Building Construction

Technology

Lecture # 3
 Building Materials
Building material is any material which is used for
a construction purpose. Many naturally occurring
substances, such as clay, sand, wood and rocks. Apart from
naturally occurring materials, many man-made products
are in use, some more and some less synthetic. The
manufacture of building materials is an established
industry in many countries and the use of these materials is
typically segmented into specific specialty trades, such
as carpentry, plumbing, roofing and insulation work. They
provide the make-up of habitats and structures including
homes.
 Physical Properties of Material

1. Density:
It is defined as the mass of a material per
unit of its volume is known as density.
2. Bulk density:
It is defined as the total weight including
solids and voids of any granular material
per unit of its total volume.
 Physical Properties of Material

3. Specific gravity:
It is the ratio of the weight of material per
unit volume of the weight of an equal
volume of water. This property is used to
calculate the density and porosity of
materials.
 Physical Properties of Material

4. Porosity:
It is the ratio of the volume of voids in a
material to the total volume of granular
material.
5. Water absorption:
The absorption of water of a material is
called water absorption. It is expressed in
percentage.
 Physical Properties of Material

6. Water Permeability:
It is the property of a material allowing
water to pass through its pores. It is
important in the case of soils.
7. Chemical Resistance:
It is the property to resist the action of
chemicals, acids, etc., is known as chemical
resistance.
 Physical Properties of Material

8. Weathering Resistance:
It is the property to resist nature like sun
and rain is known as weathering resistance.
9. Fire Resistance:
It is the property of a material to resist high
temperature is known as fire resistance.
 Physical Properties of Material

10. Durability:
It is the property of material to destruct by
natural agencies, like alternate heat & cold,
dissolved gases in rain etc.,
11.Thermal Capacity:
The property of absorbent of heat is known
as thermal capacity.
Bricks
 Brick
Bricks may be defined as artificial material
obtained by moulding clay in rectangular
blocks of uniform size, which are finally
dried and burnt at high temperature to form
a dense and compact product. Bricks are
chiefly employed in building construction
and architectural compositions. It has been
regarded as one of the longest lasting and
strongest building materials used
throughout history.
 Brick
Common building brick is not only one of the oldest
but also the most extensively used material of
construction. Popularity of bricks as a material of
construction is due to the following reasons:
1. Local & Cheap availability
2. Strength
3. Durability
4. Reliability
5. Insulating property against heat and sound
 Properties of Good Bricks

1. Color:
The color of good brick should be uniform.
It may deep red, cherry or copper colored.

2. Shape:
Bricks should be uniform in shape with
sharp straight right angled edges.
 Properties of Good Bricks

3. Size:
Size of the bricks should be standard.
[9in x 4.5in x 3in]
4. Soundness:
A good brick should give metallic ringing
sound when struck with another brick.
 Properties of Good Bricks

5. Hardness:
A good brick should be sufficiently hard
which can be tested by a finger nail. No
mark should be left on the surface of the
brick when scratched with thumb-nail.
6. Crushing strength:
The crushing strength of a brick should not
be less than 3.5N/mm2
 Properties of Good Bricks

7. Water absorption:
First class brick should not absorb water
more than 15-20% of its dry weight when
soaked in water for 24hrs.
8. Structure:
A good brick should show fine, compact
and uniform structure in broken form.
 Properties of Good Bricks

9. Thermal conductivity & Fire resistance:

It should have thermal conductivity. A good
brick should have adequate fire resistance.
Ordinary brick can resist temperature upto
12000C
10. Strength:
Bricks should not break when dripped on
hard ground from a height of about 1m.
 Properties of Good Bricks

