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An introduction to medium dense blocks: their properties, benefits and uses

Posted by Nick Franks

We take a closer look at medium-dense blocks and how they could be used in your next building project. Read on to learn more.

Looking for a strong and durable concrete block for your building project? A dense concrete block isn’t your only option! In this article, we’ll introduce you to the medium dense block and demonstrate why it could be the perfect alternative for your build.

What is a medium dense block?

A medium dense concrete block is a popular construction material that offers builders strength, durability and excellent sound and thermal insulation. They are lighter than standard dense blocks, which makes them easier to handle and reduces the overall load on a structure. Typically, they have a density that ranges from 1,100 to 1,600 kg/m³.

Medium dense blocks can be used in both load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls, partitions and other structural elements in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

What's the difference between dense and medium dense blocks?

The difference between dense and medium density blocks is their weight and density. Dense blocks are heavier due to their composition, which features dense, tightly packed aggregates. This gives them impressive strength, which makes them ideal for heavy-duty structural applications.

Medium dense blocks, on the other hand, are lighter. Their composition includes a proportion of lightweight aggregates but they retain many of the qualities of dense blocks. In addition, they also have good thermal and excellent acoustic insulating qualities.

The properties of medium dense blocks

Medium dense blocks tend to have densities that range from 1,100 to 1,600 kg/m³. The exact weight of each block will depend on this density, along with the block’s size and its mix. For instance, our 140mm Lignacite SP blocks have had their mix optimised to produce a solid block that weighs less than 20kg per unit.

Medium dense blocks are known for their strength and durability. For example, our Lignacite solid block and Ash GP medium dense blocks have loadbearing strengths of up to 10.4N/mm². This makes them an excellent choice for substantial structures.

Another key feature of medium density blocks is their insulative properties. These blocks have a relatively low thermal conductivity, which means that they can help to keep buildings warm. For example, our 100mm Lignacite blocks (with a moisture content of 3%) have a thermal conductivity of 0.90 W/mK while our 140mm SP blocks have an even lower conductivity score of 0.79W/mK.

They have excellent sound-insulating properties too. Their relatively high mass with low levels of porosity helps to block external and internal sound effectively. Walls built with our 140mm Lignacite SP blocks can therefore give sound insulation in excess of 50db (Rw).

What are medium dense concrete blocks used for?

The strength and durability of medium density blocks make them very versatile. They can be used to build homes, shopping centres and stadiums, and you can use them for internal and external applications. You can even use them below ground!

Here are just some ideas of what you can use medium density concrete blocks for:

Inner and outer leaves of external cavity walls
Internal walls (including fire break walls)
Separating or partition walls
Below ground
Infill for block and beam flooring

You can find out more about how different blocks can be used with our Application Locator tool.

The benefits of using medium dense blocks

There are several advantages to using medium density blocks in your building projects.

Durability: The strong durability and impact resistance of medium dense blocks means that they can be used in structures for commercial, leisure and academic use.
Excellent sound insulation: Medium density blocks can ensure the comfort of inhabitants and can help to protect them from excess noise pollution thanks to their fantastic sound insulation.
A1 fire rated: Medium density concrete blocks make no contribution towards fire and are completely non-combustible.
Air tightness: Medium dense blocks, such as our Lignacite product, have very low air permeability, particularly if their surface is painted.

Find the right medium dense block for your project

If you're looking for the right medium density blocks for partition walls, external walls or cavity walls, get in touch with our friendly Quoting Team by calling 01842 778485 today.

You can also visit our dedicated web pages on our Lignacite and Ash GP medium density blocks to see if they fit your specifications.

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