The good bricks which are used to be used for the construction of important structures should posses the following qualities:
- The bricks should be table-moulded. well burnt in kilns, Copper-coloured, free from cracks and with sharp and square edged. The colour should be uniform and bright.
- The brick should be uniform in shape and should be of standard size.
Standard size of bricks - The brick should give clear metallic ringing sound when struck with each other.
Striking of bricks with each other - the bricks when broken or fractured should show a bright homogeneous and uniform compact structure free from voids.
- The brick should not absorb water more than 20% by weight for first class bricks and 22% by weight for second class bricks, when soaked in cold water for a period of 24 hours.
Bricks soaked in water - No brick should have crushing strength below than 5.50 N/mm²
- The brick when soaked in water for 24 hours, should not show deposits of white salts when allowed to dry in shade.
- It should not break into pieces when dropped flat on hard ground from a height of about one meter.
- It should be sufficiently hard. No impression should be left on brick surface, when it is scratched.
- It should have low thermal conductivity and it should be sound proof.
Subscribe & Watch Technical video’s related to civil engineering on our YouTube channel We Civil Engineers
