Brick Code
Brick Code
Indian Standard
COMMON BURNT CLAY BUILDING
BRICKS - SPECIFICATION
( Fifth Revision )
UDC 666.762.712
© BIS 1992
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
MANAK BHAVAN, 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002
(Page 3, clause 7.1.1, fourth line) - Insert 'by more than 15 percent' after
'class of brick' .
(CED 30)
FOREWORD
This Indian Standard (Fifth Revision) \\'8S adopted by the Bureau of Indian Standards, after the
draft finalized by the Clay Products for Buildings Sectional Committee had been approved by the
Civil Engineering Division Council.
The common building bricks is not only one of the oldest but also the most extensively used
building material in construction work. It is essentially a local building material and consequently
there exist considerable variations in the quality of raw material. the process of manufacture and
the quality of the finished product. Rapid building activity, to be on rational lines, needs a certain
degree of uniformity in the construction materials. Standardization of the common building brick
with regard to its quality and dimensions would substanitally help in raising the quality of
construction work and its speed.
Keeping in view the advantages of modular co-ordination. Indian standards specify the
dimensions of standard bricks in 100 mm module as the basis of all dimensional standardiz-
ation in regard to building components. This is also in confirmity with the decision of
Government of India to adopt metric system in the country. Considering the various issues
regarding the manufacturing and other practices followed in the country, the Sectional Committee
responsible for the preparation of this standard had specified modular size of the brick. Advantages
that a modular brick has over traditional brick are many, such as:
i) requires less drying area;
ii) saving in space of floor area;
iii) economy in cost of brick masonry;
iv) saving in labour cost;
v) less losses during handling, etc; and
vi) less consumption of mortar.
However. it was brought to the notice of committee that there was sufficient demand for sizes othet
than modular sizes and that the manufacturers were meeting such demands at present. This had
led to a situation where bricks satisfying other requirements of the standard, but not the requirements
regarding dimensions we-re classified as not satisfying the requirements of the standard. Therefore,
the committee reviewed the relevant clause of Indian Standards and decided to include the non-
modular size of the brick in addition to the modular size specified in the standard at present.
This relaxation will be for a period of four years from the publication of this standard and. it is
intended that the manufacturers and consumer organization can gradually switch over with the
period to the modular sizes, which are the preferred sizes.
For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with,
the final value, observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded
off in accordance with IS 2 : 1960 'Rules for rounding off numerical values i revised)', The number
of significant places retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified
value in this standard.
IS 1077: 1992
Indian Standard
COMMON BURNT CLAY BUILDING
.BRICKS - SPECIFICATION
( Fifth Revision)
1 SCOPE 5.2 Hand-moulded bricks of 90 mm or 70 111111
height shall be moulded with a frog 10 to 20 mrn
1.1 This standard Jays down requirements for deep on one of its flat sides; the shape and size
classification, general quality, dimensions and of the frog shall conform to either Fig. IA or Fig.
physical requirements of common burnt clay 1B (see 6.1.1 for L, Wand II). Bricks of 40 mrn
building bricks used in buildings. height as well as those made by extrusion process
may not be provided with frogs.
NOTE - Burnt clay bricks having compressive
strength less than 40 N/nlln 2 ( approx 400 kgf/c111 1 ) 5.3 The bricks shall have smooth rectangular
are covered in this standard and for higher strength, faces with sharp corners and shall be uniform in
see IS 2180 : 1988. colour.
R 20
...---- l
lA 18
All dimensions in millimetres.
