Sustainable Development

Lightweight Concrete Masonry and

Green Buildings
LEED Certification with Lightweight
CMU

LEED Credits can be earned in 3

categories
Materials and Resources
Energy and Atmosphere
Innovation and Design

Owner Benefits
Higher quality
Lower installed cost
Lower life-cycle cost

Higher Quality
Better fire resistance
Greater energy-efficiency
More design flexibility

Fewer shear walls

More and larger openings

Greater comfort and safety for

occupants
Increased worker productivity

Initial Wall Costs

Total Initial Wall Cost
Direct Labor
Block
Paint & Waterproofing
Fixed Labor Overhead
Block Delivery
Heavy Weight

Medium Weight

Lightweight
SmartWall Systems

Total Life Cycle Wall Costs

Total Wall Cost

LCC Energy Savings

Initial Wall Cost

Structural Efficiency
Improved Fire Resistance
Heavy Weight

Typ. Lightweight

SmartWall
Systems
Lightweight

Mason Contractor Benefits

Lighter weight
Increased efficiency
More production with less effort
Improved competitiveness for
masonry
More jobs

Why is this man smiling?

Lightweight Concrete
Masonry
Quality
Value
Energy Efficient
Fire Safe
Labor-friendly

Concrete Masonry Units

ASTM C90
Classificatio
n

Lightweight

Medium Normal
Weight Weight

Density

<105 pcf 105125

8X8X16
12X8X16

<30 lb
<40 lb

>125 pcf

32-35 lb 36-38 lb
44-48 lb 50-54 lb

Productivity vs. Weight

Lower Weight
Benefit less effort
Example 200 units/day

MW (32 lb) - 6400 lb.

LW (27 lb) - 5400 lb. (1000 lb. less /
day) (16% reduction)

Lower Weight
Benefit increased efficiency
Example 200 units/day + 15%
increase, or 230 units/day
MW - 6400 lb. (@ 200 units/day)
LW - 6210 lb. (190 lb. less / day)
(3% reduction)

More production with less effort!

Labor Savings
Productivity Means
Faster Completion >> Quicker

Occupancy
Lower Direct Labor Costs
Lower Contractor Overhead Costs

Better Ergonomics w/ Lighter Units

Less Fatigue & Fewer Injuries
Lower Workmans Compensation

Increased Productivity
Does NOT mean working FASTER
DOES mean less fatigue permits
the mason to maintain his/her
NORMAL pace longer

Result: More production with less

effort
Benefits are even more significant
with 10-inch and 12-inch units

Improved Competitiveness
Installed wall cost is driven by
labor cost

3:1 Labor:block cost

As block weight is reduced,

installed cost is reduced
Some of the cost saving goes to
lower bid prices
Lower bids make masonry more
competitive vs. other wall systems

More Jobs
Lower bid prices mean more
projects for masonry
More projects mean more jobs!

Opportunities
Mason Contractors

Will recognize productivity benefits

Will recognize safety benefits

Examples

Minneapolis, MN
Atlanta, GA
Lansing, MI

Should reflect reality in bids and

Wall Cost Guides

Opportunities
Architects

Will specify lightweight to get the

benefits
Will allow lightweight substitution
Will look for promised cost savings

Examples

Minneapolis, MN
Atlanta, GA
Lansing, MI

The Future

For more information...

www.bigriverind.com