Project : Construction of Dubai British School Jumeira on Plot No. 3430443 at Al Wasl, Dubai, U.A.

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Client : M/s. Taaleem Management L.L.C.
Consultant : M/s. Al Hashemi Planners, Architects, Engineers

AL HIKMA BUILDING CONTRACTING L.L.C.

METHOD OF STATEMENT

Block Work

1. SCOPE/PURPOSE

This work procedure enumerates the scope of masonry work to be executed in the
foundations/substructures, superstructures of different buildings as specified in the approved
drawings and at places when instructed by the Engineer-in-charge.

2. CODES/SPECIFICATION

Concrete masonry types shall be in accordance with section 04220: as per specifications.
 Solid Concrete Blocks (Concrete Masonry Units)
 Hollow Non-load Bearing Concrete Masonry Units “Concrete Hollow blocks”
 Thermal Block
 Precast Concrete Vent Block
 Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks
 Glass Blocks

3. RESPONSIBILITY

Responsibilities of all concerned is clearly mentioned with respect to overall administration and
implementation in the approved Organogram.

4. MATERIALS TO BE USED

 Solid and Hollow Concrete Masonry Blocks of suitable size.

 Thermal Blocks
 Cement
 Precast concrete Vent Block
 Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks

MS for Block Work Page 1 of 7 4/20/2024

Project : Construction of Dubai British School Jumeira on Plot No. 3430443 at Al Wasl, Dubai, U.A.E
Client : M/s. Taaleem Management L.L.C.
Consultant : M/s. Al Hashemi Planners, Architects, Engineers

 Glass Blocks
 Sand
 Damp Proof Course
 Steel Masonry Accessories Ties

5. NECESSARY EQUIPMENT & TOOLS

Below is the equipment involved in the construction of block works/ Cavity Walls.

 Nail Gun
 Table Grinder for Block Cutting
 Scaffolding Platforms
 Electric drills
 Trowels & Hand tools
 Mixer machine
 Wheelbarrow
 Masonry saw
 Mason square
 3m long aluminum straight edge
 Spirit level
 Water level
 Measuring tape
 Line dory
 Plumb bob
 Calibrated survey instruments

6. INSPECTION AND TEST PLAN

1) Visual defects:
 No Lumps of mortar is to be seen in the finished work in the joints etc.
 No loose blocks or disturbed blocks or joints to be seen after work is complete.

MS for Block Work Page 2 of 7 4/20/2024

Project : Construction of Dubai British School Jumeira on Plot No. 3430443 at Al Wasl, Dubai, U.A.E
Client : M/s. Taaleem Management L.L.C.
Consultant : M/s. Al Hashemi Planners, Architects, Engineers

2) Verticality:
 Inner face- for every one-meter height + 3mm (not cumulative)
 Outer face- for every one-meter height + 5mm (not cumulative)

3) Plumb Bond:
 For ordinary block work “plumb bond” shall be within + 5mm (not cumulative but on the
Centre line of the plumb).

4) Alignment, Corners, and Angles:

 No variation in the layout of the angles specified.

5) Adhesion:
 All courses must be truly filled in the joints with mortar (no holes partly or through holes
must be seen in the work).

6) Water Penetration:
 When a jet of water is allowed on one surface of block work, water should not be seen
coming out through the joints on the other side.

7. DEPLOYMENT OF EQUIPMENT

As per the requirement and the direction of Project Manager.

8. DEPLOYMENT OF LABOUR

As per the requirement and the direction of Project Manager.

9. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Preparatory Works:

 Ensure the availability of detailed layout of the building showing room dimensions, thickness
of walls at various locations in the building, details of openings (with sizes) to be provided in
the walls for doors, windows, ventilators, exhaust fan openings & other openings, details of
door, window, ventilator frames and their fixing means like holdfasts, anchor bolts etc. and
their levels, details of cross walls to ensure proper bond in main walls, location details of
concealed items such as electrical conduits, telephone conduits, wires and cables, location
details of items such as water supply pipes with details of inlet, outlet and crossings of service
lines, sanitary pipes with details of inlet, outlet and crossings of service lines, openings or
holes for positioning of water closet p / s traps, openings required for air conditioning ducts,
pipe sleeves to be left in walls for other service pipes.

