Proposed Marassi Park - Plot 99

Marassi Al Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain January 2020

SECTION 04 00 00: MASONRY

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CONTENTS

PART 1 GENERAL

PART 2 MATERIALS

A. Concrete Blocks

B. Sand

C. Water

D. Wall

PART 3 WORKMANSHIP

A. Mortars

B. General Workmanship

C. Jointing and Pointing

D. Sundries

PART 4 MASONRY

A. Materials

B. Shaping Stone

C. Laying Stone

D. Pointing

E. DPC and Joints

PART 5 TEST ON BLOCK WORKS

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SECTION 040000 Masonry Page 1 of 5

Proposed Marassi Park - Plot 99
Marassi Al Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain January 2020

PART 1 GENERAL

These specifications cover precast concrete to be used for the construction of

walls and partitions in the project, as well as the “hourdis” blocks used in the
ribbed slabs, as shown on the detailed drawings and as directed by the
engineer. The specifications for masonry walls are also given in this section.
In general, 1:5 & 1:3:6 mix for sand cement & concrete blocks respectively
shall be used. Blocks from automatic plant shall be used. Blocks are not be
within 4 weeks of manufacture.

PART 2 MATERIALS

(A) Concrete blocks

Concrete blocks shall incorporate ordinary Portland Cement.

Blocks shall be obtained from an approved manufacturer and
shall meet a minimum compression strength test of 300 lb.
Per square inch after 28 days.
All blocks shall be in a dry and properly cured state when
delivered to the site.

(B) Sand

Sand for mortars shall be clean sharp sand from an

approved source.

(C) Water

Water shall clean and free from harmful matter.

(D) Wall

Wall ties shall comply with BS. 1234 zinc coated mild steel
vertical twist strip type “a”.

PART 3 WORKMANSHIP

(A) Mortars

1. Cement mortar

Cement mortar shall consist of one part ordinary portland

cement to four parts sand ( 1:4 ) measured by volume or as
specified in the particular specification.

2. Mixing

Mortar generally shall be machine mixed, mixed dry and then

with added water until the correct consistency and uniform
distribution of materials is obtained. Before mixing a fresh
series of batches the mixer drum shall be thoroughly cleaned.
Hand mixing shall be done on a clean, watertight platform, first
dry and then with added water until the correct consistency and
uniform distribution of materials is obtained.
Mortars shall be used within 35 minutes of the addition of
water before the initial of setting has begun, any mortar not
then used shall be discarded.

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SECTION 040000 Masonry Page 2 of 5

Proposed Marassi Park - Plot 99
Marassi Al Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain January 2020

(B) General workmanship

1. Dimensions

All block work shall be set out and built to the respective
dimensions, thick nesses and heights shown on the drawings.

2. Wetting blocks

All concrete blocks shall be well wetted before building into the
wall.

3. Uniformity

Block work shall be carried up in a uniform manner. No one

portion being raised more than 3’.0” above another at one time
unless special circumstances render this impracticable. All
pretends, quoins, etc., shall be kept strictly true and square and
the whole properly bonded together.

4. Hollow walls

Hollow walls shall be built with block skins with cavity between
the tied together with wall ties. Spaced 3’.o” apart horizontally
and 1’.4” apart vertically and staggered. The cavity and ties
shall be kept clear from mortar droppings or debris as the work
proceeds.

5. The block work shall be solid block work for the walls with dry fix
marble or granite.

(c) Jointing and pointing

1. Jointing

Blocks shall be laid in mortar as specified, properly bedded and

jointed and all joints filled with mortar. Where block work abuts
vertical concrete work. Chicken wire mesh binding strips shall be
applied.

2. Key

Rake out joints of all block work receiving plaster of cement render.

(d) Sundries

1. Filled blocks

At sides of opening and intersections fill blocks solid with (1:2:4)

concrete.

2. Solid course

Provide solid course of block work at sill level of all openings and
under bearing of all in-situ concrete.

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SECTION 040000 Masonry Page 3 of 5

Proposed Marassi Park - Plot 99
Marassi Al Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain January 2020

3. Cramps

Provide 1/8” x 1” x 9” galvanized iron cramps at 2’.0” centers where

walls abut concrete, cast one end into block work.

4. Bed frames, etc.

Timber door and window frames and metal windows fixed direct in
block openings shall be pointed with mastic on exposed sides and
where built in shall be bedded in the same mortar as that used for
the walling.

