Standard masonry plan measurements

[Blocktech]

Hi
I am re-writing some software from metric to standard (feet~inches) and need to know how the measurements are presented on standard plans. With metric masonry block, our equivelant to your 8 inch series is 200 mm series (close to the same). Each stretcher is 390 mm long and a perp is 10mm. So, say for a wall thats 10 stretchers long, the actual wall length is 3990 mm, which is 10 stretchers and 9 perps. However, our plans make this to 4000 mm which is easier to work with. So, if an 8 inch wall is 10 stretchers long, does the plan say 13'3~5/8 or does it add the extra joint to be 13'4" ? Some of the calculators are already converted to standard english. They're free online here if anyones interesteed

http://www.blocklayer.com/

Thanks for any help

Greg

[bkrahmer]

I'd be extremely surprised to see a plan drawn by someone which would keep a mason in mind. I would be even more surprised to see a plan which had the block laid out. It is quite a lot to ask for, actually, to have the house size coincide with an increment of standard block size.

[Blocktech]

:!: I'm amazed by that. Thanks for the reply bkrahmer. All our plans are drawn to suit blocks (if its a block building of course). Every structural wall has 2 top course bondbeams with each course having 2 y12 or y16 horizontal steels, and steel and concrete core fill beside, above and below all openings, and vertical steel and core fill at max 1800mm centres, all the way to the footings, so if the plan isnt drawn to suit units of 200 mm (8") you can get major structural problems. Its always been this way in the 33 years I've been laying blocks. We'd all run for miles (yes, we still remember miles) if someome gave us a plan that didnt suit blocks. I think maybe your masons need to do some heavy duty architect training :(

[bkrahmer]

I'm not a pro builder, so don't take my word for it. Let's see who else chimes in...

[Sweep]

8" CMU work is laid out in increments of 8" (sometimes in a pinch 4") in order to avod the unnecessary cost of cutting block.

The last joint gets spread out over the length of the wall so that the dimension is evenly divisible by 8 (or 4). Window openings can get more complicated.

[Blocktech]

Thanks Sweep. Does the Bond and Gage calculator here
http://www.blocklayer.com/BondnGageEng.aspx look acceptable to you feet and inch users? Its supposed too make it easier to calculate gage and bond when you need to fit an existing measurement. Also, does the Raker calculator here
http://www.blocklayer.com/RakerEng.aspx make any sense in english measurements. I've been using it in metric for over 15 years whith huge savings in cutting and laying times.

Thanks

Greg

[Shanley]

measurements would appear as 13'-4" (nominal)

[Blocktech]

Just like in metric. The extra perp joint is added.
Should the displayed results have a dash after the feet?
13'- 4~3/16"
or
13'-4~3/16"
or
13'4~3/16"
What about the ~ before the fraction?
Thanks for the input

[Shanley]

13'-4 3/16" but I'm not sure what the 3/16 is for since the actual masonry measurement for a nominal 13'-4" would be 13-3 3/8"

[Blocktech]

Thanks Shanley. I'll add the -
The fractions are for the apps that calculate cutting blocks to suit a rake
http://www.blocklayer.com/RakerEng.aspx
and the stair calculator
http://www.blocklayer.com/Stairs/StairsEng.aspx
and others that do curves etc.
If you need to cut blocks, matching the off-cuts can save a fair bit of cutting, waste and time