If you need more strength a concrete block is better. More porous which helps vent steam, reducing the chance of damage.Cinder blocks are lighter making them easier to work with.They have more heat resistance than a standard concrete block.Cinder blocks are a great material for small scale non-structural projects like a fire pit. However cinder blocks are a little better for the following reasons. Cinder blocks are weaker and are not used to build structural projects like foundation walls.īoth concrete and cinder blocks can be used to build a fire pit. They look similar but are made from different materials which gives them unique properties and uses.Ĭinder blocks are lighter than concrete blocks because they’re made primarily from cinders instead or Portland cement.Ĭoncrete blocks contain stone and sand aggregate but cinder blocks are made from much lighter ash.īecause of this, concrete blocks are much stronger and are generally used as a structural material in construction. Concrete Block Vs Cinder BlockĪlthough most people use the terms cinder block and concrete block interchangeably, they’re technically different things. Building fire-walls with concrete block along with other fire-rated materials can minimize fire damage and possibly save lives. If a fire starts in one apartment, it’s slowed and sometimes stopped by the concrete wall.Ĭompartmentalizing is a great way to contain a fire. This is why builders construct concrete block walls in between apartments in most modern buildings.Ī concrete block wall acts as a fire-stop between apartments. I’ve been a mason and home builder for over 25 years and can tell you firsthand how important the design of a building and the materials used are for containing fires. Standard cement and mortar can only resist temperature of around 600☏-700☏. A special type of mortar which can resist temperature of over 2000F. Cracks can weaken the block and the fireproofing they provide.Ĭoncrete blocks are made even more fire resistant when they’re installed using refractory mortar. If you spot a crack in your block, fill it with a crack filler. These elements add more fire resistance, but they also potentially make concrete blocks toxic. But fire pits and home fires don’t usually get hot enough to damage a concrete block if you install them correctly.Ĭinder blocks may contain fly ash, which is a byproduct of burning coal, and other heavy metal byproducts such as lead and arsenic which could leach into the soil. Under extreme heat they can crumble or even explode. If a fire is hot enough a concrete block can fail. However concrete blocks are not 100% fireproof. Because they don’t contain flammable materials, blocks are extremely fire resistant and don’t catch fire. They’re stacked along side and atop one another and held together by mortar. cinder blocks, are a masonry product primarily used to build foundation walls and structures.
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