Object: To Study about Classes and Characteristics of bricks.

Material required: Measuring tape and bricks samples.

Theory

Bricks may be defined as artificial material obtained by moulding clay in a rectangular block of uniform size.
Which are finally dried and later burnt to high temperature to make tense and compact.

Classification of bricks:

Conventionally, the bricks are classified into following two types:

1. Sun-dried bricks or katcha bricks 2. Burnt bricks or pacca bricks

1) Sun-dried bricks or katcha bricks: These bricks after moulding have been dried in the sun and are used in
the construction of temporary and cheap structures. These types of bricks should not be used at places
exposed to heavy rains.
2) Burnt bricks or pacca bricks: Burnt bricks are those bricks which are burnt in clamp or kiln after moulding
and drying. These bricks are hard, strong, & durable and are generally used for permanent construction.
These bricks are further classified into the following four types:
1. First class bricks
2. Second class bricks
3. Third class bricks
4. Over burnt or jhama bricks

i. First class bricks:

These bricks are table moulded and they are burnt in kilns. The standard size of brick is 9x4.5x2.75 inches or
23x11x7 cm.

Characteristics:

 These are well burnt bricks of a uniform colour (red colour).

 These are made from good clay or free from saline deposit.
 All the faces are uniform & smooth. The edges are sharp and at 900.
 These are free from cracks. A broken surface shows a uniform compact texture.
 It is hard when scratch with finger nails leave no mark.
 These do not absorb water more than 15% of their weight when kept immersed for 24 hours.
 Two first class bricks when struck with each other give a sharp metallic ringing sound.
 They shall have a minimum compressive strength of 105 kg/cm2 or 10.5 N/mm2.
Uses: These bricks are used in the face work of structures not to be plastered but only pointed also used in
flooring and in reinforced brick work.

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 ii. Second class bricks:
These bricks are ground-moulded and they are burnt in kilns.
Characteristics:
 A second class brick is well-burnt but irregular in shape and size.
 It has slight rough surface. It does not have a uniform colour.
 It does not have a uniform colour.
 The water absorption water is less than 22% of their weight when kept immersed for 24 hours.
 It shall produce a ringing sound when struck with one another
 They have a minimum crushing strength of 70 kg/cm2 or 7 N/mm2.
Uses: They are used commonly in masonry construction, where the faces are to be plaster, is used for the
construction of load bearing walls of single storey houses.

iii. Third class bricks or pilla bricks:

These are under burnt bricks and inferior in quality. These bricks are ground moulded and then are burnt in
clamps.
Characteristics:
 A third class brick has a light yellow colour.
 It is not well-burnt,
 They may show intensive sign of efflorescence.
 In the fractured surface of the bricks they don’t have the proper uniform textures, it may show pebbles.
 They produce dull sound when struck with each other.
 They are soft and the sign of nail scratch is prominent.
 The water absorption is 20% to 25% by weight.
 They have minimum compressive strength of 35kg/cm2 or 3.5 N/mm2.
Uses: These are used for temporary construction not subjected to heavy rains and loads.

iv. Over burnt or jhama bricks:

These are over burnt bricks with irregular shape and dark colour.
Characteristics:
 They are over burnt, vitrified and distorted bricks
 They are dark in lumps.
 They are hard and strong.
 They produce metallic ringing sound.
Uses: These bricks are used as aggregates for making concrete to be used in foundations, floors and as a road
metal for soling coat.

Over burnt bricks

Object: Determination of efflorescence in brick samples.

Material required: Distilled water, two china dishes, measuring tape and two bricks.

Theory

This test is performed to know the presence of any alkaline matter in the bricks.Efflorescence forms on bricks,
structures and surfaces when soluble salts dissolved in water are deposited and accumulated on surfaces forming
a visible scum.

The presence of Alkalies in bricks is harmful and they form a grey or white layer on brick surface by absorbing
moisture. If the whitish layer is not visible on surface it proofs that absence of alkalis in brick.

