Concrete Masonry Units also known as

CMU are blocks used in the construction

industry to form a concrete block structure
like a wall or a fence. These are generally
made up of concrete and aggregates of
certain design mixtures depending on
strength required but systems used as
masonry units are non-load bearing in
nature or do not and should not be
allowed to carry any vertical loads at all.
1. HOLLOW CONCRETE BLOCKS
Commonly used in the construction industry, concrete
hollow blocks are usually manufactured using lightweight
aggregates with a certain design load depending on the
nature of the member it will be used into. Normally,
concrete hollow blocks have voids of ¼ its gross area and
the solid area should be not less than half of its area to
attain its maximum allowable load capacity, study
suggests. The voids are generally filled with mortar of
lightweight aggregate material as well.
There are two kinds of concrete hollow blocks; load-
bearing concrete hollow blocks and non-load bearing
concrete hollow blocks. It is available in sizes such as
100x200x400mm, 200x200x400mm, 150x200x400mm
and so on.
2. AERATED AUTOCLAVED CONCRETE BLOCK
(AAC)
Most of the time compared with bricks but is different in a
lot of ways. Aerated Autoclaved concrete blocks are lighter
and bigger version of bricks. Mostly made with same
ingredients as of bricks but with a different composition
which made the material a vessel for cost-cutting. Studies
show that using autoclaved aerated block has diligently
reduced the overall steel and concrete consumption by 15%
and 10%. Apparently, in the cost-benefit factor part,
autoclaved aerated block past by bricks in several areas such
as construction time, adaptation to various surfaces, fire
resistance, and cost.
3. CONCRETE BRICKS
Concrete bricks typically are small rectangular block
arrange and piled systematically to create a rigid wall.
These bricks are usually made up of cooked clay or
concrete. Some manufacturers use solid concrete while
others play with its cement and aggregates ratio for
economic purposes. Other manufacturers also created
bricks with different color as per request of some
clients. Concrete bricks are usually used in fences,
facades, as it provides the good aesthetic and slick
look.
4. SOLID CONCRETE BLOCKS
Way denser and bigger than concrete bricks, solid
concrete blocks are manufactured to be strong, heavy,
and created out of naturally dense aggregates. These
solid concrete blocks are strong enough that it is used
for large masonry units that are load-bearing in nature.
Solid concrete blocks are just similar to concrete brick
but are way costlier and heavier and can withstand
more forces as compared to bricks.
5. LINTEL BLOCKS
These concrete blocks are used in preparation for lintel
beams. These lintel blocks are manufactured in such a
way that it serves as a masonry unit and a formwork
itself. Aesthetically, lintel blocks have a deep groove
where reinforcing bars are put along with the concrete.
Meaning, they serve as permanent formwork systems
for the lintel beam member. This is found to be efficient
and useful by most builders as they served two
different purposes. A two in one product it is.
6. PAVING BLOCKS
Paving blocks are generally just a rectangular or
square box made up of reinforced concrete. As these
blocks are used in paving and road shoulders, these
have to be painted with high-visibility concrete paints
so motorists and drivers could see it right away. Also,
these blocks have to be rigid and firm enough to
receive any car collisions.
7. CONCRETE STRETCHER BLOCK
Again, somewhat similar to corner block, concrete
stretcher blocks are used to combine masonry units. With
respect to its looks, concrete stretcher block is relatively
the same with common hollow block but their faces are
laid parallel with respect to the face of the wall.
Alongside every masonry units stated above, these
concrete blocks come with reinforcing bars and approved
mortar and paste or adhesive material. Furthermore,
choosing a masonry unit is solely dependent on the needs
of the builder, a combination of this masonry unit is
advisable.
Types of Concrete Blocks or Concrete
Masonry Units

Depending upon the structure, shape, size and

manufacturing processes concrete blocks are
mainly classified into 2 types and they are

A. Solid concrete blocks

B. Hollow concrete Blocks
A. Solid Concrete Blocks
Solid concrete blocks are commonly used, which are
heavy in weight and manufactured from dense
aggregate. They are very strong and provides good
stability to the structures. So for large work of
masonry like for load bearing walls these solid blocks
are preferable. They are available in large sizes
compared to bricks. So, it takes less time to construct
concrete masonry than brick masonry.
B. Hollow Concrete Blocks

Hollow concrete blocks contains void area greater

than 25% of gross area. Solid area of hollow bricks
should be more than 50%. The hollow part may be
divided into several components based on our
requirement. They are manufactured from lightweight
aggregates. They are light weight blocks and easy to
install.
Types of Hollow Concrete Blocks:
❑ Stretcher block
❑ Corner block
❑ Pillar block
❑ Jamb block
❑ Partition block
❑ Lintel block
❑ Frogged brick block
❑ Bull nose block
❑ Concrete Stretcher Blocks
Concrete stretcher blocks are used to join the corner in the
masonry. Stretcher blocks are widely used concrete hollow
blocks in construction. They are laid with their length
parallel to the face of the wall.
❑ Concrete Corner Blocks

Corner blocks are used at the ends or corners of masonry.

The ends may be window or door openings etc. they are
arranged in a manner that their plane end visible to the
outside and other end is locked with the stretcher block.
❑ Concrete Pillar Blocks

Pillar block is also called as double corner block.

Generally these are used when two ends of the corner
are visible. In case of piers or pillars these blocks are
widely used.
❑ Jamb Concrete Blocks

Jamb blocks are used when there is an elaborated

window opening in the wall. They are connected to
stretcher and corner blocks. For the provision of double
hung windows, jamb blocks are very useful to provide
space for the casing members of window.
❑Partition Concrete Block

Partition concrete blocks are generally used to build

partition walls. Partition blocks have larger height than
its breadth. Hollow part is divided into two to three
components in case of partition blocks.
❑ Lintel Blocks

Lintel block or beam block is used for the purpose of

provision of beam or lintel beam. Lintel beam is
generally provided on the top portion of doors and
windows, which bears the load coming from top.
Concrete lintel blocks have deep groove along the
length of block as shown in figure. After placing the
blocks, this groove is filled with concrete along with
reinforcement.
❑ Frogged Brick Blocks

Frogged brick block contains a frog on its top along with

header and stretcher like frogged brick. This frog will
helps the block to hold mortar and to develop the strong
bond with top laying block.
❑ Bullnose Concrete Block

Bullnose blocks are similar to corner blocks. Their duties

also same but when we want rounded edges at corner
bullnose bricks are preferred.
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