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4.0 BLOCKWORK

4.1 Cement and Water
Cement and water shall be described under "CONCRETE" Specification.

4.2 Sand
Sand shall be clean, fins plastering sand, free from salt, organic matter, clay,
loam, dirt or other deleterious matter.

NON-LOAD BEARING CONCRETE MASONRY BLOCKS

4.3 Texture and Colour
Non- load-bearing concrete masonry blocks shall be of uniform texture and
colour as specified.

4.4 Strength
Average crushing strength (average of five blocks) shall be not less than 750 psi
measured over the gross area.

4.5 Dimensions
Minimum face-shell thickness shall be not less than 1/2" and no dimension shall
differ by more than 1/8" from the specified standard dimension. "Standard
Dimensions" refer to the manufacturer's designated dimensions and are not to be
confused with "nominal dimensions" of modular size units which are equal to the
standard dimensions plus 3/8", the thickness of one (1) standard mortar joint.

4.6 Defects
All blocks shall be sound and free of cracks or other defects that would interfere
with the proper placing of the block or impair the strength or permanence of the
construction.

4.7 Mortar
Mortar shall be nominal 1 part cement: 1/2 part lime: 7 parts sand by volume and
shall have a minimum compressive strength of 750 psi at twenty-eight days (28
dys). Mortar shall be tested as follows:

Mortar shall be spread on blocks between 1/2" and 3/4" thick and allowed to
stand for one minute (1 min). It shall be removed and placed in a 2" x 4" cylinder
in two (2) layers, compressing the mortar into the cylinder using a flat end stick
or fingers. The moulds shall be lightly tapped on opposite sides, mortar levelled
off, and then covered and kept damp until taken to the laboratory. The prism
formed shall be carefully removed after forty-eight hours (48 hrs) and shall be
tested in compression in the same way as concrete test cubes except that any
rough surface may require to be capped.
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4.8 Mixing Mortar
Mortar shall be mixed by placing one half of the water and sand in the operating
mixer then adding the cement, lime and the remainder of sand and water. After
all the ingredients are in the batching mixer, they shall be mechanically mixed for
not less than three minutes (3 min). Hand mixing shall not be employed unless
specifically approved. Mortar should be retempered to maintain high plasticity
but shall not be used after one and a half hours (1 1/2 hrs) from the initial mixing
time.

4.9 Joints
Mortar joints shall be straight, clean and uniform in thickness and shall be tooled
in a manner which compacts the mortar, pressuring the excess mortar out of the
joint rather than dragging it out. The mortar shall be well bonded to the block at
the edges. Tooling shall be done when the mortar is partially set but still
sufficiently plastic to bond. Where walls are to receive plaster the joints shall be
raked out 3/8" deep to form additional key. Fair faced blockwork shall have
horizontal joints raked out and square tooled to depth of 3/8" and all vertical
joints shall be struck flush. Joints which are not tight at the time of tooling shall
be raked out, pointed and then tooled. If it is necessary to move a block after it
has once been set in place the block shall be removed from the wall, cleaned and
set in fresh mortar.

4.10 Laying
When hot dry weather exists blocks shall be wetted with a light fog spray, but not
immersed into any vessel. The work shall be carried up course by course and no
one portion shall be raised more than four (4) courses at any time. All perpends
and quoins shall be kept strictly true and square and carefully levelled through
every second course.

REINFORCED LOAD-BEARING CONCRETE MASONRY BLOCKS

4.11 General
Reinforced load-bearing concrete masonry blocks shall comply generally with
the requirements for non-load-bearing concrete masonry blocks except as
specified below.

4.12 Strength
Average crushing strength (average of five blocks) shall be not less than 1000 psi
measured over the gross area.



4.13 Tests
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Blocks shall be tested in accordance with ASTM C-140. The Contractor shall
allow for testing five (5) random blocks prior to commencement of the job. The
blocks shall be selected in the presence of the manufacturer's representative and
the Engineer's representative.

4.14 Dimensions
Minimum face-shell thickness and web thickness shall be as specified below:

Nominal Unit Width Min. Face-shell Web Thickness
6" 1" 1"

8" 1 1/4" 1"

10" 1 3/8" 1 1/8"

12" 1 1/2" 1 1/8"

Measurements shall be the average of five (5) blocks taken at the thinnest point.

4.15 Mortar
Mortar shall be nominal 1 part cement: 1/4 part lime: 3 parts sand by volume and
shall have a minimum compressive strength of 2500 psi at twenty-eight days (28
dys). Mortar shall be mixed, tested and laid in the same manner as mortar for
non-load-bearing concrete masonry blocks. Joints shall be 3/8" thick unless
specified otherwise and shall have full coverage on face-shells, webs and vertical
ends.

4.16 Laying
At the time of laying, blocks shall be free of excessive dirt and dust. Select proper
blocks to form jambs, angles, etc to provide a minimum of cutting. Where cutting
is necessary, cuts shall be neat and true. Where blockwork is to be bonded to a
concrete beam or footing, the concrete surface shall be clean with laitance
removed. Unless shown otherwise blocks are to be laid in uniform courses with
regular running bond. Blocks shall be laid to preserve the unobstructed vertical
continuity of the cells to be filled. Such cells shall be not less than 2" - 3" clear.