Procedure

1. Take two bricks at random from the given sample.

2. After that bricks to be place on ends in china dish of minimum diameter 150 mm & depth 30 mm containing
distilled water ensuring depth immersion at least 2.5cm.

3. Keep the dish in a well ventilated room (at temperature of 20 to 30 0C) till the whole of distilled water in the
dish is either absorbed by the specimen or is evaporated.

4. After the specimen have dried, again pour 2.5 cm depth of distilled water in the dish and let it too be
absorbed by the specimen or evaporate as before.

5. Examine the specimen for efflorescence after the second evaporation.

6. Presence of efflorescence shall be classified as Nil, Slight, Moderate, Heavy or Serious as defined below in
observation table:
OBSERVATION RESULT
When the deposit of efflorescence is imperceptible. Nil – efflorescence
When the deposit of efflorescence does not cover more than Slight – efflorescence
10% of the exposed area of the brick surface
When the deposit of efflorescence is heavier than slight and Moderate – efflorescence
does not cover more than 50% of the exposed area of the
brick surface. The deposit should not however, powder or
flake of the surface.

When the deposit of efflorescence salts is heavy & covers Heavy – efflorescence
50% or more of the exposed area of the brick surface. The
deposit, however, does not powder or flake of the surface.

When the deposit of efflorescence salts is heavy and is Serious – efflorescence

accompanied by powdering or flaking the exposed surfaces.
Object: To determine the compressive strength of common bricks.

Material required: compression testing machine, brick samples, cement mortar, jute bag, measuring scale,
curing tank, plywood sheets and mason’s trowel.

Theory:

Compressive strength test: This test is done to know the compressive strength of brick. It is also called crushing
strength of brick.

Procedure

1. Grind the two bed faces to provide smooth, even & parallel faces.
2. Immerse the specimen in water at room temperature.
3. Remove the specimen from water after 24 hours and drain out any surplus water at room temperature.
4. Fill up flush the frog and all voids with cement mortar 1:3 and store under damp jute bags for 24 hours and
then immerse in clean water for 3 days.
5. Remove and wipe out any traces of moisture.
6. Place the specimen between two three plywood sheets, each 3mm thick, with flat faces horizontal & mortar
filled face facing upwards.
7. The specimen sandwiched between the ply sheets are carefully centred between plates of compression testing
machine.
8. Apply axial load at a uniform rate of 14 N/mm2 per minute till failure.
9. The ultimate pressure at which brick is crushed is taken into account.
10. The maximum load at failure divided by the average area of the bed faces gives the compressive strength.

Compression testing machine Brick samples curing tank

Cement mortar filling of frog with cement mortar bricks frog filled with cement mortar

Jute bag mason’s trowel measuring scale

Object: To study about dimension and measurement of tolerances of common bricks.

Material required: 20 brick samples and measuring tape.

Theory

Dimensions: The standard modular size of common building bricks shall be as follows:

Length (L) Width (W) Height (H)

Mm Mm mm
190 90 190
190 90 40
Non modular size

Length (L) Width (W) Height (H)

Mm Mm mm
230 110 70
230 110 30

For obtaining proper bond arrangement and modular dimensions for the brickwork, with the non-
modular sizes, the following sizes of the bricks may also be used:

Length (L) Width (W) Height (H)

mm Mm mm
70 110 70 1/3 length brick

Procedure for the Measurement of Tolerances of common bricks:

1. Twenty whole bricks shall be selected at the random from the sample.
2. All blisters loose particles of clay and small projections shall be removed
3. They shall be arranged upon a level surface successively in contact with each other and in a straight line.
4. The overall length of the assembled bricks shall be measured with a steel tape or suitable inextensible
measure sufficiently long to measure the whole row at one stretch.
5. Measurement by repeated application of short rule or measure shall not be permitted.
6. If for any reason it is found impracticable to measure bricks in one row, the sample may be divided into rows
of 10 bricks each which shall be measured separately to the nearest millimetre.
7. Take the measurement of bricks length wise, width wide and height wise as shown in fig .

8. All these dimensions shall be added together.

9. The dimensions of bricks when tested shall be within the following limits per 20 bricks:

Result