IS’ : 3951 ( Part I ) - 1975

( Reaffirmed 1997 )

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR HOLLOW CLAY
TILES FOR FLOORS AND ROOFS

PART I FILLER TYPE

( First Revision )

Third Reprint OCTOBER 1997

UDC 691.42-478

0 Copyright 1975

ISUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110001

Gr 3 September 1975
 IS : 3951( Part f ) c 1975

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR HOLLOW CLAY
TILES FOR FLOORS AND ROOFS
PART I FILLER TYPE

( First Revision )
Clay Products for Building Sectional Committee, BDC 30

Chairman Representing
SHRI R. G. GOKHALE Delhi Development Authority, NewDelhi
Members
SURVEYOR OF WORKS ( I ) ( Alternate to
Shri R. G. Gokhale )
SHRI P. M. APSE Housing & Urban Development Corporation Ltd,
New Delhi
SHRI B. K. CEAKRABORTY ( Alternnte )
SHRI D. R. BATLIWALA Department of Atomic Energy, Bombay
SHRI M. G. WASH ( Alternate )
SHRI 0. N. BHARGAVA All India Brick & Tile Manufacturers’ Federation,
New Delhi
SHRI DHARAM PAL CHADHA (Alternate )
SHRI A. K,BHATTAOHARYYA National Test House, Calcutta
SERI P. R. DAS ( Alter&d )
DIRECTOR Engineering Research Institute, Gujarat, Baroda
ASSISTANT RESEARCH OFFICER
( Alternate )
POINT DIRECTOR R E s E A R c H Ministry of Railways
( B & S ) RDSO, LUCKNOW
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR RESEARCH
( B & S ) ( Alternate )
SHRI A. KARUNAKARAN Thez;ia;rmore Tile Manufacturers’ Association,

SIIRI M. PADMANABHAN ( Alternate )

~EIRI N. C. MAJU~IDAR Centr\aolor$ilding Research Institute (CSIR),

DR R. B. HAJELA ( Alternate )
( Continued on page 2)

@ Copyright 1975

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

This publication is protected under the Indian Copyight Act ( XIV of 1957 ) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
IS : 3951( Part I ) - 1975

( Confiwd from page 1 )

Members Representing
SHRIV.S. NATARAJAN Standard~Brick & Tile Co ( Yelahanka) Pvt Ltd,
Yelahanka
SHRI V. N. SUNDER ( Alternate )
SHRI F. X. D. PINTO Western India Tile Manufacturers’ Association,
Mangalore
SHRI G. R. PANDIT ( A[ternate )
SHRI A. R. RAJAQOPALAN Krishna Tiles & Potteries ( Madras) Pvt Ltd,
Madras
SARI A;‘R. KRISHNAMURTHY ( Alternate 1
DR A. V. R. RAO l$ational Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SERI 3. SEN GUPTA ( Alternate )
SENIOR AROEITECT B ( 11 Central Public Works Department, New Delhi
%nWYOR OF. ‘WoRES II
( Attached to Superintending
Surveyor of Works II )
( Alternate )
SHRI M. S. SIALI Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch ( Ministry of Defence )
SARI K. BABU ( Alternate )
SUPERINTENDINO ENCJINEER Public Works Department, Government of Punjab,
( B& R ) PWD, ( LUDHIANA Ludhiana
CIRCLE )
SQPERINTENDIN~ ENQINEER Public Works Department, Government of
Karnataka, Bangalore
Sn(p::;::%No ENGINEER Public Works Department, Government of Tamil
( DESIGNS) Nadu, Madras
EXECUTIVE ENQINEER ( SOIL
MECHANICS AND RESEARCH
DIVISION ) (Alternate )
SUPERINTENDING E N a I N E E R Public Works Department, Government of West
SJ.R~$x;;;x;=E ) Bengal, Calcutta
National Buildinns Construction Corporation Ltd,
New Delhi -
SHRI.C. T. VAR~EY The Malabar Tile Manufacturers’ Association,
Calicut
SHRI D. AJITRA SIMHA, Director General, BIS ( Ex-oficio Member )
Director ( Civ Engg )

