Building Blocks

BUILDING BLOCKS

The Zambian market is flooded with Block making factories a first timer would be spoiled for choice.

Concrete blocks are the most popular masonry units in Urban Zambia today and Burnt bricks in rural Zambia. The hollow concrete blocks  have a void area larger than twenty five percent. They come in different shapes and sizes.

Many Block factories have various types of precast panels used to get different shapes and sizes of hollow blocks used in construction works. Such as walls of buildings, retaining walls and office buildings. Hollow building blocks, are famous in the construction industry in Zambia due to the numerous benefits that they present.

Sizes Of Building Blocks

The size of the building blocks used matters, but is highly dependent on what type of a wall is being built. There are popularly three sizes:

  • 4″ usually used for inner walls or shower walls, low walls and sometimes dividing walls.
  • 6″ usually used for all types of walls including wall fences and retaining and outer walls.
  • 8″ usually for outer walls.

Production

The production of concrete blocks consists of four basic processes:

  • Mixing
  • Molding
  • Curing
  • Cubing

Some manufacturing plants produce only concrete blocks, while others may produce a wide variety of precast concrete products including blocks, flat paver stones, and decorative landscaping pieces such as lawn edging. Some plants are capable of producing 2,000 or more blocks per hour. In Zambia there are manufacturing plants in each province and numerous plants in Lusaka.

building blocks
Example of concrete blocks in urban Zambia

The choice of blocks to use when building will be advised by the architect and the builder depending on the design of the building.

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