3. Bricks classified according to
their use.
Common bricks
Common bricks are an inexpensive
type of brick normally used for work
that is unseen and not subject to frost
attack
4. Bricks classified according to
their use
Facing brick
The term ‘facing brick’ describes a brick
specifically used for its decorative
qualities.
Facings are normally more expensive
than common bricks.
5. Bricks classified according to
their use
Engineering bricks
A hard, dense brick with a smooth texture.
They have a high load-bearing
capacity and are used when strength, durability
and moisture-resisting properties are required.
Engineering bricks are ideal for retaining walls,
damp-proof courses, and for the
construction of brick inspection chambers and
manholes.
6. By place of origin: Staffordshire blues, Accrington reds.
By colour: reds, creams, multi-coloured.
By method of manufacture: pressed, wire-cut,
handmade.
By surface texture: rustic-faced, sand-faced, glazed.
By use: common, facing, engineering.
By size: usually only the thickness (gauge) changes.
Classifications of bricks
7. Brick Manufacture
Clay bricks
Made from clay composed mainly of silica and
alumina, with small quantities of lime, iron and
manganese.
Calcium silicate bricks
Made from sand and lime or crushed flint and lime,
moulded under high pressure and hardened by
exposure to steam at high pressure.
Produced from refractory clay having a high
fusing point and laid in refractory mortar with tight
joints.
BS EN 771–1 (2003) for clay bricks
BS 4729 (2005) for dimensions of bricks.
8. Essential features of bricks
• Whilst most bricks are produced to
withstand stresses (i.e. load-bearing) they
must also have at least one of the
following characteristics:
• Impervious.
• Insulating.
• Fire-resistant.
• Weather/frost resistance.
• Attractive appearance.
23. Plinth Bricks
Plinth bricks are chamfered and can be used
as a decorative feature or to alter the width
of a wall.
Plinth stretcher External Plinth
24. Plinth bricks can be used to increase
or decrease the width of a wall.
Plinth Bricks
25. Squint Brick
• Used for corners other than 90 degrees
Squint angle is usually 135°
28. Building Calculations
Enumerated
Some building materials are measured by
the number (counted) such as chimney
pots, air bricks, doors and windows.
Linear
Other building materials are measured by
the length. Brick-on-edge is measured in a
linear measurement and not area.
29. Superficial
Length and height are multiplied to achieve the
superficial area of the material required.
The length of a wall is multiplied by the height to give
the square area of brickwork required.
Cubic Measurements
Cubic measurements are taken when there are
three dimensions.
Length, width and height of a foundation would
give the volume of concrete required.
Building Calculations
30. Regardless of the bond used, the number of
bricks will remain the same.
The quantity of facings and common bricks may
change if the wall is not faced on both sides.
• Half brick wall = 60 bricks/m².
• One brick thick = 120 bricks/m².
• One and a half brick = 180 bricks/m².
• Two brick thick = 240 bricks/m².
Quantities of bricks
31. Example 1:
A one brick wall built in English bond is 6.00 m
long and 1.50 m high. Calculate the number of
bricks required.
Answer:
6.00 x 1.50 = 9.00 m²
9.00 m² x 120 = 1,080 bricks required
32. Example 2:
A wall 7.50 m long by 2.10 m high is to be
one and a half bricks thick in Flemish bond.
Calculate the number of bricks required to
build the wall.
Answer:
7.50 x 2.10 = 15.75 m²
15.75 m² x 180 = 2,835 bricks required
33. Example 3:
A half brick wall built in Stretcher bond is
8.00 m long x 1.20 m high, with a opening
0.9 x 0.6 m.
Calculate the number of bricks required.
Answer:
Overall area: 8.00 x 1.20 = 9.6 m²
Opening area: 0.9 x 0.6 = 0.54 m²
Wall area with area of opening deducted
= 9.6 – 0.54 = 9.06 m²
9.06 m² x 60 = 543.6 bricks = 544 bricks required