Secretary
SHRI K. M. MATHUR _
Deputy Director ( Civ Engg ), BIS

2
 IS : 3951( Part I) - 1975

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR HOLLOW CLAY
TILES FOR FLOORS AND ROOFS
PART I FILLER TYPE

( First Revision )

0. FOREWORD
0.1 This Indian Standard ( Part I ) ( First Revision) was adopted by the
Indian Standards Institution on 1 February 1975, after the draft finalized
by the Clay Products for Building Sectional Committee had been approved
by the Civil Engineering Division Council.
0.2 Burnt clay flooring and roofing tiles have been used both as filler
material and structural units. Investigations carried in recent years at
Central Building Research Institute, Roorkee have established that a large
variety of clays occurring in the country can be successfully utilized in the
manufacture of such tiles. These tiles act as light weight material for floor
and roof construction because of their hollowness and impart sound and
thermal insulation to the building. This standard covering the essential
requirements of such hollow clay tiles for floor and roofs was published
in 1967 which covered a few types of filler tiles. The revision has been
now prepared in two parts, Part I dealing with filler type of tiles and
Part II dealing with structural type of tiles. This part covers filler type of
tiles.
0.3 In the formulation of this standard due weightage has been given to
international co-ordination among the standards and practices prevailing in
different countries in addition to relating it to the practices in the field in
this country.
0.4 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this
standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated, expressing
the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with
IS : 2-1960*. The number of significant places retained in the rounded off
value should be the same as that of the specified value in this standard,

*Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised).

3
IS : 3951 ( Part I) - 1975

1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard ( Part I ) covers the dnnensions, quality and strength
requirements of hollow clay filler tiles having perforations parallel to their
length and intended for use in floors and roofs.

2. TERMINOLOGY

2.0. For the purpose of this standard, the definitions given in IS : 2248-1969*
shall apply.

3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
3.1 The tiles shall be made from suitable clay. The tiles shall be free from
cracks, flaws and nodules of free lime. They shall be of uniform colour and
shall be thoroughly burnt. They shall have plane rectangular faces with
parallel sides and have straight right-angled edges. They shall have a fine:
compact and uniform texture. The external faces of the tiles shall be
serrated for facility of application of plastering and recolouring.

3.2 The tiles shall be free from excessive winding or bowing and all externa
angles shall be right angles. The tiles shall be tested for trueness of shape
as specified in 3.2.1 to 3.2.3.

3.2.1 Winding or Bowing in the Longitudinal and Transverse Directions - The

tile shall be placed between two parallel straight edges running along the
direction of length or width (see Fig. 1 ) and the distance between either
straight edge and the adjacent face of the tile at any point shall be not more
than 5 mm per 30 cm length.

4 LENGTH -

MAX TOLERANCE

1-I

MAX TOLERANCE

FIG. 1 TEST FOR WINDING OR BOWING

*Glosssry of terms relating to structural clay products.

4
 IS : 3951 (Part I ) - 1975

3.2.2 Concaviy or Convexity in the External Face of the Tile - The tile shall
be placed between two parallel straight edges running diagonally across the
face of the tile ( see Fig. 2 ) and the distance between either straight edge
and the adjacent face of the tile shall be not more than 5 mm per 30 cm
run at any point on either diagonal.

‘%TRAIGHT EDGES

FIG. 2 TEST FORCONCAVITY

OR CONVEXITY

3.2.3 Angles Between Sides and Joining Edges - Any variation from a right
angle in the angle contained by any side and a joining edge, shall be limited
so that if a builder’s steel square is placed against the angle, the maximum
distance between the inner edge of the square and the side shall be not
more than 5 mm per 30 cm run ( see Fig. 3 ).

4. DIMENSIONS AND TOLERANCES

4.1 Dimensions -The standard sizes of tiles when measured according

to 4.1.1 shall be as follows. The typical shapes are given in Fig. 4.

Length Width Height

mm mm mm
3401

;B/

zoo t 350, 300, 250 or 200 80, 90, 100 or 110

640 1
690 1
740J

5
IS:3951 (PartI)-

__j bUILDER’S SQUARE

FIG. 3 TEST FOR CORRECTNESSOF EDGES

FILLER TILES

FIG, 4 TYPICAL SHAPES OF HOLLOW CLAY FILLER TILES

6
 IS : 3951( Part I ) - 1975

4.1.1 The length of central line of the four longest faces shall be measur-
ed nearest to the mm and the length of the tile, expressed in millimetres as
the average of these four measurements. The width and thickness of the
tile shall also be similarly measured. The permissible tolerances ( plus and
minus ) on dimensions specified in 4.1 shall be 5 percent.

