DESIGN

 NOTE  7:  Characteristic  compressive  strength  of  masonry  

The following tables show the characteristic compressive strength of masonry in N/mm2
for common sizes of UK masonry units.

Note that for some low strength units the characteristic compressive strength of the masonry
can be slightly higher than the unit strength. This is a result of the use of the linear relationship
in equation 3.1 of BS EN 1996-1-1 and was taken into account in the UK calibration.

Normalised and characteristic compressive strengths in

N/mm2 for standard format Group 1 clay and calcium
silicate bricks

Unit Unit width 102.5mm

Strength Normalised
Characteristic compressive strength
N/mm2 strength
M4 mortar M6 mortar M12 mortar
5.0 4.3 2.1 2.4 2.9
10.0 8.5 3.4 3.8 4.7
15.0 12.8 4.5 5.1 6.3
20.0 17.0 5.5 6.2 7.7
30.0 25.5 7.3 8.3 10.2
40.0 34.0 8.9 10.1 12.4
50.0 42.5 10.5 11.8 14.5
75.0 63.8 13.9 15.7 19.3
100.0 85.0 17.0 19.2 23.6
125.0 106.3 19.9 22.4 27.6
≥129.4 110.0 20.3 23.0 28.3

©John Roberts 2015

This design guide has been prepared using the best endeavours of the authors. No liability for negligence or
otherwise in relation to this design guidance is accepted by eurocode6.org or the authors.
Characteristic compressive strengths in N/mm2 for concrete, aircrete and manufactured
stone masonry units

GROUP 1 MASONRY UNITS

Characteristic compressive strengths for in N/mm2 for 215mm high units with M4 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 3.1 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.4
3.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1 3.1 3.0
7.3 5.9 5.8 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.2 5.1 5.1 4.9
10.4 7.5 7.4 7.4 7.0 7.0 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.3
17.5 10.8 10.7 10.6 10.1 10.0 9.6 9.4 9.4 9.1
22.5 12.9 12.7 12.6 12.1 11.9 11.4 11.2 11.2 10.9
30.0 15.8 15.6 15.4 14.8 14.6 14.0 13.6 13.6 13.3
40.0 19.3 19.0 18.8 18.1 17.9 17.1 16.7 16.7 16.3

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 190mm high units with M4 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.4 2.3
3.6 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.2 2.9 3.0 3.0 2.9
7.3 5.7 5.6 5.5 5.3 5.3 5.0 4.9 4.9 4.8
10.4 7.3 7.2 7.1 6.8 6.7 6.4 6.2 6.2 6.1
17.5 10.5 10.4 10.2 9.8 9.7 9.3 9.0 9.0 8.8
22.5 12.5 12.4 12.2 11.7 11.6 11.0 10.8 10.8 10.5
30.0 15.3 15.1 14.9 14.3 14.1 13.5 13.1 13.1 12.9
40.0 18.7 18.5 18.3 17.5 17.3 16.5 16.1 16.1 15.8

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 140mm high units with M4 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.0 2.0 2.0
3.6 3.2 3.2 3.1 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.5
7.3 5.3 5.1 5.1 4.8 4.8 4.5 4.4 4.4 4.3
10.4 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.2 6.1 5.8 5.6 5.6 5.5
17.5 9.7 9.5 9.4 8.9 8.8 8.3 8.1 8.1 7.9
22.5 11.6 11.3 11.2 10.6 10.5 9.9 9.6 9.6 9.4
30.0 14.1 13.8 13.6 13.0 12.8 12.1 11.8 11.8 11.5
40.0 17.3 16.9 16.7 15.9 15.7 14.8 14.4 14.4 14.1

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 65mm high units with M4 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4
3.6 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.7
7.3 4.3 4.2 4.1 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.4
10.4 5.5 5.3 5.2 4.9 4.8 4.6 4.5 4.5 4.3
17.5 7.8 7.6 7.5 7.0 6.9 6.6 6.5 6.5 6.2
22.5 9.4 9.1 9.0 8.4 8.2 7.9 7.7 7.7 7.4
30.0 11.4 11.2 11.0 10.2 10.1 9.7 9.5 9.5 9.1
40.0 14.0 13.6 13.4 12.5 12.3 11.8 11.6 11.6 11.1

This design guide has been prepared using the best endeavours of the authors. No liability for negligence or otherwise in
relation to this design guidance is accepted by eurocode6.org or the authors.
©John Roberts 2015
Characteristic compressive strengths in N/mm2 for concrete masonry units

