New Standard for Masonry

General News

16 November 2006

April change over for masonry standard

April 2006 saw the implementation of the new harmonized European manufacturing standard for concrete masonry
BS EN 771-3:2005. This replaced BS 6073-1:1981 and has led to a new regime of testing for all masonry units and also some key changes on how blocks are specified.

The standard does not change the method of manufacture but does mean that additional properties must now be declared by the manufacturer and some of the properties that were previously stated have changed slightly.

The key changes are:

• Dimensions are now specified as length x width x height (e.g. 440 x 100 x 215mm)
• The way block strengths are specified has changed, i.e. so what was a 7 N/mm² is now specified as a 7.3N/mm² unit.
• There are now 4 tolerance categories for dimensions, however manufacturers will generally work within the first two - D1 and D2.
• Drying Shrinkage is no longer quoted and has been replaced by Moisture Movement.
• Units are grouped depending on the percentage of voids (1, 2, 3 or 4). Most units will be either Group 1 or Group 2.

Forticrete has produced a basic guidance document which covers the main changes between the two standards

The change of standard has also meant that all of the Forticrete Masonry literature has been updated.

For further details please contact the Forticrete Technical Department on 0800 232136.

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