Bricks

A brick is a type of block used to build walls, pavements and other elements in masonry
construction. They are obtained by moulding clay in rectangular blocks of uniform size and then
by drying and burning these blocks. They are light in weight.
Classification
1. First Class Brick: The size is standard. The color of these bricks is uniform yellow or red. It is
well burnt, regular texture, uniform shape. The absorption capacity is less than 10%,
crushing strength is, 280 kg/cm2 (mean) where it is 245 kg/cm2 (minimum). It doesn’t have
efflorescence. It emits a metallic sound when struck by another similar brick or struck by a
hammer. It is hard enough to resist any fingernail expression on the brick surface if one tries to do
with a thumbnail. It is free from pebbles, gravels or organic matters.
2. Second Class Brick: The size is standard, color is uniform yellow or red. It is well burnt, slightly
over burnt is acceptable. It has a regular shape; efflorescence is not appreciable. The absorption
capacity is more than 10% but less than 15%. Crushing strength is 175kg/cm 2(mean) where the
minimum is 154 kg/cm2. It emits a metallic sound when struck by another similar brick or struck
by a hammer.
3. Third Class Brick: The shape and size are not regular. The color is soft and light red colored.
It is under burnt, slightly over burnt is acceptable. It has extensive efflorescence. The texture is
non-uniform. The absorption capacity is more than 15% but less than 20%. The crushing strength
is 140kg/cm2(mean) where the minimum crushing strength is 105kg/cm 2. It emits a dull or blunt
sound when struck by another similar brick or struck by a hammer. It leaves fingernail expression
when one tries to do with the thumbnail.
Characteristics of a good brick
● Bricks should be table mounted, well burnt in kilns, copper coloured, free from cracks and
with sharp and square edges.
● Should be of uniform shape and standard size.
● Should give clear ringing sound when stuck with each other.
● Bricks when broken should show homogeneous and compact structure.
● Should not absorb water more than 20% by weight for the first class bricks and 22% water
by weight for the second class bricks when soaked in cold water for 24 hrs.
● Should be sufficiently hard. No impression shall be left on the brick’s surface when it is
scratched with finger nail.
● Should not break when dropped flat on hard ground from a height of about 1 metre.
● Should have low thermal conductivity.
● Should be sound proof.
Ingredients of good brick earth work
Following are the ingredients of good brick earth work
(1) Alumina: It is the chief constituent of every kind of clay. A good brick earth should contain
about 20 to 30 percent of alumina.This constituent imparts plasticity to earth.
(2) Silica: It exists in clay either as free or combined. A good brick earth should contain about 50
to 60 percent of silica. Presence of this constituent prevents cracking, shrinking and warping of
raw bricks. It thus imparts uniform shape to the bricks. Durability of bricks depends on the proper
proportion of silica in brick earth.
(3) Lime: A small quantity of lime is desirable in good brick earth. Lime prevents shrinkage of
raw bricks.
(4) Oxides of iron: A small quantity of iron oxide to the extent of 5 to 6 percent is desirable in
good brick earth. It imparts red colour to the brick. It also helps lime to fuse sand.
(5) Magnesia: A small quantity of magnesia is desirable in good brick earth. It imparts yellow tint
to the bricks and also decreases shrinkage.
Harmful substances in brick earth
Following are the ingredients which are not desirable in brick work.
(1) Lime: Excss of lime causes the brick to melt and thus its shape is lost.Lumps of lime are
converted into quick lime after burning. This quick lime slakes and expands in presence of
moisture. This results in splitting of bricks into pieces.
(2) Iron pyrites: Results in disintegration and crystallisation during burning.
(3) Alkalies: These are mainly in the form of soda and potash. Alkalies act as a flux in the kiln
during burning and they cause bricks to fuse, twist and warp. As a result bricks are melted and
they loose their shape. They absorb moisture from the atmosphere and on evaporation of moisture
grey or white deposits on surface of the wall is seen.
(4) Pebbles: Bricks containing pebbles will not break as desired.
(5) Organic matter: Organic matter helps the process of burning of brick. But incomplete burning
makes the bricks porous.
Testing of bricks
1) Shape and Size
The clay bricks should have a uniform rectangular plan surface, as per standard size and sharp
straight edges. BSI recommends the standard size of brick is 190 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm and
constructional size is 200 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm.
2) Visual inspection:
In this test bricks are closely inspected for its shape. The bricks of good quality should be uniform
in shape and should have truly rectangular shape with sharp edges.
3) Hardness:
The clay bricks should be sufficiently hard when scratched by a finger-nail no impression should
be left on the brick surface.
4) Colour:
The clay bricks should have a uniform deep red colour throughout. It indicates the uniformity of
chemical composition and the quality of burning of the bricks.
5) Texture and compactness
The surfaces should not be so smooth to cause skidding of mortar. The clay brick should have a
pre-compact, homogeneous and uniform texture. A broken surface should be free form cracks,
holes grits or lumps of lime.
6) Soundness:
When two clay bricks are stuck together, a metallic ringing sound should come.
7) Structure:
A brick is broken and its structure is examined. It should be homogeneous, compact and free from
any defects such as holes, lumps etc.
8) Thermal Conductivity:
The thermal conductivity of clay brick is low, i.e., it protects from heat.
9) Basic Strength:
When dropped flat on the hard ground from a height of about one meter, clay bricks should not
break.
10) Water Absorption:
A brick is taken and it is weighed dry. It is immersed in water for a period of 16 hours. It is weighed
again and the difference in weight indicates the amount of water absorbed by the bricks. Water
absorption of bricks should not more than 20 % by its dry weight.
11) Crushing Strength:
Crushing Strength of a brick is found by placing it in a compression testing machine. It is pressed
till it breaks. For first class bricks, it should not less than 10 N/mm2 (102 kg/cm2). For second
class bricks, it should not less than 7 N/mm2 (71 kg/cm2).For third class bricks, it should not less
than 3.5 N/mm2 (36 kg/cm2).
BRICK MASONRY:
Brick masonry is defined as the placement of bricks in a systematic manner using mortar to bind
the bricks together and create a solid mass that can withstand a great deal of pressure.
Rules for bonding:
1. The brick masonry should have bricks of uniform shape and size.
2. For satisfactory bondage the lap should be one-fourth of the brick along the length of the wall
and half brick across thickness of the wall.
3. The vertical joints in the alternate courses should coincide with the centre line of the stretcher.
4. The alternate courses the centre line of header should coincide with the centre line of stretcher,
in course below or above it.
5. The stretcher should be used only in the facing while hearting should be done in the headers
only.
Types of bond:
a) Stretcher Bond: It is the most commonly used bond. In this a pattern is made only using
stretchers, with the joins on each course centred above and below by half a brick. This type of
bonding is not particularly strong. The length of the bricks are along the direction of the wall.

b) Header Bond: This bond features courses of headers offset by half a brick. It is similar to the
stretcher bond but with headers instead of stretchers. The width of the bricks are along the direction
of the wall.

Header Bond
c) English Bond: This is a pattern formed by laying alternate courses of stretchers and headers.
The joints between the stretchers are centred on the headers in the course below. This is one of the
strongest bonds but requires more facing bricks than other bonds.
d) Flemish Bond:
This is formed by laying headers and stretchers alternately in each course. The headers of each
course are centred on the stretchers of the course below.

Comparison of English and Flemish bond

1. English bond is stronger than Flemish bond for walls thicker than 11/2 brick.
2. Flemish bond gives more pleasing appearance than the English bond.
3. Broken bricks can be used in the form of bats in Flemish bond.
4. Construction with Flemish