Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2017 with funding from Columbia University Libraries https://archive.org/details/cinderconcretebuOOgene Geneva Brick Products Co., Inc. ~ ~ FORE W O R D - T HE Cinder Concrete Building Unit is manufactured under the well-known Straub and Bo patent requirements. It is a com- position of Portland Cement and carefully selected or specially purified cinders, crushed to the proper fineness. These materials — thoroughly mixed and molded under heavy pressure — are manu- factured into building units of the standard shapes and sizes required by modern building practice. Since the issue of the Straub patent over 80 plants devoted to the manufacture of these products have been established in the United States and Canada. Continued study of the quality factors of the material — careful control — and quantity production have made it possible to offer Cinder Concrete Building Units to the Building Trade at a cost which successfully competes with that of any other masonry material. Cinder Concrete Building Units, in the form of block, brick or tile, are identified with the names of Straub and Bo, and as such have been recognized as standard masonry in practically all of the largest cities. The combination of these two patents makes it possible for the authorized plants to adopt the method most suitable for the raw material and to produce a uniform product throughout the country. The product and service of this Company, backed by the experience and prestige of a National Industry, are placed at the disposal of the Building Trade. Geneva Brick Products Co., Inc. GENESEE BRICK & SUPPLY CORPORATION Bo Process Cinder Brick and Blocks 832 ST. PAUL STREET ROCHESTER, N. Y. Geneva Brick Products Co., Inc. ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ ~ HI ~ ~ THE W ALL ~ ~ W ALLS have two functions — to support and to protect. Almost any masonry material that goes into wall construction has sufficient strength for load-bearing. Cinder Block and Cinder Tile— with a high crushing strength of the individual unit and an unusually high degree of wall efficiency — give a safety factor far in excess of the requirements for general construction. But strength is only one factor in modern wall design; a vital factor, but not at all a remarkable one. The Perfect Wall must possess other advantages. The Perfect Wall must be permanent. It must be immune to the common causes of deterioration in building materials, such as wind and rain or freezing and thawing. It must be fire resistant — not merely incombustible, but retaining its strength and stability when exposed to intense heat or to the sudden and repeated application of cold water. Under the most severe exposure the wall must insure comfort through its insulative character and its resistance to dampness. In our North American climate, changing from month to month, sometimes from day to day, there is real necessity for buildings that will retain an even temperature, free from outside changes. This is one of the requirements of the Perfect Wall. Modern conditions demand that the wall provide privacy through protection against outside noises. Sound insulation has therefore become a matter of the greatest importance in building design — particularly when considering partitions in apartments, office buildings, schools or hospitals And — in order to be practicable for extensive construction, the Wall must not be prohibitive in cost. Cinder Concrete Building Units embody the requirements of the Perfect Wall. In these units, structural strength is combined with a cellular insulative structure. While light of weight, they meet the specifications for load-bearing walls. Fire-resistant and time-proof, they have the added advantage of sound absorption as part of the wall itself. And these features are obtained at a cost which com- pares favorably with that of any other masonry unit. — ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ hi PRODUCTS O N this page are illustrated some of the popular sizes of Cinder Block and Cinder Tile. Generally, the units cover a wall area of 8"xl6", and have a standard thickness of 3,4,6,8,10 and 12 inches. Reinforced lintels are made of the required dimensions and in a wide range of lengths. Brick, half block, quarter block, jamb block, sash block, header block, corner block and solid slabs are furnished for use in connection with standard units. They are of great importance in simplifying erection General data regarding these units will be found on pages 24 and 25 Reference is made to the price list of the plant for information on all sizes carried in stock. — — CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS 5 3 1 - - OUTSTANDING FEATURES ~ T HE characteristics of Cinder Concrete Building Units, as described in this book, may be summarized in the following few paragraphs: 1 — Light IV eight Easy to handle, being 40-50% lighter than brick or sand concrete blocks. This speeds up the laying and reduces the dead weight of the wall. An ideal material for curtain walls and partitions in tall buildings where lightness is a necessity. 2 — Strength The unit meets the requirement of the building code and possesses high structural efficiency. The strength of the unit is imparted to the wall itself through the full development of the mortar bond. The toughness of the material eliminates waste due to breakage. 3 — Fire Resistance Unique fire resistance established by hundreds of tests and actual fires. The structural stability of the wall is unimpaired by prolonged exposure to heat or by the sudden cooling when water is applied. Salvage value practically 100%. 4 — Time-Proof Strength increases with age. Changes in temperature or in the humidity of the atmosphere do not affect the material, and repeated freezings and thawings do not reduce its strength. Used extensivelv in foundation walls exposed to the dampness of the soil. 5 — Insulation The cork-like structure of the material builds insulation into the wall. It insures an even temperature within the house all year 'round and effects a substantial saving in fuel. The insulative nature makes lining with special insulating materials unnecessary. 6 — Damp-Proof The insulative character prevents condensation on the wall and the limited capillary attraction eliminates the danger of moisture being drawn through the wall from the outside. Furring strips and lathing are unnecessary. Buildings are always dry and conducive to good health. 