11. Durability:
A good brick should be able to resist the
effects of weathering agencies like
temperature, rain, etc.
 Classification of Bricks
Depending upon the nature of the soil from which
the bricks are made, the moulded finish and the
quality of burning, the bricks are classified into
different categories. Bricks are broadly classified
into two categories:
1. Sundried bricks or kacha bricks or unburnt
bricks
2. Burnt Bricks or Pucca Bricks
 Classification of Bricks
Burnt Bricks or Pucca Bricks are further classified
as:
a. First Class Bricks
b. Second Class Bricks
c. Third Class Bricks
d. Overburnt Bricks
 Characteristics & Uses
1. Sun-dried bricks or Kacha Bricks:
These bricks after moulding have been dried in
the sun, and are used in temporary and cheap
structures.
Limitation:
These bricks should not be used at places
exposed to heavy rains.
 Characteristics & Uses- First
Class Bricks
2. Burnt or Pucca bricks
a. First Class Bricks:
Characteristics:
I. These are sound well burnt bricks of a uniform color.
II. All the faces are uniform and smooth. All edges are
sharp.
III. These are free from cracks.
IV. A broken surface shows a uniform compact texture.
V. Scratch with finger nails leave no mark.
 Characteristics & Uses- First
Class Bricks
VI. These do not absorb more than 15-20% water of their
own weight of water when kept immersed for24 hours.
VII.Two first class bricks when struck with each other give a
sharp metallic ringing sound.
VIII.These may have only a slight presence of efflorescence.
Uses:
IX. Used for all sound work of permanent character.
X. Used in face work of a structure no to be plastered but
only pointed.
XI. Used in flooring and reinforced brickwork.
 Characteristics & Uses- Second
Class Bricks
b. Second Class Bricks
Characteristics:
These are hard and well burnt bricks as the first class bricks
but maybe somewhat irregular in shape or size and may
have a slightly rough surface.
Uses:
I. Used in unimportant situations where the masonry is to
be plastered.
II. Used as a brick ballast in R.C.C work.
 Characteristics & Uses- Third
Class Bricks
c. Third Class Or Pilla Bricks
Characteristics:
I. These are a little unburnt bricks.
II. These are soft.
III. These have lighter colors
IV. These emit a dull sound when struck aganist each other.
Uses:
These are used in temporary constructions not subjected
to heavy loads or too heavy rains.
 Characteristics & Uses- Over
burnt Bricks
d. Over burnt Bricks
Characteristics:
These are over burnt bricks that being near the fire in the
kiln get fused and loose their shape.
Uses:
I. Used for constructing inferior structures.
II. Used in the foundation of the structures.
III. Used as a aggregate for concrete.
IV. Used as a road metal.
 Brick Masonry
The art of brick laying consists in arranging and bedding
bricks in mortar in such a manner as to form a well united
mass known as brick masonry or brick work. Such a mass
can withstand forces without disintegration of the
structure.
The mortar to be used in brick masonry may be mud mortar,
lime mortar or cement mortar, depending upon the class
and the strength of the work desired.
Suitability:
Brick masonry is commonly used for construction work of
ordinary as well a important buildings .
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
Brick: An artificial masonry unit in the form of
rectangular blocks of prepared clay is called a
brick.
Bricks are manufactured by moulding brick in
rectangular blocks of uniform size and shape then
then by drying or burning these blocks in a
suitable kiln. The bricks dried in the sun are
known as sun dried or kacha bricks and those
burnt in a kiln are known as burnt or pucca bricks.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
Mortar: The workable paste prepared by mixing a binding
material and a fine aggregate in suitable proportions in
addition to water is known as mortar. Cement and lime are
used as binding material; Sand, surkhi and cinder are used
as fine aggregate.
The mortars are named according the type of binding material
used in their preparation. The mortar prepared from simple
earth is known as mud mortar.
The mortar not only acts as a cementing bed between any two
courses of bricks or stones but also imparts strength to the
structure by holding the individual bricks or stones
together to act as a bounded mass.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
2.Frog: The depression provided in the face of a brick during
the manufacturing is called the frog. The size of a frog in a
brick is 100 X 40 X 10 to 20 mm deep.
Frog is provided in bricks to achieve the following objects:
a) To form a key of mortar in between any two adjacent
courses or layers of brickwork so as to increase the
lateral strength of the structure.
b) To reduce the weight of the bricks so that they can be laid
with convenience.
c) To provide a place for putting impression of trade-mark
or year of manufacture of the bricks.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
3. Brick on bed: The position of a brick when laid with its
frog upward in the horizontal plane, is termed as brick on
bed.
4.Brick on Side: The position of a brick when laid on its
stretcher face i.e side face with frog in the vertical plane, is
known as brick on side.
5.Brick on end: The position of a brick when laid on its
header face i.e end surfaces with frog in the vertical plane
is called brick on end.
6. Course: Each horizontal layer of bricks laid in mortar in
any brickwork is called a course.
 Technical Terms Used In
Brickwork
7. A stretcher and a stretching Course: A brick when laid in
brickwork with its side surface (9 in X 3 in) or length in
elevation is called a stretcher, and course in which all the
bricks are laid as stretcher is called a stretching course.
A stretcher course provides longitudinal strength to the
walls.
8. A header and a heading course: A brick when laid in
brickwork with its end surfaces (4.5 in x 3 in) or width in
elevation is called a header, and a course in which are laid
as header is known as heading course or header course.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
Facing : The exposed or external surface of a wall is called
face and the material forming the face is known as facing.
Backing: The un-exposed or internal surface of a wall is
called back, and the material forming the back is known as
backing.
Hearting: The interior portion between the facing and backing
of a wall is called hearting.
Bed Joints: The horizontal mortar Joints between any two
consecutive courses of brickwork are known as bed joints.
Cross joints: The joints other than bed joints normal to the
face of the wall are called cross joints.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
Bats: The portion made by cutting standard bricks across
their width are known as brick bats or simply bats.
These are named according their fraction of full length of
a standard brick such as three-quarter bat, half or square
bat, quarter bat. It may be noted that that when the cut
extends obliquely across the width of a standard brick, the
bat is termed as bevelled bat.
Brick bats are always obtained from well burnt bricks.
These bats are used where bricks are required to be
reduced in size for forming a proper bond in brick
masonry.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork

Closers: The portions made by cutting

standard bricks across their length or in
such a manner or in such a manner that their
one stretcher face remains uncut or half cut
are known as closers.
These are used for forming a proper bond
in brick maonry
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
These are usually used next to the quoin brick of a course to
close up the bond.
Queen Closer: The portion of a standard brick made by
cutting it across the length into halves is termed as Queen
Closer. It may be noted that a queen closer is half as wide
as a full brick. It is usually placed next to the quoin header
for forming a proper bond in brick work of walls and
pillars.
King Closer: The portion of standard brick
made by cutting off the triangular piece
between the centre of one header face and the
centre of one stretcher face is called a king
closer.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
Bullnose: A standard brick having its one or more
edges rounded off is known as bullnose. It may be
single or double bull nose.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
Cow nose: A standard brick having its both the edges
rounded off at its ends is called cow nose.
Squint Brick: The portion of a standard brick that a
angle other then a right angle is formed.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork
Plinth and Plinth level: The portion of a structure between the
surface of the surrounding ground and the surface of the
floor immediately above the ground is known as the
plinth , and the level of top of plinth with respect to the
surrounding ground nature is called plinth level.
It is always kept 1’-6”-2’ above the surrounding ground
level so the adequate drainage of the site is assured.

Plinth Masonry: The masonry provided from ground level to

plinth level of a building is called plinth masonry.
 Technical Terms used In
Brickwork

Quoins: The external corners of a wall are

called quoins.
Quoin Brick: The brick which forms the
external corners of a wall is known as quoin
brick. A quoin brick has its one edge
exposed to the atmosphere. If the Quoin
brick is laid as a stretcher, it is known as
Queen stretcher. If the quoin brick is laid as
a header, then it is known as quoin header.
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