As an engineer we must know how to check the quality of brick on site. In this article we are trying to explain how to check the quality of brick on site.
1. Uniform Color, and Shape:
A good quality brick should be well burnt and rich red or copper in color. If the brick is under burnt (or) Over burnt the color will be vary. The brick is going to loss its shape if it is under burnt (or) over burnt.
2. Size of Brick:
A good brick should be uniform in size and sharp at edges and it shouldn't have any bulking on sides. +/- 3 Tolerance is allowed in dimension to a brick.
3. Hardness of Brick:
If we scratch a brick using finger nail or a sharp tool, it should not show any impression or scratch on its surface then the brick is called a best quality brick.
4. Homogeneity of Brick:
To test the homogeneity of a brick, we must break it and examine. It should be homogeneous and having zero lumps.
5. Water absorption:
To check the water absorption capacity of a brick we must do water absorption test on brick. If we kept a brick in water for 24 hrs, it should absorb less than 20% water then it is called a best quality brick. If the brick is absorbing more than the allowable limit then we should note that the brick during its bonding is going to absorb more water from cement mortar.
6. Efflorescence on Brick:
The salt deposit seen on brick surface is called Efflorescence. Generally we see some white patches on some bricks, this is due to presence of salts (Sodium and Potassium) in the brick making material. These type of bricks are not suitable for construction. (Procedure for checking IS: 3495-1992),
7. Soundness of a Brick:
If we drop a brick from 1.5 mtr height, it shouldn't break.
8. Frog in Brick:
The cut impression (or) indent given on brick surface is called Frog. The frog size should be 100 mm X 40 mm X 10 mm. If the frog size is more (or) less then it leads to less (or) more mortor filling while construction. It is uneconomical and effects the strength.
