National University

COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE
ABTECN4: Specs Writing & Construction Estimate
Prepared By: Joffrey C. Chung, MEM

Module No.: 11
Lesson No.: 05_ESTIMATING CONCRETE MASONRY UNIT

I. Introduction

For more than a century, concrete masonry unit (CMU) has been one of the most versatile materials used in
building construction, particularly for erecting walls, fences, and other partitions of buildings, ranging from small
residential units to large commercial and industrial structures. Its many qualities like non-combustibility, high
compressive strength, durability, easy installation & maintenance, and even its aesthetic quality has always
provided both technical and practical advantages to its users. Due to its popularity, CMU's have been known
under different names in various places as well. In the United Kingdom, it is referred to as breeze or ash blocks
and cinder blocks in the United States. In New Zealand and Canada, it is referred to as concrete blocks. Here
in the Philippines, it is commonly called as hollow blocks.

II. Concrete Masonry Unit

Technically, concrete masonry unit (CMU) is commonly a rectangular building block made of cement mixed
with aggregate at the ratio of 1:6. The aggregates used is 60% fine, and 40% coarse. Similar to concrete, some
CMU products may contain other materials like recycled aggregate and fly ash which help to modify and
improve its qualities like color, texture, compressive strength, and weight. Modular in size, CMU's typically has
the standard nominal face dimensions of 200mm H x 400mm L, with thickness (T) of 100, 150, 200, 250, and
300mm. There is a difference of 9.00mm (3/8") of its nominal measurement to its actual dimension to include
mortar joints.

Table 01: Comparison on Standard Dimensions of Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)

NOMINAL DIMENSION (mm) ACTUAL DIMENSION (mm)
CMU SIZE
DxHxL DxHxL
100mm Full Block 100 x 200 x 400 92 x 194 x 397
100mm Half Block 100 x 200 x 200 92 x 194 x 194
150mm Full Block 150 x 200 x 400 143 x 194 x 397
150mm Half Block 150 x 200 x 200 143 x 194 x 194
200mm Full Block 200 x 200 x 400 194 x 194 x 397
200mm Half Block 200 x 200 x 200 194 x 194 x 194
250mm Full Block 250 x 200 x 400 245 x 194 x 397
250mm Half Block 250 x 200 x 200 245 x 194 x 194
300mm Full Block 300 x 200 x 400 296 x 194 x 397
300mm Half Block 300 x 200 x 200 296 x 194 x 194

ASTM is one of the references that governs the quality of CMU products. According to this standard, CMU's
which fall under ASTM C90 designation are called the load bearing concrete masonry units and has a minimum
individual compressive strength of 1700psi (11.70Mpa). This type is then classified into three (3): the
lightweight (less than 1,682 kg/m3), the medium weight (between 1,682 - 2,002 kg/m3), and the normal weight
(above 2,002 kg/m3). Lightweight CMU's cost less while heavier units can reduce sound transmission better,
have higher compressive strengths, and greater thermal storage capacity, but are more expensive. Meanwhile,
non-load bearing CMU's as commonly used for interior partitions have individual compressive strength of 500
psi (3.45Mpa).

Table 02: ASTM Standard for Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)

ASTM DESIGNATION TYPE OF CMU
ASTM C 55 Concrete Brick
ASTM C 73 Calcium Silicate Face Brick
ASTM C 90 Load Bearing Concrete Masonry Unit
ASTM C 129 Non-Load Bearing Concrete Masonry Unit
ASTM C 139 CMU's for construction of Catch Basins / Manholes
ASTM C 744 Prefaced Concrete & Calcium Silicate Masonry Units
ASTM C 936 Solid Interlocking Concrete Paving Units
ASTM C1372 Segmental Retaining Wall Units

Adding to above classification, ASTM C90 also defines the difference between solid and hollow CMU's. It
states that for solid CMU's, its net cross-sectional area is solid of at least 75% of the total gross sectional-area
of the unit. Meanwhile, the hollow CMU (or hollow CHB) falls under the category where the solid portion of the
cross sectional area of a given CMU is below 75%, this of which needs to be filled with mortar grout and metal
reinforcement.
 Table 03:: Dimensions of Parts of CMU
Nominal Width of CMU Face Shell Thickness, Minimum Web Thickness, Minimum
(mm) (mm) (mm)
76 (3") and 102 (4") 19.00 19.00
152 (6") 25.00 19.00
203 (8") 32.00 19.00

