Chapter

Bricks
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Introduction

 Prepared by moulding clay in rectangular blocks of uniform

size and by drying and burning these blocks.

 They can be properly arranged.

 Light in weight

 Do not require dressing

 Brickwork-less skilled labour

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Comparison of brickwork and stonework
 The brickwork is superior to stonework in following respect.

 At places where stones are not easily available but plenty of clay is there-
brickwork is cheaper than stonework.

 Skilled labour requirement is less in brickwork.

 Movement and lifting of brick is simple.

 Fire resistance of brick is higher than stone.

 Bricks of better quality resist the various atmospheric effects in a better way
than stone.

 Mortar joints are thin in brickwork and hence structure becomes more
durable.

 Connections and openings are easy in brickwork.

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Comparison of brickwork and stonework
 The brickwork is inferior to stonework in following respect.

 Brick absorb moisture-brickwork is less watertight-dampness can

enter.

 Appearance of brickwork is not as good as stonework.

 Brickwork-less strong

 Architectural effect of better quality by stonework can be developed

 Stonework is cheaper where stones are easily available.

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Characteristics of good bricks
 Should be table moulded, well burnt in kilns, copper coloured, free
from cracks with sharp and square edge.

 Uniform in shape and of standard size.

 Should give a clear metallic ringing sound when struck with each
other.

 When broken should show a bright homogeneous and uniform

structure free from voids.

 Should not absorb water more than 20% by weight for first class
bricks and 22% by weight for second class bricks, when soaked in
cold water for a period of 24 hours.

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Cont…
 Should be hard. Does not show any impression on scratching.

 Should not break into pieces when dropped on ground from a height
of about one meter.

 Should have low thermal conductivity.

 Should be sound proof.

 When soaked in water for 24 hours should not show deposits of

white salts when allowed to dry in shed.

 Crushing strength should not be below 5.5 N/mm2.

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IS Classification of bricks (IS:1077-1971)
Sr. Class Characteristics Uses
No.
01 First class  Table - moulded and of standard  Excellent for all types
bricks (pucca shape of construction in the
bricks)  Well burnt in kilns exterior walls when
 Surface and edges are sharp, the plastering is not
square, smooth and straight required
 When two bricks are struck  Also suitable for
against each other a ringing sound flooring
is produced
 Compressive strength shall not be
less than 140 kg/cm2
 Water absorption after 24 hours
shall not exceed 20 %
 Should exhibit uniform
appearance, texture and structure
when seen on fracturing

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Cont…
Sr. Class Characteristics Uses
No.
02 Second class  Ground - moulded  For exterior work
bricks  Well burnt in kilns, even slight when plastering is to
burning is accepted be done
 In shape - rectangular, slight  For interior walls
irregular and surface is slightly  These bricks may not
uneven be used for flooring
 May have hair crack
 Metallic ringing sound is also
must in this case well
 Compressive strength > 70 kg/cm2
 Water absorption value 20-22 %
 Slight difference in structure on
fractured surface

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Cont…
Sr. Class Characteristics Uses
No.
03 Third class  Ground - moulded  Used in ordinary
bricks  Burnt in clamps, poorly and (unimportant and
(Yellow unevenly burnt i.e. over burnt or temporary) type of
bricks) under burnt construction in dry
 These bricks are not hard situation or where
 Appearance, shape and size are rainfall is not heavy
also non-uniform and irregular
 These bricks give dull sound when
struck together
 Compressive strength 35-70
kg/cm2
 Water absorption value 22-25 %
 They are light red in colour with
yellowish shed

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Cont…
Sr. Class Characteristics Uses
No.
04 Fourth class  Over burnt  These bricks having
bricks  Irregular shape and dark colour good strength but as
which is due to over burning these are having
 Quite strong in Compressive irregular size & shape
strength above 150 kg/cm2 can not be used in
 Low porosity and absorption building construction
 Used as aggregate for
concrete in floors,
foundation, roads, etc.

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Classification of bricks
A. Conventional brick
B. Standard brick

Conventional brick:

 The dimensions of conventional brick vary from 21 to 25 cm in length, 10 to 13

cm in width and 7.5 to 10 cm in thickness in different countries.

 But the commonly adopted size of conventional brick is 23 x 11.4 x 7.5 cm.

Standard brick:

 In different countries different size of bricks are used. Therefore to uniform size
of the brick throughout the country ISI suggested a uniform brick size which
known as standard brick.

 The nominal size of the brick with mortar is 20 x 10 x 10 cm and the actual size
is 10 x 9 x 9 cm.

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Special type of bricks
 Ordinary building bricks are typically rectangular in shape and made
from suitable type of brick clay.

 In building construction, however bricks of modified shapes, porous

or hollow structure and also made from materials other than clay also
used

 Following are the special type of bricks

I. Types where form or shape is modified
II. Types with perforation in the body
III. Types where a different material is used to make the brick

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I. Types based on modification in shape

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II. Types based on perforations or cavities
 Following are the types of bricks based on the perforation or
cavities:

a) Perforated brick

b) Hollow brick

c) Channel or gutter brick

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(a) Perforated brick
 These bricks contain cylindrical, rounded or rectangular holes throughout their
thickness and these holes are made in the bricks after the moulding stage.

 These holes are called as perforations.

 The distance between the side of the brick and edge of perforation should not be
less than 15 mm.

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Cont…
 The distance between any two perforation is not less than 10 mm.

 Volume of holes is 20 to 50 % of total volume of the brick.

 Water absorption after immersion in water for 24 hours should not exceed 15 %
by weight.

 Compressive strength of perforated brick should not be less than 7 N/mm2.

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Cont…
 Advantages:
 These bricks are light in weight.

 Less quantity of clay is required.

