Prefabricated compound masonry units

A prefabricated compound masonry unit comprising:

• a first course comprising a plurality of U-shaped blocks each having a bed extending between two side walls, the plurality of U-shaped blocks laid end to end with adjacent ends adhered with mortar and positioned to form a continuous bed along a length of the first course;
• and
• provisional reinforcement provided along at least a portion of the continuous bed of the first course and held with a bonding material different from the mortar,
• wherein the provisional reinforcement provides tensile strength to the first course for transportation and handling of the first course from a fabrication location to a build location where the first course is configured to receive permanent structural masonry reinforcement in a cavity defined by the continuous bed and side walls at a build location.

A method of making a prefabricated compound masonry unit prior to transporting the unit to a build site comprising:

• (a) forming a first course from a plurality of hollow blocks by joining ends of adjacent blocks with mortar, the plurality of hollow blocks positioned such that the first course has a hollow core;
• (b) forming at least one channel in a top surface of the first course, the at least one channel having a length;
• (c) placing provisional reinforcement along at least a portion of the length of the at least one channel;
• and
• (d) retaining the provisional reinforcement within the at least one channel of the first course with a bonding material different from the mortar, wherein (a)-(d) are performed at a fabrication location and the provisional reinforcement provides tensile strength to the first course for transportation and handling of the first course from the fabrication location to a build location, the hollow core of the first course configured to receive permanent structural masonry reinforcement at the build location.