4.2 Thickness of Shell and Web - The thickness of any shell shall be
not less than 11 mm and that of web not less than 8 mm.

5. BREAKING STRENGTH

‘5.1 The breaking load of the tiles determined in accordance with procedure
laid down in Appendix A shall not be less than 10 kgf/cm length.

6. WATER ABSORPTION

6.1 The water absorption of the tile by mass, when tested in accordance
with the procedure laid down in Appendix B shall be not more than
20 percent.

7. SAMPLING

7.1 Procedure for Sampling - For checking requirements specified

in 3, 4, 5 and ,6 at least six tiles shall be selected at random for every 1 000
tiles or fraction thereof in a lot, by the purchaser ( or his representative ).
Additional specimens may be taken for tests at the discretion of the
purchaser. The number of tiles taken from a lot for tests shall be not less
than 15 in any one lot. All the tiles shall be checked for requirements
given in 3 and 4.

8. MARKING
8.1 Each tile shall be marked in a suitable manner with the manufacturer’s
identification mark or initials. The tile shall also be marked by a letter ‘ F ’
to indicate as filler tile.
8.1.1 Each tile may also be marked with the with Standard Mark.

86.2 The’ use of the Standard Mark is governed by the provisions of the
Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 and the Rules and Regulations made
thereunder. The details of conditions under which the licence for the use of
Standard Mark may be granted to manufacturers or producers may be obtained
from the Bureau of Indian Standards.

7
IS : 3951( Part I ) - 1975

APPENDIX A
( Clause 5.‘1 )

METHOD OF TEST FOR DETERMINATION OF

BREAKING STRENGTH

A-l. TEST SPECIMEN

A-l.1 At least six tiles shall be selected at random for this test from the
samples selected in the manner described in 7.

A-2. PROCEDURE

A-2.1 The tiles shall be suitably and simply supported without any mortar
at the supports. The supports shall be in the centre of extreme shell walls.
A load of 10 kgf/cm length shall be applied on a steel plate 20 mm wide
kept centrally over the entire length of the tile and parallel to the supports.

A-2.2 The tiles under the loading as explained in A-2.1 shall not break
or crack or show any type of deformation.

APPENDIX B
( Clause 6.1 )

METHOD OF TEST FOR DETERMINING WATER

ABSORPTION TEST

B-l. TEST SPECIMEN

B-l.1 At least six tiles shall be selected at random for this test from the
samples selected in the manner described in 7.

B-2. APPARATUS

B-2.1 The apparatus shall consist of a balance sensitive to within 0.1 percent
of the mass of the specimen.

8
 IS : 3951( Part I ) - 1975

B-3. PROCEDURE
B-3.1. The test specimen shall be dried to constant mass in a ventilated
oven at 110 to 115°C. If the specimen is known to be relatively dry,
this may normally be accomplished in 48 hours but if the specimen is wet,
several additional hours may be required to attain constant mass. The
specimen shall then be cooled approximately to room temperature and
weighed ( W, ). In a ventilated room, tiles properly separated require
four hours for cooling unless an electric fan passes air over them conti-
nuously, in which case two hoursmay suffice. Specimens noticeably warm
to the touch shall not be used for the absorption test. The dry specimens
shall be completely immersed without preliminary partial immersion, in
clean water at 27 f 2°C for 24 hours. Each specimen shall then be
removed, the surface water wiped off with a damp cloth and weighed
( W, ). Weighing any one specimen shall be completed within three
minutes after removing the specimen from the water.

B-4. EVALUATION AND REPORT OF TEST RESULTS

B-4.1 The percentage of water absorption by mass shall be calculated as

given below:

Water absorption, percent by mass = w, - w,

w x 100
1
where
Ws = mass after soaking in water, and
WI = mass of the dry specimen,
B-4.2 The average value of the specimens shall be taken as the water
absorption of the lot,

9
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