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MORTARLESS
BLOCK SYSTEMS
An analysis of the six systems on the market
By Pieter VanderWerf
oncrete masonry is losing projects to tilt-up, often were so impractical or expensive that they
To p To p
Stetcher Stetcher C o rn e r
C o rn e r
End
End
Half stetcher
Block and stacking of the Azar system. Block and stacking of the original Haener system.
half. Haener recently designed the Two-Block Insulat-
ing System, which adds space in each block to insert
insulation.
Haener Block has sold well as a do-it-yourself prod-
uct in the Los Angeles area; it has achieved success
for commercial projects in other locations, but it has
no single dominant application. Stetcher C o rn e r
The IMSI system produces an insulated, reinforced To p
wall. It also has provisions for running electrical lines
inside the wall. Although it’s been used for all sorts of
structures, its thermal and electrical features have
helped it carve out a steady market in above-grade
residential walls.
The IMSI stretcher has two rows of cavities. The
outer row is for insulation and running wires. The in- End Half stetcher
ner row is for grouting, insulating and wiring where
needed. While stacking, workers shim to maintain lev-
el, make cuts for electrical boxes, and place insula-
tion inserts, wiring and rebar as necessary. Because
mortarless stacking saves time, a typical crew can do
all this about as fast as it could erect a conventional
mortared block wall without insulation and wiring.
After stacking, workers trowel surface-bonding ce-
ment onto exterior and interior surfaces. This forms a
stucco-like primary finish, seals the walls and adds
bending strength.