2A MEASUREMENT OF LENGTH
.........--..'-'--- - - - - -- --
28 MEASUReMENT OF WIDTH
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - _.- - - -#----....,....-wr
-- --.. . ._. . . . _wr
2C MEASUREMENT OF HEIGHT
6.2.1 Twenty ( or more according to the size of bricks in one row, the sample may be divided into
stack) whole bricks shall be selected at random rows of 10 bricks each which shall be measured
from the sample selected under 8. All blisters, separately to the nearest millimetre. All these
loose particles of clay and small projections shall dimensions shall 'be added together.
be removed. The y shall then be arranged upon a
level surface successively as indicated in Fig. 2A, 7 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
28 and 2C in contact with each other and in a
straight line. The overall length of the assembled
bricks shall be measured with a steel tape or 7.1 Compressive Strength
other suitable incxtensiblc 111CaSUre sufficiently
long to measure the whole row at one stretch. The bricks, when tested in accordance with the
Measurement by repeated application of short procedure laid down in IS 3495 (Part I ) : 1992
rule or measure shall not be permitted. If. for shall have a minimum average compressive
any reason it is found impracticable to measure strength for various classes as given. in 4.1.
2
IS 1077: 1992
7.1.1 The compressive strength of any individual the rating of efflorescence shall not be more
brick tested shall not fall below the minimum than 'moderate' up to class 12·5 and 'slight' for
compressive strength specified for the correspond- higher classes.
ing class of brick. The lot shall be then checked
for next lower class of brick. 8 SAMPLING AND CRITERION FOR
CONFORMITY
7.1 Water Absorption
8.1 Sampling and criterion for conformity of
The bricks, when tested in accordance with the common bricks shall be done in accordance with
procedure laid dO\\11l in IS 3495 ( Part 2) : 1992 the procedure laid down in IS 5454 : 1978.
after immersion in cold water for 24 hours,
water absorption shall not be more than 20 9 MARKING
percent by weight up to class 12'5 and 15 percent
by weight for higher classes. 9.1 Each brick shall be marked (in the frog
where provided) with an indication of source of
7.3 Efflorescence manufacture.
The bricks when tested in accordance with the 9.1.1 The manufacturer may also use the
procedure laid down in IS 3495 ( Part 3 ) : 1992 Standard Mark.
ANNEX A
( Clause 2.1 )
LIST OF REFERRED INDIAN STANDARDS
2180 : 1988 Specification for heavy-duty 3495 Methods of tests of burnt clay
burnt clay building bricks ( Part 2 ): 1992 building bricks: Part 2 Deter-
( second revision) mination of water absorption
2248 : 1992 Glossary of terms relating to ( third revision)
structural clay products for 3495 Methods of tests of burnt clay
buildings ( second revision ) ( Part 3 ) : 1992 building bricks: Part 3 Deter-
3495 Methods of tests of burnt clay mination of efllorescence
( Pa rt 1 ) : 1992 building bricks: Part I Deter- ( third revision)
mination of compressive 5454 : 1978 Methods for sampling of clay
strength (third revision ) build ing bricks (first revision )
3
Bureau of Indian Standards
81 S is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Indian Standards ct, 1986 to promote
harmonious development of the activities of standardization. marking and quality certification of goods
and attending to connected matters in the country.
S has the copyright of all its publications. No part of these publications may be reproduced in any
Iorm without the prior permission in writing of BIS. This docs not preclude the free usc, in course of
implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes. type or grade designations.
Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director (Publications).. SIS.
Amendments arc issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards arc also
reviewed periodically: a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review indicates that
no changes arc needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken up for revision. Users
of Indian Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments or edition by
referring to the latest issue of 'BIS Catalogue' and' Standards: Monthly Additions'.
This Indian Standard has been developed from Doc: No CED 30 ( 4978 )
Eastcrn : C.l.T. Scheme VII M, V.I.P. Road, Kankurgachi 2337 8499, 23378561
KOLKA'"rA 700 054 { 2137 8626,2337 9120
Southcrn : C.LT. Campus, IV Cross Road, CHENNAI 600 113 2254 1216,2254 1442
{ 2254 25 J9, 2254 2315
Western: Manakalaya, E9 MIDC, Marol, Andheri (East) 2832 9295, 2832 7858
MUMBAI 400 093 { 2832 7891, 2832 7892