Characteristics - Technical Data Concrete Or Concrete Blocks | Advantages

The blocks of concrete or cement are manufactured through high performance, fully automated equipment, with uniform dosages of raw material and steam curing. This eliminates the risks of human error and ensures the user constant quality in terms of dimensions, strength, moisture content and surface texture.

The products are:

Normal Blocks / Stone Similar Blocks / Blocks Seen / Blocks Ceilings / Blocks Coatings

Each group has the range of parts needed to execute the construction system with concrete blocks, such as:

Complete blocks: common, seen (smooth) and simile stone.

Half blocks with weakened front: serves as a half or as a block U for the assembly of chains without the need for formwork.

Blocks with central recess: they can be used for the reinforcement of horizontal reinforcements, for beams or for the past of pipes.

Blocks for chains of 40 cm long.

Corner blocks in whole and in halves: they have two faces with similar stone texture.

Coating plates: smooth and simple stone.

The coloured concrete blocks are made with natural pigments incorporated into the concrete pad and on request.

It must be taken into account that although the normal blocks respond to a dosage in their raw materials that gives them higher resistance values than the minimum required by current standards, the architectural blocks are built with a higher cement content, longer vibration time and compacted that elevates them, even more, the level of structural resistance, and gives them greater density, less moisture absorption and a better quality in the surface texture.

Advantage

The construction with cement blocks presents economic advantages in comparison with any other traditional construction system. They originate in the speed, accuracy and uniformity of block measurements, strength and durability, almost zero waste and, above all, because they constitute a modular system, which allows computation of materials at the project stage with great certainty.

These qualities can be developed in:

• Single-family homes and housing plans.
• Buildings in height.
• Malls.
• Public buildings: schools, libraries, museums and health centres.
• Industrial buildings: factory complexes, warehouses and warehouses.
• Support walls.
• Swimming pools and cisterns
• Fire resistant barriers
• Exterior and interior bearing walls.
• Enclosures of independent structures.
• Divided partitions.
• Beams, lintels and columns.

Economic and functional advantages

In the following table, concrete block walls (in different models) are compared with others of equivalent thickness using ceramic brick masonry, common brick and exposed bricks.

Economy when buying the necessary masonry

The cost obtained from the ratio "unit price of the masonry per number of units per m2 of a wall", is always lower in the case of concrete block walls than for other types of masonry.

Greater performance of the workforce

It is obtained from the smaller amount of movements necessary to raise an m2 of a wall and the possibility to leave the blocks in sight, saving in this way the labour that consumes the plaster. This translates into an official hour and assistant ratio per m2 smaller than the one in the other types of masonry.

Lower weight to the finished wall

Which allows the construction of less robust foundations and beams, which implies an economy of materials and labour?

Higher construction speed

The structural function of the block speeds up the work since it is not necessary to have the shuttering and waiting times for the stripping of beams and columns since the block functions as a lost formwork within the structural system of the construction.

The economy of labour and materials in the surface finish

Due to the excellent completion of the blocks manufactured by vibro compression, in high power equipment, it is possible and even advisable to leave them in sight, with the consequent saving of materials and hand work.

Greater simplicity in the placement of facilities

The recessed nature of the block masonry allows the installation of the electrical installation without the need to canal tear, breaking the existing masonry, as it happens with the traditional masonry.

Multi-functional system

The masonry of concrete blocks can be considered as a constructive system of multiple functions, since it is a closing generator of architectural spaces, structurally resistant and whose exterior texture provides an optimum surface finish.

Excellent tool in the aesthetics of designs

Textured and coloured blocks are an excellent tool for architects and designers in general, to project works of great aesthetic appeal, without the need for additional coatings that require specialized labour.

Less diversity of labour

In case of taking advantage of the triple function of the block (enclosure, structure and surface finish) in the construction of reinforced concrete masonry, it is only necessary to have a single item of labor, since the tasks of armed, placement of blocks and terminations can be done by the bricklaying officer without the assistance of the carpenters and ship-owners.

Excellent structural behaviour

The own carrying capacity of the cement block added to the possibility of placing reinforcements in different quantities and arrangements manages to satisfy a wide spectrum of demands regarding the strength and structural stability of concrete block walls.

Good behaviour as thermal and acoustic insulation

The walls of concrete or cement blocks constitute an excellent sonic barrier due, among other factors, to their density and texture. In turn, the recessed structure of this masonry allows the introduction, in a simple and at low cost, of insulating materials, such as vermiculite and high density expanded polystyrene. This is achieved by significantly reducing the thermal transmittance of the wall, reaching an optimum level of comfort in homes and buildings in general.

Greater durability

A better hydrophobic insulation is achieved with the good quality of the surface texture of the concrete blocks and the correct realization of the joints. Both factors, among others, by increasing the impermeability of the wall achieve a greater durability of the same.

Fire resistance

The masonry of cement blocks has a resistance time to heat transmission of more than four hours, which is an element of considerable importance within the fire safety system of the construction.