• Lara^® Glass Block (190 x 190 x 80 mm)
• Metal FrameSteel or corrosion-resistant metal U profiles, 50/90/50/3 mm, or 50/90/50/5 mm
• Portland cement to be used for installation of block wall.
• White Portland cement or ready-to-use joint gap filling material to be used for filling Joint gaps.
• Natural sand for masonry mortar with average 3 mm fine sand, and for joint gap mortar average 1 mm sand has to be used.
• ø 6 mm galvanized reinforcing bar despite the Glass block walls with width and height are lesser than 1,5 m can be lay without reinforcing bars, in principle, use of reinforcing bars is recommended.
• Joint spacer ensures equal width of joint gap spaces on Glass block wall.
• Expansion Foam is used for the expansion of Glass block wall which is 10 -20 mm in thickness; for horizontal sliding and expansion joints high density and hard PVC or polyethylene foam board; and for vertical applications low density and softer PVC or polyethylene foam board is recommended.
• Non-sanded Bituminous cardboard to be inserted into base and sides of the inner surfaces of the metal frame’s base profiles and into the inner surfaces of side and upper profiles of the frame.
• Elastic sealant Joint gap filling material for vertical horizontal, sliding and expansion joints.
• Concrete additives In cold climatic zones certain additives which accelerate the time of setting may be added in order to ensure mortar softness. Concrete additives used should not exceed 20% of the cement weight and "frost resistant material" should not be mixed into mortar.
• Transparent protective material to be filled into joint gaps exposed to weather conditions.

• For traditional applications cement + sand mortar is used at the joints.
• In order to ensure the glass block wall to bear horizontal loads, it has to be joined and fastened to minimum two pieces of sufficiently durable cross supports with the assistance of vertical and horizontal, sliding and expansion joints.

• The glass block walls have to be limited with a load carrying element and/or expansion and sliding joints if the walls exceed 6.00 m in height or length or if the surface area exceeds 15 m2. Resistance of the wall against the foreseen design loads has to be separately considered.

• In order to ensure that the glass block wall carries horizontal loads, it has to be joined and fastened with a minimum of two sufficiently durable cross supports and with assistance of vertical and horizontal, sliding and expansion joints.

Non-reinforced Glass Block Wall Application Methods

• For Glass block wall installation mortar can either be prepared in construction side or ready-to-use mortar with desired quality can be used. To ensure complete bonding of joint mortar and joint gap mortar, joint gap mortar has to be applied immediately after putting up the wall. After joint gap mortar at the external side of glass block wall is settled, a non-absorbing preservative material has to be applied on top.
• The glass blocks should never be knocked with hard tools, and can only be gently tapped with a rubber hammer to square and bring to plumb line.
• Despite the glass block walls are resistant to high pressures they should not be exposed additional loads other then their own loads. If the application required the dressing of several layers; connecting elements which transfer horizontal loads to the structure is required.
• Glass block walls have to be placed on bases which have sufficient carrying strength, resistant to bending and twisting. For the glass block walls that have a length of max. 1.5 m and that are placed on beams, girders or similar construction elements, installation of a concrete bottom frame with reinforced bars (2 x q 6 mm) is absolutely necessary.
• To provide more durable glass block walls; a concrete frame with steel or corrosion-proof galvanized metal U-profiles should be preferred.
• Wind resistance of walls should be determined in accordance with DIN 1055 Part 4; and resistance to other horizontal loads in accordance with DIN 1055 Part 3; and in applications located above 25 m; the load carrying endurance of the blocks should be separately reviewed and tested.

• Application with Metal U- profile :
  
