Similar International Standards
TMS 602The Masonry Society
HighCurrent
Specification for Masonry Structures
Covers material and construction requirements for masonry structures, including concrete block masonry. It is a direct US counterpart to a code of practice for workmanship and quality.
BS 8000-3:2020British Standards Institution (BSI)
HighCurrent
Workmanship on construction sites - Part 3: Masonry code of practice
Provides recommendations for basic workmanship in masonry construction. Its focus on practical site execution and quality makes it very similar in intent to IS 11991.
EN 1996-2:2006European Committee for Standardization (CEN)
MediumCurrent
Eurocode 6: Design of masonry structures - Part 2: Design considerations, selection of materials and execution of masonry
While part of a broader design suite (Eurocode 6), this specific part covers the execution of masonry, including material selection, storage, preparation, and laying procedures, aligning with the scope of IS 11991.
AS 3700:2018Standards Australia
MediumCurrent
Masonry structures
A comprehensive standard that covers both the design and construction of masonry. The construction/workmanship sections are equivalent in scope to IS 11991, but it is integrated with design rules.
Key Differences
≠IS 11991:1987 has been withdrawn and superseded by IS 6041:1985 for AAC block masonry, indicating a consolidation of Indian standards. Most international equivalents are current, actively maintained documents.
≠International standards like TMS 602 are tightly integrated with corresponding design codes (e.g., TMS 402), whereas IS 11991 is a standalone code of practice with less direct linkage to the Indian structural design code (IS 1905).
≠Modern international codes place a stronger emphasis on formal Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) programs, including requirements for sample panels, mock-ups, and defined inspection levels, which are not as detailed in IS 11991.
≠IS 11991 is prescriptive about wetting blocks before laying, while modern practices in standards like TMS 602 often prohibit wetting of concrete blocks, relying on water-retaining properties of modern mortars.
≠International standards provide more detailed specifications for reinforced masonry, including grouting procedures, reinforcement placement tolerances, and consolidation, reflecting its more common use than is detailed in the basic scope of IS 11991.
Key Similarities
≈All standards emphasize the core principles of good workmanship: laying blocks on a full mortar bed, maintaining level courses, and ensuring walls are plumb and true to line.
≈The requirement to use clean materials (blocks free from dirt, sound mortar) and to protect newly constructed masonry from adverse weather like rain, frost, and excessive heat is a fundamental and common principle.
≈Procedures for finishing mortar joints (tooling) to ensure weather resistance and a neat aesthetic appearance are common across IS 11991 and its international counterparts.
≈All codes provide guidance and limitations on cutting blocks and forming chases for conduits and pipes, aiming to do so without compromising the structural integrity of the masonry.