concrete Masonry Units (CMU)

Environmental Impact Rating

Harvesting — Moderate to High

Limestone and aggregate are mechanically extracted from quarries and can have moderate to high impacts on habitat destruction and ground and surface water contamination and flow.
Steel for reinforcement is a high-impact resource to extract.

Manufacturing — High

The creation of portland cement is a high-intensity process, with limestone being heated in kilns to very high sustained temperatures. Fuels used include natural gas, oil, coal, landfill waste and coal, in large quantities, with impacts including significant air pollution and very significant greenhouse gas emissions.
Aggregate is produced in mechanical crushers with relatively low impacts.
Lightweight aggregate is produced under high-heat conditions, with similar impacts to portland cement except for lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Steel for reinforcement is a very high-impact material to manufacture.

Transportation — Low to High

Sample foundation uses 22,863 – 34,013 kg of block, concrete and mortar
21.5 – 32 MJ per km by 35 ton truck
Cement and aggregate are heavy, high-volume materials and impacts will rise proportionally with distance traveled, both in production and site delivery.

Installation — Negligible to Moderate

Leftover block can be used elsewhere; leftover mortar must be disposed.

Waste: low to medium

Biodegradable/Compostable — CMU offcuts

Recyclable — Metal reinforcement bar

Landfill — Mortar bags

Chart of Embodied energy & carbon

Energy Efficiency: Very Low

The aggregate used in lightweight CMUs gives the blocks a slightly higher thermal resistance than standard concrete blocks or poured concrete. However, this higher R-value does not translate into meaningful cold climate performance and a similar amount of additional insulation will be required as with any foundation to create a properly energy-efficient foundation.

One advantage of CMUs is the ability to affordably build double-wythe foundation walls, which can be particularly advantageous when supporting wider wall systems. When using two walls of narrow CMU, a builder can insulate the gap between the walls, rather than adding insulation to the interior and/or exterior. This can help create a continuous insulation layer from the foundation up through the wall, and can allow a builder to choose from a wider range of insulations.

Material costs: High

Lightweight CMU is less common than the heavyweight version and often costs more per block. The combination of poured footing, reinforcing bar, mortar and block adds up to a significant amount of material, leading to fairly high costs.

Labour Input: High

CMU foundations require a similar amount of labor as poured concrete foundations. As no formwork is required (except to pour a footing at the base of the wall), this labor-intensive element is skipped. The movement of blocks and mortar on-site represents the highest amount of labor for a block project, and can be handled by unskilled labor. Typically, a single laborer serves a single block layer.

Skill level required for homeowners: moderate to difficult

CMU foundations require a similar amount of labor as poured concrete foundations. As no formwork is required (except to pour a footing at the base of the wall), this labor-intensive element is skipped. The movement of blocks and mortar on-site represents the highest amount of labor for a block project, and can be handled by unskilled labor. Typically, a single laborer serves a single block layer.

Sourcing & availability: Easy

Lightweight CMUs are available from most masonry supply outlets, but are not as common as heavy- and medium-weight blocks. It may be necessary to special order the light blocks.

Durability: High to Very High

A well-built block foundation with an appropriate number of reinforced, grouted cores will be a long-lasting foundation, capable of a century or more of service. The quality of the mortar joints will affect durability.

Code compliance

Lightweight CMU foundations are an accepted solution in most jurisdictions and if designed to code specifications should face no hurdles for permitting.

Indoor air quality: n/a

Lightweight CMUs will have little direct impact on indoor air quality. By keeping the floors and walls of the building dry they can help to prevent other IAQ issues.

Resources for further research

The Complete Guide to Masonry and Stonework: Includes Decorative Concrete Treatments. Chanhassen, MN: Creative, 2006. Print.

Future development

Standards for block sizing and installation are well developed and unlikely to change significantly.

Lightweight CMUs are gaining wider acceptance in the masonry industry. Some producers are using recycled glass aggregate, and many are using portland cement replacements like fly ash and blast furnace slag in their blocks. The development of very lightweight blocks would lower environmental impacts and increase thermal performance.

CMUs will benefit from any advances made in the “greening” of cement materials and production.