• Metal U-profiles are cut on measurements determined in the relevant projects and welded, screwed or riveted to metal angle irons at four sides. Holes at maximum 50 cm intervals are drilled at the bottoms of the profiles.
• Metal frames are checked on horizontal and vertical positions, placed into construction space and fixed.
• Percussion drills are inserted into the holes and 10 mm holes, which clear the screw lengths are opened, and after placing 10 mm threaded inserts to these holes, the frame is fastened to the fixed structural element with 8 mm stainless steel screws.
• The block and joint gap clearances on the metal frame (190 mm block + minimum 10 mm joint gap width) are marked from top to bottom, and so the points where the horizontal string will be drawn at the time of putting up the wall is determined.
• The bottom and inner side surfaces of the metal frame are coated with U shaped, 2 layers of non-sanded bituminous cardboard sliding band.
• After placing 10 mm thick PVC or polyethylene expansion foam on the inner surfaces of the metal frame, the bottom and inner side surfaces are coated with non-sanded bituminous cardboard sliding band.
• Mortar is filled into the bottom profile of metal frame and two 6 mm reinforcing bars are extended up to the point they enter into the frame and mortar is refilled on it and leveled. After inserting joint gap spacer, the first line of the glass blocks is laid. A minimum of 10 mm mortar is filled in vertical and horizontal joints, and a minimum of 50 mm and maximum of 100 mm width mortar is placed in the concrete frame.
• After laying the first row of glass blocks, top of the blocks are gently tapped with rubber hammer and with a string the blocks are aligned. Attention has to be paid not to knock on the joints of blocks.
• Vertical reinforcing bars are inserted between the vertical joints and wall is continued to be put up.
• Except for special applications, two horizontal reinforcing bars have to be installed on every three glass block line with a max. of 50 mm space between the bars; and for vertical reinforcing bar applications one bar has to be installed on each vertical joint. For outdoor, outer wall applications the bars must have 20 mm clearance outside and for indoor applications clearance is 15 mm; mortar has to cover the bars completely which are installed with 5 mm gaps from glass blocks and not to touch them under any circumstances.
• Mortar mixture to be filled in metal U-profile will be prepared of a one measure Portland cement, three measures sand (4 mm dia. Sifted and washed), with sufficient quantity of water. Quantity of water should be adjusted to keep the mortar mixture in wet ground consistency. If mortar is crumbles when squeezed in hand it is considered too dry, and if deformed it is too wet. Slaked lime or trass used for softness of mortar, and the concrete additives to which speeds up setting in cold and adverse climatic conditions should not exceed 20% of the cement weight. "Frost resistant material" should not be mixed into mortar.
• Due care should be given to ensure minimum 10 mm joint gap depth when putting up the wall. The flaps of joint gap spacers should be torn off before applying joint gap filling. If white cement mortar is to be filled in joint gaps, special additives have to be used to avoid fast drying. Ready-made mastic fillers may also be used in joint gaps.
• When putting up the wall joint gap spacers may be used for smoothness of distance between blocks. Joint gap filling mortar is prepared with one measure white Portland cement, three measures sand (1 mm dia. Sifted and washed) and water, and started to be applied 24 hours after the wall is put up.
• Joint gap filling mortar is applied with metal joint gap tool or rubber spatula. After joint gap filling is completed blocks are wiped with a damp sponge and polished with a dry cloth. After joint gap filling material is completely dried, the joint gap surfaces are treated with silicone or similar insulating material which provides protection against climatic conditions.



• Application without Metal U- profile:
  

• Lara Glass Parquet is a standard material with certain dimensions which is produced for horizontal applications.
• On grounds it is not held subject to any cutting procedures preparation of its project in accordance with the measures of the Construction space it is to be applied, has vital importance.
• When Glass Parquet is applied on metal profiles, these profiles should be robust enough to sustain the foreseen system loads. Application on metal profile, is especially suitable for simple applications with small spaces.
• Glass Parquet may be applied in a manner not directly contacting to metal support, by placing in plastic profiles or rubber gaskets which are resistant to deformation under load, with an average hardness of 60-70 and not affected from ultraviolet radiation when used outdoors.
• In order to avoid jamming and breaking of Glass Parquets minimum 6 mm gap has to be left between the parquets, and silicone filling is applied for impermeability of gaps.

Safety – Impact Resistance

Lara® Glass block walls are impact resistant because of their multilayered structure and durability gained by the subsidiary material used in their production. This peculiarity may be further improved with application of certain wall dimensions, joint widths and use of reinforcing bars. When applied at special sites such as the floors of building entrances, precious material storages or armories, reinforcing bars have to be placed between each block row in vertical and horizontal position. In applications at indoor courts which are used for ball games such as basketball or volleyball the relevant standards are complied with.