7 — Sound -Insulation Walls of this material absorb sound. The acoustics of large rooms are substantially improved by the reduction of sound reverberation. Cinder tile partitions insure privacy by practically eliminating transmission of sound. 8 — Nailing and Cutting Nails can be easily driven into the wall, will grip firmly and will never rust. Nailing strips and plugs are eliminated and all grounds or trim may be fastened direct. The units can be cut or channeled without breakage or waste. 9 — Plastering Surface Trueness of wall, rough surface and even suction facilitate plastering and reduce waste to a minimum. The adhesion is permanent and there is no danger of staining or cracking. 10 — Economical The utmost in building permanence with economy. For a discussion of economy of con- struction, see page 18 . ^ — CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS — — 1 4 1 G E N E R A L U S E T HE entire field of masonry construction is covered by Cinder Concrete Building Units. Suitable sizes are standardized for use in load-bearing walls, above or below grade, in curtain walls, in partitions and in all types of permanent construction. These units may be used either exposed or as backing for brick, stone or stucco. Residence , Detroit , Mich. Cinder Block used for basement and all exterior walls. Plastered and stuccoed direct. Security Building, Denver, Colo. Fisher & Fisher, Architects. Alex Simpson, Jr., Company, Contractors. Cinder Tile partitions throughout. By insuring dryness, Cinder Block foundations add another livable floor to the house. Residence construction, in which these units were first employed, gave unmistakable evi- dences of the almost infinite adaptability of the material and the economies in construc- tion made possible by its use. Architects and Builders, appreciating these advantages and possibilities, soon specified Cinder Con- crete Building Units in all types of buildings. The use of Cinder Block in foundations became general. The practical addition of a new floor to the house because of the dryness of this type of basement wall was a feature that appealed strongly to owners everywhere, adding to the impression already created by the insulative features and by the permanence of the material. The larger types of modern construction re- quiring height have brought the factors of strength and lightness into prominence. Cinder Concrete Building Units have found wide-spread use in walls up to fifty feet in height, as load bearing units. The reduction of dead weight, increased stability and high wall efficiency are the important factors in these forms of construc- tion. An important field has been opened for Cinder Concrete through the development of Parti- tion Units and Backing Tile that meet every requirement of modern skyscraper construc- tion. The lightness and economy of Cinder Concrete Building Units are here equaled in importance by the unique sound insula- tion possessed by this material. ^ ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS - - { 5 1 LIGHT OF WEIGHT C.tan Court Apt., Ocean City, S. J . Cander Blacks in load-bear mg walls ready for stucco. Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation , Heating Plant, Rcchestir, N ■ Y. Wall SO' (l20 courses) high, built of h" and 12 " Cinder Block. Brick Venter in front . Other side ef Cinder block, unstuccced Since Spring, 192). A STANDARD 8x8x16" Cinder Block weighs 32. to 34 lbs. as L compared to approximately 50 lbs. for a sand concrete block. It equals in the wall 12. brick, weighing close to 60 lbs. Lighter Cinder Concrete Units are made for non-bearing partitions and curtain walls. 100 square feet of 8 " wall will require the following weights of units: 3600 lbs. of cinder blocks. 3300 lbs. of sand concrete blocks, or 30% more. 6300 lbs. of clay brick, or 80'f° more. It is apparent that there must be a con- siderable difference in the speed of hand- ling these different weights, and it is quite possible to figure this variation under given conditions and labor costs. 1 he lightness of Cinder Concrete Building Units reduces the dead weight of the wall. Ihis is of particular advantage in the construction of curtain walls and partitions, effecting marked economy in erection. The weight on the footing is reduced, and with Cinder Block and Tile there is less danger of cracks due to settling. For a two-story residence built of 8" Cinder Blocks above grade and 1 2" Cinder Blocks below, the safety factor will be in excess of 40, assuming normal loads on floors and roof. For a four-story apartment 50 ft. in height, the safety factor will still be considerably in excess of 10, due to the lightness and strength of Cinder Concrete Building Units. Weight eee Cub/ct Foo r : 54 POUNDS HOL LON C/NDE P UN/T 54 POUNDS HOLLOIN CLAY TILE GO POUND 5 SOLID ONDEP UNIT G4 5 POUND 5 HOL LOIN OO NO PE TE UNIT /2 5 POUNDS, OLAY P>P !C K. /36 POUND 5 SOLID CONCRETE ' — CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ - 16 ! TRENGTH C inder Concrete Building Units meet the requirements of the most rigid building codes. These units are subjected to tests at regular intervals and the manufacturing license requires a strength, at the age of l 8 days, of not less than 700 lbs. per square inch of gross area, or whatever strength is required by the building code. Generally, this requirement is greatly ex- ceeded and hollow Cinder Blocks have been made to stand a pressure of more than one ton per square inch. This strength, how- ever, is never required in masonry unit construction. The strength of the masonry unit should always be considered in its relation to the strength of the wall. The essential factors in imparting this unit strength to the wall itself are the quality of the mortar and its adhesion to the unit. With Cinder Block the mortar bond develops its full strength. The limited suction of the unit prevents drying out, and the wide mortar bed has a rough -textured surface which gives a perfect key. A large number of tests on Clay Brick walls, as reported by the Hoover Building Code Committee, show an average wall efficiency (ratio of wall strength to unit strength) of 25 %, while tests made by Columbia University on Cinder Block piers, as quoted on this page, show an average wall efficiency ot 66.8 °/o. Wall Efficiency /EFT/O OF STRENGTH OF PVNLL.