What is Concrete Masonry?

Concrete masonry construction (or as it is more commonly called, concrete block work) is based on thousands of years' experience in building structures of stone, mud and clay bricks. [Download]

Concrete Masonry Wall Units

Concrete Masonry Units are required to meet the requirements of Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4455 Part 1 Masonry units, pavers, flags and segmental retaining wall units - Masonry units. The specification requirements of this document are contained in Section 1.7. Specification information for concrete bricks is presented in Section 5.3. [Download]

Modular Wall Masonry

For reasons of ease of manufacture, storage, handling and construction, concrete masonry is produced in modular units. [Download]

Mortar and Mortar Joints

Masonry units are usually bonded together by laying and bedding the units in Portland cement mortar. The thickness of the mortar joint is part of the modular system of blockwork. There are some patent mortarless systems available overseas. [Download]

Block Laying

The purpose of this section is to give the specifier a background to the procedures used to construct a concrete masonry wall. [Download]

Masonry Trades and Registration of Masons

• Brick & Blocklayers’ Federation New Zealand Inc.
• New Zealand Masonry Trades Registration Board
• Department of Building and Housing - Licensed Building Practitioner Scheme

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Specifications for Concrete Masonry Wall Units

The specification for concrete masonry units was initially covered by NZS 595, superseded by NZS 3102:1983 and finally overtaken by a joint Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4455 Masonry units, pavers, flags and segmental retaining wall units. This latest document covers all masonry products, i.e. not just concrete as was the case of the earlier New Zealand Standard. [Download]