A concrete building block includes indicators along each end to assist in aligning a pin placed in the block with a channel in a like block in a course below as a wall is being constructed.

A concrete building block includes indicators along each end to assist in aligning a pin placed in the block with a channel in a like block in a course below as a wall is being constructed.

A concrete block includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth planar faces. The first and second faces are generally parallel, and the distance between the first and second faces define a thickness of the first block; the third and fourth faces are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second faces; the fifth face is perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth faces; the sixth face: extends perpendicular to the third face; extends toward the fourth face and ends at a non-planar remainder section; is parallel to the fifth face; is contained in a plane that intersects a plane containing the third face; and a distance from the intersection to the remainder section is at least as long as the thickness of the first block; and the remainder section extends between the sixth face and the fourth face and has a shape such that when a second block of the same construction as the first block has its remainder section engaged against the remainder section of first block, the remainder sections of the first and second blocks mate.

A concrete block includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth planar faces. The first and second faces are generally parallel, and the distance between the first and second faces define a thickness of the first block; the third and fourth faces are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second faces; the fifth face is perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth faces; the sixth face: extends perpendicular to the third face; extends toward the fourth face and ends at a non-planar remainder section; is parallel to the fifth face; is contained in a plane that intersects a plane containing the third face; and a distance from the intersection to the remainder section is at least as long as the thickness of the first block; and the remainder section extends between the sixth face and the fourth face and has a shape such that when a second block of the same construction as the first block has its remainder section engaged against the remainder section of first block, the remainder sections of the first and second blocks mate.

A concrete block includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth planar faces. The first and second faces are generally parallel, and the distance between the first and second faces define a thickness of the first block; the third and fourth faces are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second faces; the fifth face is perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth faces; the sixth face: extends perpendicular to the third face; extends toward the fourth face and ends at a non-planar remainder section; is parallel to the fifth face; is contained in a plane that intersects a plane containing the third face; and a distance from the intersection to the remainder section is at least as long as the thickness of the first block; and the remainder section extends between the sixth face and the fourth face and has a shape such that when a second block of the same construction as the first block has its remainder section engaged against the remainder section of first block, the remainder sections of the first and second blocks mate.

A concrete block includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth planar faces. The first and second faces are generally parallel, and the distance between the first and second faces define a thickness of the first block; the third and fourth faces are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second faces; the fifth face is perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth faces; the sixth face: extends perpendicular to the third face; extends toward the fourth face and ends at a non-planar remainder section; is parallel to the fifth face; is contained in a plane that intersects a plane containing the third face; and a distance from the intersection to the remainder section is at least as long as the thickness of the first block; and the remainder section extends between the sixth face and the fourth face and has a shape such that when a second block of the same construction as the first block has its remainder section engaged against the remainder section of first block, the remainder sections of the first and second blocks mate.

An insulating element for thermally insulating spaces, including closed cells, in which a first and a second group of closed cells are formed by first or second recesses in a first or second flat element and the first and the second flat elements form first or second connection regions between recesses adjacent to the edges of the openings, to which respectively a flat covering element closing the openings of a plurality of first recesses is bonded on a front side of the flat element. The second recesses are arranged between the first recesses on a rear side of the first flat element and the first recesses are arranged between the second recesses on a rear side of the second flat element such that the space remaining of the first and second recesses between the first and the second flat elements amounts to less than 50% of the space enclosed by the first and second recesses.

An insulating element for thermally insulating spaces, including closed cells, in which a first and a second group of closed cells are formed by first or second recesses in a first or second flat element and the first and the second flat elements form first or second connection regions between recesses adjacent to the edges of the openings, to which respectively a flat covering element closing the openings of a plurality of first recesses is bonded on a front side of the flat element. The second recesses are arranged between the first recesses on a rear side of the first flat element and the first recesses are arranged between the second recesses on a rear side of the second flat element such that the space remaining of the first and second recesses between the first and the second flat elements amounts to less than 50% of the space enclosed by the first and second recesses.

A concrete block includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth planar faces. The first and second faces are generally parallel, and the distance between the first and second faces define a thickness of the first block; the third and fourth faces are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second faces; the fifth face is perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth faces; the sixth face: extends perpendicular to the third face; extends toward the fourth face and ends at a non-planar remainder section; is parallel to the fifth face; is contained in a plane that intersects a plane containing the third face; and a distance from the intersection to the remainder section is at as least as long as the thickness of the first block; and the remainder section extends between the sixth face and the fourth face and has a shape such that when a second block of the same construction as the first block has its remainder section engaged against the remainder section of first block, the remainder sections of the first and second blocks mate.

A concrete block includes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth planar faces. The first and second faces are generally parallel, and the distance between the first and second faces define a thickness of the first block; the third and fourth faces are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the first and second faces; the fifth face is perpendicular to the first, second, third, and fourth faces; the sixth face: extends perpendicular to the third face; extends toward the fourth face and ends at a non-planar remainder section; is parallel to the fifth face; is contained in a plane that intersects a plane containing the third face; and a distance from the intersection to the remainder section is at as least as long as the thickness of the first block; and the remainder section extends between the sixth face and the fourth face and has a shape such that when a second block of the same construction as the first block has its remainder section engaged against the remainder section of first block, the remainder sections of the first and second blocks mate.