PART 4 MASONRY

(1) Materials

The stone for rubble masonry shall be the local stone. A sample
shall be approved by the engineer or the engineer’s representative
before commencement if any masonry works.
Mortar for laying the stone and pointing shall be composed of one
part of cement and three parts of sand unless otherwise directed by
the engineer.

(2) Shaping stone

The stones shall be roughly squared on joints, beds and faces.

Selected stone, roughly squared and pitched to line, shall be used
at all angles and ends of walls. Lf specified, all corners or angles in
exterior surfaces shall be finished with a chisel draft. All shaping or
dressing of stone shall be done before the stone is laid in the wall,
and no dressing or hammering which will loosen the stone will be
permitted after it is placed.

(3) Laying stone

The masonry shall be laid to line and in courses roughly leveled up.
The bottom or foundation courses shall be composed of large,
selected stones and all courses shall be laid with bearing beds
parallel to the natural bed of the material. Each stone shall be
cleaned and thoroughly saturated with water before being set and
the bed which is to receive it shall be clean and well moistened. All
stones shall be well bedded in freshly made mortar. The mortar
joints shall be full and the stones carefully settled in place before the
mortar has set. No spalls will be permitted in the beds. Joints and
beds shall have an average thickness of not more than 25 mm.
Whenever possible the face joints shall be properly pointed before
the mortar becomes set. Joints which cannot be so pointed shall be
prepared for pointing by racking them out to a depth of 50 mm.
Before the mortar has set. The face surfaces of stones shall not be
smeared with the mortar forced out of the joints or that used in
pointing.
The vertical joints each course shall break with those in adjoining
courses at least 150 mm. In no case shall a vertical joint be so
located as to occur directly above or below a header.
In case any stone is moved or the joint broken, the stone shall be
taken up, the mortar thoroughly cleaned from bed and joints and the
stone reset in fresh mortar.

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SECTION 040000 Masonry Page 4 of 5

Proposed Marassi Park - Plot 99
Marassi Al Bahrain, Kingdom of Bahrain January 2020

(4) Pointing

Joints not pointed at the time the stone is laid shall be thoroughly
wet with clean water and filled with mortar. The mortar shall be
well driven into the joints and finished with an approved pointing
tool.
The wall shall be kept wet while pointing is being done and in hot
or dry weather the pointed masonry shall be protected from the sun
and kept wet for a period of at least four days after completion.
After the pointing is completed and the mortar set. The wall shall
be thoroughly cleaned and left in a neat and workman like
condition.

(5) DPC and Joints

The DPC shall be well capped at corners and joints and bedded in
cement mortar and pointed on both sides. In case of faced block
work the DPC shall be kept 10 mm back from the face of the wall
and pointing to that edge shall be done at a later stage. Bituminous
felt damp-proof courses shall be laid on an even bed of mortar in
accordance with BS 743 and shall be lapped 150 mm at joints.
Movement joints shall be primed with an appropriate primer and
backed with debonding tape or foam prior to sealing. Sliding joint
materials shall be supplied by an approved manufacturer and shall
comprise a layer of self-adhesive PTFE strip followed by a layer of
uncoated PTFE strip applied strictly in accordance with the
manufacturer’s instructions. Joint filler shall be built in as the work
proceeds ensuring no projections into cavities. In joints to be
pointed with sealant, filler shall be positioned at a consistent
recommended distance from the wall face. Pointing to exposed
masonry shall be in accordance with Clause 5.11.7 and Annex C of
BS 5628: Part 3

PART 5 TEST ON BLOCK WORKS

Block for non-load bearing walls shall comply with the following :
 Average compressive strength of 12 blocks to be not less than 30
kg / cm2 of gross area and no block shall have a compressive
strength of less than 22 kg / cm2 of gross area.
 Blocks should remain intact when dropped on to a hard surface
from a height of 1.0 m.
 Should may sample of blocks fail to the compressive strength
tests defined above, or meet with the requirements regarding
shape, size, etc., then the whole of the delivery from which the
unsatisfactory sample was taken shall be condemned and shall
forthwith removed from the site by the contractor and replaced
with satisfactory blocks.
 Follow structural notes for crushing strength of blocks for different
uses.

END OF SECTION 04 00 00

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