- TO ST/?EfJ<5TH OF UNIT CINDE/E E>LOC bC ■ 66 . & % CLOY S>mCK. : 25 % COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING New York City, December 20th, 1923. Report No. 1353 Abstract oj Report on Compression Tests on Cinder Block Piers Height of Pier Size Unit Compressive Strength of Pier Compressive Strength of Unit Rnlio 54.1" 8 x 8 x 16" 704 lbs. per sq. inch 927 lbs. per sq. inch .758 53.8" 8 x 8 x 16" 649 lbs. per sq. inch 927 lbs. per sq. inch .700 54.0" 8 x 12 x 16" 719 lbs. per sq. inch 1315 lbs. per sq. inch .547 Whin basti is imperative, dumping direct from the trucks may be employed uitb safety. The toughness of cinder concrete should also be considered here. This characteristic eliminates waste due to breakage, for the units may be dump- ed from trucks without damage ex- cept for the possibility of a few broken corners. — - CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS I 7 ] FIRE RESISTANCE N O single feature of Cinder Concrete Building Units has been more completely established than their unusual hre resistance. The term “fire-resistant” embraces several factors almost equally important. Resistance to flame is sion, and the cohesive character cracks, are equally essential. After ■ Ruins of Buffalo factory of Teachout Lumber Co . , January 192}. Cinder Brick chimney undamaged by fire. Note effect of intense btjt on steel beams. vital. Prevention of heat transmis- of a wall that neither bulges nor the hre, the salvage value of the wall assumes primary interest. Cinder concrete, made by the proper method, offers not only a high degree, but also the most inclusive form of hre resistance, and its remarkable salvage value is a factor on which great stress should be placed Tests of every kind, and practical experience in many actual hres have established the hre resistance of cinder concrete. This material, while intensely hot on its exposed surface, will withstand sudden and repeated application of cold water without cracking or weakening of the wall. Tests made by the Laboratories of the National Board of Fire Underwriters clearly illustrate these well-established facts. (ABOVE). “Many blocks in the exposed ualls uere tested with blows from a hammer and they rant, as clearly as new blocks when struck. It should not be necessary to replace any blocks either for safety or because of their appearance. Excerpt from letter from Rudolph P Miller , Consulting Engineer, New York, written after examination of buildings exposed to fire at Tenafly, N. /. CLEFT). Hollow }-tnch Cinder Block wall, exposed to full force of three and one-half hour fire at Tenafly, N . J. I I I — -CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ ^ f 8 ] FIRE RESISTANCE At the Underwriters’ Laboratories, Cinder Block walls were sub- mitted to lire test, tire and water test, and the so-called “impact test", where the wall is subjected twice to the impact of a heavy steel and concrete member following the exposure to fire and water. In these fire tests, 8" Cinder Block panels 10'-1" wide and 11' -3 "high, formed the front wall of a gas furnace. The temperature of this furnace reached 1300° F. in 10 minutes and more than 1900° F. in 3 hours 15 minutes when the unexposed faceoftheCiNDERBLocKs registered an average of 300° F. The blocks showed no spalling, cracking or structural damage, and the maximum deflection of the wall, due to heat expansion, was less than V 2 In the remarkable fire at Tenafly, N. J., a hol- low 5-inch wall of Cinder Blocks resisted a wind-driven fire that endured for three and one-half hours. This is an instance of all the qualities included in the term “fire-resistant”. An average of 500 gallons of water a minute was directed against the heated wall dition of contraction and expansion. surface, creating an unusual con- After the fire there were no evi- dences whatever of heat pene- tration. The wall, three stories in height, was undeflected and uncracked. Every cinder block was fit for use ag;ain. O (ABOVE). 3" Cinder Tile used in fire-proofing all steel members of Ararat Shrine Temple, Kansas City. See pace 21. illustrating general construction of Proscenium u all and back-stage u alls. (RIGHT). 8" Cinder Block used in construction of modern fire-proof t auit. ^ ^ C I N D E R CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ ^ f 9 1 TIME-PROOF A BUILDING material may deteriorate with age mainly because of expansion of the water contained in its pores when this water freezes. An increase in volume of approximately 10% takes place when water is changed into ice. If the building material, or a portion of it, is completely saturated, serious cracking may occur. This will never happen with Cinder Concrete Building Units because of the cellular structure of the cinders. The pores of the aggregate will always con- tain a certain amount of air, and if the water in the wall freezes, the air pockets allow for expansion so that no stresses occur which break the bond of cement holding the particles together. Numerous laboratory tests show that Cinder Block and Cinder Tile actually gain in strength by repeated freezing and thawing. The gain must be due to a further hydration of the cement, and the real significance of these tests lies in the fact that no loss in strength results. Freezing and thawing testsare usually conducted by submerging the speci- men in water, freezing it, then thawing it in hot water. These alternate Camp Brady, Michigan. This Boy Scour Camp it built entirely of Cinder Block, left exposed for architectural effect and economy . freezings and thawings are repeated a definite number of times, usually twenty. The strength is deter- mined before and after the treat- ment. Cinder ConcreteBuilding Units have been subjected to as many as forty-two freezings with- out any loss in strength. Other causes of deterioration in building materials may be the — ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ ^ I 10 ] TIME-PROOF effect of wind and rain or chemical course of time. Cinder Concrete Building Units increase in strength with age, as shown by tests on blocks taken from the walls of old build- ings. An extensive investigation conducted by the Pittsburgh Testing Laboratory is summed up in the following conclusion: “As a result of our investigation, and finding that Straub Cinder Concrete Blocks have been used for a period of upwards of nine years, with absolutely no evidence of disintegration or deterioration, there can be no question as to the durability of such blocks." Report dated November 2, 