MS for Block Work Page 3 of 7 4/20/2024

Project : Construction of Dubai British School Jumeira on Plot No. 3430443 at Al Wasl, Dubai, U.A.E
Client : M/s. Taaleem Management L.L.C.
Consultant : M/s. Al Hashemi Planners, Architects, Engineers

2. Starting the block work:

 Mark on the surface to establish the wall lines to attain proper layout of block work &
maintain mark till the first course is fully laid.
 Scrub & clean with proper tool, the concrete or block work surface where new block work
is to be done. Where usage of steel anchor or mesh etc. are specified for bonding block
work with concrete, fix the anchors in position so that they are embedded properly in the
courses.
 Before commencing block work, check reference points such as benchmark, lintel level,
bed block level, cross beam level etc. & be sure where to terminate the top most block
course, after the same is studied in detail as stated above.
 Blocks should not be damp at the time of starting masonry. When much water is present on
the blocks then mortar will become watery leading to a weak masonry. The blocks must be
semi dry or skin wet.
 Mix quantity of mortar, which will be consumed in next 2 hours only. Mixing shall be done
with proper measurements of ingredients. Mixing platform must be clean. Mixing of mortar
shall be done. (If more quantity is mixed and will not be consumed within the time, cement
will start setting leading to weaker masonry).
 Add water to the dry mix of cement sand in required quantity. Neither wet cement nor wet
sand is to be mixed. Bulkage of sand to be considered while adding water to the dry mix.
 Prepare a scheme of scaffolding, draw a sketch, and pass on the same to workers for
execution. Ensure safety aspects such as stability, proper joints etc. Check and ensure
availability of scaffolding materials, access ladder or staircases, working platforms etc.
The maximum length of block wall without a break has to be limited to 6m. If wall is beyond this
length vertical mullions have to be introduced. Where such mullions and horizontal members are
not given, please refer the case back to Architect / consultant for introduction of these members.

3. Stiffeners and Bonding Ties

Stiffeners and ties will be provided for all brick or block walls. Stiffeners for brick wall and block
wall shall be reinforced concrete.

Vertical stiffeners shall be provided at no more than 4.0m c/c along the length of the wall.
Stiffeners shall also be provided at the ends of brick or block walls to provide restraints unless such
restraints are already adequately provided by other structural members.

Horizontal tie beams shall be provided at 3.0m c/c (for wall up to 100mm thick) or 4.0m c/c (for
wall thicker than 100mm) along the length of walls.

MS for Block Work Page 4 of 7 4/20/2024

Project : Construction of Dubai British School Jumeira on Plot No. 3430443 at Al Wasl, Dubai, U.A.E
Client : M/s. Taaleem Management L.L.C.
Consultant : M/s. Al Hashemi Planners, Architects, Engineers

The reinforcement in stiffeners tie beams shall be properly anchored into their respective supporting
members.

 Where ends of brick or block walls abut against reinforced concrete walls or columns, they
are to be secured to the concrete at 450 mm centres with 6 mm diameter mild steel bars 45
mm long, hooked around the reinforcement and cast with the concrete and the projecting end
built into joints of the brick or block work.

4. Holdfasts

 Holdfasts for building in wood frames shall be 40 x 3 x 230 mm galvanized wrought iron
turned up one end with two holes for screwing to wood frames and other end fishtailed for
building into masonry wall. Before building into masonry, paint surfaces of holdfasts with
one coat of approved rust inhibitive chromate primer.

5. Block laying, alignment & jointing:

 Carry out one row of block work with ‘‘dry bond’’ (i.e., without mortar, lay the blocks in
position), the wall to establish the proper spacing of blocks.
 Lay mortar for full bed width and for a length of 3 blocks at a time, and to 15mm thickness.
 Lay one block at a time & gently pressing it in the mortar bed.
 Use a line thread from one end to end with a line pin.

