Specific weight of foam blocks, their properties and weight calculations
Foam concrete is a mechanically strong lightweight building material. During production, air pores are formed in the foamed concrete mix; as they harden, they provide light weight and good heat retention. Foam concrete blocks are most often used as a base for the construction of load-bearing walls and partitions, as well as for insulating walls, roofs and floors.
Manufacturers of building materials try to achieve an ideal result, so new varieties of foam concrete continue to appear.
Properties and technical characteristics of foam blocks
Foam concrete is often used as a building material. This is largely due to its advantages:
- High insulation performance: sound and heat insulation.
- Economic efficiency.
- Fast installation of structures due to the dimensions of the material.
The main classification feature of foam blocks is density. Let us consider the types of blocks and their technical parameters.
| Type of blocks | Weight | Density | Application area |
| Porized structural block | More than 47 kg | D1300 - D1600 | Construction of any complexity |
| Structural block | 39 - 47 kg | D900 - D1200 | Construction of multi-storey buildings |
| Structural-insulating block | 23 - 35 kg | D600 - D800 | Construction of low-rise buildings |
| Insulating block | 11 - 19 kg | D300 - D500 | Material for thermal insulation |
When the density changes, foam concrete blocks also change their weight. Let us consider the specific weight of a foam block and its relation to density.
| Block density | Weight of 1 m³ of foam block (kg) |
| D400 | 436 |
| D500 | 543 |
| D600 | 652 |
| D700 | 761 |
| D800 | 887 |
| D900 | 996 |
| D1000 | 1100 |
| D1100 | 1220 |
| D1200 | 1330 |
In addition, all foam concrete blocks have the following physicochemical features.
| Physicochemical features | Foam block | Units of measurement |
| Strength indicator | 10 - 50 | kg/cm² |
| Weight of a cubic metre of foam block | 450 - 900 | kg/m³ |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.2 - 0.4 | W/(m·°C) |
| Number of freeze cycles | 25 | cycles |
| Wall hardening time | 60 | hours |
| Shrinkage degree | 0.6 - 1.2 | mm/m |
| Moisture absorption indicator | 95 | % |
| Vapour permeability indicator | 0.2 | mg/(m·h·Pa) |
| Layer of adhesive mortar during laying | 10 | mm |
Calculations of the quantity and weight of foam blocks.
At the beginning of construction, to create high-quality and durable floor structures, it is necessary to calculate the required quantity and mass of foam blocks.
| Geometric dimensions | Number of foam blocks in 1 m³ (pcs.) | Number of foam blocks placed on a pallet (pcs.) | Number of foam blocks in 1 m² (pcs.) |
| 100×300×600 mm | 55 | 80 | 16.7 |
| 120×300×600 mm | 46 | 64 | 13.8 |
| 150×300×600 mm | 37 | 48 | 11.2 |
| 200×300×600 mm | 27 | 40 | 8.4 |
| 250×300×600 mm | 22 | 32 | 6.7 |
High-quality foam concrete blocks have significant weight and the correct geometric shape. The most popular ratio of mass and size is shown in the table.
| Size of a D600 foam block | Weight of 1 block (kg) |
| 200×300×600 mm | 22 |
| 100×300×600 mm | 11 |
| 50×300×600 mm | 8.5 |
| 160×300×600 mm | 17 |
| 240×300×600 mm | 25 |
| 200×400×600 mm | 28 |
| 200×200×600 mm | 14 |
The most commonly requested value is the weight of a 200×300×600 mm foam block. As the table shows, it is 22 kg. Despite all the advantages, there are also disadvantages to using this material:
- Fragility during improper transportation.
- Cracking in areas especially exposed to ground movement.
When purchasing the material, it is necessary to carefully study the quality characteristics of the product.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does 1 m³ of foam blocks weigh?
The weight of 1 m³ of foam blocks depends on the density grade. According to the table, D400 is about 436 kg, D600 about 652 kg, D800 about 887 kg and D1200 about 1330 kg.
Why can foam blocks of the same size have different weights?
Even with the same dimensions, weight depends on density grade, moisture content, foam concrete composition and actual block geometry. A 200×300×600 mm D600 block weighs about 22 kg, but a block of another density will be lighter or heavier.
How do you calculate the weight of a batch of foam blocks?
For a preliminary estimate, multiply the volume of one block by the density grade and by the number of blocks. For purchasing and load calculations, also consider moisture content and the manufacturer's datasheet.