Understanding the ideal thickness of expanded clay concrete blocks is essential for assuring both structural integrity and efficiency when planning a building project. These insulating and lightweight blocks provide a number of advantages for building design. The thickness that these blocks must be used for walls depends on a number of variables, such as the structural load, the need for insulation, and local building codes.
The thicknesses of expanded clay concrete blocks vary, usually falling between 100 and 300 mm or more. The wall’s capacity to support weight and act as thermal insulation is directly impacted by the thickness selection. Although thicker walls often provide superior soundproofing and thermal efficiency, they may also cost more to build and require more labor and materials.
Thick walls can provide superior insulation against heat and cold in areas with harsh weather, which can eventually result in energy savings. In order to maintain safety and adherence to thermal performance standards, minimum wall thickness requirements are frequently outlined in local building regulations.
When determining the proper wall thickness for residential and commercial buildings, architects and engineers take into account various factors, including the building’s height, the local climate, and the desired level of thermal comfort. This choice requires striking a balance between comfort, long-term sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
| Thickness Category | Requirements |
| Normal Walls | For standard interior and exterior walls, a thickness of 200 mm (about 8 inches) is generally sufficient. This provides adequate insulation and structural support. |
| Load-Bearing Walls | For walls supporting heavy loads or acting as partitions between rooms, a thickness of 250 mm (about 10 inches) or more may be required. This ensures the wall can bear the weight without compromising stability. |
- What does the concept mean??
- What does it affect??
- What indicators need to be taken into account when choosing?
- What should the characteristic be??
- Depending on location
- Outside the building
- Indoors
- According to the purpose of wall structures
- Carrying
- An unnecessary partition
- By building type
- House
- Bath
- Optimal parameter
- Video on the topic
- Expanded clay concrete blocks in stock. Great quality.
What does the concept mean??
When creating a project to build a house, this design indicator is included. In order to build a house, it must meet two crucial requirements: the wall stone’s thermal conductivity and its ability to support weight. Adherence to the first directly leads to the structure’s safe functioning, and to the second – upholding the designated hygienic temperature conditions within the building.
Crucial! The recommended standard thickness for expanded clay concrete walls is determined by specific building codes and regulations, taking into account the chosen masonry technique and the climate of the construction site.
What does it affect??
Expanded clay concrete walls should be thick enough to support the necessary weight on the structure. This is ensured by the building material’s compressive strength grade, which is guaranteed by the manufacturer in compliance with GOST 6133/99 for "Concrete wall stones" in the M25–M300 range. The numbers in the markings represent the stone’s load-bearing capacity in kilograms per square centimeter.
Common techniques for masonry:
- 1.5 blocks -600 mm, load-bearing external structure;
- 1.0 block – 400 mm, load-bearing internal structure without thermal insulation or external load-bearing structure with an additional heat-protective layer;
- 0.5 block – 200 mm, outbuildings and partitions.
Crucial! The thickness is chosen during the design phase, as it will affect calculations for the house’s plinth, foundation, and thermal protection system.
Knowing the required wall thickness when using expanded clay concrete blocks is essential to maintaining structural integrity and energy efficiency. Local building codes, load-bearing capacity, and the need for insulation all affect thickness. Builders can ensure long-lasting and energy-efficient construction by optimizing strength and thermal performance through thickness selection.
What indicators need to be taken into account when choosing?
Expanded clay concrete wall thickness calculation is a challenging engineering task. It is affected by the type of construction, the number of storeys in the house, the properties of the soil, the location of the construction, and the climate.
The standard heat transfer resistance of a house, as determined for the area in accordance with SNiP 23/02, published in 2003, is the first step in the calculation. In the location where the object is intended to be built, tabular indicators of heat transfer resistance Rreg and degree-days of the standard heating season Dd are taken for this purpose.
Furthermore, Dd is dependent on the typical interior air temperature of a particular kind of building, which can range from 18 to 25 C.
Once you have standard indicators, you can figure out how thick expanded clay concrete walls are:
S = Rreg x λ, m Where: λ is the blocks’ thermal conductivity as reported in the material passport.
What should the characteristic be??
Design organizations, considering the average statistical properties of expanded clay concrete, suggest the following thicknesses:
- One-story houses for seasonal living from 200 mm to 300 mm using M150.
- Foundation, plinth and load-bearing structures from 400 to 600 using M300.
- Light walls from 350-400 mm using M200.
- Internal partitions from 200 mm using M200 M (50.75) and an independent layer of facade thermal insulation.
Depending on location
Solid and hollow expanded clay concrete blocks with varying percentages of voids are used for residential buildings intended for use year-round use. Depending on its location and the weight it must support, the walls’ width will vary. External structure minimum thickness is 400 mm, with ligation of vertical seams of at least 100 mm.