 Less time is required for drying and burning of these bricks.

 Better insulation against heat, sound, etc.

 Efflorescence is least in perforated bricks.

 If perforated bricks of large size are used, it will result in the

increase of output of mason.

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(b) Hollow brick
 These bricks are also known as the cellular or cavity bricks.

 Such brick has well defined set of cavities with wall thickness of about
20 to 30 mm.

 They are prepared from special homogeneous clay.

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Cont…
 Advantages:
 They are light in weight about one-third the weight of the ordinary
brick of the same size.

 These bricks can be laid almost about four times as fast as the
ordinary bricks and thus the use of such bricks leads to speedy
construction.

 They also reduce transmission of heat, sound and damp.

 They are used in construction of brick partitioning.

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(c) Channel or Gutter brick
 They are actually special purpose bricks having a continuous central
semicircular cavity or depression running through their length.

 Vey often they are glazed to make them impervious.

 These bricks are used to function as drains.

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III. Types based on composition

 Following are the types of bricks based on the composition:

a) Sand-lime brick

b) Fire brick or Refractory brick

c) Fly-ash brick

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(a) Sand lime brick
 The raw materials required for preparation of the sand-lime brick are sand,
lime, water & colouring pigment.

 The percentage of sand varies from 88 to 92% whereas that of lime varies
from 8 to 12%.

 The sand-lime bricks are used for ornamental work and they can be used in
place of ordinary clay bricks in building industry.

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Advantages of Sand-lime brick
 Uniform in colour and texture.

 These bricks present a clean appearance - plastering may be avoided.

 Quantity of mortar required is less for plaster - as these bricks are

uniform in size and shape.

 Masonry work of these bricks offers considerable flexibility to

produce complex shapes, difficult design and different surface finish.

 Raw materials do not contain any soluble salt - trouble of

efflorescence does not arise.

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Cont…
 Use of coloured sand-lime bricks offer permanent finish to the walls
without extra cost.

 These bricks can be prepared where clay is scarce.

 Have better water repellant properties and noise reduction

coefficients and they grant protection from fire.

 These bricks possess white colour with smooth finish and helps in
reducing effect of solar heat on exposed walls.

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Disadvantages of Sand-lime brick
 Not suitable for furnace brickwork because they will disintegrate, if
exposed to heat for a long time.

 Weak in offering resistance to the abrasion - can not be used as

paving material.

 Less water resistant than clay bricks - can not used for foundation
work.

 Uneconomical - where suitable clay for manufacture of clay bricks is

available.

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Properties of refractory material
 It should be able to withstand high temperature generated in the
furnace.

 It should be able to withstand sudden alternating heating and

cooling i.e. thermal shocks.

 It should be able to withstand abrasion and rough usage.

 It’s expansion and contraction due to unavoidable temperature

variation should be minimum possible.

 It should be able to withstand fluxing action of the slag and

corrosive action of gases.

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Cont…
 It should have good heat insulating properties.

 It should be chemically inactive at elevated temperature.

 It should be impermeable to gases and liquids as far as possible.

 If used in electric furnace, it must have low electric conductivity.

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(b) Fire brick or Refractory brick
 It is made for specific use in industrial process.

 These bricks are made from fire-clay.

 The process of manufacture is the same as that of ordinary clay bricks. The
burning and cooling of fire bricks are done gradually.

 These bricks are usually white or yellowish white in colour.

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Cont…
 The weight of a fire brick is about 30 to 35 N.

 The fire bricks can resist high temperature without softening or melting.

 They are used for linings of interior surfaces of furnaces, chimneys,

kilns, ovens, fireplaces, etc.

 The compressive strength of these bricks varies from 200 to 220

N/mm2.

 There are three varieties of fire bricks:

1) Acidic bricks
2) Basic bricks
3) Neutral bricks

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Cont…
1) Acidic bricks: These bricks are used for acidic lining. Following
are the types of acidic bricks:

 Ordinary fire-bricks:
 These bricks are prepared from natural fire-clay
 They provide a good material for acidic refractory lining.

 Silica bricks:
 It contains high percentage of silica of about 95 to 97 %.
 Small quantity of lime, about 1 to 2 % is added to work as binding
material.
 These bricks are moulded under pressure and burnt at high temperature.
 It can stand a high temperature up to 2000 oC.
 The compressive strength of such bricks is about 15 N/mm2.

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Cont…
2) Basic bricks:

 These bricks are used for basic lining.

 Basic refractory materials are used in the manufacture of such bricks.

 The magnesia bricks are prepared from lime and magnesia rocks.

 The dolomite may also be adopted for the manufacture of these

bricks.

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Cont…
3) Neutral bricks:
 These bricks are used for neutral lining.

 They offer resistance to the corrosive action of slag and acid fumes.

 Neutral bricks are more inert to the slag compared to the basic bricks.

 Following are the types of neutral bricks:

 Chromite bricks:
 These bricks are prepared from a mixture of chrome, iron ore, ferrous oxide,
bauxite and silica.
 Such bricks are unaffected by acidic or basic actions.

 High alumina bricks:

 It contains high percentage of alumina.
 They are found to be more inert to the slag.
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Fly ash
 Fly-ash is a by-product of many thermal power stations and other plants
using pulverized coal or lignite as a source of heat for boiler.

 The fly-ash resembles a pozzolana.

 It is acidic in nature and its main constituents are silica, aluminium oxide
and ferrous oxide.

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(c) Fly ash brick
 The raw material of fly-ash brick are fly-ash, sand and lime.

 Superior to the conventional burnt bricks in shape, technical

specifications, compressive strength and impermeability.

 10 to 15 % cheap compared to the conventional bricks.

 They are 20 % light in weight.

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