What should be the thickness of the walls of aerated concrete blocks and how to calculate it?

For structural integrity and energy efficiency, knowing the right wall thickness is essential when building or renovating with aerated concrete blocks. Because of its lightweight and insulating qualities, aerated concrete is known for its durability; however, in order to comply with building codes, wall thickness must be carefully considered.

Aerated concrete block walls’ thickness is usually determined by a number of variables, such as the structure’s intended use, local building codes, and environmental factors. Generally speaking, requirements for residential buildings may differ from those for commercial or industrial buildings.

Builders frequently take into account the load-bearing capacity needed for the building when determining the ideal thickness for aerated concrete block walls. This entails determining the structural requirements depending on the kind of construction, such as multi-story buildings versus single-story homes.

Thermal insulation requirements must also be considered when calculating wall thickness. The ability of aerated concrete blocks to efficiently control interior temperatures makes them valuable. Maintaining cozy interior spaces and lowering heating and cooling expenses are greatly influenced by the wall’s thickness.

Specific recommendations for wall thicknesses are provided by local building codes and standards, which take into account local seismic activity and climatic conditions. Adherence to construction best practices and safety are guaranteed by compliance with these regulations.

What does the concept mean?

The size of the gas silicate stones that will be used to build the house’s walls is determined by the thickness of the gas silicate structures. This material can be used in a variety of climate zones, and it can even be used to build homes in cold climates if you select blocks with specific frost resistance indicators. Regulation documents, which consider every characteristic of gas silicate stone, specify the size.

The structure of the walls must keep heat inside the building and prevent air from escaping. During construction, insulation against heat or steam, noise, and other elements are used for added protection. The size of the structure must ensure that the weight of the entire building is dispersed equally around the house’s perimeter and does not decrease over time. The building’s floor count is influenced by the strength class of the blocks as well as the thickness of the raw materials.

What does it affect??

Numerous factors are impacted by a residential building’s exterior and interior sizes, including:

• thermal insulation;
• soundproofing;
• strength;
• durability.

The greater the thickness of the gas silicate walls, the better their thermal insulation against natural external phenomena is. This consideration only applies to external walls; internal walls and partitions do not need to be very thick. The size of the partitions must enable the reliable distribution of the load from later floors around the edges of all enclosing structures from the preceding one.

Buildings that are overly thick also make no sense when taking this into account. Seasonal temperature indicators suggest that a region’s standards should be sufficient.

In addition to keeping heat in, block walls should absorb noise and support the weight of the entire structure. Rain, snow, or wind should not be allowed to affect dependable design. The longer a house lasts and serves its owners, the stronger and thicker the walls.

Selection options

Many considerations need to be made in order to choose the ideal depth, including:

• number of storeys;
• wall type;
• climatic region.

As per SNiP, a building’s foundation and lower floors bear a greater load when its floor count increases. Block material has a minimum indicator for this parameter, and it is not possible to go over this limit without destroying the building.

Crucial! Standards state that a ceiling height of 2.5 to 3 meters requires a minimum wall depth of 120 to 150 mm.

The vertical load on load-bearing structures is caused by precipitation, other structures, floors, and roofs in addition to the weight of the wall itself. The masonry’s calculated compression resistance for gas silicate is contingent upon the type of building mixture used to create the block. The choice of thickness is also influenced by the type of wall; thinner walls may be used for partitions. The thickness of the walls depends on the climate in the area where the house is located; the colder the weather, the thicker the walls.

What should it be?

The location of the structure in relation to the gas silicate block and the wall’s intended use must be considered when determining the wall’s thickness.

By location

External and internal walls can be found in different places. The thickness indicator for external walls is set between 300 and 400 mm; blocks of specific sizes are made for this reason. If the outer walls are made thinner, more insulation will be needed, which will increase the cost of building supplies.