Hollow stones can be used as load-bearing walls in low-rise buildings and as partition structures due to their increased strength and thermal insulation qualities.
Outside the building
These are the most important structures because they have to evenly distribute the load from the roofing system with overlap as well as their own weight to the house’s base. Such elements have a minimum size of 400 mm, which permits the installation of flooring made of reinforced concrete slabs.
You must also consider the element’s density if you want the developer to be certain that the thickness they selected is accurate. The strength and moisture resistance of the structure increase with its height. The letter D stands for density, and its indicators range from 400 to 2000 kg/m3.
Blocks of structural type, density D1100/D1800, indicators M100/M500, and frost resistance rating at least F50 (and higher in northern regions for F75) can be used for external walls. In this scenario, the supporting structures will need an extra layer of thermal protection measuring at least 100 mm, but they will be able to support reasonable loads.
Indoors
Generally speaking, the walls don’t need thermal insulation for this purpose. Additionally, they may or may not be load-bearing. The primary consideration when determining the width of such an element is its capacity to support the weight of the overhead building structures. The construction process is enhanced and structural reliability is guaranteed with low element weights of up to 8 kg and thicknesses ranging from 200 to 400 mm.
According to the purpose of wall structures
This classifier states that a wall’s thickness is determined by the purpose it serves inside the home. They fall into three categories: unnecessary internal partitions, supporting internal andexternal, and
Carrying
This design, which has a minimum width indication ranging from 400 to 600 mm, is the largest. It goes with extra thermal insulation in the first scenario and not with any in the second. Because the supporting structure must transfer the load based on the house’s weight and the ceiling system, this size is determined by the operational condition.
An unnecessary partition
The internal non-consuming walls can be up to 200 mm thick and are composed of partition blocks. Armopoyas, which are installed between upper blocks and ceiling overlap to ensure uniform load distribution, are sometimes offered for their strengthening.
The blotch consists of 390 x 190 x 90 mm interior blocks with a minimum density of 900 kg/m3. In this instance, 180 mm is the minimum wall thickness.
Because of their size, they are simple to erect and don’t add to the weight on the foundation or floor. In addition to saving money on construction, lightweight partitions don’t take up any valuable space.
Furthermore, this size is adequate to ensure that the structure has the structural integrity needed to support the attachment of finishing and interior components in the future. Expanded clay concrete can be used for residential building wall structures because it is soundproof and fire resistant.
By building type
The type of construction project—residential, commercial, industrial, or for the purpose of servicing nearby properties—determines the wall thickness choice in large part.
House
Expanded clay concrete blocks are widely used in the construction of single-family homes up to three stories. incredibly affordable wall material; block widths vary from 19 to 45 cm, depending on the producer. According to SNiP, the typical wall width for homes constructed of this material is 380 mm; in other words, the material is laid in two blocks of the smallest width. Brick cladding and external thermal protection are needed for this option.
Bath
It will be sufficient to use hollow blocks for the bathhouse walls, which can also offer greater thermal protection, rather than stronger ones. In the smallest configuration, measuring 6 by 4 meters, the external walls are utilized in a dressing in half of a block measuring 300 mm. Ordinary cement plaster is used to provide protection against atmospheric moisture.
Optimal parameter
For private residential construction, two- and three-story houses made of expanded clay blocks are currently the most popular. The ideal wall thickness for Russia’s central regions has been determined to be between 400 and 600 mm, with a building material density exceeding 1000 kg/m3.
Reference: The well method is used for the construction of structures in the northern regions that have the same width. In this instance, two parallel walls that have a combined thickness of 60 cm are raised. Insulation is inserted between them, and the structure is strengthened.
Basalt wool, Penoplex, and mineral wool are the most widely used insulation materials. Plaster or another finishing material is used to cover the internal and external components of the structures.
Selecting the appropriate wall thickness for your building’s expanded clay concrete blocks is essential to maintaining both structural integrity and energy efficiency. Standard thicknesses typically vary from 100 to 300 mm, depending on load-bearing capacities, insulating requirements, and local building codes, among other considerations.
Thickner blocks are usually used for load-bearing walls in order to give stability and support the weight of the structure. For interior walls or non-load-bearing partitions where structural support is less important, thinner walls may be appropriate.
Another important factor is insulation. More insulation can be installed in thicker walls, increasing the building’s energy efficiency and lowering heating and cooling expenses. This is particularly crucial in regions with high temperatures.
Always check your local building codes and regulations to find out the minimum thickness required in your area for walls constructed with expanded clay concrete blocks. By ensuring that buildings adhere to durability and safety standards, these regulations give residents a safe and comfortable place to live.
