ABOUT CONCRETE BLOCKS

A wide range of concrete blocks is available, from dense concrete blocks through to lightweight concrete blocks, offering a range of loadbearing strength, sound and thermal insulation properties. Where visual concrete blockwork is required, externally or internally, fairfaced concrete blocks offer various textures and colours. Concrete blocks are more economical than bricks in respect of speed of construction, particularly in the case of lightweight concrete blocks which can be lifted with one hand.

Dense concrete blocks, which may be hollow, cellular or solid in form are made from natural dense aggregates, including crushed granite, limestone and gravel. Medium and lightweight concrete blocks are manufactured incorporating a range of aggregates including expanded clay, expanded blast furnace slag, sintered ash and pumice.

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Concrete is cast into moulds, vibrated and cured. Most aerated (aircrete or autoclaved aerated AAC) concrete blocks are formed by the addition of aluminium powder to a fine mix of sand, lime, fly ash (pulverised fuel ash) and Portland cement. The hydrogen gas generated by the dissolution of the metal powder produces a non-interconnecting cellular structure. The process is accelerated by pressure steam curing in an autoclave. For some products, additional insulation is provided by the filling of voids in the cellular blocks or by bonding on a layer of extruded polystyrene, polyurethane or foil-face phenolic foam.

The majority of standard concrete blocks with hard surfaces are highly reflective to sound, thus creating long reverberation times within building enclosures. Acoustic absorbing concrete blocks are manufactured with a slot on the exposed face which admits sound into the central cavity. Since the void space is lined with sound-absorbing fibrous filler, incident sound is dissipated rather than reflected, reducing reverberation effects. Acoustic control blocks in fairfaced concrete are suitable for use in swimming pools, sports halls, industrial buildings and auditoria.

Fairfaced concrete blocks are available in a range of colours from white, through buff, sandstone, yellow, to pink, blue, green and black. Frequently the colour is all through, although some blocks have an applied surface colour. Textures range from polished, smooth and weathered (sand or shot blasted) to striated and split face. Glazed masonry units are made by the application of a thermosetting material to one or more faces of lightweight concrete blocks which are then heat treated to cure the finish. The glazed concrete blocks are available in a wide range of bright colours and are suitable for internal or external use.

LEADING UK SUPPLIERS OF CONCRETE BLOCKS

Leading UK suppliers of concrete blocks include Thermalite and H+H Celcon.

Other useful links relevant to concrete blocks and suppliers:
Listing of leading UK suppliers of concrete blocks, provided by Archbone.
Aircrete Products Association

DETAILED INFORMATION RESOURCES ON CONCRETE BLOCKS

We recommend the following websites, with building product information including manufacturers' specs, standard specifications, and CAD details: Barbour Compendium at www.barbourcompendium.co.uk, RIBA Product Selector Plus at ww.productselector.co.uk, ASC Bricsnet at www.ascinfo.co.uk, Building Products Index at www.bpindex.co.uk, British Board of Agrément at www.bbacerts.co.uk, British Standards Online at www.bsonline.bsi-global.com.

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