BUILDNING MATERIALS :

BRICKS
BRICKS
 BRICKS SIZES
(i) Modular brick: The bricks confirming to IS 1077-
1976 are known as modular brick.
The size of brick is 19 cm x 9 cm x 9 cm.
With mortar joint the size becomes 20 cm x 10 cm x
10 cm.

(ii) Traditional brick: These bricks are manufactured

traditionally or right from ancient times.
There is a slight variation in the size of the brick
from place to place.
The common size is 23 cm x 11.4 cm x 7 cm.
 BRICKS
 Brick is a rectangular block of regular shape obtained by
moulding a mixture of clay and sand and generally burnt
at high temperature.
 The earth for good brick should contain clay or Alumina 20 to
30%, sand or silica 35 to 50%, silt 20 to 35% by weight.
 The brick clay should have plasticity and good binding
property.
 It should with stand high temperature without-deformation.

 The air-drying and fire-drying shrinkage should be between 5

to 18%.

 It should be free from pebbles, stones, gravel, grit, alkaline

salts, lumps of lime, vegetables and organic matter.
CLASSES OF BRICKS
 PROPERTIES & TESTS ON BRICKS
 Bricks should be well-burnt, copper coloured.
 They should be free form crack, fissures, tones etc.
 Brick should have perfect edges, required shape and
standard size 19 x 9 x 9 cm (Modular brick) (Dimension
Tolerance Test).
 Bricks should be sufficiently hard i.e. when scratched
with a nail, no impression be present.
 Bricks should give clear metallic ringing sound when
struck with each other.
 PROPERTIES & TESTS ON BRICKS
 Bricks should be homogeneous and free from blow
holes, cracks, voids, the latter is dangerous as they
slake upon absorption of water, expand in volume and
cause the crumble or split.
 Bricks should not absorb water more than 20% and
22% by weight for 1st and 2nd bricks respectively when
soaked in cold water for 24 hours (Water Absorption
Test).
 Bricks should not break, when struck against another
brick or when dropped from a height of 1 m on the firm
ground.
 Bricks should be sound proof, fire resistant, and
weather resistant.
 PROPERTIES & TESTS ON BRICKS
 Bricks should be free from harmful constituents like
soluble salts of calcium ma and potassium (Efflorescene
Test).
 Bricks should be strong and durable. The crushing
strength should be 3.5 N/mm2 (Compressive Strength
Test).
 Bricks should have 5 to 7 N / mm2 shearing strength.
 The density of brick should be 1.7 to 1.9 kN / mm2.
 USES OF BRICKS
 Bricks are used for the construction of walls.
 Hallow blocks i.e. bricks with cavities are used in the
construction of walls, The very light so they are very useful
for high rise buildings.
 Bricks are also used for the construction of columns,
compound walls, chimney and other special works.
 Bricks of good quality i.e. 1st class bricks are used for fencing
of wall.
o Paving bricks manufactured from clay containing large
percentage of iron are used pavements since they resist
abrasion.
 Fire bricks manufactured from fire clay are used as refractory
bricks for lining furnace.
 Sand-lime bricks are used for decorative work.