1925. processes which may appear in the 8" Cinder Block used in Manhole construction by Rochester Gas & Electric Corp., Rochester, N. Y ., at marked economy over similar construction with brick FREEZING AND THAWING TEST MADE UPON CINDER CONCRETE TILE The tile used in this test were taken from a lot selected and marked by the Bureau of Building, City of New York, represented by Mr. T. Heatley, Borough of Bronx. The specimens were dried to constant weight and immersed in water four hours, after which they were placed in a refrigerator maintained at a temperature of 6° F and allowed to remain for 23 hours. They were then removed and placed for one hour in water having a temperature of 150° F. At the end of this thawing period, the specimens were again placed in the refrigerator and frozen as above and again thawed, thus causing the tile to be alternately frozen and thawed once every twenty-four hours. The test consisted of twenty such alternate freezings and thawings At the end of this freezing test, the specimens were again dried to constant weight and the compressive strength determined. Test Number 28351 28549 Size of Unit 8x8x16 8x12x16 Average strength after freezing, pounds per square inch gross area 1,123 1,529 Average strength before freezing, pounds per square inch gross area* 91 5 1,152 Gain in strength 22.7% 32.6% Note: *These values were obtained from average test made on tile, taken from the same lot and covered by tests, numbers 27517-19 and 27524-26, dated September 2, 1924. During the careful mixing processes employed under the Straub and Bo Systems, the particles of cinders a alkaline cement. If any acid had re completely coated with strongly formed by oxidation of sulphur compounds, it would be neutral- ized instantly. As a matter of fact, nails embedded in Cinder Block and Cinder Tile have a holding power that in- creases with age. They show no sisn whatever of rusting;. O O ^ — CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ 1 1 INSULATION f |J *HE cellular, cork-like structure of the Cinder Concrete Building Unit creates an insulation that forms an integral part of the load-bearing wall. This cellular structure is developed by the methods of crushing and grading employed in the Straub and Bo processes. The large hollow spaces in the block and tile are for the purpose of lightening the product; it is the small air cells, structurally strong and containing dead air, that give the unit its distinguishing insulative character. The Coefficient of Heat Conductivity for a typical 8 x 8 x 16" Cinder Block as determined by E. L. Conwell & Co., Philadelphia, Pa., is 1.77. This means that 1.77 British Thermal Units will flow per hour through one square foot of the block when the difference in temperature is 1 degree Fahrenheit per 1 inch thickness. Compare this with the coefficient for other materials as quoted in standard text books. United StaltJ Gciernment Lighthouse , Miluaukee, Wisconsin. Cinder Blocks in outside ualls for insulation, and Cinder Tile in all partmcns. The benefits gained by the insulative character of Cinder Concrete Building Units may be sum- marized as follows: — First, A Saving in Fuel. The heat loss through the wall is substantially reduced because of the insulation of the wall itself. Second, Elimination of Damp- ness. Changes in outside tern- perature are slow in affecting a Magnified cross section of Cinder Block, shoutne, cellular structure, which produces high decree cf insulation. Note minute air-cells in particles of aggregate. ^ ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS i 12 J INSULATION wall of this material, and there is no danger of condensation of the moisture contained in the air of the heated interior. Third, Economy of Construction. The insulation as an integral part of the wall itself makes lining O Residence at Rochester, N. Y . Leander McCord, Architect. Cinder Blocks , u itb stucco and plaster applied direct, produce high degree of insulation. with special insulative materials unnecessary All necessity for furring and lathing is eliminated. Fourth, Increased Comfort. The maintenance of even temperature all year round, and the absence of dampness, are important factors when considering the comfort of any building. Extensive use for Cinder Block and Cinder Tile has been found in ice houses and refrigerators where a low temperature must be main- tained, and in dry kilns, cold storage houses, etc. These special uses empha- size the commercial and economic possibilities inherent in this material. THE MIDWEST ORCHARD SERVICE WRITES: The success we have had in the operation of our Air-Cooled Storage prompts us to write you in regard to the insulating efficiency of your cinder-cement block. During the past winter season, a temperature of 34 degrees was maintained for over four months, with but slight variation, and our ventilating system controlled both humidity and temperature so well that the apples were kept in a firm sound condition. No apple scald or shriveling was apparent on any varieties. The writer has inspected many similar storages constructed of hollow tile, concrete, brick and so forth, but in no case have they proven as efficient as our own structure built of the cinder- cement block. A great many growers from the Middle West have already visited our plant. Everyone has been most favorably impressed and many have ordered plans, intending to build similar structures. Ice house at Pueblo, Colo., built of 12" Cinder Blocks, exposed or. outside and lined uitb of insulating rnater/al and one later of ship lap, nailed direct to the u all. More than 40,000 units used in this operation. ^ ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS — ^ DAMP-PROOF T HERE are two causes for the dampness or sweating that appears on the interior of some walls. The first is condensation of moisture on a cooling wall. The second is the capillary action that draws moisture through the wall from the outside. Dampness collecting on the outside of a pitcher of ice water in a heated room is an ordinary example of the first phenomenon. The second is illustrated by dipping the end of a lump of sugar in coffee, when the liquid is drawn up through the sugar by capil- lary attraction. As stated on the foregoing page, condensation may be eliminated by erecting the wall with Cinder Concrete Building Units. The temperature of the wall is slow in changing, and moisture remains suspended in the air of the room without