HITACHI PLANT TECHNOLOGIES (PVT) LTD

BASIC INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

CHAPTER 11

BRICK WORK
And
BLOCK WORK

NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ENGINEERING SCIENCES

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, KATUNAYAKE

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BASIC INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

11.1 INTRODUCTION
Brick is very commonly used construction material in Sri
Lanka. But it was seen that the quality of bricks varies to a larger extend. Bricks
are molded either by machinery or by hand. The size of the brick is often
smaller than the standard size of 220*105*65mm in size.
1:6, cement: sand mortar was used in the site. English bond &
header bond were used in the walls construction with 10mm thick cement
mortar joint. Before the construction, bricks should be immersed in water. If
they are not soaked in water, the bricks would absorb water from cement
mixture and this leads to a reduction in hydration reaction in cement and a
reduction in the strength of wall. The courses are to be kept perfectly horizontal
& every fourth course shall be checked for level & plumb. All walls are to be
carried up uniformly & as regularly as possible.
English bond was used in partition wall construction and the
header bond was used in the curved wall construction of the arch staircase.

11.2 RULES FOR BONDING

The lap should be one-fourth of the brick.
The bricks should be uniform in shape and size.
The vertical joints should lie vertically above each other in the
alternate courses.
Least number of bats should be used.
11.3 BONDING
The overlapping arrangement of bricks in order to tie them together in a mass of
brick work is known as bonding. Good bonding should have a minimum of
vertical joints in any part of the work and it should not be continuous in two
successive courses since it is a source of weakness.
11.4 TYPES OF BONDS
Header Bond
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INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, KATUNAYAKE

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English Bond
Stretcher Bond
Flemish Bond

11.5 CONSTRUCTION METHOD OF BRICK WORK

In constructing the walls strength is very important. Also careful
handling in the construction stage is very important. To ensure the proper
bonding all the bricks must be wetted before use.
In construction of wall, first of all two end corners were carefully laid,
and then in between portion of wall were built. A cord stretched along the
header & it helps in keeping the alignment of bricks & maintaining them in one
level. Each corner was set vertical by plumb bob and bricks were adjusted until
wall is true. Then the other bricks of that layer must be completed. For that,
firstly mortar (1:6 cement: sand) was placed on the last completed course in
uniformly. Then the bricks were pressed in to the mortar leaving space for
vertical mortar joints. Then the vertical joint was filled with mortar. By
repeating the above procedure the walls were constructed up to the lintel level.
Guile line

Use of a Thread as a Guide line

The each horizontal joint was raked out to minimum depth of 12mm by raking
tool when the mortar is still green. The height of wall constructed per day must
not exceed 1.5m.
When brick wall was constructed between columns, it was essential proper
bonding between column and brick wall. 10mm diameter reinforcements were
used to this purpose. Columns were drilled using 12mm diameter drill Bit in
600mm intervals. While constructing the brick wall, reinforcements were
NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ENGINEERING SCIENCES
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, KATUNAYAKE

HITACHI PLANT TECHNOLOGIES (PVT) LTD

BASIC INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

inserted to those holes. The reinforcement net to width of the wall also was laid
along the brick wall while constructing in 600mm intervals. The strength of the
wall was improved using this net.

In the 4 walls tie beams were used on top of them to strengthen. In the
case of 4 walls stiffener columns (100 mm 100 mm reinforced concrete
columns) were provided at 4m intervals for shrinkage control and thermal
expansion movements, but in presence of cross walls it could be considered the
crossing as a stiffener column so the spacing could be increased. When the
walls were built near the concrete columns or walls the relevant concrete
surface was properly chipped and cement slurry was applied on it while T10
starter bars were provided on the concrete wall at 600mm intervals. When the
top of the brick wall came near to the concrete floor soffit a thin regiform was
kept to prevent cracking of the plaster.

100mm x 100mm
stiffener columns

4T
10

4m (Max)
Brick wall (4)

Stiffener Columns

NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ENGINEERING SCIENCES

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, KATUNAYAKE

HITACHI PLANT TECHNOLOGIES (PVT) LTD

BASIC INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

BLOCK WORK
11.6 Introduction:
Blocks are the most popular from of walling material used in building walls. The great majorities of block
in use today are made of cement, sand and Corry dust.

11.7 Mix proportion of blocks

200mm and 150mm Blocks- Cement: Sand : Corry dust
1
100mm Blocks

- Cement: Sand : Corry dust

1

7 :

The standard size of blocks ; 1) 390 x 200 x 190 mm

2) 390 x 150 x 190 mm
3) 390 x 100 x 190 mm

11.8 Forms of blocks

Definition of block ; A block is a defined as a walling unit of length width or height
greater than that specified for a brick. Blocks could be solid or
hollow.
Solid blocks:
Block with no voids, but they can have end grooves or other small cavities to
improve handling and reduce weight.
Hollow blocks:
Blocks with holes pass right through the block.

11.9 Advantages of hollow blocks over solid blocks

Hollow blocks when used for non load bearing type are very economical because of quantity of material
used since blocks are hollow it is very cheap to use these types of blocks for non load bearing type of walls and
partitions. blocks do not have this advantage. The other advantage in concrete hollow blocks is that when there
is a portion which has to act as a load transferring column, then the hollow part of this area could be filled up
NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ENGINEERING SCIENCES
INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, KATUNAYAKE

HITACHI PLANT TECHNOLOGIES (PVT) LTD

BASIC INDUSTRIAL TRAINING

with concrete so that is could carry load. Another advantage is that the block being larger in size less mortar
will be needed for the same amount of volume when compared with ordinary Brickwork.

11.10 Block work

The block work is carried out for partition walls and for walls covering the periphery. Walls covering the
periphery are of 200 mm thickness and partition walls are of 150 mm thickness. The mortar used is 1:6 cement
sand mix. The specified thickness of the mortar joint is 10 mm.
There are stiffener columns to protect any vertical cracks on the walls.

11.11 Construction of block wall

First the initial course of the brick wall is laid according to the drawings. The construction of the wall
is not done by plumbing all the blocks. First two one at each edge of the wall will be laid on mortar and will be
plumbed to the bottom most courses or the first course. Then put a string on the corners of the block. And lay
the rest of the blocks to the line.
Then after laying the blocks the vertical joints must be fill with mortar very well to keep the proper bonding
between blocks. The number of blocks that lay for day is maximum up to eight.
When continuance the block work there are two tie beams available at the forth layer of the Block work and
lintel level.
The tie beam is consisting with two 10 mm diameter for steel bars and G20 concrete. The block work was
carrying out like this up to the required level.

11.12 Terms used in masonry

Course
The layer of brick laid on the same bed is known as a course. The thickness of the course is equal to actual
thickness of the brick plus the thickness of one mortar joint.

Stretcher
The side of the brick when laid longitudinally and visible in elevation is called stretcher.

Header
The side surface of the brick when lay transversely and visible in elevation is called header.

NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ENGINEERING SCIENCES

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, KATUNAYAKE

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Bond
Bonds are an arrangement of courses of blocks which no continuous vertical joints. In this arrangements
blocks in wall are laid in each course in such a way that they over lap the block of the course laid immediately
below.

11.13 Masonry Tools

Trowel
It is available in varies size of trowel. Trowels are used for lifting and spreading mortar, for cutting block
construction of joint.

Plumb bob
This helps in checking vertically of the block work.

Square
A wooden section. This is employed for checking perpendicular during construction.

Sprit level
This helps in checking the horizontality of the floors.

Measurement tape
For measuring purposes.

NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ENGINEERING SCIENCES

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY, KATUNAYAKE