CMU Basement Wall - No vertical mortar joints

[pcronin]

I am doing a condition assessment report for a commercial building built in the mid 80's. It has a partial basement with CMU block. The wall is constructed with bed joints, but no vertical mortar joints.

There is no cracking in the wall, but some minor gaps in the joints, but it looks like there might be some type of key in the blocks holding it all together and the gaps may have been left during construction. I've never seen anything like this. Any specialty CMU used in the 80's that would be similar to this application?

 

[concretemasonry]

There were a number of different interlocking CMU made in the 1970s and 80s. Some were used with bed (horizontal) joints to maintain the compressive strength since dry stacked units without bed joints are weaker because of the minor irregularities or point contact.

One unit quite popular one was designed by George Ivany, an engineer in Cleveland. Many block producers around the country made his units. There were several different types and numerous "knock-offs" to avoid Georges patent and licensing.

You may be looking at the "slot block" where there was a special core arrangement that guaranteed complete core alignment. - Three cores with the center core narrower and the "end - half cores" so the grout space was just large enough for the code for grout placement. The grouted cores could be reinforced or unreinforced. Only the narrow slots were grouted. We tested walls made from this unit and found the compressive strength to be equal to conventional units and the longitudinal shear on 4x4 wallette panels was obviously higher than comparison conventionl panels. The block were probably 8x8x16 units but 12x8x16 could have been made in some areas.

Where is the basement (city, state)?

 

[pcronin]

Thanks for the info. I am familiar with Ivany block, and maybe this is an interlocking knock-off.

http://www.ivanyblock.com/

The project is in Eatontown, NJ.

 

[concretemasonry]

It really could be a real Ivany block used properly. The post referred to the Ivany block for reinforced masonry and not to the "slot block" that was meant for partially reinforced masonry construction. George Ivany was a good engineer, but not a great marketer and did not agree with the "fill the wall solid" concept that was popular at one time in the west.

You will have to look deeper into what you have (block, grouting, etc.) before you go further.

The block may have come from Anchor in Bridgetown(?),NJ or Fiazzano in Philly or E.P. Henry. I don't remember who had the manufacturing rights in that area, but anyone could bring them in or they could be local similar copies to avoid the patent, licensing and technical support.