Walls of Concrete and Lightweight Concrete Blocks

Concrete is a mixture of aggregate, binder, and water. The binder is cement, and the aggregate can vary (mineral and organic).

When classified by density, concrete is divided into the following groups:

1. heavy concrete (densities 3 000 – 5 000 kg/m³)
2. normal concrete (densities 2 200 – 2 400 kg/m³)
3. light concrete – load‑bearing (densities 800 – 1 900 kg/m³)

-                                             insulating (densities 400 – 800 kg/m³)

For making building elements, both normal and light concretes are used as solid and hollow forms.

Concrete blocks are of standardized modular dimensions, and based on the arrangement of cavities and shape we distinguish:

1. standard concrete blocks NBB (390/190; 240; 290/190 mm)
2. thermal concrete blocks TBB (390/190; 240; 290/190 mm)
3. partition concrete blocks PBB (390/70; 90/190 mm)

They are laid in continuous mortar with a ½‑block overlap of adjacent layers. Depending on the type of block, one or three notches on the side walls are filled with mortar.

Light‑concrete blocks have the same dimensions as normal concrete blocks. Based on the cavity arrangement, size and shape we differentiate:

1. standard light‑concrete blocks NLB (390/190; 240; 290/190 mm)
2. thermal light‑concrete blocks TLB (390/190; 240; 290/190 mm)
3. partition light‑concrete blocks PLB (390/70; 90/190 mm)

Foam concrete blocks (formerly SIPOREX, now YTONG) are light‑concrete blocks with expansion additives that trigger chemical reactions, giving the mass a porous structure.

Foam concrete is a good thermal insulator, non‑combustible, easy to work with, and load‑bearing.

Foam concrete blocks are most commonly used to construct fill, load‑bearing, and non‑load‑bearing walls, both exterior and interior, of all types of buildings up to a height of 4 floors.