Breeze Blocks

[JDCengr]

There appears to be a resurgence of interest in breeze blocks. You know, those square decorative blocks used as a semi-screen wall made of the same materials as CMU. I expect they are typically mortared together like CMU, or glued like glass block. But how are they anchored to a base? If one is to place a 6' high wall inside a building, what is to keep some 300# guy from knocking it over? Where does one find decent technical information on how to build with these rather than just making it pretty?

Thanks
JDC

 

[phamENG]

For permanant applications, I would assume mortar - probably type O or maybe N. I'd just look at the rupture stress for the mortar and check accordingly. More or less like any unreinforced CMU wall. I admit I haven't designed one of these, just thinking it through how I would do it if asked.

 

[charliealphabravo]

I would think they fall under un-reinforced design, although I think horizontal joint reinforcement is typically provided similar to glass block.

I seem to recall that glass block can be anchored with the use of gauge metal straps or something. Been a long time since I went looking for that.

 

[masonrygeek]

The National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) to the rescue. Here is their TEK on block screen walls:

http://ncma-br.org/pdfs/8/TEK 03-16.pdf.

It provides some tables on the maximum height (length) depending on wind load and mortar strength.

As for the one comment about mortar, I would probably stick with Type S mortar even for an interior application just to make the wall stronger. Type O and Type N are often recommended for interior applications, but I think the structural capacity trumps those things in screen walls.

 

[JDCengr]

Thanks to all. I had just stumbled onto the NCMA pub, which was a great help. Mostly it was bracing the ends that I was struggling with.
I will likely go with the S mortar.
Thanks again.
JDC