Types of Brick

Types of Brick in Masonry Construction:

In this artical we will discuss types of bricks in masonry construction that is given below:

Brick:

It is a construction material used in construction to make the walls pavement and other elements in construction, typically the brick is prepared from clay but nowadays it can be prepared from clay bearing soil, sand and lime or concrete materials. Bricks are joined by mortar. The bricks are using in construction before thousand years ago. The earliest bricks were dried brick means that they were prepared from clay or mud and then dried in the presence of sun at that time they were strong enough for use. The bricks are patented before 7500 BC were found at tell asward in the upper tigris region and in south east austrilia close to diyarbakin. There are more houses which were constructed before 7000 to 3000 BC ancient valley cities of harrapa and mohenjo daro are also constructed from the bricks. The kalibangan city of indus valley were constructed from fired brick or ceramics. These fired bricks were prepared from red clay and then fired on all sides to above 600 C^o. it also uses as a flooring for houses. Fired bricks are the strongest building material. It is also known as artificial stone. While air dried bricks are called mud brick. This air dried bricks history is older then fired brick. In ancient civilization the bricks were very common and important material of construction because the clays are available everywhere in universe even today the brick is most basic and demandable material for construction throughout the world. The advantages of brick are one of that the skilled or experienced brick layers are available in all cities, town and villages but in stones the skilled or experienced person are do not available easily in villages, town and cities because in stone a good dressing is needed and in concrete also a high skilled, experienced or qualified person is needed for the construction work. The production of brick is increased massively when the construction of industries is increased and the heights of factories and building is also rise. There is different type of bricks are used in masonry construction based on material which is clay, concrete, lime, fly ash etc.

 

Type of Bricks:

There are different types of brick depending on these given factors:

• Manufacturing of bricks
• Based on materials
• Quality
• Based on Building process
• Using location
• Weather resisting capability
• Based on shape
• Region
• Based on purpose of using

Based on Manufacturing of Bricks:

In this type of brick, the manufacturing of bricks is classified separately. There is also different type of manufacturing of bricks which are given below: 

• Molded
• Dry pressed bricks
• Extruded

Molded:

In this type the bricks are shaped in molds by their hand or in machine. Molded are used to give the desired shape and size to the brick. It is available in different shape and sizes.

Dry Pressed Brick:

In this type of brick, the brick is prepared from the compressing of clay. The brick has shallow frog on the surface and other surface has clear or deep frog.

Extruded Bricks:

This type of brick is prepared from clay. Place the clay in long steel mold which have desired and regular shape, size and add also water after that it cuts by wire into short units or pieces then it is used I construction but this type of brick is used for low budget.

Based on Material:

The bricks are classified on the basis of materials that are follow:

Burnt Clay:

This type of brick is prepared by clay, put the clay in mold hard it and then dried or give heat in the kiln. The burnt clay bricks are mostly used in masonry construction. Plastering of brick is must in this type of brick without plastering it gives bad look.

Concrete Brick:

It is also known as mortar brick. This type of brick is made of concrete. It have different colors if the pigments is added at the time of manufacturing of concrete brick. These bricks are used in damp proof coarse facades, fences and internal brick works. The quality of this brick is low its compressive is also low.

Fly ash Clay:

The fly ash clay bricks are less porous. The surface of these bricks are smooth that’s why plastering is not needed. This type of brick is prepared from clay and fly ash. The clay and fly ash are molded in 1000 C^o.

Fired Bricks:

This type of brick is used in highly temperature places such as lining of chimney, steel making area and reverberator furnaces. Fired bricks are also known as refractory brick. Fired bricks have ability to with stand against high temperature without affecting shape and size. There are also three type of fired bricks which is given below:

• High duty fired brick
• Medium duty fired brick
• Low duty fired brick

High duty fired brick are used for high temperature between 1480 to 1650 C^o. The medium duty fired brick are used for medium range temperature between 1300 to 1500 C^o. the last type of fire brick is low duty fired brick it is used for low range temperature between 900 to 1300 C^o.

Sand Lime Bricks:

The sand and lime are mixed with fly ash and then mixed it after that placed in the mold. The color of sand lime brick is greyish. These bricks provide smoother surface in which plaster is not required. This type of brick is used in load bearing wall.

Based on Quality:

The brick is classified on different type of quality. It has four main different classes based on qualities which is given below:

• First class brick
• Second class brick
• Third class brick
• Fourth class brick

First Class Brick:

The color of first class brick is uniform. It has regular shape and with square edges and parallel faces. The standard size of this brick is 19 x 9 x 9 cm. the first class brick should be thoroughly burnt. The compressive strength of these bricks should not be less than 140 kg/cm² and also should not absorb more than 20 % of water. When it is immersed in water for at least one day or 24 hours. The sound of first class brick is metallic. It is used in flooring and excellent for exterior walls.

Second Class Bricks:

The color of second class brick is also good but not like first class brick. The shape, size and color of this type of brick is slightly irregular but it is acceptable. The compressive strength of second class brick is 70 kg/cm² and also this class of brick should not absorb more than 22 % of water when immersed in water for 24 hours. The second class brick is not used in flooring. It is used in exterior and interior masonry work where plastering has to be done.

Third Class Brick:

The color of third class brick uniformly reddish. The shape and size of this type of brick is not uniform and it have dull sound when contact with each other. The compressive strength of third class brick 35 to 70 kg/cm² and also should not absorb more than 22.25 % of water. They are used mostly in normal construction or in dry situation.

