PLUS / PEB HEADQUARTERS ID WORK BRICKWALL

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SECTION 003

BRICKWALL
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BRICK WORKS

GENERAL

A. Cement

Cement shall be as specified under ‘Concreter’.

B. Sand

Sand for brickwork shall comply with the requirements of B.S. 1200 and shall
be clean, sharp, fresh water river sand free from clay and any other impurities
and shall be washed and/or screened if required by the Client’s
Representative.

C. Clay Bricks (Common Bricks)

a) All ordinary bricks for use in the works shall be R.I.B.A Standard size,
and shall be hard, well burnt, machine-made wire-cut bricks form an
approved kiln and to the satisfaction of the Client’s Representative.

b) Once samples of the various bricks have been submitted by the

Contractor and have been approved by the Client’s Representative,
all bricks shall be up to this standard in every respect. No soft, broken,
twisted or otherwise defective bricks will be permitted to be used.

D. Mortar

a) Mortar shall be composed of one part of cement and six parts of sand,
with the addition of an approved mortar plasticiser used strictly in
accordance with the Manufacturer’s instructions. The ingredients for
mortar shall be measured in proper gauge boxes on a boarded platform
or in an approved mechanical mixer.

b) All mortar shall be properly mixed on clean mixing platforms or

mortarboards and shall be used only when freshly mixed. No re-making
up of partially set mortar will be permitted.

c) Mortar for bricklaying below D.P.C. or ground floor level shall in cement
mortar only in the portion of 1 part cement 3-part sand.

E. Cement – Sand Bricks

a) Size

Bricks shall be of a standard size as given below:-

Length (mm) Width (mm) Depth (mm)

2.25+ 3.2 113 + 1.6 75 + 1.6

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b) Materials

i) Bricks shall consist of an intimate of sand and cement.

ii) The sand and cement shall be mixed in the ratio of 6 sands by
volume to 1 cement by weight in a mechanical mixer capable of
taking one bag of cement (50kg of cement shall be taken as
0.035 meter cube).

iii) The sand shall be clean, hard sharp river or mining sand, free
from all deleterious matter and shall pass through a 4.8mm
mesh B.S. Sieve. The sand shall be washed or screened as
directed by the Client’s Representative.

iv) The cement used in the manufacture of bricks shall comply in

all respects with B.S. 12 for Portland cement.

c) Manufacture

Bricks shall be made a machine of approved type-operated either

electrically or by a petrol motor. It shall have a mixer incorporated with
the pressing machine.

d) Curing

After removal from the machine the surface of the bricks shall be
scratched and they shall be matured on the pallets under shade in
separate rows one brick high with a space between each brick. For the
first 24 hours after removal from the machine the bricks shall be kept
wet by watering through a fine spray.

Two days after removal the machine, the bricks shall be removed from
the pallets and shall be matured under roof cover with an air space
between the bricks for a period of 26 days. They must be raised from
the ground.

Each batch of bricks shall be carefully dated.

Bricks removed from the manufacturing yard after maturing to the

working site shall be protected from rain and damp by the use of
portable covers right up to the time they are laid in the walls.

e) Compressive Strength

The minimum compressive strength at 24 days shall be 6,894 kw/m sq

or 16.32 metric tons per brick. After 24 days the Client’s
Representative for test will take samples at random from the
Contractor’s stockpile. All rejected bricks or condemned bricks shall be
removed from the site at the Contractor’s expense.

f) Bricks shall not be soaked but dipped in water before being laid and all
constructed brickwork must be protected form the sun’s rays during
the day on which it is laid and also during the following day and the
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Contractor must provide a sufficient number of gunny bags and / or

kiang’s to ensure that this is done.

F. Hollow Block Walls

a) Sand cement blocks walls to be approved size and cast in approved

moulds and laid in the manner specified for brick walls. The blocks are
to be composed of one part of cement to six parts of sand as specified.
All blocks must be cast clean and true to shape with sharp arises. The
mixture measured by volume is to be turned over three times in a dry
state until of an even color and consistency throughout. Water is then
to be added gently through a hose, the quantity being just enough to
secure adhesion. After wetting the mixture shall be turned over three
times and well rammed into the middle and then smoothed over with
steel faced trowel. After removal from the moulds, the blocks are to be
matured under shade in separate rows. The blocks must not be
removed from the shade at least 9 days. Twenty-four (24) hours after
removal from the moulds, the blocks must be kept wet by continuous
watering through a fine spray while maturing. No blocks are to be used
in any part of the building until they have matured for at least 14 days.

b) The shell of each hollow shall be 38mm thick minimum on all sides.
The hollow block wall shall be reinforced at every second course with
approved brick reinforcement commencing one course above floor
level.

c) The minimum compressive strength shall be 6,894 KN/m sq after 24

days. Client’s Representative will take samples at random from the
Contractor’s stockpile.