Different standards apply to internal walls, where the thickness can range from 150 to 250 mm. Non-load-bearing internal walls are typically 200 mm in thickness. This choice is regarded as ideal since it will enable you to hang cabinets and shelves and make the most use of the wall’s functionality.

By purpose

Walls can be partitions or load-bearing by design. An allowance for thickness of 375 mm is made for load-bearing structures. In this instance, the wall’s thickness ought to be at least 300 mm if it is self-supporting.

It will be feasible to either completely avoid or only partially complete further insulation work on the external supporting structure thanks to this indicator.

Partitions are merely devices that divide rooms from one another; they are not meant to support loads. Partitions measuring between 100 and 150 mm can be constructed using gas silicate blocks. The partition can be 300 mm if these are independent rooms without a shared entrance. The gas silicate in this instance needs to be grade D500–D900.

Optimal parameter

The design documentation must account for the use of each size of stone; it is not advisable to deviate from the indicators to prevent the building from being destroyed or to have other unfavorable effects. The most popular wall options are:

A residential building’s walls are made of 300 mm gas silicate blocks, but thermal insulation is required. You must carefully calculate the amount of load on the entire structure if such a stone is used. The most popular blocks are 400 mm ones, which don’t need thermal insulation unless the owner requests it.

Only the project uses the 500 mm gas silicate because a wider foundation needs to be prepared for it. This stone has the potential to "eat up" interior space, which is not ideal for homes with limited square footage.

From the foregoing, we can infer that the minimum stone strength of D600 is required, and the standard for any region, regardless of the kind of walls they are situated in, is 400 mm.

How to calculate?

You must know the thermal conductivity coefficient in order to determine the thickness of walls constructed of gas silicate blocks. For every stone brand and density, it is different. For grade D600, the thermal conductivity of gas silicate is 0.132 W/m*C.

The resistance of walls to heat transfer (Rreg) indicator for central Russia is 3.15.

With this data, you can use the following formula to get the needed value:

You can increase the heat loss from the result by applying glue (about 6%), adding a layer of 2-3 cm internal plaster, and adding another 2-3 cm layer of external finishing (if facing bricks are not used). Based on the obtained results, the ideal wall thickness for gas silicate in central Russia is 400-450 mm. This is the reason a 400 mm thick block is used in the construction of the structure.

Aerated concrete block walls must take into account a number of factors in order to ensure structural integrity and longevity. Because of their insulating qualities and light weight, aerated concrete blocks are widely used in construction. Usually, the structural specifications, regional building codes, and the particular requirements of the building determine how thick these walls should be.

The load-bearing capacity that the walls must have is one important factor to take into account. Greater strength and load capacity are provided by thicker walls, which is crucial for multi-story buildings and locations vulnerable to strong winds or seismic activity. To make sure the building satisfies safety requirements, engineers and architects frequently determine the necessary thickness based on these considerations.

Another important benefit of aerated concrete blocks is thermal insulation. The insulation qualities of the walls are influenced by their thickness, which impacts the energy efficiency of the building. All year long, lower heating and cooling expenses and more comfortable interior temperatures can be achieved with thicker, more insulated walls.

Assessing the location’s unique climate conditions is necessary to determine the proper thickness. For example, thicker walls may be necessary in colder climates to improve thermal performance and stop heat loss. On the other hand, in warmer climates, thinner walls that are adequately insulated may be sufficient, striking a balance between construction costs and energy efficiency.

Finally, a major factor in establishing the minimum wall thickness is local building codes. These rules guarantee that structures adhere to safety requirements and can sustain environmental stresses over time. Achieving building permits and guaranteeing the durability and strength of the structure depend on adherence to these standards.

An article on calculating the wall thickness of aerated concrete blocks for your website "All about construction and repair" should describe how the characteristics of this material affect insulation and structural integrity. It should be made clear that the thickness varies depending on things like climate, load-bearing capacity, and building codes. Through practical methods for calculating ideal thickness based on these factors, readers will be able to ensure the safety and energy efficiency of their construction projects.

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