BRICK

o Brick is the block of tampered clay moulded to the standard shape and size.
o It is one of the oldest and extensively used construction materials.
o It is cheaper, hard or strength, durable and high insulating property against
heat and sound.
o May be sun-dried and burnt brick.
o A good brick is that, which can be moulded, dried and burnt without cracking
and warping with water.

 Constituents of Brick Earth and their Properties:

A good brick earth should contain the following composition:

 Silica: 35 to 70 percent
o Presence of silicate of alumina in clay produces hardness, resistance to
heat, durability and prevent from shrinkage and warping.
o Brick is brittle if too much silica is present.
 Constituents of Brick Earth and their Properties:

 Alumina: 10 to 20 percent
o If too much alumina is present in brick earth, then brick may crack and warp
on drying and burning.
o Capable of being moulded to any shape in plastic state.
o Due to burning, it will be homogeneous, hard and strong.

 Lime
o If present in small quantity in finely divided state, then reduces shrinkage
and act as a flux causing silica to melt.
o It helps in binding the particles and gives the strength of brick.
o Excess of lime causes melting of brick and shape lose.

 Magnesia
o In the presence of iron, gives yellowish tint.
o The presence of small quantity of manganese with iron will give dark or
black color to brick.
o For alluvial soil, total lime and magnesia shall not be greater than one
percent and for other cases it shall not be exceed 15 percent.
  Constituents of Brick Earth and their Properties :
 Oxide of Iron
o Act as a coloring agent and flux to assist fusion of brick particles.
o Excess of iron oxide makes the brick dark blue (color may vary from light
yellow to red).
o It should not be present in the form of iron pyrites (split the brick into
pieces).
Note: If salt is present in the brick earth, result in efflorescence, irregular and unsightly white
patches on the surface of bricks.

 Field Tests for Soil for Manufacturing of Brick:

 First test
o Soil is grounded to fine powder and mixed with sufficient quantity of water
up to required consistency.
o The paste is moulded into 8cm diameter with hands and allowed to dry in
the sun.
o If the dry balls show the deformation in shape and crumble easily on
pressing indicates the excessive sand content. If sand content if deficient
then surface cracking on drying.
 Field Tests for Soil for Manufacturing of Brick:

 Second test
o Moulding the brick into standard size (the paste should be prepared in
such a way that it should be capable to rolled in threads of 3mm in
diameter.
o The edges and corners of the brick should be sharp.
o Left the bricks to dry for four days in the sun and observed the shrinkage
cracks.

 Classification of Bricks:
 According to their use:
o Common bricks
o Engineering bricks (special bricks for carrying heavy loads)
o Facing bricks
o Fire bricks
o Specials (special shape)
  Classification of Bricks:
 According to its general physical requirements:
Class I bricks Class II bricks Class III bricks
General requirements o Uniform color o Uniform color o Little under burnt
o Faces are uniform and o Hard and well burnt o Soft and Color is light
smooth (but slightly over burnt) o Dull sound when struck
o Edges are sharp o Slightly distorted in with each other
o Thoroughly burnt not shape and size o distorted shape and size
over burnt o Slightly rough surface and round edges
o Compacted and o Other qualities are o Can be used in
uniform texture (broken same as class I bricks temporary construction
surface) o Can be used in brick not subjected to heavy
o Free from cracks and ballast in RCC work loads and rains
flaws
o Scratch with finger
leaves no marks
o Sharp metallic ringing
sound (when two bricks
struck with each other)
o Free from nodules of
free lime
o Can be used in
reinforced and other
permanent brick works
Water absorption Not more than 20 per cent Not more than 22 per cent Not more than 25 per cent
(after 24 hrs immersion in by weight by weight by weight
cold water)
Efflorescence Slight Slight Moderate

Note: Over burnt or Jhama or Cover burnt bricks are classified as fourth class bricks. (Near to the fire in the kiln get
fused and loose their shape; Can be used in the foundation of structures, aggregate for the concrete, road metal etc.)
  Classification of Bricks:
 As per IS classification of bricks:
The Indian standard IS: 3102-1971 “Classification of burnt clay solid bricks”
classifies the bricks according to their strength as given in Table below:

Class Compressive strength Additional requirements

designation requirement (not less than)
10 10 N/mm2 o Dimensional tolerance ±3%,
o Smooth surface and sharp corners
o Ringing sound when struck
7.5 7.5 N/mm2 o Dimensional tolerance ±8%
o Slight distortion but should not cause difficulty
in laying
5.0 5.0 N/mm2 o Dimensional tolerance ±8%
o Slight distortion but should not cause difficulty
in laying
3.5 3.5 N/mm2 o Dimensional tolerance ±8%
o Slight distortion but should not cause difficulty
in laying
 Types of Bricks:
 Ordinary bricks: Rectangular faces and standard size

 Perforated bricks: IS 2222 (1979)

o Cylindrical holes through their thickness.

o The dimensions are 19 × 9 × 9cm and 29 × 9 × 9cm.
o Perforated area should not exceed 30 to 45% of the
area of face.
o These bricks are dry and burn more easily.
o Easier to handle due to reduced weight.
o Material saver, more bricks can be cast in a particular
quantity of earth.
o Transmit sound easily.
o Not applicable for hydraulic structures.
 Cavity or hollow bricks
o Volume of solid material should not be less than one-
half of its total volume.
o No web should be less than 1.5cm.
o Weight is only one-third of the weight of ordinary brick.
o Can be used in hollow walls i.e. insulation against heat
and sound.
o Also used for the construction of non-load bearing
walls.
 Types of Bricks:

 Splay, cant or plinth bricks

o Bevel taken off on one side

o Used in door and window jambs and in plinths.
o Splay could be on header and stretcher.

 Coping bricks
o Available in different shapes and sizes.
o Used on the topmost course of the parapets for
the drain off water from the top of the parapet.
o Throat is provided under the coping, so as to
throw the rain water off the faces of the walls.

 Bull nose bricks

o Used to round off sharp corners.
 Types of Bricks:

 Paving bricks: IS 3583 (1975)

o Dimensions are 19.5 × 9.5 × 9cm and 19.5 × 9.5

× 4cm.
o Contains more iron causes vitrification of
bricks while burning.
o Can resist abrasion better.
o Mechanically shaped and not hand-moulded.
o Compressive strength shall not be less than
400 kg/cm2.
o Water absorption should not be more than 5%
of their weight.

 Gutter or Channel bricks

o Glazed and used for laying drains.
 Types of Bricks:

 Burnt clay sewer bricks: IS 4885 (1968)

o Used for construction of sewers for domestic

sewage.
o Should be free from cracks, flaws and nodules
of lime.
o Should be rectangular faces and sharp corners.
o Dimensions are 19 × 9 × 9cm and 19 × 9 × 4cm.
o Compressive strength shall not be less than
175 kg/cm2.
o Water absorption should not be more than 10%
of their weight.

 Queen closer bricks

o Cut the bricks in two parts longitudinally.
o It is placed next to the first header at the
corner of the wall for proper bond.
 Types of Bricks:

 King closer bricks

o One corner of a brick is so cut as to remove half

stretcher and half header.
o Used when walls meet an angle.

 Cornice bricks
o Several shapes and sizes of bricks when
combined to form cornice.
 Types of Bricks:
 Arch bricks or Voussoirs
o Bricks to be used in arches are moulded to the
exact wedge shape.

 Circle bricks
o Made exact curve of the desired circle.
o Used in the construction of circular
walls for circular towers and wells.

 Purpose made bricks

o Made in special shapes and sizes for particular requirements.
o Costly than ordinary bricks.
o Withstand weather conditions far better than other bricks.
 Tests for Quality Control of Bricks:
 The Indian Standard IS: 3495-1992 “Method of test for burnt clay bricks part
1 to 4” gives the details of the tests. According the standard, the following
tests have been recommended for burnt clay bricks.