Figure 01: Parts of CMU

CMU's have been produced in a wide variety of shapes for different applications. The stretcher bond has open
ends which allow it to be threaded around reinforcing bars, eliminating the need to lift the units over the top of
the rebars. Lintel blocks can be installed with horizontal reinforcements to provide support for CMU's on top of
wall openings, while bond blocks can accommodate both horizontal and vertical reinforcement altogether. Sash
block can be used when there is a need to install join gaskets. An all--purpose kerf unit contains two closely
spaced webs in the center, allowing the unit to be easily split on the jobsite for use in openings or at the ends or
corner of a wall.

Figure 02: Typical CMU Shapes

Figure 03: Special CMU Shapes

As we can see below, the estimate for materials used in CMU / CHB walls, particularly for exterior walls and
fences, involves five (5) basic items. They are: CMU units, cement & sand for mortar and plastering, concrete
posts and lintel beams, metal bars for reinforcement, and tie wires. This discussion, however, will focus only on
estimate for walls as RC lintel beams, posts, and footings are estimated similarly with those for RC columns
and girders. Take note the lintel beams are placed on top of door and window openings to support the masonry
wall above them. Such are also used as intermediate horizontal supports for walls in a given storey or floor
level with height of 4.00m and above. Concrete posts, on the other hand, serve as intermediate vertical
supports at minimum of every 3.00 - 4.00m spacing, especially for walls erected between columns with wide
span between each other. In some construction methods though, reinforced concrete lintel and pilaster blocks
are used instead of RC lintel beams and posts as supports.

A. Concrete Hollow Block

Referring to Table 01 above, we can see that the facial dimension of one piece of CMU regardless of its
thickness is at 200mm H x 400mm L, or 0.08m2 per piece. Therefore, we can use the standard quantity
that in a one (1.00) square meter of wall, we have 12.5 pieces of CHB, or to simplify, 13.00 pieces.

Sample Problem:

Given in the drawing above is a fence wall for erection with the following dimensions as indicated. The
100mm thick non-load bearing CHB is to be used, with 25mm thick plaster on both sides. The size of the
lintel beams and posts are both 200mm x 200mm. The wall footing has a dimension of 400mm W x
12400mm L x 200mm T. For the CHB walls, reinforcement is 10mm Ø bar placed horizontally at every 2
layers and spaced vertically at 600mm.

Solution:

Step 01: Net Wall Area (NWA)

Net Wall Length (NWL) = Gross Wall Length - Post Width
NWL = 12.00 - 4(0.200m)
NWL = 11.20m

Net Wall Height (NWH) = Gross Height - Lintel Beam Depth - Footing Thickness
= (2.20m + 0.80m) - 0.20m - 0.20m
NWH = 2.60m

Net Wall Area (NWA) = NWL x NWH

= 11.20 x 2.60
NWA = 29.12m2

Step 02: Number of CHB units

No. of CHB = NWA x 12.50 CHB units / m2
= 29.12m2 x 12.50 units / m2
No. of CHB = 364.00 units

B. Cement and Sand

Table 04a: CEMENT & SAND PROPORTION FOR MORTAR FILL

No. per 40 Kg Mixture Class Sand (m3)
Size of CHB sq.m. A B C D
100 x 200 x 400 12.50 0.788 0.525 0.394 0.328 0.0438
150 x 200 x 400 12.50 1.520 1.013 0.759 0.802 0.0844
200 x 200 x 400 12.50 2.250 1.500 1.125 1.188 0.1250
 Table 04b: CEMENT & SAND PROPORTION FOR MORTAR FILL
No. per 50 Kg Mixture Class
Size of CHB Sand (m3)
sq.m. A B C D
100 x 200 x 400 12.50 0.635 0.416 0.306 0.263 0.0438
150 x 200 x 400 12.50 1.224 0.802 0.591 0.506 0.0844
200 x 200 x 400 12.50 1.813 1.188 0.875 0.750 0.1250

