Specifications of First

class brickwork
 Soaking of
bricks should
All of the bricks
be done by
used should be
submerging in
of first class.
a tank before
use.

Soaking should
Soaking should
be continue
be for a period
until the air
of 12 hour
bubbles are
before use.
ceased.
  Material of mortar should be of standard specifications.

 For mortar, cement should be fresh ordinary Portland cement of

standard specifications.
Mortar  Sand should be sharp and free from organic and foreign particles.

specifications  If we want to make rich mortar, sand should be coarse or medium.

for first class  For weak mortar, local fine sand may be used.

brickwork  Cement sand ratio of mortar should be 1:3 to 1:6 as specified.

 To get the required proportion, materials of mortar should be

measured with the measuring box.
 Materials of mortar should be first mixed dry to
have a uniform color.
 The platform should be clean for mortar mixing.
 Mixing should be done at least three times.
 Then water should be added gradually for
workable consistency.
 Mortar should be freshly mixed.
 Old mortar should not be used.
 Mortar should be mixed with water for one hour
work so that mortar may be used before setting.
  If specified lime surkhi mortar, should be
mixed in 1:2 to 1:3 ratio as specified, by
grinding in mortar mill for at least three
Lime hours to use on the same day.
Surkhi  Lime should be fresh and should be
screened.
mortar  Fresh mixed mortar should be used.
 For small work, hand mixing may be
allowed just as in the case of cement
sand mortar.
  Bricks should be laid in English bond unless
otherwise specified.

Laying of  Every course of brick should be horizontal.

first class  Wall should be truly in plumb.

 Vertical joints of consecutive brick layer
brickwork should not come on each other.
 Vertical joints of alternate brick layer should
come directly over one another.
 Closers should be of clean cut bricks.
 Closers should be placed at the end of the walls but not at the other edge.

 Best shaped brick should be used for face work.

 Mortar joints should not exceed 6 mm or 0.5 inch in thickness.

 Joints should be fully filled with mortar.

 Bricks should be laid with frogs upwards except in the top brick layer.

 In the top course of brickwork, frog should be laid downward.

 Brickwork should be done for 1 meter or 3 feet height at a time.

 When one part of the wall has to be delayed then stepping should be done
at an angle of 45 degree.

 Projections where made should not be more than 1/4th of the brick in one
course.

 All joints should be raked and faces of wall should be cleaned at the end of
every day’s work.
  Brickwork should be kept wet
for the period of at least 10
Curing of days.
First class  Top of the walls should be
flooded with water at the end of
brickwork the days work by making small
weak mortar edging to contain
at least 2.5 cm or 1 inch deep
water.
  Brickwork should be protected from
the effect of sun, rain, frost etc.,
during the construction.
Other
considerations  Suitable Scaffolding should be
provided to facilitate the construction
for first class of brickwork.
brickwork
 Scaffolding should be strong enough
to withstand all the expected loads to
come upon them.
  Brickwork should be measured in cubic meter or cubic
feet.

 Different kinds of brickwork with different mortar should be

Measurement 
taken under separate item.

Thickness of wall should be taken as multiple of half brick.

of First class  For example half brick wall thickness is taken as 10 cm or
brickwork 4.5 inch.

 Full brick wall thickness is taken as 9 inches or 20 cm and

so on.

 Rate should be for the complete work including scaffolding

and all tools and plants used.
 Specifications of
Second class brickwork
• 
1. Second class bricks work is made by
using second class bricks and cement
mortar.
2. These bricks also have the property of
first class bricks but are not very regular
or even in shape.
3.  Second class bricks have minimum
crushing strength 70.kg per sq. meter.  
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