 Test for Compressive Strength: (05 samples)

o Five bricks will be taken and their dimensions are measured in 1mm
accuracy.
o The samples are immersed in water at room temperature conditions (27 ±
2oC) for 24 hours.
o The frog is filled with 1:3 cement and sand mortar. Stored under damp jute
bag for 24 hrs & immersed in clean water for 3 days. [3-plywood sheets or
plaster of paris]
o At the time of testing under compression testing machine, the mortar
filled frog face should be kept up between plywood sheets of 3mm.
o The load is applied at the rate of 140 kg/cm2 per minute upto failure load.

o The ultimate compressive strength of brick will be the ratio of ultimate or

crushing load to the area of the brick under testing.
o Average reading of five specimens is reported.

o Value less than 20% variation below the average value should be
discarded.
 Test for Water Absorption: (05 samples)

o Five bricks are to be taken for test.

o Samples are allowed to dry in an oven at 105oC to 115oC for 48 hours or till
the constant weight.

o Samples are then kept for cool for 4 to 6 hours, and after cooling weight
W1 is measured.

o Then the samples kept in water for 24 hours at 27 ± 2oC.

o After 24 hours, wiped dry the samples with damp cloth and the weight W2
is measured (within 3 minutes).

o The average percentage of water absorbed as percentage of dry weight is

reported as

o Percentage absorption = ((W2-W1)/W1) × 100

o The value should not be more than the values given above.
 Test for Efflorescence:

o Test will be carried out in a well ventilated room at 20-30oC.

o Average value of five samples is to be reported.
o The sample is placed vertically in a dish with 2.5cm immersed in distilled
water.
o The dish shall be made with glass, porcelain or glazed stoneware of size =
180mm × 180mm × 40mm depth for square shape & 200mm diameter &
40mm depth for cylindrical shape.
o The whole water is allowed to absorbed by the brick and evaporate
through it.
o After the brick is dried, similar quantity of water is placed in the dish and
water is evaporated as before.

o The brick is to be examined as

Nil = no deposit of salt or efflorescence

Slight = not more than 10% area is covered with salt.
Moderate = heavy deposit covering 50% of the area of the brick
(powdering or flaking of surface).
Heavy = More than 50% of the area of the brick
Serious = powdering or flaking of surface and also increase in the
repeated wetting of the specimen.
Note: The bricks used for general construction, the efflorescence should not be more than
slight to moderate.
 Test for Dimensional Tolerance:

o To check the measurement of length, breath and height, twenty bricks

should be selected randomly in one or two lots of ten each.
o Narrow limits variations in dimensions are allowed only as discussed
above.

 Test for Hardness:

o A scratch is made on the surface of the brick with finger nails.

o For good quality brick, no impression should be made on the surface.

 Test for Soundness:

o If two bricks are struck with each other, the clear ringing sound should be
produced and bricks should not be broken.

 Test for Structure/Texture:

o A brick is broken and the structure of broken brick can be examined.
 Masonry Unit
o The art of bonding of brickwork or masonry unit consists of the orderly
arrangement of bricks.
o The object of bonding is to give the strength to masonry unit
o The bricks should be arranged in such a way that continuous or through
joints at right angle to the face of the wall is eliminated and longitudinal
through joints along the wall are also reduced to a minimum.
o The purpose of bonding is to distribute the load uniformly.
o Bonding can be carried out by the use of closures in the header course
and three quarters in the stretcher course as shown in figure below.
 Types of Bonding:
 English Bond
It consists of alternate courses of headers and stretchers and bonding is
carried by using queen closure as shown in figure. It is one of the most
common bond for all wall thicknesses.
 Types of Bonding:
 Flemish Bond or Double Flemish Bond
It consists of alternate headers and stretchers in the same course and
bonding is carried by using queen closure as shown in figure. This bond is
not as strong as English bond but used for facing work for economy and
good appearance.

Single Flemish Bond:

It is the combination of two bonds using
Flemish bond on one face and English bond on
the backing face. It is used when building walls
are thicker than one brick, but it is rarely used
in practice.
 Types of Bonding:
 Rat-trap Bond
In this bond, the bricks are used on edge courses result in saving the
number of bricks as shown in figure. Hollow pockets or voids reduced the
weight of the wall. The use of this bond has the advantages of cavity wall.
 Types of Bonding:
 Stretcher bond:
This bond consists of solely stretchers, except that headers or 3/4 brick are
used or inserted for breaking bond or to make up lengths between openings.
It is used for 4.5 inch partitions and for half-brick leaves of cavity walls.

 English garden wall bond:

It consists of three to five courses of stretchers and one course of headers
as shown in figure.
 Types of Bonding:
 Flemish garden wall bond:
It consists of three stretchers to one header in every course as shown in
figure.

 English cross bond:

This bond is produced by different placing of bricks to produce different
patterns as shown in figure.
Note: The Flemish garden wall
bonds and English cross bond are
used for ornamental works only.