6. All block work shall be plumb, square, and properly bonded. The joints shall not be
broken.

 Excess mortar coming out on the edge (while pressing block in position in bed mortar) to be
taken by trowel & buttered to the cross directional joint or head joint surface of the next block
being laid.

7. The thickness of courses shall be uniform with courses horizontal.

 Use straight edge & sprit levels on top of the blocks laid & check the top level. Make sure
that the spirit level is in working condition & read the bubble carefully.
 Lay the last closure block in the course, to close the bond and locate it to be near the center of
the wall normally. Butter both edges of closure block with mortar before laying.
 Repeat the above points for building more courses. After every two course of block work
laid, check the verticality using plumb bob, sight down the wall.
 The whole block work to be built in uniform layers.

MS for Block Work Page 5 of 7 4/20/2024

Project : Construction of Dubai British School Jumeira on Plot No. 3430443 at Al Wasl, Dubai, U.A.E
Client : M/s. Taaleem Management L.L.C.
Consultant : M/s. Al Hashemi Planners, Architects, Engineers

 For pointed masonry without plaster, smooth textured concrete block shall be used. The face
of blocks work shall be kept clean at all times.
 Where block is to be used for load bearing walls, the uppermost layer of block masonry
supporting slab or other structured members, shall be solid or treated as directed.

8. Striking of Joints:

 As soon as mortars in the joints have initially set, use a proper tool and strike the vertical
joints first. The horizontal bed joints are to be raked next to a depth of 10 mm.
 After “striking joints” brush the wall surface head joint first & bed joints last to complete
brushing.
 If, it is exposed block work without any plastering, the striking of joints should be 15mm in
depth instead of 10mm.

9. Height of Construction

 No part of wall during construction shall raise more than one and a half meter above the
general construction level.

10. Curing:

In hot & dry weather the mortar is likely to dry up before it has attained its final set in the
block work. This leads to crumbling of mortar and resulting in weak block masonry. This
shall be prevented, by keeping the new block work constantly wet, for at least seven days.

11. Other Points in Block Work:

 In load bearing structures the top layer of block work has to be plastered smooth. (This is to
prevent the slab concrete getting attached to the block work thereby causing cracks just one
block after the top most layers). The junction of block work with the RCC beam or ceiling
must be filled with dry sand or very lean mortar. This is to prevent the cracks afterwards in
the wall plastering (due to presence of different materials like block and RCC).
 To receive lintel or beam in position in the block work, the bearing must be plastered on
such blocks without fail.

12. Do’s & Don’ts in Block Work

 Do stack the blocks on a proper platform & clean surface.

 Do stack blocks at just convenient location for immediate use.

MS for Block Work Page 6 of 7 4/20/2024

Project : Construction of Dubai British School Jumeira on Plot No. 3430443 at Al Wasl, Dubai, U.A.E
Client : M/s. Taaleem Management L.L.C.
Consultant : M/s. Al Hashemi Planners, Architects, Engineers

 Do not overrule safety aspects to achieve timely completion.

10. SAFETY REQUIRMENT

1) Blocks shall be stacked properly near the place of work (too large a quantity must not be stacked
near the work area thereby causing safety hazard).
2) Height of the stack to be one meter if stacks are non-interlocking arrangement, and if interlocking
arrangement not more than 10 block height.
3) Scaffolding to be braced adequately. Scaffolding to be checked for the load carrying capacity and
ensure no overloading.
4) Working space to be clear of rubbish waste mortar etc. so that easy access is ensured. Throwing of
debris from height strictly prohibited.
5) Lifting, manual transporting of blocks etc. have to be carried out by workers who are properly
trained. Otherwise, this may cause serious injuries to workers since blocks are heavy.
6) Chasing in the block work has to be carried using appropriate cutting tools only. While chasing the
worker must wear proper safety appliances like shoes, goggles, helmets etc.
7) Net should be provided below the workplace at height PPE’s should be used properly.
8) Before commencement of brickwork /block work in front of lift shaft safety permit should be
taken.

MS for Block Work Page 7 of 7 4/20/2024