4.

Bricks, Blocks & Mortar

1

4.1 INTRODUCTION
4.2 BRICKS
4.3 BLOCKS
4.4 MORTAR
 4.1 Introduction
2

 Masonry is a well proven building material

possessing excellent properties in terms of
appearance, durability and cost in comparison with
alternatives.
 However, the quality of the masonry in a building
depends on the materials used, and hence all
masonry materials must conform to certain
minimum standards.
 The basic components of masonry are block, brick
and mortar, the latter being in itself a composite of
cement, lime and sand and sometimes of other
constituents.
 4.2 Bricks
3

1. Introduction
 Bricks and other forms of clay masonry are
ancient building materials.
 More than 6000 years ago, sun-baked clay bricks
were used in the construction of palaces and
fortifications.
 Masonry structures work in compression and
provide a load-bearing material with a durable
surface finish that requires little maintenance.
 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
4

 Bricks are walling units not exceeding 337.5 mm

in length, 225 mm in width and 112.5 mm in
height.
 They are produced from a range of materials,
such as clay, concrete and sometimes a mixture
of lime and sand or crushed stone.
 The mixture types are referred to as either
calcium silicate bricks or sand lime bricks.
 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
5

 The standard format of clay bricks is given in BS 3921

‘Specification for clay bricks’ as 225 x 112.5 x 75 mm.
This includes an allowance for a 10 mm mortar joint: thus
the work size of the actual brick is 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm.
 Concrete bricks in accordance with BS 6073 Part 2
‘Precast concrete masonry units’ may be within any of the
format ranges indicated in Table 4.1, which is based on
BS 6073 Table 2.
 Calcium silicate bricks in accordance with BS 187
‘Specification for calcium silicate (sand lime and flint
lime) bricks’ have the same standard format as clay
bricks.
4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
7

2. Classification of bricks
 Bricks can be classified in a number of ways
with respect to their variety, type, quality and so
on.
 However, for the purpose of this lecture it will
suffice to divide them into the following three
general categories.
 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
8

i. Facing bricks
 These are clay or concrete bricks manufactured to satisfy
aesthetic requirements.
 They are available in a wide range of strengths, colors and
textures.
ii. Common bricks
 These are clay or concrete bricks produced for general
building work and not to provide an attractive appearance.
 The term ‘common’ covers a wide variety of bricks and is
not a guide to structural quality.
 Many common bricks have excellent strength properties.
 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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iii. Engineering bricks

 These are clay bricks produced with defined
compressive strength qualities.
 They are available in two classes: engineering A
and engineering B.
 These are dense and strong with defined limits of
absorption and compressive strength as given in
Table 4.2
4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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 Bricks must be free from deep and extensive

cracks, from damage to edges and corners and
also from expansive particles of lime.
 Bricks may be wire cut, with or without
perforations, or pressed with single or double
frogs or cellular.
 Perforated bricks contain holes; the cross-
sectional area of any one hole should not exceed
10% and the volume of perforations 25% of the
total volume of bricks.
 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
12

 Cellular bricks will have cavities or frogs

exceeding 20% of the gross volume of the brick.
 In bricks having frogs the total volume of the
depression should be less than or equal to 20%.
 Bricks of shapes other than rectangular prisms
are referred to as ‘standard special’ and covered
by BS 4729.
 Different varieties of bricks are shown in Fig 4.1
4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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3. Compressive strength
 Bricks of various strengths are available to suit a
wide range of architectural and engineering
requirements.
 Table 4.2 gives a classification of bricks
according to the compressive strength.
 For low-rise buildings, bricks of 5. 2 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2
should be sufficient.
 For damp-proof courses, low-absorption
engineering bricks are usually required.
 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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 Calcium silicate bricks of various strengths are

also available. Table 4.3 gives the class and
strength of these bricks available.
 Concrete bricks of minimum average strength of
21 to 50 𝑁/𝑚𝑚2 are available.
4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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 4.2 Bricks…Cont’d
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4. Absorption
 Bricks contain pores and hence absorb water.
 The absorption is the amount of water which is
taken up to fill pores in a brick by displacing the air.
 The absorption of clay bricks varies from 4.5 to
21% by weight and those of calcium silicate from 7
to 21% and concrete unite 7 to 10% by weight.
 Absorption does not indicate the liability of bricks
to decay by frost or chemical action.
 Likewise, absorption is not a mandatory
requirement for concrete bricks or blocks as there is
no relationship between absorption and durability.
 4.3 Blocks
18

