Concrete hollow blocks v/s brick or stone masonry

I am in line with Mr. Mohd Baksh,

Loads are spread out through column, beams & the direct load impact on wall is distributed evenly as such it won't be a threat for wall construction. However, for construction to the Clients is to be carried out as per the standard set in his contract deal. Because at place, it may warrant stricter standards than what is normally accepted as Bridge, Dam etc where the impacts are more from other sources.

Moreover, CBH reduces the depletion of trees for burning as fuel in Bricks & the land soil that is rich for cultivation. This environmental concern is also to be considered.

I support the view of Mr. Harish.

Scarcity of supplier is the main reason for concrete hallow blocks.

Harish's points are well made. One of the main reasons why Hollow Block Masonry products (such as Hollow Concrete Blocks for Walls, Lintel Blocks, Architectural Blocks, Sill Blocks etc.) have not been widely used is the challenge of manufavcturing. Imported technology and lines mean exceptionally good quality but huge huge investment. Egg Laying technology simply does not have the capability to achieve the factory controlled parameters that engineered masonry technology can achieve. We have spent the last 3 years researching and have finally developed a fully automatic engineered masonry manufacturing machine and have established a pilot plant now. We also find that with this, one can produce products of very good integrity and a range of designs.

I definitely agree with Yogendra Singh and others.There are more pros than cons in use of Hollow concrete blocks in lieu of conventional Clay Bricks.

Some of the pros are:-

1) HCB have less density resulting in to reduced loading hence saving in   structural steel(We have seen enormous price hike in steel in past 3-4 years)

2) Better Insulation properties,lesser u-Values result into energy savings.

3) Hollowness results in to better sound insulation.

4) Accurate dimentions resulting into reduced plaster thickness.The conventional clay bricks are always found inconsistent in dimensions.Thus saving on account of lesser cement consumption.

5) The water absorbtion in HCB is only 3% while in case of Clay bricks it is as high as 19%.The Interiors can be started even if external plaster is not yet done.A very effective tool to save construction time.

 6) No Efflorescence,which is always present in case of clay bricks.

 7) Excellent as exposed material.The HCB's are available in a variety of colours,textures,styles and stone cut like finish.The surface can be painted stained or left natural.No plastering is really required.

 8) The HCB vendor can be allowed to make the blocks at site (approx.1000 Sq.m.) thus reduction in transportation cost can be achieved.

Some of the cons are:-

1) There are very few vendors available.In NCR you one can count these vendors on fingures.The conventional brick kiln owners are very large in number.Moreover,the production capacity of one vendor is at the most 8000 to 9000 blocks per day,which is very little (in fractions) in comparison to huge per day peak demand of any of the big real estate developers.To cater to demand of one big real estate developer,you require at least 6-7 dedicated vendors.

2)  Rightly said by Shri Satish Salpekar that there has been complaint of presence of cracks at joints position in some of the cases,requiring repair work and repaintng.This repainting, if done only at repired potion is conspiquously visible in broad day light due to different ages of painting.

 3) It is prefered to fix door frames along with block masonry to avoid development of cracks at hold fasts and at lintels.This hampers speed of construction and requires cash flow.

4)  While chase cutting,web of blocks gets cut and thus extra filling of mortar is required.

 5) I have been pursuing the case of HCB's since 2004.The HCB's have never been found to be economical than conventional clay bricks.The final supplied and applied cost has always been found to be costlier to conventional brickwork by  approximately Rs.100-200 per Cum.The issue is-at least at present,while there does not seem to be any shortage of conventional clay bricks and neither we are  commited to provide HCB's,why should we incur extra cost. 

So,it is only the big players in our construction industry,who can encourage more and more HCB manufacturers to come forward.This will inculcate competetion in the market and thus lowering the price of blocks and then automatically,there will be an urge to switch over to Hollow Concrete Blocks in lieu of conventional bricks.

Regards,

Harish

In may opinion using HCB (Hollow concrete block) for External and internal partition walls of building structure is with no hesitation reduces the total cost of the structure, since the weight of HCB is lighter than bricks and stone masonry, which means having lease dead load and reasonably, when we reduced dead load the earthquake load also reduced ( i.e. using HCB walls is safe and economical for building structure.) But for structures interrelated to water like water retaining structures it is recommended to use solid bricks and stone masonry.

Engineered Concrete Hollow Block Masonry is definitely superior.

The products are:

1) Precise

2) Properties can be engineered to meet requirement.

3) Along with reinforcement and grout, one can design structures that can withstand powerful earthquakes,wind, others. Option to design for both vertical and horizontal shear loads available only with  engineered hollow concrete masonry products.

4) Environmentally, these have the most efficient values for embodied energy and embodied carbon.

5) Dimensionally precise.

6) High density but low gross weight.

7)As against Solid Block or Brick, can save upto 50 % weight and hence drastically reduces dead load of buildings without compromising on structural integrity.

8) One can use manufactured sand, admixes and fly ash in the design mix to obtain products of consistent integrity.

9) A huge range of products such as Lintel Blocks, Architectural Blocks, Retaining Wall Blocks, Landscape products, Paving Blocks etc. possible to be manufactured in the same processing line.

10) Exposed masonry possible. In fact because of precise dimensions, plastering thickness can be minimized to even 6 mm.

11) Various features that can be introduced (such as conduit pockets etc.) make the product extremely flexible, efficient and very cost effective.

I support the arguement that the concrete blocks are far more superior than the traditional kiln bricks used generally in our country,but needs to be used properly with right amount of concrete mix and proper curing.

SUBJECT TO FOLLOWING

1.THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED TO THE SPECIFICATIOS WITH CURING AS REQUIRED i.e NO. OF DAYSOF CURING.

2MADE AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF WORK AND OF REQIRED STANDARD SIZE.

3. QUALITY OF ALL MATERIALS USED ARE AS PER SPECIFICATIONS.

4.THOUGH THEY ARE COSTLIER THAN CUSTOMARY BRICKS FROM BRICK KILN

Concrete Hollow Block Masonry is certainly supirior than the conventional brick/stone masonry on many counts. However, the hollow block masonry is not seen much in India because cracks are seen very often in the hollow block masonry. The crack that appear in hollow block masonry are mostly the shrinkage cracks due to differential shrinkage coefficients of the concrete in the hollow block and the mortar used in joinery. Very often people use rich mortar for hollow concrete block masonry, whereas the mortar mix shold match with that of concrete mix of the hollow block. A properly constructed hollow block wall will never crack.

Concrete Hollow Block Masonry is definately supirior but In India it is not used much because people are not aware of the proper block masonry practices. Hence, most of the hollow block walls crack. Very often people use rich mortars for block masonry, thereby invite shrinkage cracks due to differetial shrinkage coefficients of Concrete in the block and the mortar used for joinery. If you follow proper practices in hollow block masony, there will be no cracks. I have been using hollow blocks for many years.

i quite agree with yogendra and others here the Concrete block is faster, economical and heat insulation in better compare with Brick wall. Serves the purpose.

Hollow blocks are strong.......you can check the strength.........

I also support the idea as hollow bricks are more convenient re. insulation,support ,quality and hardiness.These are ideal in every aspects of construction,may be its a building,room,pavement,floor,or side walks .These are in all way superior to lay brick.One should be aware of this convenient brick .

Concrete hollow block masonry is superior.........In my opinion hollow blocks are superior to traditional masonry in many aspects i.e. economy/quick construction/heat insulation/very easy to produce and many more........and I think we must encourage hollow block masonry instead of brick or stone masonry....