Grouted cells are to be kept clear of all overhangs, mortar droppings and other
material. Clean out holes shall be provided for each pour by leaving out every
other block in the bottom course of the section being poured. These cleanouts
shall be sealed after inspection.

4.17 Joints
Unless otherwise specified or detailed on the plans, the horizontal and vertical
mortar joints shall be 3/8" thick will full mortar joints shall be 3/8" thick with full
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mortar coverage on face-shells and on the webs. Where reinforcement is used in
horizontal mortar joints, the thickness of the joints shall be at least twice the
thickness of the diameter of the reinforcement.

4.18 Reinforcement
When a foundation dowel does not line up with a vertical core it shall not be
sloped more than one (1) horizontal in six (6) verticals. Vertical reinforcement
shall be held in position at the top and bottom and at intervals not exceeding 192
diameters of reinforcement. Vertical reinforcing steel shall have a minimum
clearance of 1/4" from the masonry and not less than one (1) bar diameter
between bars. Wire reinforcement shall be completely embedded in mortar.

Wire reinforcement shall be lapped a minimum of 6" at splices and shall contain
at least one (1) cross wire of each piece of reinforcement in the lapped distance.

4.19 Grouting
Where vertical reinforcement is specified or described the reinforced cells are to
be grouted for the full height of wall. Grouting is common practice in many other
countries and is a distinct operation not to be confused with the normal local
practice of placing concrete in blockwork.

4.20 Mix
grout shall consist of one (1) part of Ordinary Cement to three (3) parts of
concrete quality sand to 1.5 parts pea gravel having a maximum size of 1/4". The
grout mix shall contain not less than 750 pounds of cement per cubic yard.

Sufficient water shall be added to make a workable mix that will flow into all
parts of the block cell without separation or segregation. The slump of the grout
should be in the region of 9 to 10 inches. Grout shall be placed before any initial
set occurs and in no case more than 1 1/2 hours after water had been first added.

Admixtures may be used subject to prior approval by the Engineer.

4.21 Strength
Grout shall develop a minimum compressive strength of 2000 psi at twenty-eight
days (28 dys) when tested as follows:


Grout shall be placed in a cell of a hollow concrete block of the type being
grouted. The prism of grout so formed shall be separated and tested in
compression in the same way as concrete test cubes except that any rough
surfaces may require to be capped. For ease in separating the prism the cell may
be lined with porous paper. A minimum of ten (10) preliminary tests will be
required plus at least two (2) tests for each day on which grouting is undertaken.
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4.22 Placing
grout shall not be placed to a height of more than four feet (4'-0") at any one time
and there shall a minimum interval of sixty minutes (60 min) between pours.
When work is stopped for one hour (1 hr) or longer the horizontal construction
joints shall be formed by stopping all tiers at the same elevation with the grout 1
1/2" below the top.

Grout shall be rodded or vibrated to consolidate it in place after a suitable waiting
period to allow the grout to become plastic.

The final pour where a block wall is constructed to about a fixed soffit shall be
carried out through a chute fixed to the side of the wall so that grout may be
poured up to soffit level. The resultant surplus may be removed and cleaning off
as soon as the grout has reached an initial set.

After grouting, walls shall be hosed down to clean off scum and stains.

No grout shall be placed until such time as the masonry mortar has sufficiently
hardened to prevent "blow outs".

4.23 Curing
Where the top of the grouted wall is exposed it shall be kept moist for curing
purposes for at least three days (3 dys) after pouring.

4.24 Reinforcing Steel Around Openings.
In masonry walls of every type there shall be not less than a 12 mm diameter bar
or two (2) 10 mm diameter bars on all sides of end adjacent to every opening
which exceeds 24 inches in either direction and such bars shall extend not less
than 40 diameters, but in no case less than 24 inches, beyond the corners of the
opening. These bars are required in addition to the minimum reinforcement.

4.25 Lies into Columns
All blockwork must be tied into abutting columns or reinforced concrete frames
with positive connections cast into the concrete and lapping with the specified
horizontal reinforcement.
4.26 Chases and Openings
No chases and openings whatsoever shall be allowed without permission from
the Engineer. Should chases be necessary, they shall not be deeper than one-half
the walls thickness. Where openings are approved they shall have lintels of
reinforced concrete and such lintels shall have a bearing of 8" minimum at each
end.

4.27 Clay Blocks
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Hollow clay blocks shall conform to BS 3291:1965 of first quality, good sound,
hard and well burnt, true to shape and size, ribbed and scored for plaster, unless
otherwise described.

4.28 Pricing
Prices for Blockwork shall include:

(i) All considerations arising from the specification.

(ii) All rough cutting (except raking, splayed and curved cutting), cutting and
pinning up at top of Walls, cutting at ends and around openings, cutting
and bonding at intersections and building off beams and plates, filling
exposed ends with mortar and forming and filling reveals

(iii) All labours implied by the use of reinforcement where described as
reinforced

(iv) Where blockwork is not described as finished with a fair face or pointed,
include for raking out or leaving joints recessed to form key for rendering
or other masonry finish.