Editing Concrete block (section)

== Properties ==

Concrete masonry walls may be ungrouted, partially grouted, or fully grouted, the latter two enhancing their structural strength. Additionally, steel reinforcement bars (rebar) can be used both vertically and horizontally inside a concrete block wall to maximize its structural performance. The cells in which the rebar is placed must be grouted for the bars to bond to the wall. For this reason, high-seismic zones typically allow only fully grouted walls in their building codes. The American design code that guides design engineers in using concrete blocks as a structural system is the ''Masonry Standards Joint Committee's Building Code Requirements & Specification for Masonry Structures'' (TMS 402/602-16).<ref>{{cite web |title=TMS 402/602-16 Building Code Requirements and Specification for Masonry Structures |url=https://shop.iccsafe.org/tms-402-602-16-building-code-requirements-and-specification-for-masonry-structures.html |website=INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL |access-date=4 June 2024}}</ref>

The [[compressive strength]] of concrete blocks and masonry walls varies from approximately {{cvt|500|to(-)|5000|psi|MPa|order=flip}} based on the type of concrete used to manufacture the unit, stacking orientation, the type of [[Mortar (masonry)|mortar]] used to build the wall, and whether it is a load-bearing partition or not, among other factors. 
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://ncma.org/resource/astm-specifications-for-concrete-masonry-units/#:~:text=NONLOADBEARING%20CONCRETE%20MASONRY%20UNITS%E2%80%94%20ASTM%20C129,-ASTM%20C129%20(ref&text=11)%20covers%20hollow%20and%20solid,effectively%20protected%20from%20the%20weather|title=ASTM Specifications for concrete masonry units}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cement.org/pdf_files/IS276.pdf|title=Compressive Strength of Masonry |publisher=Portland Cement Organization |access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc26362/nrcc26362.pdf |title=Comprehensive Strength of Hollow Concrete Blockwork |publisher=Government of Canada |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916124303/http://archive.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/obj/irc/doc/pubs/nrcc26362/nrcc26362.pdf |date=4 June 1986 |archive-date=2012-09-16 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://chestofbooks.com/reference/Henley-s-20th-Century-Formulas-Recipes-Processes-Vol3/Properties-of-Concrete-Blocks-8212-Strength.html|title=Properties of Concrete Blocks — Strength}}</ref>