G. Walling Generally

a) Construct all walls and flues in standard bricks except where otherwise
specified, as ordered in accordance with drawings and this
Specification, and leave surfaces ready for rendering. Build in cramps,
frames and precast units as required.

b) All bricks shall be soaked in a suitable tank or pit to be provided by the

Contractor for at least half an hour before being laid and shall be kept
wet whilst being laid. All constructed walling must be left wet and
properly protected from the sun’s rays during the following day. The
Contractor shall provide sufficient gunny bags and/or kiang’s to ensure
that this is done.
Top of walls where work has stopped shall be thoroughly wetted before
any further walling is commenced upon them.

c) All walling shall rise perfectly true and plumb and walls shall be carried
up evenly, no part being allowed to be carried up to a height of more
than 905mm above any adjacent walling. No overhang work will be
permitted and scaffolding shall be carried up as the work proceeds.
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d) All intersections and angles of walls shall be properly bonded together

and all walls and piers of lengths and widths not multiples of brick sizes
shall be cut and bonded in the best-approved manner. No broken bricks
shall be used except where required to form bond.

e) The vertical points of every alternate course shall be kept

perpendicularly over one another and all perpends, quoins, etc. Shall
be kept strictly true and square. All bricks shall be properly bedded in
mortar and all vertical joints be raked out to a depth of 13mm as the
work proceeds.

g) All half brick (114mm) walls and partitions shall be reinforced at every
fourth course with ‘Exmet’ or other approved brick reinforcement,
commencing two courses above floor level.

h) The Contractor may at his option execute all walling below D.P.C. level
in cement concrete 1:3:6 to 1-1/2” gauge as for foundations but shall
not be entitled to claim any extra payment if he choose to do so.

H. Bond

a) All half brick (114mm) walls shall be built in Stretcher bond.

b) All other brickwork shall be built in English bond.

I. Damp-Proof Course

a) Provide and lay bituminous sheet damp-proof course where shown on

drawings. The bituminous sheet damp-proof course shall comply with
B.S. 475, weighing not less than 7lbs. per yard super. It shall at least 3”
at angles and joints and shall be laid on a ¾” bed of cement mortar
(1:1) and coated on the upper surface with hot bitumen.

b) In all of doubt the Contractor must enquire the exact location of D.P.C.
and if he neglects to do so he will be held responsible for amending, if
required, their positions without compensation.

J. Building-in

Built-in cramps, cramps for metal windows, frames and precast units where
shown and where required. Wrought iron cramps shall be 1- ½” x ¼” x 9” long
for fixing wooden frames, etc. One end of the cramp shall be turned up and
screwed to back of frame and the other end shall be split and fishtailed for
building in. Cramps shall be embedded in concrete and built in as the
brickwork proceeds.
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K. Scaffolding

All scaffolding must be self-supporting and independent of the building. No

‘putlogs’ will be permitted i.e Scaffolding bearers supported on the walls of
the building under construction.

L. Bonding Ties

Provide bonding ties consisting of 6mm diameter mild steel rods 450mm long,
hooked bits ends, cast into concrete columns and built into brickwork. The 450
x 50mm strips of Exempt to top of bars to form adequate brickwork bond and
the Contractor shall include for his rates.

M. Facing Brickwork

Execute all facing brickwork, where shown in first quality approved pressed
facing bricks in a stretcher or Flemish bond as required, properly bonded into
any backing walls, piers, etc. Rake out joints to a depth of 13mm and point up
in colored cement mortar to approved tints, finished with a neat struck
weathered joint.

N. Stonework

a) All stone used must be of granite or limestone blocks, free from cracks,
fissures or other defects, of good appearance to the approval of the
Client’s Representative stonewalling shall be laid random uncaused
or random coursed or ashlars as shown on the drawings. ‘Through’ or
‘Bond’ stones will be used at one stone per yard super for random
uncaused work, and two stones per yard super for random coursed and
ashlars. Where backing brickwork is shown the ‘Through’ stone shall be
properly bonded into such brickwork.

b) Unless otherwise directed, all stonework shall be bedded in

cement/sand mortar (1:3) mix and finished with a flush joint rubbed
down with sacking. Finish to expose surfaces of random walling to be
hammering dressed. Ashlars work to be as sawn blocks.

O. Cutting

Perform all arches, cuttings, straight and circular rough and fair, form all
sinking, setbacks and all projections, cut or leave chases for edges of floors,
flashing, etc. cut or leave holes through walls and slabs for passage of pipes,
wiring, etc. Build in fittings and fixtures and do everything else necessary for
the proper completion of the brickwork.

P. Cavity Walls
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a) The inner and outer skins of cavity walls shall be built at the same
time. Cavities including wall ties shall be kept clear of mortar droppings
and shall be cleaned daily, holes being left for this purpose and
subsequently to be bricked up on completion.

b) Skins shall be tied together with galvanized wire ties to B.S. 1243.
Extra ties shall be provided at reveals and ends of walls at not more
than 9” centers.

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