received by the International Bureau on 15 August 2014 (15.08.2014)

CLAIMS

1. A method of forming a structure comprising concrete or cementitious material filled masonry units (10), comprising laying a hollow masonry unit in a first course; filling the hollow interior of the masonry unit with concrete or cementitious material so that the filler material overflows and is spread out across the upper surface of the masonry unit to form a bed joint, and laying a further masonry unit upon the bed joint in a second course, characterised in that the concrete or cementitious material filling comprises a reinforcement. 2. The method of claim 1, in which the reinforced concrete or cementitious material comprises an elongate reinforcement (14, 16) extending between the hollow interiors of the masonry units (10) in the first and second courses.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising installing the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) through the full height of the eventual structure, before laying the hollow masonry unit (10a) in the first course.

4. The method of claim 2 or 3, in which a lower end of the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) is bonded into a bottom hole (34) drilled into a foundation, floor slab or beam (20).

5. The method of claim 4 in which the hole (34) in the foundation, floor slab or beam (20) is sufficiently deep to allow the top end of the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) during installation to lie below and clear of a soffit hole or a cleat (28) secured to a soffit (18) and to be extended to engage the soffit hole or cleat before bonding the lower end of the elongate reinforcement into the bottom hole.

6. The method of claim 2 or 3 in which a cleat is used to secure the lower end of the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) to a foundation, floor slab or beam (20). 7. The method of any of claims 2-6 in which the upper end of the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) is slidably inserted into a socket forming part of a cleat secured to a soffit (18).

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8. The method of any of claims 2-6 in which the upper end of the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) comprises a sleeve (24) into which a spigot (26) forming part of a cleat secured (28) to a soffit (18) is inserted.

9. The method of any of claims 2-6 in which the upper end of the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) is inserted into a hole drilled into a soffit (18).

10. The method of any of claims 2-9 in which the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) comprises a single continuous length of rebar.

11. The method of any of claims 2-9 in which the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) comprises a plurality of rebar lengths joined end to end. 12. The method of any preceding claim in which a wall of the hollow masonry unit (10) comprises a through-going vertical slot (12) through which the elongate reinforcement (14, 16) may pass laterally into the hollow interior of the masonry unit.

13. The method of any preceding claim in which the concrete or cementitious material comprises aggregate having a largest maximum grain size compatible with a given bed joint thickness.

14. The method of claim 13 in which the concrete or cemetitious material comprises aggregate having a maximum grain size of approximately 6 mm.

15. The method of any preceding claim in which the concrete or cementitious material mixture comprises approximately one part modified Portland cement including a plasticiser, to approximately one part grit or pea gravel to one part fine sand. 16. The method of any preceding claim comprising installing a bracket (60) which is embedded in the cementitious material and in a bed joint of an adjacent masonry panel.

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17. The method of claim 16 in which the bracket (60) is mechanically engaged with an elongate reinforcement (14, 16) extending between the hollow interiors of the masonry units (10) in the first and second courses.

18. The method of claim 16 or 17 in which the bracket (60) comprises a movement sleeve (72) which is built into a bed joint of a masonry panel constructed adjacent to the reinforced concrete or cementitious material filled masonry units.

19. The method of claim 16 or 17 in which the bracket (60) comprises a limb (60b) engaged in a slotted block (68) which forms part of a masonry panel constructed adjacent to the reinforced concrete or cementitious material filled masonry units (10).

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