1. Mortar Grout and Filler

Step 03: Type of Mixture for Fill and Cement Bag Size
Use Class B, 40.0 Kg packaging

Step 04: No. of Bags of Cement

No. of Bags of Cement = Qnty. of Cement / m2 x NWA
= 0.525 (from Table 04) x 29.12m2
No. of Bags of Cement = 15.288 bags (40kg)

Step 05: Quantity of Sand (m3)

Quantity of Sand = Qnty. of Sand / m2 x NWA
= 0.0438 m3 per sq.m (from Table 04) x 29.12m2
Quantity of Sand = 1.2755 m3

2. Cement Plaster

Table 05: CEMENT & SAND PROPORTION FOR PLASTERING PER SQ.M.
Plaster Thickness (mm) in 40 Kg
Mixture Class
12.0 16.0 20.0 25.0
A 0.216 0.288 0.360 0.450
B 0.144 0.192 0.240 0.300
C 0.108 0.144 0.180 0.225
D 0.090 0.120 0.150 0.188
Sand 0.012 0.016 0.020 0.025

Step 06: Gross Exposed Wall Area (GEWA)

From the illustration,

GEWA = Gross Wall Length x Exposed Wall Height x No. of Sides for Plastering
= 12.00m x 2.20m x 2 sides
GEWA = 52.80m2

Step 07: Plaster Thickness and Mixture Type

Use Class B, 25mm thick since for exterior

Step 08: No. of Bags of Cement

No. of Bags of Cement = Qnty. of Cement / m2 x GEWA
= 0.300 (from Table 05) x 52.80m2
No. of Bags of Cement = 15.84 bags (40kg)

Step 09: Quantity of Sand (m3)

Quantity of Sand = Qnty. of Sand / m2 x NWA
= 0.025 m3 per sq.m (from Table 05) x 52.80m2
Quantity of Sand = 1.32 m3

C. Reinforcement Bar

Table 06: LENGTH OF STEEL REINFORCEMENT FOR CHB WALL

Vertical Reinforcement (m) Horizontal Reinforcement (m)
Spacing (mm) Layer
Per Block Per Sq.m. Per Block Per Sq.m.
400 0.235 2.930 2 0.264 3.300
600 0.171 2.130 3 0.172 2.150
800 0.128 1.600 4 0.138 1.720
 Step 10: Quantity of Horizontal Reinforcement
Given that horizontal reinforcement is placed every two layers, we use the value of 3.300m
per every square meter of CHB wall (from Table 06).

No. of Horizontal Rebars = Hor. Reinforcement per m2 x NWA

= 3.300L-m / m2 x 29.12m2
No. of Horizontal Rebars = 96.096 L-m

Choosing among the available length of 6.00m, 7.50m, 9.00m, and 12.00m, we can simply
choose 12.0m length for the bar to run the entire length of the wall. Thus,

96.096 L-m / 12.00 L-m per piece

8.00 pieces of 12.00m 10mm Ø bar

Step 11: Quantity of Vertical Reinforcement

Given that vertical reinforcement is placed every 600mm, we use the value of 2.130m per
every square meter of CHB wall (from Table 06).

No. of Vertical Rebars = Vert. Reinforcement per m2 x NWA

= 2.130 L-m / m2 x 29.12m2
No. of Vertical Rebars = 62.0256 L-m

Choosing among the available length of 6.00m, 7.50m, 9.00m, and 12.00m, we can simply
choose 6.00m length for the bar to run the entire length of the wall. Thus,

62.0256 L-m / 6.00 L-m per piece

10.3376 pieces of 6.00m 10mm Ø bar

D. Tie Wire

Step 12: Quantity of Tie Wire for Reinforcement

Table 07: KILOGRAMS OF GI WIRE FOR CHB REINFORCEMENT PER SQ.M.

