Brick, one of the oldest building materials, remains the most important and popular building material because it is cheap, durable, and easy to handle and work with. Bricks are used for the construction of exterior and interior walls, partitions, piers, foundations, and other load-bearing structures.
Properties vary according to composition and heating methods; There are also several factors that influence the quality of the stones.
Bricks are classified into first class, second class, third class, and fourth class based on their physical and mechanical properties.
Properties of First-class bricks
1. These are completely burnt and are dark red, cherry or copper-colored.
2. The surface must be smooth and rectangular, with straight, sharp, parallel edges and right angles.
3. These must be free of defects, cracks, and stones.
4. They should have a uniform texture.
5. No mark should be left on the stone when a fingernail makes a scratch.
6. The broken surface of the stone should not show any limescale.
7. There should be a metallic or ringing sound when two stones touch.
8. Water absorption should be 12-15% of dry weight when immersed in cold water for 24 hours.
9. The crushing resistance of the stone should not be less than 10 N/mm2. This limit varies depending on the different government organizations across the country.
Uses of first-class bricks: These bricks are recommended for chimneys, masonry facades, floors, and reinforced masonry.
Also read What is Construction Steel & its properties Explained
Properties of Second-class bricks
They are supposed to have the same requirements as the first-class ones except they might have the following-
1. Small cracks and distortions are permitted.
2. A little higher water absorption of about 16–20% of its dry weight is allowed.
3. The crushing strength should not be less than 7.0 N/mm2.
Uses of Second-class bricks: Second-class bricks are recommended for all important or unimportant hidden masonry works and centering of reinforced brick and reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structures.
Properties of Third-class bricks
They are under burnt. They are soft and light-colored producing a dull sound when struck against each other. Water absorption is about 25 percent of dry weight.
Uses of Third-class bricks: It is used for building temporary structures.
Properties of Fourth-class bricks
They are overburnt and badly distorted in shape and size and are brittle in nature.
Uses of Fourth-class bricks: The ballast of such bricks is used for foundation and floors in lime concrete and road metal.
Join Our Whatsapp Group for the latest updates -Click Here
Join Our Telegram Channel for the latest updates -Click Here
Comments are closed.