Fourth Class Brick:

The color of forth class is black because of over burning and shape of these brick is irregular. The porosity is low and have high compressive strength which is above 150 kg/cm². It is used in road construction, foundation and as a replacing of coarse aggregate. The compressive and porosity properties in the fourth class brick is good but still it can’t be used in building construction because its irregular shape and size.

Base on Shape:  

The brick is classified on different type of shape. The different types of bricks based on shapes are given below:

• Ordinary bricks
• Air bricks
• Bullnose bricks
• Capping bricks
• Hollow bricks
• Curved sector bricks
• Perforated bricks
• Purpose made bricks
• Paving bricks
• Cow nose bricks
• Channel bricks
• Burnt clay bricks

Ordinary Bricks:

These bricks are in rectangular shape used in ordinary or normal construction the size of standard brick is standard.

Air Bricks:

These bricks are used in cavity walls and in floors. In this type of brick there is a hole in the brick.

Bullnose Bricks: 

 These bricks are typically round in shape used in rounded intersection of walls. to round off the sharp edges of wall.

Capping Bricks:

The size of capping brick is not standard it has different size and shapes used at various condition. Typically capping bricks are used in top of parapet wall because it is good to drain off the rain water.

Hollow Bricks:

In this type of brick there is holes that’s why it is called hollow bricks. It is used in hollow walls such as insulation against sound and heat. The hollow brick is light weighted. The weight of this brick is less than ordinary bricks. These bricks are mostly used in non – loading bearing walls or used in partition walls.

Perforated Bricks:

There are small rounded holes in this type of brick. These holes is done by iron or steel bar at the time of molding. The weight of this brick is less than ordinary bricks the size of perforated bricks are 19 x 9 x 9 cm and also 29 x 9 x9 cm. the perforated brick can’t be used in hydraulic structures because of presence of holes in perforated bricks.

Purpose Made Brick:

This type of brick is used for specific purpose. Engineering bricks are prepared for civil engineering construction like walls, flooring, sewer etc. fired brick are prepared for fireworks, chimney or other high temperature works.

Paving Bricks:

This type of brick is shaped mechanically not by hand molded. The compressive strength of perforated brick is 400 kg /cm². The dimension of this brick is 19.5 x 9.5 x 9 cm or 19.5 x 9.5 x 4 cm and the paving bricks should not be absorbing more than 5 % of water when it is immersed in water for 24 hours. For more detail there is IS code for paving bricks. The IS code is IS : 3583 – 1975.

Channel Brick:

These channel bricks are also called gutter bricks. It is widely used in laying drains. The shape of this brick is there is a channel in the center of brick.

Burnt Clay Bricks:

This brick is used for the construction of sewer. The shape of this brick is rectangular and have a sharp corners and edges. The size of burnt clay brick is 19 x 9 x 9 cm and compressive strength of this type of brick is 175 kg/cm². The burnt clay bricks should not absorb more than 10 % of water when immersed in water for 24 hours. For more detail there is IS code for burnt clay bricks. The IS code is IS : 4885 – 1968.

Based on Building Process:       

Bricks are classified into three main types based on building process. The types of bricks are given below:

• Over burnt bricks
• Burnt bricks
• Unburnt bricks

Over Burnt Bricks:

The over burnt bricks are used in high temperature places such as lining of chimney, steel making area and reverberator furnaces. Fired bricks are also known as vitrified brick. Over bunt bricks have ability to with stand against high temperature without affecting shape and size. It is used in foundation and use as a coarse aggregate in the concrete slab and beam where there is no contact of water.

Burnt Bricks:

These bricks are burnt in the kiln. The first three classes of bricks are burnt bricks first class, second class and third class bricks. The fourth class brick is not burnt bricks because it was burnt fully.

Unburnt Bricks:

The color of un burnt bricks are yellow because of half burnt. The un burnt bricks are used as a surki in lime terracing. These brick should not be exposed to the water.

Based on Using:

The bricks are uses for many purposes. The types of bricks on the basis their use are follow:

• Ordinary bricks
• Engineering bricks

Ordinary Bricks:

These bricks are used in normal construction because in normal construction there is no need of special requirements. The ordinary bricks have low compressive strength, low quality and high absorption of water.

Engineering Bricks:

Engineering bricks are prepared for civil engineering construction like walls, flooring, sewer, damp proof courses etc. fired brick are prepared for fireworks, chimney or other high temperature works. the color of engineering bricks is uniformly red. The engineering bricks are classified in three main classes. Class A, class B and class C. class A bricks are stronger than class b while class B is stronger than class C.

Based on Region:

The bricks are classified on the basis of their regions that are given below:

• Roman Bricks
• Nanak shahi Bricks
• Dutch Bricks
• London Bricks

Roman Bricks:

These bricks are used in roman constructions.

Nanak Shahi Bricks:

These bricks are used in India

Dutch Bricks:

These bricks are used in Netherlands.

London Bricks:

These bricks are used in London

Weather Resisting Capability:

The brick is classified on the basis of weather resisting capability that is given below:

• High weather resisting
• Medium weather resisting
• No weather resisting

High Weather Resisting:

This type of brick is used in construction where the weather is very severe too cold areas. This type of brick is used in snow falling places.

Medium Weather Resisting:

This type of bricks is used in construction of tropical areas or countries. They can resist high temperature.

No Weather Resisting:

In this type of brick, the bricks do not have ability to resist any type of weather. These bricks are using in the internal of walls. 

You may also read:

• Types of Road and their Uses
• Types of pavements
• Calculation of Bricks & Blocks in a Wall