reaching the “dew point”, which is the point of saturation. Dampness is not merely destructive to plaster, it is highly injurious to health. This dangerous condition is effectively prevented by con- struction with Cinder Concrete Building Units and it is therefore safe to plaster direct on a wall of this material. Furring and lathing are not necessary. It should be remembered that only the cinder concrete part of the wall resists moisture. For that reason all units should be laid without continuous cross joints, as shown on page 30 . If the wall is veneered with brick or stone, the facing material should not at any point be continue through the wall. Illustrating a Cinder Block partly submerged in water The uattr in the pan uill no: rise more than one inch to tuo inches in the unit , even though the block remains partly submerged for a month. Capillary attraction in Cinder Concrete is extremely slight. If this Cinder Block in the pan of water were turned 90 degrees , it would represent a wall , wet on the outside from heavy ram. This water does not come through the wall , because of the limited capillary force. The action is quite different in sand concrete or common clay units. Residence, Baltimore, Md A. C. Leach , Architect. Plaster applied direct to walls. ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS £ m 3 ACOUSTIC design is of great im- X \ portance in the construction of buildings. It involves both the reduction of disturbing reverbera- tion in large rooms, and the elimi- nation of sound transmission from one room to another. In order to perform these two acoustic functions, the preventing of re- flection and trans- mission, the wall must absorb the sound. Cinder Concrete Building Units meet acoustic re- quirements to are- markable degree. In the construc- tion of auditori- Cosmopolitan Hotel , Denver Colo. Wm. N. Bowman Co , Architects. Gordon M. Tamblyn, Contractor. 350,000 Cinder Block and Cinder Tile used in back-up and partitions. urns, Cinder Block: and Cinder Tile reduce the time of sound reverberation within the room so that the wall itself performs the function of special sound deadening materials. As partition tile in apartments, hotels, hospitals, schools or resi- dences, Cinder Concrete Building Units reduce the trans- mission of sound to a minimum by their built-in sound absorption. The stability of walls of Cinder Block and Cinder Tile together with the cellular structure of the material account for these important features of sound in- sulation. A technical bulletin dealing with the sound absorption of Cinder Concrete Building Units has been issued by the National Building Units Corporation and will be furnished upon request. Interior of Players' Theatre, De- troit, Mich. Smith , Hmchman & Grylls, Architects. Trutchtel Sheehan, Builder j . Walls of Cinder Block and Tile laid in r mdom design and covered utth one brush coat of paint to secure a t tract it e interior and tmprened acoustics. Detail shou inf, roufh surface texture uhtch fives hitb defree of sound absorption. CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS NAILING AND CUTTING N AILS can easily be driven into Cinder Concrete Building Units. The nails will hold firmly and will never rust. Actual tests have shown the holding power to be equal to that of yellow pine, and that this holding power increases with age All nailing strips and plugs are eliminated. Grounds, base boards and trim may be fastened direct to the wall. The contractor will readily appreciate the saving due to this feature. The wood plugs generally used with clay brick, clay tile or sand concrete will dry out, shrink and loosen. The initial cost is high and the lasting quality is doubtful. The direct nailing to a wall of Cinder Block or Cinder Tile is far more satisfactory. No difficulty is experienced in cutting or channeling the material, due to the cellular structure of the cinder concrete. Breakage is eliminated. To further facilitate construction. Cinder Concrete Building Units are supplied in halves, quarters and other fractions so that cutting is reduced to a minimum. PITTSBURGH TESTING LABORATORY Pittsburgh, Pa. January 12, 1922 Laboratory No. 48544 REPORT OF TEST ON HOLDING STRENGTH OF WIRE NAILS In order to obtain the holding power of wire nails in Straub cinder building blocks as com- pared with wood, samples were placed in a Universal testing machine and the loads required to draw the nails determined. RESULTS OF TEST Size of Material Nail Used 20 d— 2 x 4 Yellow Pine ... 16 d — 2x4 “ “ 20 d— Cinder Concrete Block 20 d— “ “ “ 20 d- “ “ “ 16 d — " “ “ *20 d— Old Nail in Cinder Concrete Block 5 years Load in Lbs. Depth of Nail Required to in Material Draw Nails l'/z 260 l Vi 270 l'/z 300 l'/z 250 l'/z 200 l'/z 200 l'/z 650 Note: *This specimen was a nail which had been driven into a cinder block used in the walls of a bottling plant at New Kensington, Pa. When the building was partly destroyed by fire, this specimen was selected to determine the effects of age on the holding power of the nail. The nail had not rusted in the cinder concrete, although it had rusted where not embedded. PITTSBURGH TESTING LABORATORY, P. J. Freeman, Engineer of Tests ^ ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS — ^ l 16 ] PLASTERING SURFACE T HE surface texture of Cinder Block and Cinder Tile affords an ideal base for plaster and stucco. These materials are applied direct to the wall and dovetail into the small irregularities of the surface, giving a very strong key. The bricklayer has no difficulty in making a true wall with these units, and only a very thin straightening coat of plaster is required. The firm adhesion eliminates waste of plaster during application. Cinder Concrete Building Units have an even absorp- tion — quick but limited — which en- ables the plasterer to work much faster than is possible on any other base . . . Each square foot of plaster . , , Outside walls of Cinder Block, laid in broken ashlar design and painted. sets up with the same speed and the whole surface is uniform for rodding and floating. These characteristics, the trueness of the wall, the evenness of the suction and the splendid key afforded by Cinder Block and Cinder Tile, effect a decided economy in plastering. To these advantages should be added the nailing feature, which simplifies the placing of grounds and the fastening of interior trim. The rough surEice, combined with the trueness of the Cinder Block or Cinder Tile unit, makes possible the application of paint in a variety of attractive effects. To enhance the pleasing quaintness of a white- washed surface, the units may be laid in broken ashlar or random design. ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ ^ [ 17 ] ECONOMY of CONSTRUCTION T HE characteristics of Cinder Concrete Building Units, as de- scribed on the foregoing pages, effect decided economies in con- struction which may be summarized as follows: Laying : In comparison with sand concrete blocks or common brick, the lighter weight of Cinder Concrete Building Units makes possible a substantial saving in masonry labor. The weight is the same, or less, than ordinary clay tile, but the wider mortar bed and the trueness of the units are in favor of Cinder Block and Cinder Tile. There is no difficulty in keeping the wall plumb during erection. Mortar : One 8 x 8 x 16" Cinder Block takes the place of twelve brick in the wall — with a subse- quent saving in the amount of mortar used. Cinder Block and Cinder Tile require less mortar than clay tile because the wider webs reduce the loss of mortar. Reducing Dead Load: The lightness of the product reduces the dead weight of the wall — and Cinder Block and Cinder Tile are particularly well adapted to skyscraper construction where weight becomes a deciding factor. A saving in load-bearing members of skeleton construction is possible with this material. Elimination of Lath: All plaster is applied direct to a wall of Cinder Concrete Building Units. There is no danger of dampness or discoloration when the wall is properly constructed. Furring and lathing can be omitted with a very substantial saving. Economy of Plaster : A wall of Cinder Block or Cinder Tile presents an even surface requiring only a thin scratch coat of plaster under the finishing coat. Waste is eliminated, and the rough surface of the wall makes an ideal bond for the plastic material. Plastering Labor : The quick but limited suction and the even absorption of Cinder Concrete Building Units make it possible for the plasterer to work with greater speed. The saving in time is an important economy. Breakage : The toughness of Cinder Concrete Building Units reduces breakage to a minimum and the fractional sizes reduce cutting. failing : All grounds and trim are nailed direct to the wall of Cinder Block or Cinder Tile. Nailing plugs are eliminated at a substantial saving in labor, and the direct nailing is far more satisfactory. The human element that enters into building makes it difficult to express economy of con- struction in terms of dollars and cents, but the architect or builder who has once used Cinder Block and Cinder Tile will recognize their economy advantages in actual construction. ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ ^ I 18 ] MAKING THE PRODUCT T HE quality of such products as Cinder Block or Cinder Tile depends greatly upon correct methods of manufacture. A vital contribution of the inventors, Straub and Bo, was their early recognition of the quality factors that govern the making of Cinder Concrete Building Units. Cinder Block Plants operating under the Straub and Bo Patents are equipped to treat the raw material in such a manner as to assure a stand- ardized product. The careful crushing processes produce an aggregate which is structurally sound and durable. Thorough mixing and specially developed methods of manufacture insure a product of uniform quality. The Cinder Concrete produced by these plants is protected by the proper conditions of temper- ature and moisture during its early life and is thoroughly seasoned before delivery to the job. Quantity production and the maintenance of an adequate reserve stock are necessary to insure the delivery of properly matured units. Autornatic machine of special design used in the manufacture of Cinder Concrete Building Units. Close co-operation is maintained between all plants operating under Straub and Bo Patents and the Engineering Department of the National Building Units Corporation. The architect and builder are assured of uniform products and the responsible co-operation of a national industry when dealing with any of these licensed and subsidiary plants. CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS IR.ST CHURCH of CHRIST, SCIENTIST, Dayton , Ohio. Gebhardt and Shaeffer , Architects. Wm. Macllroy, Builder. Floors , back-up and partitions of Ctnder Block and Cinder Tile. aJSRITH SHOLAM COMMUNITY CENTER. Beth lehem, Pa. Architect, David Levy. Contractor, H E. Stoudt & Son. Cinder Block partitions and hacking. •JjETAIL of EAGLES’ CLUB HOUSE, Milwaukee, W is. , showing Cinder Tile Partitions. Note curved wall of Cinder Block at stair landing. 4 x3h 7 x 8" 3-4 lbs. Chimney Block Regular size shown on drawing. Also made with Stove Pipe Hole. Chimney caps made to fit these units. Lintels All sizes carried in stock or made to order. Width, height and additional reinforcement in proportion to length. Note — 6", 8" and 12" Cinder Blocks are also manufactured with 3 cores instead of 2. They present identical advantages. ^ ^ CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS — ^ S ] Showing the proper method of spreading mortar when laying Cinder Blocks. Care should he used to prevent mortar joints from running through from one face to the other , particularly when laying outside walls. The mason should spread mortar on the course in one operation , instead of laying one block at a rime. Showing the proper method of buttering ends. The blocks should be set on end in a row within easy reach of the mason. The ends should be buttered on the outside and inside only , avoiding all cross joints. The incorrect method of piling block is indicated at the far end of the platform. i 26 1 Illustrating the use of 8" regular wall block ami 8" header block in backing up 4" of brick, making a 11" wall. Note that no through mortar joints occur between the outside and inside faces of the wall. This insures a dry wall. Illustrating the use of 4" and 8" Cinder Block for backing up stone facing. Any thickness of wall may be obtained by using standard units. The stone should not at any point be continuous through the wall. Unique effect obtained by use of Standard Cinder Block and Cinder Tile, laid with mortar joints pointed as in stone masonry. Some of the joints cut over the face of the units. 