European concrete block dimensions

[bnickeson]

So this has been harder to figure out than I would have thought. I am trying to determine the concrete block coursing dimensions for standard European (and possibly Canadian) construction. The best I can find is that the actual blocks are 400mm long by 215mm tall. However, I cannot find anything on mortar joint thicknesses. Anyone have any idea there?

I am trying to replicate openings from a German hop producing plant but all of their rough opening dimensions don't come close to coursing out at American dimensions of 7 5/8" plus 3/8" mortar joint. So I'm trying to figure out what the typical European masonry dimensions are to see if they can be "adjusted" slightly to fit our coursing, but, as mentioned above, I'm having no luck. From the German's conversions, almost everything courses out to 215mm increments, which is odd since that seems to be the size of the actual block and not the course dimension.

Does anyone know these dimensions?

Thanks.

 

[thaidavid40]

We have seen 440x215, and 390x190 size blocks from the UK which were used in the Middle East. Typical widts were 100 and 190. The custom we were told to design to was to use a 10mm mortar joint dimension for all joints.
Hope this helps.
Dave

Thaidavid

 

[bnickeson]

Perfect, thanks. The 450x225 nominal course size would make sense then.

 

[concretemasonry]

The common dimensions of CMUs in Europe are 20x20x40 (cms) and other sizes are similarly sized in metric dimensions that are close to the U.S. standards for modular 8x8x16 CMUs. - In many cases they are identical except for some conversions from the U.S. dimensions IF the tolerances are strictly enforced. For smaller sized units the units meet both standards (4" and 6" thick CMUs) and dimensions of specific elements (face shell and web thicknesses) may be identical.

Whether you are in Europe, Canada or the U.S., the important thing to be aware of is the conversion of the dimensions and whether they are actual or "modular". Masonry designed, is based on the design of a wall, no matter whether you have a metric system.

I traveled and consulted internationally for a concrete equipment manufacturer (with both U.S. and international manufacturing facilities) and gave seminars and developed design tables for customers and we had customers using our equipment in over 100 countries. - The simplest thing to do is think of the modular dimensions since all constructions is really based om modular dimensions unless you get lost in the details and go out and measure the mortar dimensions on every project.

There are always some small local manufactures that have old/traditional molds that they are limited to, but usually look to the accepted standards. I remember (in the dark ages) some areas of Canada used modular dimensions for height and actual dimensions for thicknesses.

the international design community uses the ACI 530 Codes and Specifications as a standard.

Dick

Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.

 

[DETstru]

In Mexico I've seen:

- US blocks (8x8x16) called out with US modular dimensions (8x8x16)
- US blocks (8x8x16) called out with metric exact dimensions (194x194x397)
- Metric blocks (200x200x400) called out with metric modular dimensions (200x200x400)
- Metric blocks (200x200x400) called out with metric exact dimensions (190x190x390)

I have been confused for a long time now... In my own work, I ended up calling everything out as US nominal AND metric nominal and just hoping for the best. Always with a 3/8" (10mm) mortar joint.

 

[concretemasonry]

DETstru -

The 215 mm seems like a local normal height because the height of a CMU can be adjusted during the manufacture of the CMU units. Horizontal dimensions and shapes are a different item. CMUs locally are made for specific preferences some of these are the width of the face shell (wider at the top for handling and laying purposes or the number of cores and core/web spacing for reinforcement (if required).

You are right about using the nominal dimensions for design purposes, be it 8x8x16 or 200x200x400 to maintain economy of construction costs.

Just as example of how many different size and shapes are available of CMUs, the company I worked for had over 1000 different "standard" 8x8x16 "standard" mold configurations for making nominal 3-8x8x16 modular CMUs 3-at a time and a similar, but similar number of metric sizes that could be be made in combination with empirical dimension units.

That leads to the vast number of units that can be produced depending on the local demands. - Fortunately ACI 530 is written for adjustments of the shapes possible in every location, but the are reasons to find what is readily available daily for specific locations and codes.

The thickness of the mortar joints is just a "knit picking" item for for visual aspect that is not too critical and has absolutely no effect of the wall strength since masonry is designed to acheive a wall strength.

Dick



Engineer and international traveler interested in construction techniques, problems and proper design.

 

[DETstru]

Thanks for the info concretemasonry, much appreciated.