GROUP 2 MASONRY UNITS

Characteristic compressive strengths for in N/mm2 for 215mm high units with M4 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.8 2.8 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.2
3.6 3.3 3.3 3.3 3.1 3.1 2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8
7.3 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.1 5.1 4.9 4.7 4.7 4.6
10.4 7.0 6.9 6.9 6.6 6.5 6.2 6.1 6.1 5.9
17.5 10.1 10.0 9.9 9.5 9.4 8.9 8.7 8.7 8.5
22.5 12.1 11.9 11.8 11.3 11.2 10.7 10.4 10.4 10.2
30.0 14.7 14.5 14.4 13.8 13.6 13.0 12.7 12.7 12.4
40.0 18.0 17.8 17.6 16.9 16.7 15.9 15.6 15.6 15.2

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 190mm high units with M4 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.4 2.2 2.3 2.2
3.6 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.0 3.0 2.7 2.8 2.8 2.7
7.3 5.3 5.2 5.2 5.0 4.9 4.7 4.5 4.5 4.5
10.4 6.8 6.7 6.6 6.4 6.3 6.0 5.8 5.8 5.7
17.5 9.8 9.7 9.6 9.1 9.0 8.6 8.4 8.4 8.2
22.5 11.7 11.5 11.4 10.9 10.8 10.3 10.0 10.0 9.8
30.0 14.3 14.1 13.9 13.3 13.2 12.6 12.3 12.3 12.0
40.0 17.5 17.2 17.0 16.3 16.1 15.4 15.0 15.0 14.7

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 140mm high units with M4 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.2 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.8
3.6 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3
7.3 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.5 4.4 4.2 4.1 4.1 4.0
10.4 6.3 6.1 6.1 5.8 5.7 5.4 5.2 5.2 5.1
17.5 9.1 8.8 8.7 8.3 8.2 7.8 7.6 7.6 7.4
22.5 10.8 10.5 10.4 9.9 9.8 9.3 9.0 9.0 8.8
30.0 13.2 12.9 12.7 12.1 12.0 11.3 11.0 11.0 10.7
40.0 16.1 15.8 15.6 14.8 14.6 13.8 13.4 13.4 13.1

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 65mm high units with M4 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3
3.6 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.6
7.3 4.0 3.9 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.2
10.4 5.1 5.0 4.9 4.5 4.5 4.3 4.2 4.2 4.0
17.5 7.3 7.1 7.0 6.6 6.4 6.2 6.1 6.1 5.8
22.5 8.7 8.5 8.4 7.8 7.7 7.4 7.2 7.2 6.9
30.0 10.7 10.4 10.2 9.6 9.4 9.0 8.8 8.8 8.5
40.0 13.0 12.7 12.5 11.7 11.5 11.0 10.8 10.8 10.4

This design guide has been prepared using the best endeavours of the authors. No liability for negligence or otherwise in
relation to this design guidance is accepted by eurocode6.org or the authors.
©John Roberts 2015
Characteristic compressive strengths in N/mm2 for concrete, aircrete and manufactured
stone masonry units

GROUP 1 MASONRY UNITS

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 215mm high units with M6 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 3.1 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.4
3.6 3.8 3.8 3.8 3.5 3.5 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.0
7.3 6.6 6.5 6.5 6.2 6.1 5.9 5.8 5.7 5.6
10.4 8.5 8.4 8.3 7.9 7.9 7.5 7.4 7.4 7.2
17.5 12.2 12.0 11.9 11.5 11.3 10.8 10.7 10.6 10.3
22.5 14.6 14.4 14.2 13.7 13.5 12.9 12.7 12.6 12.3
30.0 17.8 17.6 17.4 16.7 16.5 15.8 15.6 15.4 15.0
40.0 21.8 21.5 21.3 20.4 20.2 19.3 19.1 18.8 18.4

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 190mm high units with M6 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 3.0 2.9 2.9 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.3
3.6 3.7 3.8 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3
7.3 6.4 6.3 6.3 6.0 5.9 5.6 5.6 5.5 5.4
10.4 8.2 8.1 8.0 7.7 7.6 7.3 7.2 7.1 6.9
17.5 11.9 11.7 11.6 11.1 10.9 10.5 10.3 10.2 10.0
22.5 14.1 13.9 13.8 13.2 13.0 12.5 12.3 12.2 11.9
30.0 17.3 17.0 16.9 16.1 16.0 15.2 15.0 14.8 14.6
40.0 21.2 20.8 20.6 19.7 19.5 18.6 18.4 18.2 17.8

