ProBlock - Lightweight Concrete Masonry Block

Improve project schedules and increase energy efficiency

ProBlock set out to create a masonry product that would change the building industry. Our architect partners were top of mind when we designed our products.

ProBlock Insulated Wall System offers architects an innovative masonry unit that helps deliver within schedule, under budget, and at a higher level of building performance.

Energy Efficient – High R-value masonry
Lower Project Cost – Against other wall systems
Improved Timelines – Shortened masonry schedule

Benefits

Energy Code Compliance – Enables single-wythe masonry to more easily comply with energy code
Energy Efficiency – Achieve R-values much higher than traditional masonry
Competitive Cost Structure – Other high R-value masonry systems can be cost prohibitive; ProBlock is priced similar to traditional concrete masonry
Compliance – ProBlock complies with ASTM C90
Shortened Construction Schedule – Lightening the load of the mason increases productivity
Reduced Construction Cost – Higher productivity per mason means lower cost for you
Design Flexibility – Modular design allows for flexibility
Innovative Design – Engineered to maximize masonry performance

The ProBlock Insulated Wall System

Whole-wall R-values for ProBlock walls are much greater than conventional 3-web concrete block walls. The increase achieved by injecting aminoplast foam insulation is up to 264% greater than is possible with normal weight concrete masonry walls injected with the same aminoplast foam insulation.

ProBlock Provides Optimal Thermal Performance

R-value is the measure of thermal resistance used in the construction industry. Higher R-value equates to increased resistance to heat flow. R-value measures the ratio of the temperature difference across an insulator (concrete masonry wall) and the heat flux (heat transfer per unit area per unit time).

The key to maximizing whole-wall R-values of concrete masonry walls is minimizing thermal bridges within the concrete masonry units and increasing the thermal resistance of the concrete used to produce concrete masonry units. Lightweight concrete is ideal for highest thermal performance concrete masonry wall assemblies.

ProBlock provides significant reduction in thermal bridging

Energy Performance Within a Wall System

R-values of ProBlock walls insulated with aminoplast foam compare favorably to those insulated with closed-cell polyurethane foam. Because aminoplast foam flows within the wall, all of the nooks & crannies get filled.

Polyurethane foam expands rather than flows; thus, many more holes must be drilled and patched. Expanding foam tends to bridge small openings to leave voids and typically costs far more than aminoplast foam insulation.

For these reasons – better performance and faster installation at a lower cost – aminoplast foam insulation @ R-4.60/inch is the better choice for injecting ProBlock walls vs. closed-cell polyurethane foam insulation @ R-5.91/inch. The table below illustrates how closely whole-wall R-values track one another no matter the type of foam used to fill core-cells of ProBlock walls.

R-Values for Foam Insulated Walls

			Insulation R/ in
Size	Block Type	Density	4.6	5.91
8x8x16	ProBlock	85 pcf	10.69	11.39
	Pro Block	105 pcf	8.27	8.67
	Traditional 3-Web Normal Weight CMU	130 pcf	3.28	3.31
12x8x16	ProBlock	85 pcf	18.14	19.43
	ProBlock	105 pcf	13.94	14.68
	Traditional 3-Web Normal Weight CMU	130 pcf	4.99	5.05

Insulated by injecting core foam masonry insulation

Energy Code Compliance Using COMCheck Demonstration Analysis

When using COMCheck for energy code compliance demonstration analysis, the U-value for the wall assembly should be used in the “other mass wall” section of the program. In COMCheck, when the “other mass” section is used, the heat capacity (HC) of the wall assembly must be used in conjunction with the U-value. Contact us for heat capacity values and/or assistance using COMCheck.

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