REPORT ON A BUILDING MATERIAL [

BRICKS]
BY--
MANISHA AGARWAL

INRODUCTION
A brick is a block of a single unit of
a ceramic material, used in masonry
construction. In general sense brick
is a standard sized weight bearing
building structure. The raw
ingredients of bricks are sand , clay
and water.
 Basically it is one of the clay
product. It is used as substitute for
stone , where stone is not available.
 The manufacturing of bricks
involves four distinct operations.
They are earth preparation for
bricks, molding , drying and
burning.
 Normal size of bricks– 9”* 4.5”*3”
and 10”*5”*3”
 Brick are extensively used for
construction of building exteriors
and interiors.
COLOR AND TEXTURE OF BRICKS
 The color of brick is
determined by raw
materials it contain
and method to use to
fire it.
 By adding different
types of techniques
you can add more
texture and decorate
to wall.
TYPES OF BRICKS
 Mostly two types of
bricks are used for
construction.
1. Pressed clay bricks
2. Wire cut bricks
 Bricks may be broadly
classified as -----
1. Building bricks
2. Paving bricks
3. Fire bricks
4. Special bricks
PRESSED CLAY BRICKS
 These are clay bricks
that recesses on either
of its surfaces. These
recesses are called
frogs. Generally
Pressed clay bricks
have a deep frog in one
bedding surface and
shallow one in the
other.
WIRE CUT BRICKS
 These are clay bricks
that have three or four
holes in them. They can
be laid either way and
requires less mortar
for the bedding.
MORTAR is made from
mixing lime, sand ,
cement and water.
BROAD CLASSIFICATION OF BRICKS
 First class bricks
 Second class bricks
 Third class bricks
 Over burnt or jhama
bricks
 Under burnt or pilla
bricks
FIRST CLASS BRICK
 It should be 19*9*9cm
 It is free from pebbles lime lumps,
organic matter and sodium salt.
 It is well burnt and should be uniform
yellow or red.
 It has regular surface and sides
parallel, sharp edges and right angle
to each other.
 Its surface so hard that fingernails can
not be able to make any impression
on its surface.
 It should not break when is dropped
from a height of 1m.
 Absorb water more than 20% of its
own dry weight after 24 hours of
immersion in cold water.
 First class bricks are used in all works
of permanent nature.
SECOND CLASS BRICK
 It is slightly over burnt
than first class brick.
 It absorbs water more
than 22% of its own dry
weight after 24 hours of
immersion in cold water.
 Generally its shape, size,
texture and color is not
regular and uniform.
 Presence of lime stone,
kankar should not be
allowed to occur but
pebbles may be allowed.
THIRD CLASS BRICK
 These are under burnt, soft
and light colored and not
uniform texture.
 They emit a dull sound when
stuck against each other.
 Absorb water more than 25%
of its own dry weight after 24
hours immersed in cold water.
 It may suffer from intensive
efflorescence.
 It may show lot of pebbles on
its surface.
 These bricks are not used for
important and permanent
works.
OVER BURNT OR JHAMA BRICKS
 These are over burnt
vitrified bricks.
 They are only used for
making aggregate for
lime concrete ,
foundations and as a
road metal in the road
construction.
UNDER BURNT OR PILLA BRICKS
 These are just half
burnt , yellow color
and do not have any
strength.
 They can be ground to
powder from and used
as surkhi.
USES
 Building bricks are used for the construction of wall.
 Paving bricks are vitrified bricks and used as pave.
 Fire bricks are specially made to withstand furnace temperature. Ex. Silica
bricks
 Special bricks are commonly used as building bricks with respect to their
shape and purpose for which they are made . Some of these bricks are –
 specially shaped bricks
 Facing shaped bricks
 Perforated bricks
 Sewer bricks
 Acid resistant bricks
 The different types of bricks offer a versatile way of working with bricks in
constructing different structures from relating walls to house, large
buildings such as churches. Different types of bricks provide a great way
for home owners and builders to create beautiful and lasting structure.
PROPERTIES
 Bricks should be soaked in water for about one hour
before use.
 A brick should give a metallic ring when struck with a
small hammer or another brick.
 The surface should not so smooth otherwise mortar will
not stuck to it.
 A good brick should not break when struck against
another brick or fell down from a height of about 4 or 5
feet.
 Brick’s surface should be too hard to scratched by
fingernail.

TESTS OF BRICKS BEFORE USE
 Absorption test
 Hardness test
 Soundness test
 Crushing strength test
 Shape and size test
 Test for presence of soluble salts
SPECIALS SHAPES OF BRICKS
 Cow nose brick
 Bull nose brick
 Copping bricks
 Radial bricks
 Queen closer brick
 King closer brick
 Splayed brick
 Paving brick
 Hollow brick
 Perforated brick
 Purpose made brick
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STONE AND
BRICKS
 Stone is much more strong , durable and weather resisting than bricks, so
brick construction may not last long.
 Brick is a very good fire resistant material in comparison with stone.
 Bricks absorb more water than stones therefore brick will be easily
affected by harmful salts in water.
 Brick masonry is easy to raise whereas stone masonry needs skilled masons.
 Bricks work can be done anywhere, manufactured anywhere by
establishing brick kilns but stone masonry remains restricted at and
around the area where stone is easily and locally available.
 Bricks do not require any dressing etc,. But stone masonry need lot of
dressing
 Brick work does not create the feeling of massiveness in comparison to
stone work, specially in monumental structures.
 Bricks walls can be as thin as 10cm but thickness of stone masonry is
generally not less than 38cm.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTADES
 Versatile thermal mass
 Strong and durable
 Low maintenance
 Thermal performance
 Acoustic performance
 Design flexibility
 Fire resistance
 Bricks have so many advantages but production of
bricks is energy intensive and uses non renewable
resources.
Thank you

Manisha agarwal