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 140mm high units with M6 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 3.3 2.3 2.1 2.1 2.0 2.0
3.6 3.3 3.2 3.2 2.9 2.9 2.6 2.6 2.6 2.6
7.3 5.9 5.8 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.1 5.0 5.0 4.8
10.4 7.6 7.4 7.4 7.0 6.9 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.2
17.5 7.6 10.7 10.6 10.0 9.9 9.4 9.3 9.1 8.9
22.5 13.1 12.8 12.6 12.0 11.8 11.2 11.0 10.9 10.6
30.0 16.0 15.6 15.4 14.7 14.5 13.7 13.5 13.3 13.0
40.0 19.5 19.1 18.8 17.9 17.7 16.7 16.5 16.3 15.9

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 65mm high units with M6 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.6 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.4
3.6 2.4 2.3 2.3 2.1 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.9 1.7
7.3 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.2 4.1 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.5
10.4 6.2 6.0 5.9 5.5 5.4 5.2 5.2 5.1 4.9
17.5 8.9 8.6 8.5 7.9 7.8 7.5 7.4 7.4 7.0
22.5 10.6 10.3 10.1 9.4 9.3 8.9 8.8 8.7 8.4
30.0 12.9 12.6 12.4 11.6 11.4 10.9 10.8 10.7 10.3
40.0 15.8 15.4 15.2 14.1 13.9 13.4 13.2 13.1 12.6
This design guide has been prepared using the best endeavours of the authors. No liability for negligence or otherwise in
relation to this design guidance is accepted by eurocode6.org or the authors.
©John Roberts 2015
Characteristic compressive strengths in N/mm2 for concrete masonry units

GROUP 2 MASONRY UNITS

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 215mm high units with M6 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.9 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.2
3.6 3.6 3.5 3.5 3.3 3.2 3.0 3.0 2.9 2.8
7.3 6.2 6.1 6.0 5.8 5.7 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.2
10.4 7.9 7.8 7.8 7.4 7.3 7.0 6.9 6.9 6.7
17.5 11.4 11.2 11.1 10.7 10.6 10.1 10.0 9.9 9.6
22.5 13.6 13.4 13.3 12.7 12.6 12.0 11.9 11.8 11.5
30.0 16.6 16.4 16.2 15.6 15.4 14.7 14.5 14.4 14.0
40.0 20.4 20.1 19.9 19.0 18.8 18.0 17.8 17.6 17.2

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 190mm high units with M6 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.8 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.3 2.2 2.2
3.6 3.4 3.6 3.6 3.4 3.4 3.2 3.2 3.2 3.1
7.3 6.0 5.9 5.8 5.6 5.5 5.3 5.2 5.1 5.1
10.4 7.7 7.6 7.5 7.2 7.1 6.8 6.7 6.6 6.5
17.5 11.1 10.9 10.8 10.3 10.2 9.8 9.6 9.5 9.3
22.5 13.2 13.0 12.9 12.3 12.2 11.6 11.5 11.3 11.1
30.0 16.2 15.9 15.7 15.1 14.9 14.2 14.0 13.9 13.6
40.0 19.8 19.5 19.2 18.4 18.2 17.4 17.2 16.9 16.6

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 140mm high units with M6 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 2.5 2.4 2.4 3.0 2.2 2.0 2.0 1.9 1.8
3.6 3.1 3.0 2.9 2.7 2.7 2.5 2.4 2.4 2.4
7.3 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.1 5.0 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.5
10.4 7.1 6.9 6.9 6.5 6.4 6.1 6.0 5.9 5.8
17.5 7.1 10.0 9.9 9.4 9.3 8.8 8.6 8.5 8.3
22.5 12.2 11.9 11.8 11.2 11.0 10.5 10.3 10.2 9.9
30.0 14.9 14.5 14.4 13.7 13.5 12.8 12.6 12.4 12.1
40.0 18.2 17.8 17.6 16.7 16.5 15.6 15.4 15.2 14.8

Characteristic compressive strength in N/mm2 for 65mm high units with M6 mortar

Unit Width of unit in mm

Strength 75 90 100 140 150 190 200 215 ≥250
2.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.4 1.4 1.3
3.6 2.2 2.2 2.2 2.0 1.9 1.8 1.8 1.8 1.6
7.3 4.5 4.4 4.3 3.9 3.8 3.6 3.6 3.5 3.3
10.4 5.8 5.6 5.5 5.1 5.0 4.9 4.8 4.8 4.6
17.5 8.3 8.1 7.9 7.4 7.3 7.0 6.9 6.9 6.6
22.5 9.9 9.6 9.4 8.8 8.7 8.3 8.3 8.2 7.8
30.0 12.0 11.8 11.6 10.8 10.6 10.2 10.1 10.0 9.6
40.0 14.7 14.4 14.1 13.2 13.0 12.5 12.3 12.2 11.7
This design guide has been prepared using the best endeavours of the authors. No liability for negligence or otherwise in
relation to this design guidance is accepted by eurocode6.org or the authors.
©John Roberts 2015