Vertical Spacing Horizontal Layer Kilograms per Square Meter
(mm) Spacing 250mm Tie 300mm Tie 400mm Tie
400 2 0.054 0.065 0.086
400 3 0.039 0.047 0.063
400 4 0.024 0.029 0.039
600 2 0.036 0.044 0.057
600 3 0.026 0.032 0.042
600 4 0.020 0.024 0.032
800 2 0.027 0.033 0.044
800 3 0.020 0.024 0.032
800 4 0.015 0.018 0.024

By common practice, the length of 250 to 300mm tie wire used to connect reinforcements at each node or
intersection is considered satisfactory. Approximately, one roll of GI wire is equivalent to 45.0 Kg or around
2,385m, or 53m / kg. Referring to Table 07, thus, we use 300mm long tie at spacing of every 2 horizontal
layers and 600mm vertical layers, we get the value of 0.044Kg per square meter

Total Weight of Tie Wire = Weight per Square Meter x NWA

= 0.044kg / m2 x 29.12m2
Total Weight of Tie Wire = 1.281 kg.

III. Manpower

Table 08: PRODUCTIVITY RATIO TABLE FOR CONCRETE MASONRY WALL

Productivity Ratio Measure Unit
CHB Laying (100mm) 8.00 - 10.00 m2 / Man-day
CHB Laying (150mm) 7.00 - 9.00 m2 / Man-day
CHB Laying (200mm) 6.00 - 8.00 m2 / Man-day
Plastering 8.00 - 10.00 m2 /Man- day
Metal Bar Reinforcement 0.07 Man-Hour / Kg
 Step 13: Labor for CHB Laying

Total Labor for CHB Laying = NWA x Productivity Rate

= 29.12m2 / 8.00m2 / Man-day
Total Labor for CHB Laying = 3.64 Man-days

Step 14: Labor for Plastering

Total Labor for Plastering = GEWA x Productivity Rate

= 52.80m2 / 8.00m2 / Man-day
Total Labor for Plastering = 6.60 Man-days

Step 15: Labor for Reinforcement

Total Labor for Reinforcement = total Weight of Rebars x Productivity Rate

Given that the weight of deformed bar per linear meter are the following:
a) 10 mm Ø = 0.617kg / m
b) 12 mm Ø = 0.888kg / m
c) 16 mm Ø = 1.578kg / m
d) 20 mm Ø = 2.466kg / m

Total Labor for Hor. Reinf. = Total Hor. Reinf. Length x Weight / Length x Productivity Rate
= 96.096 L-m x 0.617Kg / m x 0.07Man-Hour / kg
Total Labor for Hor. Reinf. = 4.150 Man-Hours

Total Labor for Vert. Reinf.= Total Vert. Reinf. Length x Weight / Length x Productivity Rate
= 62.0256 L-m x 0.617Kg / m x 0.07Man-Hour / kg
Total Labor for Vert. Reinf. = 2.679 Man-Hours

Total Labor for Reinf. = Labor for Hor. Reinf. + Labor for Vert. Reinf.
= 4.150 Man-Hours + 2.679 Man-Hours
Total Labor for Reinf. = 6.8289 Man-Hours

IV. References:

A. Webliography
https://www.ehow.com/info_8688063_dimensions-hollow-part-concrete-block.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concrete_masonry_unit
https://www.cement.org/cement-concrete-applications/products/concrete-masonry-units
https://theconstructor.org/building/types-concrete-blocks-masonry-units/12752/
https://www.archtoolbox.com/materials-systems/masonry/concblocksizes.html
https://ncma.org/resource/typical-sizes-and-shapes-of-concrete-masonry-units/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqhLgY85NOQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WzKtmHog94
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjXy0-kO8x0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjWVYGy3t2E

B. Book
Fajardo Jr., Max. B. (1995). Simplified Construction Estimate, 3rd Edition. 5138 Merchandising, Quezon
City, Philippines
Tagayun, Vicente A.(2002) Estimating Bill of Materials. Tagayun Associates, Manila 1016, Philippines

Ramsey, Charles George & Sleeper, Harold Reeve.(1993). American Graphic Standards, 8th Edition. John
Wiley & Sons, New York, USA