Concrete
masonry units (aka concrete block or cinder block) arrived on
construction sites well over a century ago. Able to withstand rot and
pests, these products help create wall systems that are low-maintenance,
durable, structurally sound, save energy and sequester carbon. Since
their introduction, CMUs have seen several advances in their design,
which has helped them keep pace with the increasing demand for
high-performing construction materials and wall systems.
One such
advancement was the incorporation of lightweight aggregate, which made
the concrete, as the term implies, lighter in weight. For many people,
lighter also implies weaker. However, this is not the case with
lightweight CMUs nor with typical structural lightweight concretes used
in high-rise buildings, bridges and offshore oil platforms.