Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC)

AAC MASONRY

Masonry walls that combine structure, insulation, and fire resistance in one system

Construction workers building a modern, white commercial or residential building with scaffolding and foam insulation panels, under a clear blue sky.
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REQUEST SUBMITTALS

STC 47-53
Sound Reduction

continuous insulation

thermal
Mass

4 hr
fire rating

Load-bearing structure

windstorm protection

AAC MASONRY

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How it works

AAC masonry is your building’s structure, envelope, insulation, sound reduction, fire safety, and windstorm protection all in one system and installed by one trade. Just add interior and exterior finishes.

Empty room with beige walls, hardwood flooring, two small windows, white sliding barn doors, and ceiling lights.

Interior
Finish

Construction site of a building with white brick walls, window openings, and concrete supports, under a partly cloudy sky.

aac
blocks

A multi-story building with white walls decorated with a large mural of a dolphin, seashells, and a starfish, featuring nautical motifs. The building has outdoor staircases, balconies, and a parking area underneath. The scene includes green grass, a sidewalk, and a palm tree, with a blue sky overhead.

Exterior Finish

WHY BUILDING OWNERS CHOOSE AAC MASONRY

Owners choose AAC block masonry for its resilience, safety, healthy indoor environments, superior performance, lower LONG-term cost, and longer life cycle.

Modern single-story building with white walls, a brown accent wall, and glass entrance door. The building is surrounded by a parking lot with a few cars and some small trees. Clear blue sky in the background.

DURABILITY

✓ Eliminates foam plastic insulation
✓ Non-combustible
✓ Moisture & rot resistant
✓ Pest resistant
✓ Windstorm protection

A parking lot in front of a white motel building with balconies and an outdoor staircase. The building has large wall art of a hummingbird, flowers, and a bird on the right side. There are palm trees, a few parked cars, and blue decorative shark figures in the foreground. The sky is mostly clear with some clouds.

PERFORMANCE

✓ Continuous insulation
✓ Thermal mass
✓ High sound reduction
✓ No mold or mildew
✓ Healthier indoor environment

Parking lot in front of a store with signs indicating curbside pickup service while several cars are parked and shopping carts are visible.

LOWER TOTAL COSTS

✓ Single integrated system
✓ Installed by one trade
✓ Eliminates steps and layers
✓ Lower energy costs
✓ Reduced maintenance
✓ Lower insurance costs

WHERE AAC MASONRY IS USED

Used as an upgrade to conventional framing or a more cost-effective alternative to concrete masonry (CMU), insulated concrete form (ICF), and concrete tilt panel construction.

✓ Single-family residential
✓ Retail
✓ Medical
✓ Industrial
✓ Education
✓ Elevator shafts & stairwells
✓ Firewalls

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COMPARISON TO TRADITIONAL WALL SYSTEMS

AAC block masonry eliminates the complexity of multi-layer wall systems by integrating performance into a single material—delivering faster construction, greater durability, and lower total cost of ownership.

Comparison to Traditional Wall Cladding Systems

Fewer steps, fewer failure points, better durability.

Conventional Light Framing (wood and steel)

WEAK POINTS

Complex assemblies that are more prone to errors

Lower energy efficiency performance

Vulnerable to moisture, fire, windstorms, and pests

Issues with mold and mildew

Reduced sound reduction

AAC ADVANTAGE

Up to 250% higher than energy code

Highest fire and windstorm safety ratings

Creates healthier and more comfortable indoor spaces

 Simplified construction with fewer layers and trades

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)

Weak Points

More difficult insulation options to meet energy code

Heavier and smaller units increase labor, time, and installation costs

Inflexible building system that limits design options

AAC ADVANTAGE

Integrated insulation reduces thermal bridging and improves energy performance

Single-material wall system simplifies design and construction

Larger, lightweight blocks increase installation speed and consistency

Reduced assembly weight

Insulated Concrete Form (ICF)

Weak Points

Multi-step installation (stacking, bracing, reinforcing, pouring, curing)

Requires skilled crews to avoid alignment and blowout issues

Material and labor costs can be high

Significant assembly weights

AAC ADVANTAGE

Faster, more straightforward installation with conventional masonry crews

No large concrete pour reduces risk, complexity, and schedule delays

Lower overall system cost with fewer trades and steps

Insulated Concrete Tilt Panel

Weak Points

Requires continuous insulation on the interior or exterior

Sandwich panel tilt wall very expensive

More difficult to cast panels on smaller projects

More limited architectural freedom

AAC ADVANTAGE

No additional steps for insulation

Meets energy and fire code without interior finishes

Lighter weight assembly

More flexible architectural design

SYSTEM

Conventional Light Framing (wood and steel)

Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU)

Insulated Concrete Form (ICF)

Insulated Concrete Tilt Panel

WEAK POINTS

Complex assemblies that are more prone to errors

Lower energy efficiency performance

Vulnerable to moisture, fire, windstorms, and pests

Issues with mold and mildew

Reduced sound reduction

More difficult insulation options to meet energy code

Heavier and smaller units increase labor, time, and installation costs

Inflexible building system that limits design options

AAC Advantage

Multi-step installation (stacking, bracing, reinforcing, pouring, curing)

Requires skilled crews to avoid alignment and blowout issues

Material and labor costs can be high

Significant assembly weights

Up to 250% higher than energy code

Highest fire and windstorm safety ratings

Creates healthier and more comfortable indoor spaces

Simplified construction with fewer layers and trades

Requires continuous insulation on the interior or exterior

Sandwich panel tilt wall very expensive

More difficult to cast panels on smaller projects

More limited architectural freedom

Integrated insulation reduces thermal bridging and improves energy performance

Single-material wall system simplifies design and construction

Larger, lightweight blocks increase installation speed and consistency

Reduced assembly weight

Faster, more straightforward installation with conventional masonry crews

No large concrete pour reduces risk, complexity, and schedule delays

Lower overall system cost with fewer trades and steps

No additional steps for insulation

Meets energy and fire code without interior finishes

Lighter weight assembly

More flexible architectural design

TYPICAL ASSEMBLIES & INSTALLATION

AAC block walls are built by stacking these lightweight blocks and adhering with thin-bed mortar, then reinforcing where necessary with rebar and concrete, and finishing as required.

Installed by block masons
Single integrated system for structure, insulation, envelope
AAC blocks are easy to cut and shape as required
Construction drawings show precise locations for vertical and horizontal reinforcement
UL fire-rated assemblies available

  • A building under construction with white cinder block walls and visible gray concrete mortar lines, with a partly cloudy sky overhead.

    TYPICAL ASSEMBLY

    ‍1. ‍Drywall
    2. Hat channels
    3. AAC Block
    4. Air/moisture barrier
    5. Exterior Finish

  • Interior of a building under construction with metal framing for walls and ceiling, and some construction equipment on the floor.

    INTERIOR FINISHES

    1. Drywall on hat channels or furring strips
    2. Wood or metal framing & drywall
    3. Direct-applied plaster

  • Construction site with scaffolding around a building under construction, with concrete walls, a metal roof, and blue sky with clouds in the background.

    EXTERIOR FINISHES

    1. Stucco
    2. Thin brick/stone
    3. Tile
    4. Cavity masonry
    5. Rainscreen system
    6. Wood or composite panels

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