Stretcher CMU - advantages & fully grouting

[engjg]

It appears there is an industry preference of "stretcher" block CMU over a standard ended unit in the field of the wall. Can someone provide insight into the advantages of using "stretcher" block. Also, Is it possible to fully grout walls constructed using "stretcher" block?

 

[bIockhead]

Is a stretcher not referring to a standard CMU? I think the shape is to make it easier for the masons giant sausage fingers to grip the webs and place the unit beside an already placed block (also with the frogged end). A nice flowable grout should make its way into frogged ends (when partially grouting, the masons should be mortaring those webs to seal and keep them masons from wasting money on extra material and grouting labor by accidentally grouting adjacent cells.

If I'm fully grouting a wall with square ended units (common for 6" block) and I need the unreinforced grouted masonry response for in-plane shear or for a masonry beam then there is no way I'd count on grout to get in there and would specify that the full depth by filled with mortar (similar to buttering a full-bed brick?)

Hopefully your grout has a nice high slump (8" MINIMUM. 10' is much better). Curious what others think...