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Typical solid concrete block density

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  • 01-12-2019 8:17pm
    #1
    kevcos
    Registered Users Posts: 220 ✭✭


    I'm trying to figure out what is the density of a standard 100mm 7n/mm solid concrete block.

    I say standard, as in the type of block that has been typically laid in twin leaf cavity wall construction throughout Ireland in the past decade.

    They are either ~1980kg/m3, single block weighs about 20kg; these are termed dense in the UK.
    Or ~1450kg/M3, a single block weighs about 14kg; which are termed lightweight in the UK.


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    #2
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 38,437 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    The density of a particular block should be contained on the Declaration of Performance for that block which should be available from the manufacture on request, Roadstone for example.

    cavity block here - https://www.roadstone.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rl.DOP-B12-Aristocrat-Cavity-Range-Rev-1-Jan.-2016.pdf


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    #3
    Four Phucs Ache
    Registered Users Posts: 1,017 ✭✭✭Four Phucs Ache


    Just a random reply to above but should density if it conforms to the manufacturer's specs etc be equal to each block?

    I was laying cavity blocks all week, about 400 or so, from a large national , and most I could place with ease and fit but 1 in 5 or 80 of them or so I had to carefully place them and distribute the weight onto the mortar they were that heavy . Literally standing over them and placing them with my body.

    All uniform in size and colour etc.

    Density shouldn't really matter in my circumstance though as it was a garden partition wall but took me by surprise with the heavier ones.


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    #4
    kevcos
    Registered Users Posts: 220 ✭✭kevcos


    kceire wrote: »
    The density of a particular block should be contained on the Declaration of Performance for that block which should be available from the manufacture on request, Roadstone for example.

    cavity block here - https://www.roadstone.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Rl.DOP-B12-Aristocrat-Cavity-Range-Rev-1-Jan.-2016.pdf

    Thanks but data sheets isn't what I'm looking for in this instance.

    I'm just trying to match those standard typically used blocks in Ireland with their UK equivalent. Problem being that I don't know the actual density of those standard blocks.


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    #5
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,989 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    kevcos wrote: »
    Thanks but data sheets isn't what I'm looking for in this instance.

    I'm just trying to match those standard typically used blocks in Ireland with their UK equivalent. Problem being that I don't know the actual density of those standard blocks.

    https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track?uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A07666b54-15f8-4789-9ead-0e501eadb3aa

    Typically <1900 kg/m3


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    #6
    Gumbo
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 38,437 Mod ✭✭✭✭Gumbo


    kevcos wrote: »
    Thanks but data sheets isn't what I'm looking for in this instance.

    I'm just trying to match those standard typically used blocks in Ireland with their UK equivalent. Problem being that I don't know the actual density of those standard blocks.

    The data sheets quote the density of 1900 kg/m3.
    That's why I thought the data sheets were useful.


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    #7
    Metric Tensor
    Registered Users Posts: 3,724 ✭✭✭Metric Tensor


    Don't forget if you're using block density to calculate the weight of walls you have to factor in mortar and render. The render particularly makes a big difference and can vary substantially in thickness!


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    #8
    kevcos
    Registered Users Posts: 220 ✭✭kevcos


    Thanks for the replies but they are not really solving my riddle!

    Apologies if my question is hard to understand but basically 90% of concrete block twin leaf cavity wall constructed houses, built in Ireland over the pass few decades were build with a common standard 4" (440mm x 215mm x 100mm) concrete block.

    Now these blocks can come in various crushing strength; the typical block I am querying would be ~7.5n/mm (when used in an above ground instance)
    But in addition to being available in various strengths these blocks are also available in various densities.
    It is the density of those standard typical commonly used blocks which I am trying to find out.

    I don't live in Ireland any longer, if I did I could just pop into a quarry. And I can't determine from looking at Irish suppliers websites what density this particular block is; since I have moved away the available range of concrete blocks has expanded hugely so its hard to pick out what now is the former standard block.

    I think that the density is ~1500kg/m but I would like to be able to confirm this someway.


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    #9
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,989 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    kevcos wrote: »
    Thanks for the replies but they are not really solving my riddle!

    Apologies if my question is hard to understand but basically 90% of concrete block twin leaf cavity wall constructed houses, built in Ireland over the pass few decades were build with a common standard 4" (440mm x 215mm x 100mm) concrete block.

    Now these blocks can come in various crushing strength; the typical block I am querying would be ~7.5n/mm (when used in an above ground instance)
    But in addition to being available in various strengths these blocks are also available in various densities.
    It is the density of those standard typical commonly used blocks which I am trying to find out.