17 Detail of Players’ Theatre, Detroit, Michigan, illustrated on page 15. Standard Cinder Block and Cinder Tile laid in "broken Ashlar" design ready for application of paint. SPECIFICATION SPECIFICATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION with STRAUB or BO CINDER BUILDING UNITS Straub or ‘Bo Cinder Building Units: The requirements as set forth under the head of General Conditions apply to this work. All Straub or Bo Cinder Building Units shall be straight, uniform, and sound, and of such character that they will pass and comply with the requirements of the local building code. Besides the regular blocks, use such special shapes and sizes as may be required to accomplish the provisions of the drawings and the aims of the architect. iMortar : All mortar used for the setting of Straub or Bo Cinder Building Units shall be composed bv volume of one part of Portland Cement (approved brand), to one part hydrated lime and six parts of clean sharp sand thoroughly mixed to a smooth moderately stiff mortar. The lime and cement shall be thoroughly mixed before the addition of sand and water. The resulting mortar mixture shall be used within thirty minutes after the water is added and no retempering shall be permitted. If lime putty is used instead of hvdrated lime, mix cement and sand first and then add the lime putty which must be slacked at least three days before using. Laying : All hollow blocks shall be laid with the cells vertical in the wall and in such manner that the main bearing webs come in proper relation for bearing with those of the block below. No vertical or horizontal joints shall be mortared through the walls but liberal air spaces shall be left in the center of the walls by buttering the two edges of each block on both hori- zontal and vertical joints. When 12" blocks are used place mortar over front, center and rear webs, exer- cising care that the mortar does not carry through the wall. All walls shall be bonded by breaking vertical joints in every course at least three inches. Foundation W alls : Where indicated on drawings the foundation walls and piers shall be constructed of Straub or Bo Cinder Building Units of such size and shape as may be required and in conformity with the local building code. Special units shall be used for corners, offsets, and other breaks to maintain a good bond and to insure properly staggered joints throughout the length of the wall. (In low, damp ground, water bearing clay or where springs or excessive ground water occurs, the outside of foundation walls shall be plastered with a mortar composed of one part Portland Cement to two parts of sand with a mixture of an approved damp-proofing composition and to be applied three-quarters of an inch in thickness. Also, where any quantity of ground water is present or known to occur, a dry drain should be laid around the foundation to carry the water away to a convenient point. Specified under this heading or under the plumbing and drainage work.) Exterior Walls and Interior Bearing Walls: All exterior walls above foundation and all interior bearing walls shall be constructed of the various thick- nesses as indicated on drawings, forming all corners, returns and offsets as shown, and using the required shapes and sizes to work to corners and openings and to maintain proper bond throughout the length of the wall. Use special jamb blocks for double-hung window frames. Use re-inforced Straub or Bo Cinder Concrete Lintels over all door openings or use lintels of special design as indicated. Where arches occur in walls they shall be formed of two (or more) courses of cinder brick laid in row- lock fashion on suitable centers. — — CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS ^ 1 28 1 SPECIFICATIONS ‘•Bearing Wall Design : The design and size of hollow Straub or Bo Cinder Building Units in hearing walls shall be such that the gross sectional area of the block is not stressed greater than one-tenth of the crushing strength of the particular units used, as ascertained by properly conducted test. The super-imposed loadings shall include the dead and live loads of floors and roof and the weight of wall construction, etc., and in no case shall the block be subjected to tensile stress, unless suitable steel reinforcement is provided. Where heavy beams or girders are placed on hollow block walls, or where other concentrated loads occur, the holes shall be filled with concrete or the walls shall be capped with concrete or otherwise re-inforced to properly distribute the load. The interior bearing walls shall be well bonded and tied into outside walls. Fire-places and chimneys shall be built as shown and shall be well bonded into the walls in which they occur. Partition Walls: All partition and division walls other than load bearing shall be constructed of light weight hollow Straub or Bo Cinder Building Units of the thick- ness indicated on the drawings. They must be built true to a line and plumb and must be well tied into other walls and be wedged against floor above. Re- inforced lintels are to be used over all openings. Lintels : Straub or Bo Cinder Concrete Lintels shall be built into the walls over the openings as indicated on the drawings and all lintels shall have a modulus of rupture of not less than 800 pounds per square inch. c Porch Columns and Piers : Porch columns and piers shall be erected with blocks of such sizes as to conform with the dimensions indi- cated on the drawings. Where heavy loads are to be carried on columns and piers they shall be built of solid Straub or Bo Units instead of hollow ones. Chimney : All chimneys and fire-places shall be constructed of Straub or Bo Cinder Building Units as shown on the drawings, faced with suitable fire brick where exposed to heat. Provide terra cotta flue linings of sizes indicated for all chimneys, wiping all joints carefully as the several sections are erected. Chimney Cap : Provide Straub or Bo Cinder Chimney Cap, pre- cast concrete, stone or brick as indicated on the drawings. Cutting and Patching : This contractor shall do all cutting and patching of his work, and that of other contractors, required for the proper installation of work by other trades, and any necessary cutting and repairing is to be reported to the architect for adjustment with the contractor for whom such work is done. This contractor shall leave all chases and openings required by other trades and build in all anchors, or other accessories furnished by others. All chases and