CE 412-18 Quantity Surveying

Lecture 7

Masonry: Concrete Hollow Blocks

Learning Outcomes:

1. Familiarize with the masonry works using concrete hollow blocks;

2. Learn and understand the different methods of estimating the
quantities of CHB, cement mortar, and wall footing; 
3. Apply the knowledge in the civil engineering field.

What are Concrete Hollow Blocks?

Concrete hollow blocks are popularly known as CHB. It is the most widely
used masonry material for all types of construction such as walls, partitions,
dividers, fences etc.

Classification of CHB

Load Bearing Blocks - thickness ranges from 15 cm (6 in) to 20 cm (8 in)

and are used to carry load aside from its own weight.

Non-Bearing Blocks - blocks which are intended for walls, partitions,

fences or dividers carrying its own weight whose thickness ranges from 7.5
cm (3 in) to 10 cm (4 in).
Standard Hollow Blocks

Standard hollow blocks have three whole cells and two one half cells at
both ends having a total of four. These cells vary sizes as there are
different manufacturers using different molds. The varying sizes of the cells
will affect the estimated quantity of materials. For this reason, it
recommended that the bigger cell be adopted in the computations.

CHB thickness x height x length

Estimating the Quantities of CHB

By Fundamental Method

● The length covered by the posts or columns will be subtracted from

the total length of the wall to get the net length

a. Divide the height of the fence by the height of one block

b. Divide the net length of the fence by the length of one block
c. Multiply the values got from steps a and b
By Area Method

● One square meter area of wall can cover up to 12.5 pieces of CHB

● The area covered by the posts or columns will be subtracted from the
total area of the wall

a. Find the area of the fence

b. Multiply the area by 12.5 pcs
Cement Mortar

Cement mortar is a mixture of cement, sand, and water. It is used as

bonding material in constructing masonry blocks and other various
plastering works.

Estimating the Quantities of Cement Mortar

● The mortar to be used in between the layer of CHB

● The mortar filler for the hollow core or cell of CHB
Filler could be pure mortar or mortar with gravel

By Volume Method

a. Determine the volume of mortar to be used in between the layer of

CHB, thickness of mortar is 12 mm
V1 = thickness of mortar x width of CHB x net length of wall

b. Multiply the volume by the number of layers of CHB

No. of layers = height of the wall divided by height of one block

c. Determine the volume of the hollow cores or cells of one block

Vh = 4 hollow cells x volume of hollow cell

 d. Multiply the total volume of the hollow cell by the total number of CHB

V2 = Vh x no. of CHB
e. Add V1 and V2
f. Solve for the quantities of cement and sand with the factors in Table
2-1

By Area Method

a. Find the area of the wall

b. Multiply the area with the factors in Table 2-2
Per Hundred Block Method

a. Divide the total number of CHB by 100

n = no. of CHB / 100

b. Multiply the value of n with the factors in Table 2-3

Estimating the Quantities of Cement Mortar for
Plastering

By Volume Method

a. Find the two sides area of the wall

b. Determine the volume of plaster by multiplying the total two sides
area and the thickness of the plaster given
c. Solve for the quantities of cement and sand with the factors in Table
2-1

By Area Method

a. Find the two sides area of the wall

b. Solve for the quantities of cement and sand with the factors in Table
2-4
Concrete Hollow Block Wall Footing

CHB wall is supported by a continuous wall footing of various thickness and

width depending upon the size of the blocks and the load it has to carry or
as indicated in the plan.

Estimating the Quantities of CHB Wall Footing

By Volume Method

a. Find the volume of the CHB wall footing using the net length

Net L = length minus the space occupied by the posts or columns

b. Solve for the quantities of cement, sand, and gravel with the factors in
Table 2-1
By Linear Meter Method

a. Solve for the net length of the CHB wall

Net L = length minus the space occupied by the posts or columns

b. Solve for the quantities of cement, sand, and gravel with the factors in
Table 2-5
End of Lecture 7.
Always keep safe.