    I don't live in Ireland any longer, if I did I could just pop into a quarry. And I can't determine from looking at Irish suppliers websites what density this particular block is; since I have moved away the available range of concrete blocks has expanded hugely so its hard to pick out what now is the former standard block.

    I think that the density is ~1500kg/m but I would like to be able to confirm this someway.

    on average its above 1900 kg/m3, as per the data sheets provided.
    1900 kg/m3 is the minimum density required.

    https://www.kilsaran.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Kilsaran-Masonry-Blocks-12-page-19.pdf

    http://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-document.asp?id=709

    https://www.irishconcrete.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/03-ICF-Information-Sheet-ISEN771.pdf

    "popping into a quarry" will not get you block densities.

    anyway, why do you need a density measurement? blocks are tested and measured in strength of newtons


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    #10
    kevcos
    Registered Users Posts: 220 ✭✭kevcos


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    on average its above 1900 kg/m3, as per the data sheets provided.
    1900 kg/m3 is the minimum density required.

    https://www.kilsaran.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Kilsaran-Masonry-Blocks-12-page-19.pdf

    http://www.concrete.org.uk/fingertips-document.asp?id=709

    https://www.irishconcrete.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/03-ICF-Information-Sheet-ISEN771.pdf

    "popping into a quarry" will not get you block densities.

    anyway, why do you need a density measurement? blocks are tested and measured in strength of newtons
    Appreciate the reply syd but I can find a half a dozen data sheets for 1900kg/m blocks and half a dozen more for 1500kg/m blocks, respectfully as I have said before that doesn't help me unfortunately.

    Going to a quarry would solve my query because I could simply ask what is the density of the standard block they sell. Yes I could do this over an email/phone, boards was my first port of call but I probably will end up doing so now.

    I need to know the density because blocks, in addition to strength, can also be specified and measured by density.

    I think this is a query for a blocklayer to solve.


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    #11
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 40,989 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    kevcos wrote: »
    Appreciate the reply syd but I can find a half a dozen data sheets for 1900kg/m blocks and half a dozen more for 1500kg/m blocks, respectfully as I have said before that doesn't help me unfortunately.

    Going to a quarry would solve my query because I could simply ask what is the density of the standard block they sell. Yes I could do this over an email/phone, boards was my first port of call but I probably will end up doing so now.

    I need to know the density because blocks, in addition to strength, can also be specified and measured by density.

    I think this is a query for a blocklayer to solve.

    you still havent said why?

    the datasheets are the measured, tested and certified proof of the densities.

    In order to meet min TGD E regs, standard blocks tend to have to be >1900 kg/m3

    a bog standard 7.5N concrete block will have a min density of 1900 kg/m3
    some may be more depending on manufacturer conditions... but those only need to be shown to meet min standards.

    even 13N standard blocks have a density of min 1900 kg/m3

    http://qpulse.kilsaran.ie/QPulseDocumentService/Documents.svc/documents/active/attachment?number=DOC877

    also, the blocks are usually manufactured and cured in factories, not quarries, so youd just be contacting the companies that we have already linked to in order to get the info you need.


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    #12
    kevcos
    Registered Users Posts: 220 ✭✭kevcos


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    you still havent said why?

    the datasheets are the measured, tested and certified proof of the densities.

    In order to meet min TGD E regs, standard blocks tend to have to be >1900 kg/m3

    a bog standard 7.5N concrete block will have a min density of 1900 kg/m3
    some may be more depending on manufacturer conditions... but those only need to be shown to meet min standards.

    even 13N standard blocks have a density of min 1900 kg/m3

    http://qpulse.kilsaran.ie/QPulseDocumentService/Documents.svc/documents/active/attachment?number=DOC877

    also, the blocks are usually manufactured and cured in factories, not quarries, so youd just be contacting the companies that we have already linked to in order to get the info you need.
    Block and beam floor systems specify max densities of infilling blocks, logistics may put a restriction on the max density as may max loadings. There are a wide range of reasons someone may need to measure/specify in density and not strength.

    FWIW, I see that a 13N block is also available on the Irish market at 1200kg/m, so proves the difficultly in determining what standard is, especially when I am try to relate my query back to a UK equivalent.

    Also, I use quarry in a colloquial sense.
    I've bought 1000's of blocks from this local quarry in the past so I'm sure they will be able to answer my query!

    But yes, despite buying wagon loads of those blocks in the past I never considered aggregate concrete blocks coming in a range of densities.
    I've learn lot WRT to block densities in recent weeks and I'm trying to relate it back to past experience, hence starting this thread.

    I think Roadstone is a good benchmark for my experience. So this data sheet points me towards thinking that 1900kg/m is the density of a standard block.
    https://www.roadstone.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/RS-BLOCKS-Brochure.pdf


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