First class bricks :

 These bricks are table-moulded and of

standard shape and they are burnt in
kilns.
 The surfaces and edges of the bricks are
sharp, square, smooth and straight.
 These bricks are used for superior work
of permanent nature.
 These bricks are ground moulded and they
are burnt in kilns.
 The surface of these bricks is somewhat
rough and shape is also slightly irregular.
These bricks may have hair cracks and their
edges may not be sharp and uniform.
 These bricks are commonly used at places
where brickwork is to be provided with a
coat of plaster
 These bricks are ground moulded and
they are burnt in clamps.
 These bricks are not hard and they have
rough surfaces with irregular and
distorted edges.
 These bricks give dull sound when struck
together.
 They are used for unimportant and
temporary structures and at places where
rainfall is not heavy.
 Itis an early method of baking bricks,
done by stacking the unbaked bricks
with fuel under or among them and then
setting the fuel on fire.
 These are over burnt with irregular
shape and dark color.
 These bricks are used as aggregate for
concrete in foundations, floors, roads, etc.
 Because of the fact that the over burnt
bricks have a compact structure and
hence they are sometimes found to be
stronger that even the first class bricks.
 ALUMINA

 SILICA

 LIME

 OXIDE OF IRON
 MAGNESIA
• It is the chief constituent of every kind of
clay.
• A good brick earth should contain about
20% to 30% of alumina.
• This imparts plasticity to the earth so that it
can be molded.
• If alumina is present in excess, with
inadequate quantity of sand, the raw bricks
shrink and warp drying and burning and
become too hard when burnt.
 Aluminais a fine white powder that is
pure aluminium oxide
 Silica exists in clay either as free or
combined state.
 As free sand, it is mechanically mixed
with clay and in combined form, it exists
in chemical composition with alumina.
 A good brick earth should contain about
50% to 60% of silica. The presence of this
constituent prevents cracking, shrinking
and warping of raw bricks.
 It
thus imparts uniform shape to the
bricks.
 The durability of bricks depends on the
proper proportion of silica in brick earth.
The excess of silica destroys the
cohesion between particles and the
bricks become brittle.
• A small quantity of lime not exceeding
5 % is desirable in good brick earth.
• It should be present in a very finely
powered state because even small
particles of the size of a pin head cause
flaking on the bricks.
• The lime prevents shrinkage of raw
bricks.
 The excess of lime causes the brick to
melt and hence it shape is lost.
 The lumps of lime are converted into
quick lime after burning and this quick
lime slakes and expands in presence of
moisture. Such an action results in
splitting of bricks into pieces.
A small quantity of oxide of iron to the
extent of about 5 to 6 percent is desirable
in good brick earth.
 It helps as lime to fuse sand.
 It also imparts red color to the bricks.
 The excess of oxide of iron makes the
bricks dark blue or blackish.
 Ifthe quantity of iron oxide is
comparatively less, the bricks will be
yellowish in color.
 A small quantity of magnesia in brick
earth imparts yellow tint to the bricks
and decreases shrinkage.
 But excess of magnesia leads to the
decay of bricks.
1. Freedom from Flaws or Lumps. - Good
building brick should be sound, free from
cracks and flaws, also from stones, or
lumps of any kind.
2. Lumps of lime, however small, are specially
dangerous; they slake when the brick is
exposed to moisture, and split it to pieces.
3. In examining a brick, lumps of any kind
should be regarded with suspicion and
tested.
 Uniform size, rectangular surfaces,
parallel sides, sharp straight edges.
 Their edges should be square, straight,
and sharply defined.
 Their surfaces should be even, not
hollow; not too smooth, or the mortar will
not adhere to them.
 Should not exceed 20% by weight.
 The proportion of water that a brick will
absorb is a very good indication of its
quality. Insufficiently burnt bricks absorb
a large proportion and are sure to decay
in a short time.
 The absorption of average bricks is,
however, generally about 1/6 of their
weight.
 Uniform texture, fractured surface should
not show fissures, holes, grits or lumps of
lime.
 Good bricks should be hard, and burnt so
thoroughly that there is vitrification all
through the brick .
 This may be seen by examining a fractured
surface, or the surface may be tested with a
knife, which will make hardly any
impression upon it unless the brick is under
burnt.
A brick thoroughly burnt and sound will
give out a ringing sound when struck
against another.
 A dull sound indicates a soft or shaky
brick.
 A well-burnt brick will be very hard, and
possesses great power of resistance to
compression.
 Color– Uniform deep red or cherry.
 Crushing strength – Not less than 10.5
N/mm2.
Following tests are performed to check the
quality of bricks.
1.Absorption Test
2. Crushing strength
3. Hardness
4.Presence of soluble salts
5.Soudness
6.Structure
24 hrs immersion cold water test
Dry bricks are oven dried at 105° ± 5° C.
Room temperature cooled bricks weighed
W1.
Bricks immersed in water at 27° ± 2° C for
24 hrs.
Soaked bricks weighed W2.
Water absorption in % = (W2 – W1)/W1 x
100
Five hours boiling water test
Oven dried bricks weighed W1.
Bricks immersed in water and boiled for
5hrs and then cooled down at room
temperature for 16-19 hrs.
Cooled down bricks weighed W2.
Water absorption % = (W2 – W1)/W1 x
100
Specimen brick is immersed in water for
24 hrs.
The frog of brick is filled flush with 1:3
mortar and brick is stored under damp
jute bags for 24 hours followed by
immersion in clean water for three days.
 The specimen is then placed between
plates of compression testing machine.
 Load is applied axially at uniform rate
till failure. Maximum load at failure
divided by average area of bed face
gives compressive strength.
 Thistest is performed by making a
scratch on brick surface with the help of
finger nail. If no impression is left on
surface, the brick is considered to be
sufficiently hard.
 The soluble salts if present in bricks
cause efflorescence on the surface of
brick.
 Efflorescence is a crystalline deposit on
surfaces of masonry, stucco or concrete. It
is whitish in appearance, and is
sometimes referred to as "whiskers".
 Brickis immersed in water for 24h. It is
then taken out and allowed to dry in
shade. The absence of grey or white
deposits on its surface indicates absence
of soluble salts
 Observation is made with naked eyes and
classified as below.
 Nil – Slight efflorescence
 Slight – Deposit covers area < 10% of
exposed area
 Moderate – deposit covers exposed area
10% to 50%
 Heavy – Deposit covers exposed area >
50%
 Serious – Deposits are heavy and powder
or flake away the surface
 Thistest is performed by striking two
specimen bricks with each other. The
bricks should not break and a clear
ringing sound should be produced.
A specimen is broken and its structure is
examined. It should be homogeneous,
compact, and free from defects e.g.
lumps and holes, etc.
 Brick should not be placed directly on
the ground.
 The brick units can absorb salts from the
soil that can cause efflorescence or
discoloration in the completed walls.
 Dirtcan also splash onto the bricks
reducing the masonry's bond strength.
Masonry units should always be raised
off the ground. Typically, brick cubes are
placed on pallets or wood to keep them
off the ground.