Category: Bricks

The presence of soluble salts causes efflorescence on the surface of the brick. Here also five test samples of bricks are taken at random. The brick is placed in a dish with 2.5 cm immersed in distilled water. The brick is allowed to absorb the water fully, and then the water evaporates through it. When… Continue reading Efflorescence Test

For the test, five bricks are taken at random from the lot. They are dried in an oven at 110–115°C till they attain constant weight. Generally it takes 48 hours. Bricks are then cooled at room temperature, which generally takes 4–6 hours and are then weighed. Let the weight of a dry brick be W1. Bricks… Continue reading Water Absorption Test

As per norms, five bricks are taken at random and their dimensions are measured accurately to 1 mm. They are immersed in water at 25–29°C for a period of 24 hours. After that they are taken out, and excess moisture is allowed to drain. If the bricks have frogs they are filled with C.M 1:3.… Continue reading Compressive Strength Test

Before recommending bricks for construction work, their suitability is to be assessed by conducting the following tests: The sampling and testing of bricks are carried out as per IS: 3495 – 1992 and are as shown in Table 3.2. Table 3.2 Sampling and testing of bricks Source: IS: 3495–1992.

The classification of bricks under the following four categories on the basis of constituents, preparation and burning is called quality classification: 1. First-class Bricks First-class bricks are table-moulded bricks and are burnt in kilns. These bricks should not have any defects like cracks, stones or lumps of clay. They should be of standard size and… Continue reading Quality Classification of Burnt Bricks

Bricks are broadly classified into two broad categories as follows: Sun-dried bricks also called un-burnt or katcha bricks, and these are dried directly under the sun after the process of moulding. These bricks are of inferior quality and are used for the construction of temporary and cheap structures. Such bricks should not be used in areas… Continue reading BUILDING BRICKS AND USES

The qualities of good bricks are as follows:

In continuous kilns, the process of burning is continuous. There are three types of continuous kilns, viz., (i) Bull’s Trench Kiln This type of kiln is usually oval in plan and is constructed in a trench excavated in the ground. It may be fully underground or partly projecting above ground. The depth of trench is… Continue reading Continuous Kilns

When a large quantity of good-quality bricks are needed, intermittent or continuous kilns have to be used. In intermittent kilns, the process of burning is discontinuous. Figure 3.5 shows the plan of an intermittent kiln. The operations are in the order of loading the bricks, firing, cooling and unloading, which are performed one after the… Continue reading Intermittent Kiln

Clamp or open kiln is a temporary structure where dried bricks are stacked in alternate layers of fuel, i.e., both bricks and fuels are placed in alternate layers. Locally available materials such as grass, rice, husk, wooden chippings, cheap quality woods and dried cow dung are used as fuel. About 20,000 to 1,00,000 bricks are… Continue reading Clamp or Open Kiln