absorb unwanted sound in a space, they greatly reduce the transmission of sound to an adjacent area. Type IV units have wide funnel-shaped slots, opening into a two chamber cavity separated by a metal septum laminated to a factory-inserted fiberglass filler. Fiberglass fillers are chemically inert, vermin resistant, incombustible and moisture-proof. Type IVRF units offer the advantage of open cavities for vertical reinforcing conduits or pipes.

Installation Process

A concrete block is a building block made of concrete. To make concrete blocks you will need to; set up concrete molds to make your blocks in a particular shape; then use a concrete mixer to mix clean sand with cement; next add crushed limestone or gravel to the mixer as you slowly add water, stirring it; then spray a water-based concrete-releasing agent inside the mold; pour the concrete into the mold carefully, and level the top with a trowel; and finally let the concrete harden at least for 24 hours before removing it from the mold, pressing it down as you are pulling up on the mold.

Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of concrete, its manufacture and applications, is complex. Some effects are harmful; others welcome. A major component of concrete is cement, which has its own environmental and social impacts and contributes largely to those of concrete. In spite of the harm that badly planned use of concrete can do, well-planned concrete construction can have many sustainable benefits. The cement industry is one of the primary producers of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas. Concrete debris was once routinely shipped to landfills for disposal, but recycling is increasing due to improved environmental awareness, governmental laws and economic benefits. Concrete, which must be free of trash, wood, paper and other such materials, is collected from demolition sites and put through a crushing machine, often along with asphalt, bricks and rocks. There is a growing interest in reducing carbon emissions related to concrete from both the academic and industrial sectors, especially with the possibility of future carbon tax implementation. Several approaches to reducing emissions have been suggested. One approach has been the partial replacement of conventional clinker with such alternatives as fly ash, bottom ash, and slag, all of which are by-products of other industries that would otherwise end up in landfills. Fly ash and bottom ash come from thermoelectric power plants, while slag is a waste from blast furnaces in the ironworks industry. These materials are slowly gaining popularity as additives, especially since they can potentially increase strength, decrease density, and prolong durability of concrete.

Finished Block