Masonry in Practice

Our masonry in processing, construction and its characteristics with respect to ecology, load limits and building physics

Masonry has to fulfil a multitude of functions. In addition to load transfer there are building physics requirements such as thermal insulation, moisture protection, sound insulation and fire protection.

Every building block and component must meet the corresponding requirements at their deployment site. In addition you have to be able to execute all design ideas and be able to exhaust all possibilities as well with the masonry, or the blocks and components respectively. The goal of all work is to be able to build without damage and economically.


Only a good shell construction system with individual coordinated elements such as the so-called KLB modular construction system can offer a reasonable solution for all requirements. It offers everything needed for future-oriented, modern shell construction, renovation or expansion, from basement to roof and from a single family dwelling up to an industrial building.

KLB offers the full assortment for shell construction. Thanks to the consistent use of KLB products houses with homogeneous masonry that maintain their value are created. Sales occur exclusively via building material specialty merchants. All block dimensions are coordinated according to the octametric measurement system (12.5 cm). With wall thicknesses of 6.0 cm to 49.0 cm and strength classes from 2 to 20 (2.5 N/mm² - 25 N/mm²), the KLB modular construction system offers the option for differentiated adjustment to different building requirements, with great design leeway and without mixed construction methods.


In addition, thermal and noise protection requirements can be adhered to precisely by proper selection of the type of block and gross density class, from 0.35 to 2.0.

 

However, the risk of structural damage increases with the striving for a short construction period and a short service life before the building is used. Errors that occur then lead to complaints and blame being attributed to the planner, structural engineer, contractor and, not least, to the building material producer. The consequence is frequently the use of expert opinions and court-ordered evidence proceedings. Requirements for defect-free masonry are:

 

In design:

  • Aspects of aesthetics, sustainability, utility, quality and safety should be considered as a whole when possible,
  • even when using industrially prefabricated components the highest degree of monolithic construction should be strived for
  • the use of different materials is to be reduced to a necessary minimum,
  • only matching construction materials that complement and sup-port each other in their building physics properties are to be in-cluded and their precise, product specific definition must be specified.

In structural design:

  • determination of the strength classes taking into account individual building sections, and referring to the contrast of the effect of build-ing physics characteristics,
  • Already at the preliminary planning stage, care must be taken to ensure that, with due regard to economic efficiency, constraints arising from the frictional connection of components with different deformation behaviour, e.g. storey ceilings and masonry, do not impair the serviceability,
  • distribute loads as uniformly as possible across the walls, e.g. by crosswise reinforcement of the storey ceilings.

In implementation:

  • Consistently avoid mixed construction methods,
  • Build with sufficient overlap dimension,
  • Observe processing recommendations,
  • Introduce constructive reinforcements and/or plaster reinforce-ments in the boundary area of the load-bearing and non-load-bearing masonry,
  • Shut down thermal bridges between components via an insulation layer
  • Plaster and tile only with materials with characteristics matching the masonry.

 

 

The following topics explain the handling of KLB construction materials, i.e. the proper execution and construction according to rules of architecture and construction technology recognised today. The consideration of these tips and suggestions by all construction professionals equally leads to the increase of the quality of the masonry and the avoidance of construction damage. The processing of the different types of blocks and the tips for proper execution and construction of and with masonry are important here.


The different details are illustrated in their key points and only briefly commented in words, in line with the motto: “a picture is work more than a thousand words.”