INTRODUCTION TO CIVIL

ENGINEERING
Building Materials and
Construction

Burning
Burning of
of Bricks
Bricks

Burning is the process of heating the bricks in

order to make them Harder, Stronger, denser, less
absorbent and consequently more durable

Bricks are burnt either in clamp or kiln

Clamp burning
Kiln Burning
Intermittent Allahabad kiln
Semi continuous Bulls trench kiln
Continuous Hoffman's kiln

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Burning
Burning of
of Bricks
Bricks

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CLAMP
CLAMP BURNING
BURNING

Trapezoidal floor elevation slopping upwards

with 1:8 ratio or 150 angle

Short end is slightly in excavation .

Sides will be parallel, smaller side is

approximately equal to the wider one

Fuel and bricks are to be burnt are kept in layers.

The size of the fuel varies between 60cm to
75cm.

Brick layer consists of four or five courses laid on

edges with gaps for draught purpose

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CLAMP
CLAMP BURNING
BURNING

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CLAMP
CLAMP BURNING
BURNING

Clamp is fired at the lower end bottom when 1/3 of it has

been loaded which heats the bricks which are further
loaded.

A layer of fuel may consists of grass, cow dung and litter

and in the range of 60-75cm.

Finally the all the sides will be plastered to check the heat
loss.

Once the loaded bricks are burnt, it is allowed to cool and

unloaded.

It is capable of producing 10,000 bricks per the day but the

large percentages of brick will be of poor quality.

It takes 2-3 months to burn and cool the bricks

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Allahabad
Allahabad kiln
kiln

Rectangular in plan, partially underground

Kiln size normally: 5.5m wide,4m high and having

length of 15 to 18m

Trenches for flues 40cm wide and 30 cm deep

excavated across the length at intervals of 1.5 m
c/c, leaving spaces of 1m width called rouses

On the rouses the 7 to 8 bricks are laid, with

spaces between them for circulation of air.

Eighth and ninth layer or courses of bricks project

over each other so that cover the flue holes

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Allahabad
Allahabad kiln
kiln

Flue holes are provided with openings from where fuel

is added.

The openings are provided with iron gates to regulate

air through air through the flue holes. Heat is regulated
by closing or partially opening the flue gates.

The openings are also serve as windows to watch the

fire inside the kiln

Fire wood or coal ashes are used as fuels. It takes two

weeks for complete burning and cooling.

The intermittent kilns are to be cooled and fired each

time and hence the consumption of fuel is very high.

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Allahabad
Allahabad kiln
kiln

The loss of heat is high as the hot gases from the

kiln easily escape

Kiln cannot be loaded or unloaded unless it is

cooled down. Because of this wastage of time
they become obsolete.

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Bulls
Bulls Trench
Trench Kiln
Kiln A
A semi
semi continuous
continuous kiln
kiln

The process of this kiln is continuous but in rainy

season the working of the kiln is to be stopped as the
top of the kiln is not covered.

It is generally oval or circular in shape. The trench is

nearly 2m deep and 6m wide.

This type of kiln is mostly used in India, as the working

is easy, continuous, consumption of fuel is low and the
initial consumption of fuel is not comparatively high.

The kiln is lined from inside either with fire bricks or

ordinary quality bricks

The kiln is provided with eight openings.

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Bulls
Bulls Trench
Trench Kiln
Kiln

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Bulls
Bulls Trench
Trench Kiln
Kiln

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Bulls
Bulls Trench
Trench Kiln
Kiln

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Bulls
Bulls Trench
Trench Kiln
Kiln

The kiln is loaded in section of 4m with a clear

space of 15 to 30cm between the stacks, over
which draught chimneys are provided

The flues holes are provided at the top with the

intervals of 1m.

After a sections are loaded and one of the section

is fired.

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Bulls
Bulls Trench
Trench Kiln
Kiln

Zone 1 Burnt bricks being cooled through fresh

air draught

Zone 2 Bricks being burnt

Zone 3 Loaded sun dried bricks are being

heated by hot air from zone 2

Zone 4 Fresh sundried bricks being loaded

Zone 5 Cooled bricks being unloaded

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Bulls
Bulls Trench
Trench Kiln
Kiln

Advantages
Continuous supply of bricks
high percentage of first class bricks
Saves cost of the fuel
Drying space is saved

Disadvantages
Needs constant supervision
Initial cost is high

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Hoffman's
Hoffman's kiln
kiln A
A continuous
continuous kiln
kiln

Has a permanent roof - function even during

rains continuous supply of bricks

Circular or oval in shape.

Fixed chimney at the centre around which the kiln

is divided in twelve chambers

Each chamber has communicating door with the

outside and a flue leading to the chimney

The door could be closed by wall with sand

packing

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Hoffman's
Hoffman's kiln
kiln

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Hoffman's
Hoffman's kiln
kiln A
A continuous
continuous kiln
kiln

Flue controlled by damper or iron shutters

Circular or oval in shape.

Air enters the kiln through doors 1 and 2. while

passing through burnt bricks 1 to 4 cools the
bricks and inturn heated up

The hot air then passes through chambers 5 to 10

heating the bricks to be burnt.

The iron shutter at the end of the chamber is

closed and flue number 10 is opened to allow the
cooled air to escape through chimney.

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Hoffman's
Hoffman's kiln
kiln A
A continuous
continuous kiln
kiln

Bricks in c11 are being loaded whereas c12 being

unloaded.

A chamber 11m long 4.5m wide and 2.75m high

25000 bricks/day.

Advantages:
Working of kiln not interrupted even by rains
Fuel consumption is low
% of quality bricks are more
Space and time are saved in drying

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Hoffman's
Hoffman's kiln
kiln A
A continuous
continuous kiln
kiln

Disadvantages:
Highly skilled labour is required
Initial cost is very high

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