1. Introduction
 Blocks are walling units that exceed in length, width
or height the sizes specified for bricks.
 They are generally produced from concrete.
 In accordance with BS 6073 ‘Precast concrete
masonry units’ the purchaser of the blocks should
specify their size from table 1 of Part 2 of that
standard, reproduced here as Table 4.4.
 To obtain the coordinating size of blockwork the
nominal mortar joint, usually 10 mm, should be
added to the length and height given in the table; the
thickness remains unchanged.
4.3 Blocks…Cont’d
19
 4.3 Blocks…Cont’d
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2. Classification of blocks
 The types of block generally available are as
follows:
 Facing blocks: Blocks with a finish suitable to
provide an attractive appearance.
 Ordinary or common blocks: Blocks suitable for
internal use or, if rendered, for general use.
 Solid blocks: These are primarily voidless,
having no formal holes or cavities other than
those inherent in the block material.
 4.3 Blocks…Cont’d
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 Hollow blocks: These are blocks which have cavities

passing right through the unit, but the volume of such
cavities must not exceed 50% of the total unit volume.
 Cellular blocks: These are similar to hollow blocks, but
the cavities are effectively closed at one end. They are laid
with the closed end uppermost in the wall to provide a
good bed for the next layer of mortar.
 Insulating blocks: These are usually cellular blocks faced
with polystyrene or having the cavities filled with UF
foam or polystyrene to improve thermal qualities.
 Different varieties of blocks are shown in Fig 4.2
 Both the thickness and the compressive strength of
concrete blocks are given in Table 4.5
4.3 Blocks…Cont’d
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4.3 Blocks…Cont’d
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 4.4 Mortar
24

 Whilst masonry walls may be constructed from

bricks, blocks or stone, in each of these the
mortar is the common factor.
 The mortar serves several purposes in the
construction, and must satisfy a number of
requirements in both the newly mixed and the
hardened state.
 During construction, mortar should have good
workability to enable efficient use by the
bricklayer.
 4.4 Mortar…Cont’d
25

 When used with absorbent bricks it should retain

moisture to avoid drying out and stiffening too
quickly resulting in poor bond between brick and
mortar.
 It should harden in a reasonable time to prevent
squeezing out under the pressure of the units laid
above.
 In the hardened state, mortar must be capable of
transferring the stresses developed in the
masonry units.
 4.4 Mortar…Cont’d
26

 Ideally, however, mortar should not be stronger

than the masonry units themselves, so that any
movement that occurs will be accommodated in
the joints. This should ensure that any cracking
that does develop will be in the mortar and not
the masonry units.
 Lime-sand mortars were employed for masonry
construction. Whilst these offered excellent
workability, their slow construction rate led to
the adoption of cement mortars.
 4.4 Mortar…Cont’d
27

 The addition of cement promotes a faster gain of

strength, resulting in more rapid construction.
 Lime may still be included in the mix for
workability, giving cement-lime-sand mortar.
 Mortar to which the cement has been added
should generally be used within two hours of
mixing.
 Ready mixed retarded mortars are available
which contain a retarding agent to delay the set
and prolong the working life of the mortar.
 4.4 Mortar…Cont’d
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 BS 5628 Part 1 Table 1 gives requirements for

mortar designations in relation to their
constituent proportions and compressive
strength.
 In general the lowest grade of mortar practicable
should be used.
 Thus for general purpose masonry construction a
1:1:6 cement:lime:sand mortar will be sufficient.
1
 For high strength load bearing masonry a 1: :3
4
cement:lime:sand mortar is more appropriate.
 4.4 Mortar…Cont’d
29

 For reinforcement masonry a mix not weaker than

1 1
1: :4 cement:lime:sand should normally be
2 2
specified.
 The bond of the mortar with the masonry units is
equally as important as its compressive strength.
 Adequate bond depends on a number of factors
such as sand quality, the type and absorption rate
of the masonry units at the time of laying, and
attention to curing.
 4.4 Mortar…Cont’d
30

 Ready mixed lime with sand for mortar should

comply with the requirements of BS 4721
‘Specification for ready mixed building mortars’.
 The mixing and use of mortars should be in
accordance with the recommendations given in BS
5628 Part 3.
4.4 Mortar…Cont’d
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