Aerated blocks are a great option for use in the construction of cottages and private houses. It is also suitable for creating single-storey and multi-storey residential and non-residential premises.
In housing construction, especially in private, porous materials are the most popular. They are strong enough, but at the same time light, which allows not to use mechanized means in the construction process. It is quite possible for several workers to unload a pallet with aerated concrete blocks, without the use of a truck crane or manipulator. The specifics of production provides aerated concrete blocks with high performance.
Characteristics of gas blocks
Aerated concrete blocks consist of DSP - a mixture of cement and sand with the addition of a gas-forming substance. If the blocks need to be given some special properties, lime, gypsum, soot, slag and other components are added to them during production. In addition, aerated concrete blocks undergo heat treatment.
Gas blocks excellentretain heat because they have low thermal conductivity. Interroom partitions are erected from them, they are used to create an additional insulating layer. The density of aerated concrete blocks varies from D200 to D500.
In addition to gas blocks, there are also foam blocks. This material is similar to aerated concrete, but less durable, but more affordable. The sizes of the foam block and the gas block are the same, the choice of one or another of them depends on the construction budget and the tasks that the builders face.
Foam concrete blocks or foam blocks also belong to the group of cellular concrete. They are obtained by polarization with foam and other foaming agents, based on cement, lime, slag or mixed binders.
Because the process of producing foam concrete outside the factory has become quite possible today, a lot of products made by handicrafts are appearing on the market, which makes the use of this material very dangerous. Even the water used in the production of foam blocks is of great importance. And ordinary tap water used by artisanal industries adversely affects the final product, reducing the technical characteristics of the material.
Scope of aerated concrete blocks
Aerated blocks are used in a variety of areas of construction.
- Single-layer walls. Gas blocks are great for this purpose. Use blocks with a thickness of 300-480 mm. These are standard gas block sizes.
- Outer two- andthree-layer walls. The thickness of the blocks used for these purposes is 200-365 mm.
- Fences and partitions. It is relevant, since the weight of the gas block is much less than the weight of the brick, which is very important when constructing such structures. The aerated concrete block weighs 19, 9-25 kg.
- Tray blocks. In the future, they are reinforced or filled with concrete, which is often used to create foundations. In this case, gas blocks play the role of formwork. Therefore, the walls of such blocks are more uniform, which greatly facilitates the plastering process.
Aerated concrete block sizes
The size of the building material is of key importance during the work, including the size of the gas block. Usually, all materials - wood, brick, stone and others - have different sizes, which is due to the scope of their application. Aerated concrete blocks are no exception. In addition to the shape of the blocks, their technical characteristics can also vary quite a lot.
Among manufacturers of gas blocks, standard sizes of gas blocks are established, which are followed in their production. Therefore, before buying, be sure to check their dimensions, characteristics and shape at the factory. You need to choose the size of the gas block for building a house exactly according to the plan of your future home.
Characteristics of different materials for comparison
| Indicator | Tree | Slotted brick | Porous block | Expanded concrete | Aerated concrete | Aerated concrete |
| Density (kg/m³) | 450 | 1350-1650 | 350-950 | 800-1750 | 550-950 | 250-550 |
| Thermal conductivity (W/m°C) | 0, 15 | 0, 6 | 0, 19-0, 29 | 0, 35-0, 75 | 0, 14-0, 22 | 0, 09-0, 14 |
| Strength (kgf/cm²) | 100-250 | 150-200 | 40-80 | 15-30 | 25-55 | |
| Water absorption (% by mass) | 11-19 | 12-18 | 12-18 | 24 | ||
| Frost resistance (cycles) | 150 | 150 | from 55 | from 40 | from 55 | |
| Recommended wall thickness (m)(for middle lane) | from 0, 45 | from 1, 25 | from 0, 55 | from 0, 9 | from 0, 55 | from 0, 35 |
Types of gas blocks
Each gas block has dimensions, weight and characteristics that are individual in each case, depending on what it is planned to be used for.
The blocks are separated by the shape of the faces:
- Flat aerated concrete. It looks like a big brick. It has special grooves for easy styling. Has a standard gas block size.
- "Groove-comb", U and HH-shaped are used to create a variety of surfaces with a complex shape. For example, when creating columns, openings, arches, lintels, hidden monoliths, and more.
Aerated blocks are supplied on pallets. The dimensions of the pallets depend onmanufacturer. The sellers represented on the modern Russian construction market have different prices.
The most common gas block pallet size:
- 1х1, 25 m - height 1, 5–1, 6 volume - 1, 875–2 cu. m;
- 1, 5х1, 25 m - height 1, 2 m volume - 2, 25 cu. m;
- 0, 75x1 m - height 1.5 m volume - 1.41 cu. m.
Aerated blocks are divided by size into:
- Wall.
- Septal.
- For jumpers.
Dimensions of wall aerated concrete blocks
The most common are full-sized wall gas blocks. They are used in the creation of load-bearing structures. Since their main task is to withstand heavy loads, the density of such blocks corresponds to the middle class - D400 and D500.
The length of standard gas blocks for load-bearing walls is usually about 60 cm, the height is about 25 cm (sometimes the height is 30 cm). As for the width of the blocks, in most cases this value varies greatly, but the standard parameters are 20, 30, 37, 5 and 40 cm. Wall aerated concrete blocks are often used in the construction of houses, outbuildings, garages, summer buildings, etc. They are smooth or with notches for hands, or tongue-and-groove. The latter are especially convenient to use, as they are much easier to attach to each other.
Dimensions of partition aerated concrete blocks
This is the second type of gas blocks. The size of the partition gas block is much smaller than the standard one. Partition blocks usually have a length of about62.5 cm, height - 25 cm and width - 10 cm or 15 cm. The specific size depends on the manufacturer and model of the product. Typically, partition blocks do not carry a significant load, and therefore their dimensions are taken to be minimal, in order to save the internal volume of the room. However, at the same time, partition aerated concrete blocks perfectly retain heat and have high sound insulation rates.
Dimensions of U-shaped aerated concrete blocks
When carrying out construction work, materials are needed that meet special requirements and have a certain shape. What size of the gas block is needed in each case depends on its purpose. Such materials are U-shaped aerated concrete blocks. They are used when creating reinforced concrete pillars, lintels, columns.
U-shaped block sizes are usually:
- length - 60 cm;
- height - 25 cm;
- width - 20, 25, 30, 27, 5 or 40 cm.
When choosing, the main attention should be paid not only to the size of the gas block, but also to the quality, technical and operational characteristics and the manufacturer. In this case, the main indicator is the density of the block. It is on its value that the behavior of the gas block in the future depends, when a load falls on it, or it will be exposed to the environment.
Density of aerated concrete blocks
The lightest are gas blocks with a density of D350 kg/m3. It is used in partitions, non-bearing walls. Blocks with a density of D400-D450 - average in terms of the strength of autoclaved concrete, are used in low-riseconstruction.
The most commonly used blocks are brand D500. They are also used in high-rise construction.
It is very important that autoclaved concretes have high fire resistance. According to environmental indicators, they belong to the second class, that is, they follow directly behind wood.
Prospects for gas blocks
Interest in gas blocks is growing every day. Already today on the market you can find aerated concrete blocks with a density of D600 and D700, also autoclaved. As autoclaved cellular concrete is used more and more actively in high-rise construction, it is obvious that the density of aerated concrete blocks will increase.
The cost of this building material is low, but it fully pays off due to increased strength, frost resistance, excellent sound and heat insulation properties.
