To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Get to know one of the grooviest features of midcentury modern architecture. Before the proliferation of air conditioning, designers devised lots of clever ways to keep buildings cool: cupolas, external blinds and awnings, transom windows.
But none were as useful and affordable—or had as much panache—as breeze blocks. The name refers to a perforated concrete wall made up of individual blocks, each pierced with the same shape, most commonly a cross or circle.
Mounted together, they form a striking pattern. In those two decades, Americans shunned classical designs in favor of simple lines and experimented with concrete and prefabricated building techniques. Breeze blocks were the perfect companion to modernist buildings. One of the hallmarks of the style—floor-to-ceiling glass windows and walls that blurred indoor and outdoor living—were terrible insulators. Jamb block. Partition block.
Lintel block. Frogged brick block. Bull nose block. Bricks are fire-resistant and have good thermal mass, but they are heavy and expensive to install.
Both concrete block and brick masonry are strong, fire-resistant, insect-proof building materials. They have a lot of thermal mass, which helps them retain heat and makes up for their relatively low insulation value.
Sun-dried or unburnt bricks are less durable and these are used for temporary structures. Burnt Clay Bricks. Fly Ash Bricks. Concrete Bricks. Engineering Bricks. Sand Lime or Calcium Silicate Bricks. There are different factor on which you can easily deside to which it better for building construction. If you required more strength then you go with Flyash Bricks , cause it's strength is better than red brick and blocks.
Cheaper : Block masonry are quite cheaper compared to their brick counterpart. They are known to cost Rs. There are three main types of blocks ; dense, lightweight and aerated. Dense concrete blocks with their properties of durability and strength are typically selected for load bearing walls. The higher the cement content in the mixture , the lesser the permeability of the concrete masonry unit. In addition to this, applying various washes that are available or using waterproof compounds after placing the blocks also helps to keep the water out of any concrete block masonry structure, such as a concrete block foundation.
Besides this, the fire resistance of concrete blocks depends on the type of masonry unit used and its coverage area. To obtain in-depth information on the fire resistance properties of various types of concrete blocks, please peruse the document issued by the American Concrete Institute.
It includes their fireproof values for different types of concrete blocks. As far as aesthetic properties are concerned, manufacturers now offer blocks in a multitude of textures, colors, and finishes, as demanded by architects and engineers.
The ever-evolving construction industry continues to demand new concrete block shapes and sizes to cater to innovative building designs. When it comes to the insulating properties, concrete block masonry varies with the density of the blocks as well as by manufacturer.
The insulating properties of the concrete blocks are recorded using thermal conductivity tests performed by the manufacturers. When manufacturers aim to produce concrete blocks with high heat-insulating properties, they reduce the concrete block density by volume and generate lightweight blocks.
Further, the insulating properties of a concrete block wall can also be increased through solid grouting of the cells. The acoustic properties of concrete blocks are determined by multiple aspects of these masonry units. The characteristics of the material used during the manufacturing of these concrete masonry units are an important factor in this regard. In addition, the junctions and connections between the blocks and construction type also play a crucial role.
To obtain maximum acoustic control, the best approach is to follow the guidelines issued by the ACI on concrete block installation. Source: Hunker. Concrete bricks are systematically piled blocks that are rectangular in shape and primarily used to build rigid walls. Normally made of concrete or cooked clay, this brick masonry is ideal for building fences , giving them a slick and aesthetic look.
While some manufacturers use cement and lightweight aggregate or aggregates to make these blocks, others stick to solid concrete. Based on the requirements of different clients, other materials may also be used to tint the concrete into different shades and colors. Solid concrete blocks are among the most commonly used concrete blocks.
These blocks are much bigger and denser than concrete bricks are. Solid concrete blocks are designed to be heavy and strong, and are produced using naturally dense aggregates. Due to their strength, these solid blocks are mostly used for building load bearing walls and other structures. Also, the larger size of a solid block means that it can allow for quicker construction of a structure compared to structures made using concrete brick walls. Source: Quality Engineers guide. Often confused with concrete bricks , aerated autoclaved concrete blocks are composed of the same aggregates as bricks, but the composition or mixture varies.
This results in a larger yet lighter version of a concrete brick. Their size can enable a significant reduction in cost of building materials. Aerated autoclaved blocks overshadow bricks not only in terms of cost, but also in terms of construction time, fire resistance, and surface adaptability. However, this concrete block type is more expensive than traditional concrete and wood-frame construction materials are.
Plus, the strength of aerated autoclaved block is one-sixth to one-third that of the strength of a traditional standard concrete block. Aerated autoclaved concrete blocks can be drilled and cut using traditional woodworking tools, such as simple power drills and band saws , making them highly workable units.
Units the same size as other block types. Though limited to structural applications in low-rise construction and partitions as well as a component of curtain walling in higher buildings, aerated blocks can perform a similar range of functions as dense and lightweight blocks. The blocks are made from cement, lime, sand, pulverised fuel ash PFA and water. PFA is mixed with sand and water to form a slurry. This is then heated before being mixed with cement, lime and a small amount of aluminium sulphate powder.
The aluminium reacts with the lime to form bubbles of hydrogen. When the mixture is partially set, it is cut to block size and transferred to an autoclave where it is high pressure steam-cured to develop strength. The environmental impact of concrete blocks. The major environmental impact caused in the manufacturing of concrete blocks derives from the use of cement. The quarrying, processing and transportation of land aggregates contributes to the depletion of resources, degradation of the landscape and the consumption of water and energy.
Marine extraction continues to provoke debate over the long-term effect of offshore dredging, particularly on coastal erosion, fisheries and other marine life. Products are available on the market that incorporate recycled aggregate to replace virgin quarried aggregate.
Secondary aggregates are the by-products of other extraction or industrial operations. Secondary aggregates, including such like as colliery spoil, china clay waste, foundry sands and blast furnace slags, when used in concrete, reduce the demand on natural aggregates whilst simultaneously diverting significant quantities of waste from landfill.
The blocks can be used both as the inner leaf in cavity walls or as a single skin for external load-bearing construction. As well as their use in walls, clay honeycomb blocks can be used in many of the same applications as concrete blocks. The blocks are formed with a cellular structure of vertical perforations that reduces the material quantity as well as weight whilst providing an increased thermal performance.
Blocks are assembled through dry vertical interlocking and thin-mortar horizontal jointing. Hemp blocks, although new to the market, are based upon a cast or spray-on technology that has been available for several years. The blocks are supplied in either load-bearing or non-load-bearing formats.
Hemp blocks are manufactured using hemp blended with a lime and cement binder. Blocks manufactured from unfired clay are still uncommon in modern construction — this is despite their excellent environmental credentials. Though limited to non-load-bearing applications, unfired clay blocks are suitable for internal partitions and infill to framed construction. The insulated concrete form blocks consist of moulded cement-bound recycled wood chip.
The blocks interlock to create the formwork for walls.
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