Aerated Concrete Blocks - Can they hold weight?

alarmbenjy · 27 Jun 2017

I have a 1000L water tank (IBC Container) that collects rainwater for the garden. It was raised about 50cm from the ground on a wooden frame that is now collapsing. Basically, I'm wondering if those lightweight aerated concrete blocks would take the weight and be okay for this outdoor setup. Nothing goes beneath the tank, but it would be great to find an easy and lasting solution this time round. Cheers.

themiddleagedun · 28 Jun 2017

Yes they would easily, but probably better using dense conc blocks for outdoors. Mortar them together so they don't topple over..

^woody^ · 28 Jun 2017

Those blocks tend to hold houses and low rise flats up OK - some of which may well have large water tanks in them too.

garyo · 28 Jun 2017

For a rating of 3.5n/mm squared. In normal earth gravity that's 0.35 kg / mm2, or 35KG per cm2, or roughly 7500 KG for a 100mm x 215mm block laid upright.

Your tank will weigh 1000KG, so the question is actually whether you can balance your tank on a one seventh of an aerated block?

<waits for one of the SE's to pull my GCSE maths apart>

^woody^ · 28 Jun 2017

^^ Detention.

alarmbenjy · 28 Jun 2017

You can guess the reason why I'd prefer the as mention blocks. One trip in the car with a pile of them over many trips with the heavier blocks. Looks like the aerated blocks it is.

I did think of flats and houses built with them and no doubt water tanks in them too, but they are protected inside and out with plastering etc, these will be in their birthday suit!

John D v2.0 · 28 Jun 2017

Just check if they're suitable for use outdoors. So that would be frost resistance and use in permanently damp situation. If that's OK then go ahead

garyo · 28 Jun 2017

alarmbenjy said:
You can guess the reason why I'd prefer the as mention blocks. One trip in the car with a pile of them over many trips with the heavier blocks. Looks like the aerated blocks it is.

Cor how many are you using for a 50cm lift? Does your supplier stock any non aerated blocks that aren't high density? Such as http://www.buildbase.co.uk/plasmor-100mm-fibolite-solid-10609-2801390

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Aerated Concrete Blocks - Can they hold weight?

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