openings that are built or cut into walls shall, when ready for plastering, be covered with No. gauge galvanized diamond mesh expanded metal lath or woven wire lath by plastering contractor. Lath to be securely fastened into place lapping the face of the block by at least 2" on each side to prevent cracking of plaster. Upon completion, do any patching required and remove all rubbish, equipment and surplus material. Contractors for plumbing, heating and electric work, and other trades will not be permitted to cut in- to block walls without permission from the block masonry contractor and generally any cutting and repairing shall be done by the block mason and the cost charged to the contractor requiring same. Contractors for other trades must therefore arrange the installation of their work so that openings and chases may be built in where required, or furnish to, and co-operate with, the mason contractor in setting the sockets, ferrules, pipings, conduits, outlet boxes and fastenings that must be built into the Hollow Block walls. Horizontal chases will not be per- mitted in block walls, except for flexible conduits for electric wiring. CINDER CONCRETE BUILDING UNITS — ^ f 10 ] [ 3 ° 1 i 31 1 11 33 1 PE/NTO/eCED CiHdEH CoHcecrt lintel STUCCO COVEZIH& ELEVATION (iz- wall) -Plan Show no special jams slocks a' wall) i lti| i!U i K Section or head Shonino special lintel Section or Sill i 34 J NATIONAL DISTRIBUTION Plants Manufacturing Cinder Concrete Building Units Under Straub or Bo Patents Albany, N. Y Finch & Ostrander, Inc. Allentown, Pa Hollywood Building Block Co. Altoona, Pa.. Juniata Reconstructed Stone Co., Juniata, Pa. Apollo, Pa Apollo Steel Co. Atlanta, Ga Atlanta Cinder Block & Tile Co. Baltimore, Md.. Cinder Block Corp. Binghamton, N Y Straub Building Units, Inc. Braeburn, Pa ... Braeburn Volcano Block Co. Buffalo, N Y Burnett -Wilson-Pfohl, Inc. Butler, Pa Shutflin & Green Camden, N. J Concrete Specialties Co. Cincinnati, Ohio . .Cincinnati Cincrete Corp. Clarksburg, W. Va Cincrete, Inc. Denver, Colo Cinder Block Co. Dbs Moines, Iowa Iowa Concrete Crib & Cement Products Co. Detroit, Mich Detroit Cinder Block & Tile Co. Detroit, Mich R. E. Hamilton's Sons East St. Louis, III Atlas Cinder Block Corp. Elmira, N. Y . .Elmira Building Units, Inc. Erie, Pa Erie Patent Block Co., Inc. Escanaba, Mich Universal Magnesite Products Co. Fairmont, W. Va Fairmont Wall Plaster Co. (Sub licensees and distributors in West Virginia) Flint, Mich Flint Cinder Block & Products Co. Forest Park, III .Illinois Cincrete Products Corp. Geneva, N. Y Geneva Brick Products Co. Greensburg, Pa Building Materials Co. Hamilton, Ont., Canada E. J. Shepard, Ltd. Harrisburg, Pa . Harrisburg Building Block Co. Indianapolis, Ind Straub Cinder Block Co. Jamestown, N. Y . Jamestowm Block & Tile Co. Jersey City, N. J Cinder Brick and Tile Co. Johnstown, Pa Art Stone Block Co. Kansas City, Mo Cinder Block Co. Lancaster, Pa Lancaster Concrete Tile Co. Lansing, Mich Universal Block Co. Lemoyne, Pa Pennsylvania Concrete Roofing Tile Co. Lewistown, Pa James L. Shreftler McHenry, III Frett Brothers Manorville, Pa Eddy Brothers Midland, Mich John A. Whitman Milwaukee, Wis Cincrete Products Corp. Moline, III Mt. Pocono, Pa New Castle, Pa New Kensington, Pa.. . New York, N. Y Norfolk, Va North Bergen, N. J.. . . Omaha, Neb Philadelphia, Pa Pittsburgh, Pa Pottsville. Pa Pueblo, Colo Reading, Pa Ridgefield Park, N. J.. Richmond, Va River Grove, III Rochester, N. Y Rochester, N. Y Rochester, N Y St. Joseph, Mo St. Louis, Mo Seattle, Wash Selinsgrove, Pa Springdale, Pa Springfield, Mass Springfield, Ohio Syracuse, N. Y Tarentum, Pa Toronto, Ont., Canada Trenton, N. J Uniontown, Pa Warren, Ohio Warren, Pa Washington, D. C Waynesburg, Pa Westfield, N. J Wilkes-Barre, Pa Williamsport, Pa Wilmington, Del York, Pa Youngstown, Ohio. Youngstown, Ohio Moline Cast Stone Co. L. T. Smith Straub Block Co. Straub Block Co. Cinder Tile Co. Norfolk Building Block Corp. Hudson Fireproof Block Co. Ideal Cement Stone Co. . . Phila. Partition & Building Block Co. Straub Block Co. Pottsville Building Block Co. Pueblo Cinder & Cement Products Co. Berks Building Block Co. Bergen Building Block Co. Richmond Patent Building Block Corp. Chicago Granite Co. Rochester Cinder Block Corp. Genesee Brick & Supply Corp. Schaefer Bros. Builders Supply Co. Cinder Block Co. Cinder Block Co., Clayton, Mo. Concrete Structural Units Co. Cincrete Products Co. Brown Building Block Co. Springfield Sand & Tile Co. .Springfield Cinder Block Co. Syracuse Cinder Products Corp. Frank H. Thompson Toronto Brick Co., Ltd. Concrete Speoialties Company Hankins-Paulson Co. Straub Patented Block Co. Wilson-Wetmore Lumber Co. Washington Concrete Products Corp. J. E. Drury Hudson Fireproof Block Co. Ncpcnna Building Materials Co. (Kingston, Pa.) Delvan Block Co., So. Williamsport, Pa. Cinder Block Corp. York Patented Building Block Co. Peter KJug Garland Block & Sand Co. GENESEE BRICK & SUPPLY CORPORATION T HE foregoing pages furnish comprehensive data on the characteristics of Cinder Block and Cinder Tile, and on their use in modern construction. Local manufacture and distribution of these products are care- fully conducted by this company. A large stock of units, of every size and for every building purpose, is constantly main- tained to insure the delivery of well-cured products. The same standard of insulation and rugged strength characterizes the entire range of units. Immediate deliveries are also furthered by ample trucking facili- ties. Drivers are courteous and dependable. Directness of contact between plant and operation facilitates co-operation. The service behind these products goes back to the raw materials themselves, involves the maintaining of ample reserves to insure continuous operation, scientific control and definite standards of manufacture and quantity production. All of these factors com- bine in placing the standardized Cinder Concrete Building Unit at the disposal of the Building Trade. The experience of a National Industry is behind the manufac- turing methods employed by this plant. These standard products are being specified and used daily by Architects and Builders throughout the country. GENESEE BRICK 8c SUPPLY CORPORATION Bo Process Cinder Brick and Blocks 832 ST. PAUL STREET ROCHESTER, N. Y. Copyright 1927 National Building Units Corporation Avexr ■CaUJMiiA llKlIXfrm- V . AV« r COUM4MA ue*A*r UN,V «S**‘ S&pMG-fl fmmm