Designation: C 55 – 06

Standard Specification for

Concrete Building Brick1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 55; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope* C 140 Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Concrete

1.1 This specification covers solid, dry-cast, concrete build- Masonry Units and Related Units
ing brick intended for interior and exterior use in constructing C 150 Specification for Portland Cement
structural masonry, and are made from portland cement, water, C 331 Specification for Lightweight Aggregates for Con-
and suitable mineral aggregates with or without the inclusion crete Masonry Units
of other materials. C 426 Test Method for Linear Drying Shrinkage of Con-
crete Masonry Units
NOTE 1—Specification C 1634 addresses concrete facing brick used in C 595 Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
facing applications and other exposures (previously referred to in earlier
C 618 Specification for Coal Fly Ash and Raw or Calcined
editions of this standard as Grade N—for use as architectural veneer and
facing units in exterior walls and for use where high-strength and Natural Pozzolan for Use in Concrete
resistance to moisture penetration and severe frost action are desired). This C 989 Specification for Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace
specification differs from C 1634 in that it addresses properties for Slag for Use in Concrete and Mortars
concrete building brick used in non-facing, utilitarian applications (pre- C 1157 Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement
viously referred to in earlier editions of this specification as Grade S—for C 1209 Terminology of Concrete Masonry Units and Re-
general use where moderate strength and resistance to frost action and lated Units
moisture penetration are required).
C 1232 Terminology of Masonry
1.2 The text of this specification references notes and C 1634 Specification for Concrete Facing Brick
footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and
footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be 3. Terminology
considered as requirements of the standard. 3.1 Terminology defined in Terminology C 1209 and Ter-
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded minology C 1232 shall apply for this specification.
as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
information only. 3.2.1 concrete building brick, n—a concrete masonry unit,
NOTE 2—Concrete building brick covered by this specification are with a maximum width of four (4) inches and of a weight that
made from lightweight or normal weight aggregates, or both. will typically permit it to be lifted and placed with one hand,
NOTE 3—When particular features are desired, such as density classi- that is manufactured for general use in non-facing, utilitarian
fication, high compressive strength, surface textures for appearance or applications.
bond, finish, color, fire resistance, insulation, acoustical properties, or 3.2.2 concrete facing brick, n—a concrete masonry unit,
other special features, such properties should be specified separately by with a maximum width of four (4) inches and of a weight that
the purchaser. Suppliers should be consulted as to the availability of
concrete building brick having the desired features.
will typically permit it to be lifted and placed with one hand,
that is manufactured to be typically used in an application
2. Referenced Documents where one or more faces of the unit is intended to be exposed.
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 4. Materials and Manufacture
C 33 Specification for Concrete Aggregates
4.1 Cementitious Materials—Materials shall conform to the
following applicable specifications:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C15 on 4.1.1 Portland Cement—Specification C 150.
Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee 4.1.2 Modified Portland Cement—Portland cement con-
C15.03 on Concrete Masonry Units and Related Units.
Current edition approved Dec. 15, 2006. Published January 2007. Originally forming to Specification C 150, modified as follows:
approved in 1924. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as C 55 – 03. 4.1.2.1 Limestone—Calcium carbonate, with a minimum
85 % CaCO3 content, is permitted to be added to the cement,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
provided these requirements of Specification C 150 as modi-
the ASTM website. fied are met:

