The Interlocking Block Ring Beam is progressing slowly inching its way around the perimeter of the house slab, its slow going but its been very hot the last few days – that’s my excuse anyway !

The first layer of the interlocking blocks are bedded down with a sand and cement mortar, it is very important to get this first course set correctly, the ring beam provides both strength and alignment of the courses to follow.

You can see in the photo above how the following layers of interlocking blocks don’t have the U channel that is designed to provide a cavity for the reinforcing steel and concrete beam.

The U channel will be filled in with cement prior to the next course of bricks going on. I am using 12 mm steel reinforcing bar for both the vertical and horizontal reinforcing this is significantly more than required in fact most Thais that I have seen using these blocks only use very light gauge steel.

[Show as slideshow]

12►

Be Sociable, Share!

•