ASTM C90-11

Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units

ABSTRACT
This specification covers hollow and solid concrete masonry units made from hydraulic cement, water, and mineral aggregates with or without the inclusion of other materials. There are three classes of concrete masonry units: normal weight, medium weight, and lightweight. These units are suitable for both loadbearing and nonloadbearing applications. Concrete masonry units shall be made from lightweight or normal weight aggregates, or both.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers hollow and solid (see 5.3 and 5.4) concrete masonry units made from hydraulic cement, water, and mineral aggregates with or without the inclusion of other materials. There are three classes of concrete masonry units: (1) normal weight, (2) medium weight, and (3) lightweight. These units are suitable for both loadbearing and nonloadbearing applications.  
1.2 Concrete masonry units covered by this specification are made from lightweight or normal weight aggregates, or both.
1.3 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
Note 1—When particular features are desired such as surface textures for appearance or bond, finish, color, or particular properties such as density classification, higher compressive strength, fire resistance, thermal performance or acoustical performance, these features should be specified separately by the purchaser. Suppliers should be consulted as to the availability of units having the desired features.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2010
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: C15 - Manufactured Masonry Units
• Drafting Committee: C15.03 - Concrete Masonry Units and Related Units

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM C90-11a - Standard Specification for Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2011

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C90 – 11
Standard Specification for
1
Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C90; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (ϵ) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope* C331 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Con-
crete Masonry Units
1.1 This specification covers hollow and solid (see 5.3 and
C426 Test Method for Linear Drying Shrinkage of Concrete
5.4) concrete masonry units made from hydraulic cement,
Masonry Units
water, and mineral aggregates with or without the inclusion of
C595 Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
other materials. There are three classes of concrete masonry
C618 Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined
units: (1) normal weight, (2) medium weight, and (3) light-
Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete
weight. These units are suitable for both loadbearing and
C989 Specification for Slag Cement for Use in Concrete
nonloadbearing applications.
and Mortars
1.2 Concretemasonryunitscoveredbythisspecificationare
C1157 Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement
made from lightweight or normal weight aggregates, or both.
C1232 Terminology of Masonry
1.3 The text of this specification references notes and
C1314 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Masonry
footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and
Prisms
footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be
E519 TestMethodforDiagonalTension(Shear)inMasonry
considered as requirements of the standard.
Assemblages
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
E72 Test Methods of Conducting Strength Tests of Panels
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
for Building Construction
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and are not considered standard.
3. Terminology
NOTE 1—When particular features are desired such as surface textures
3.1 Terminology defined in Terminology C1232 shall apply
for appearance or bond, finish, color, or particular properties such as
for this specification.
density classification, higher compressive strength, fire resistance, thermal
performance or acoustical performance, these features should be specified
4. Materials
separately by the purchaser. Suppliers should be consulted as to the
4.1 Cementitious Materials—Materials shall conform to the
availability of units having the desired features.
following applicable specifications:
2. Referenced Documents
4.1.1 Portland Cement—Specification C150.
2
4.1.2 Modified Portland Cement—Portland cement con-
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C33 Specification for Concrete Aggregates forming to Specification C150, modified as follows:
(1) Limestone—If calcium carbonate is added to the
C140 Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Concrete
Masonry Units and Related Units cement, the CaCO content shall not be less than 85 %.
3
(2) Limitation on Insoluble Residue—1.5 %.
C150 Specification for Portland Cement
(3) Limitation on Air Content of Mortar—Volume percent,
22 % max.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C15 on
(4) Limitation on Loss on Ignition—7 %.
Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
4.1.3 Blended Hydraulic Cements—Specification C595.
C15.03 on Concrete Masonry Units and Related Units.
4.1.4 Hydraulic Cement—Specification C1157.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2011. Published January 2011. Originally
4.1.5 Pozzolans—Specification C618.
approved in 1931. Last previous edition approved in 2009 as C90 – 09. DOI:
10.1520/C0090-11.
4.1.6 Blast Furnace Slag Cement—Specification C989.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
4.2 Aggregates—Aggregates shall conform to the following
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
specifications, except that grading requirements shall not
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. necessarily apply:
*ASummary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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C90–11
delivery to the purchaser is FOB plant when the purchaser or the
4.2.1 Normal Weight Aggregates—Specification C33.
purchaser’s agent transports the concrete masonry units, or at the time
4.2.2 Lightweight Aggregates—Specification C331.
unloaded at the worksite if the manufacturer or the manufacturer’s agent
4.3 Other Constituents—Air-
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:C90–11a Designation: C90 – 11b
Standard Specification for
1
Loadbearing Concrete Masonry Units
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C90; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript
epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers hollow and solid (see 5.3 and 5.4) concrete masonry units made from hydraulic cement, water, and
mineral aggregates with or without the inclusion of other materials. There are three classes of concrete masonry units: (1) normal
weight, (2) medium weight, and (3) lightweight. These units are suitable for both loadbearing and nonloadbearing applications.
1.2 Concrete masonry units covered by this specification are made from lightweight or normal weight aggregates, or both.
1.3 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
NOTE 1—When particular features are desired such as surface textures for appearance or bond, finish, color, or particular properties such as density
classification, higher compressive strength, fire resistance, thermal performance or acoustical performance, these features should be specified separately
by the purchaser. Suppliers should be consulted as to the availability of units having the desired features.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C33 Specification for Concrete Aggregates
C140 Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Concrete Masonry Units and Related Units
C150 Specification for Portland Cement
C331 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Concrete Masonry Units
C426 Test Method for Linear Drying Shrinkage of Concrete Masonry Units
C595 Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
C618 Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete
C979 Specification for Pigments for Integrally Colored Concrete
C989 Specification for Slag Cement for Use in Concrete and Mortars
C1157 Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement
C1232 Terminology of Masonry
C1240 Specification for Silica Fume Used in Cementitious Mixtures
C1314 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Masonry Prisms
E519 Test Method for Diagonal Tension (Shear) in Masonry Assemblages
E72 Test Methods of Conducting Strength Tests of Panels for Building Construction
3. Terminology
3.1 Terminology defined in Terminology C1232 shall apply for this specification.
4. Materials
4.1 Cementitious Materials—Materials shall conform to the following applicable specifications:
4.1.1 Portland Cement—Specification C150.
4.1.2 Modified Portland Cement—Portland cement conforming to Specification C150, modified as follows:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C15.03 on
Concrete Masonry Units and Related Units.
Current edition approved June 1,Dec. 15, 2011. Published June 2011.January 2012. Originally approved in 1931. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as C90 – 11a.
DOI: 10.1520/C0090-11AB.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*ASummary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C90 – 11b
(1) Limestone—If calcium carbonate is added to the cement, the CaCO content shall not be less than 85 %.
3
(2) Limitation on Insoluble Residue—1.5 %.
(3) Limitation on Air Content of Mortar—Volume percent, 22 % max.
(4) Limitation on Loss on Ignition—7 %.
4.1.3 Blended Hydraulic Cements—Specification C595.
4.1.4 Hydraulic Cement—Specification C1157.
4.1.5 Pozzolans—Specification C618.
4.1.6 Blast Furnace Slag Cement—Specification C989.
4.1.7 Silic
...