*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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 C 55 – 06
(1) Limitation on Insoluble Residue—1.5 %. gross cross-sectional area measure in the same plane. No part
(2) Limitation on Air Content of Mortar—Volume percent, of any hole shall be less than 3⁄4 in. (19.1 mm) from any edge
22 % max. of the unit.
(3) Limitation on Loss on Ignition—7 %.
7. Finish and Appearance
4.1.3 Blended Hydraulic Cements—Specification C 595.
4.1.4 Hydraulic Cement—Specification C 1157. 7.1 All units shall be sound and free of cracks or other
4.1.5 Pozzolans—Specification C 618. defects that interfere with the proper placement of the units or
4.1.6 Blast Furnace Slag Cement—Specification C 989. significantly impair the strength or permanence of the construc-
4.2 Aggregates—Aggregates shall conform to the following tion. Minor cracks incidental to the usual method of manufac-
specifications, except that grading requirements shall not ture or minor chipping resulting from customary methods of
necessarily apply: handling in shipment and delivery are not grounds for rejec-
4.2.1 Normal Weight Aggregates—Specification C 33. tion.
4.2.2 Lightweight Aggregates—Specification C 331. 8. Methods of Sampling and Testing
4.3 Other Constituents—Air-entraining agents, coloring
8.1 The purchaser or authorized representative shall be
pigments, integral water repellents, finely ground silica, and
accorded proper facilities to inspect and sample the concrete
other constituents shall be previously established as suitable for
building brick at the place of manufacture from the lots ready
use in concrete masonry units and shall conform to applicable
for delivery.
ASTM standards or shall be shown by test or experience not to
8.2 Sample and test concrete building brick in accordance
be detrimental to the durability of the concrete masonry units
with Test Methods C 140 and Test Method C 426, when
or any material customarily used in masonry construction.
applicable.
5. Physical Requirements 8.3 Total linear drying shrinkage shall be based on tests of
concrete building brick made with the same materials, concrete
5.1 At the time of delivery to the purchaser, units shall mix design, manufacturing process, and curing method, con-
conform to the physical requirements prescribed in Table 1. ducted in accordance with Test Method C 426 not more than 24
5.2 At the time of delivery to the purchaser, the total linear months prior to delivery.
drying shrinkage of units shall not exceed 0.065 % when tested
in accordance with Test Method C 426. 9. Compliance
NOTE 4—The purchaser is the public body or authority, association, 9.1 If a sample fails to conform to the specified require-
corporation, partnership, or individual entering into a contract or agree- ments, the manufacturer shall be permitted to remove units
ment to purchase or install, or both, concrete building brick. The time of from the shipment. A new sample shall be selected by the
delivery to the purchaser is FOB plant when the purchaser or the purchaser from remaining units from the shipment with a
purchaser’s agent transports the concrete building brick, or at the time similar configuration and dimension and tested at the expense
unloaded at the worksite if the manufacturer or the manufacturer’s agent
of the manufacturer. If the second sample meets the specified
transports the concrete building brick.
requirements, the remaining portion of the shipment repre-
6. Dimensions and Permissible Variations sented by the sample meets the specified requirements. If the
6.1 No overall dimension (width, height, and length) shall second sample fails to meet the specified requirements, the
differ by more than 61⁄8 in. (3.2 mm) from the specified remaining portion of the shipment represented by the sample
standard dimensions. fails to meet the specified requirements.
NOTE 6—Unless otherwise specified in the purchase order, the costs of
NOTE 5—Standard dimensions of concrete building brick are the
tests is typically borne as follows: (1) if the results of the tests show that
manufacturer’s designated dimensions. Nominal dimensions of modular
the units do not conform to the requirements of this specification, the cost
size concrete building brick are equal to the standard dimensions plus the
is typically borne by the seller; (2) if the results of the tests show that the
thickness of one mortar joint. Nominal dimensions of nonmodular size
units conform to the specification requirements, the cost is typically borne
concrete building brick usually exceed the standard dimensions by 1⁄8 to 1⁄4
by the purchaser.
in. (3.2 to 6.4 mm).
6.2 Coring—Unless otherwise specified, brick shall be ei- 10. Keywords
ther solid or cored at the option of the seller. For cored concrete 10.1 absorption; compressive strength; concrete brick; con-
building brick, the net cross-sectional area in any plane parallel crete building brick; concrete masonry units; linear shrinkage;
to the surface containing the cores shall be at least 75 % of the portland cement

TABLE 1 Strength, Absorption, and Density Classification RequirementsA

Density Oven-Dry Density Maximum Water Minimum Net Area
Classification of Concrete, lb/ft3 (kg/m3) Absorption, lb/ft3 (kg/m3) Compressive Strength, lb/in2 (MPa)
Average of 3 Units Average of 3 Units Individual Units Average of 3 Units Individual Units
Lightweight Less than 105 (1680) 18 (228) 20 (320) 2500 (17.3) 2000 (13.8)
Medium Weight 105 to less than 125 (1680–2000) 15 (240) 17 (272) 2500 (17.3) 2000 (13.8)
Normal Weight 125 (2000) or more 13 (208) 15 (240) 2500 (17.3) 2000 (13.8)
A
Average oven-dry density, based on a set of three units, shall fall within ranges defined in the table to be classified as lightweight, medium weight, or normal weight.

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 C 55 – 06

SUMMARY OF CHANGES

Committee C15 has identified the location of selected changes to this standard since the last issue (C 55 – 03)
that may impact the use of this standard. (Approved Dec. 15, 2006.)

(1) The title of this specification was changed from Concrete (3) Materials section was replaced to be consistent with other
Brick to Concrete Building Brick. concrete masonry unit specifications.
(2) Grade N and Grade S designations were removed. Changes (4) New terminology was added for concrete facing brick and
were made throughout to reflect scope change to address only concrete building brick.
those units used for utilitarian purposes.

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