When we speak about using bricks as a construction material, it’s important to understand how bricks are categorized into classes, and why we categorize them.

Why Bricks Are Categorized

When speaking to a brick contractor, or when talking to a brick salesperson, it is crucial that you know what bricks you’re ordering to prevent a distasteful construction. In the past, the word ‘brick’ purely meant a building block made from clay and was often categorized by colors. Now, with modern-day brick-making techniques, brick makers can classify bricks by the required grade needed rather than by matching color with quality materials. Thanks to this, aesthetic bricks can be used on the exterior of a building, and strong, rough graded bricks can be used for the interior of the building. Bricks can still be categorized by color and sizes, but class systems are a great way to understand the basic categorization for construction.

Class Categorization:

First Class Bricks: Aesthetic, Strong, High Quality

These bricks will be used on the exterior of the building as they look the most aesthetic. They are rectangular on the surface, with a natural reddish, copper color. They will be uniform in size, have no visible cracks or irregularities in the texture, and will have a strength of 10N/mm2. They also have a very low water absorption rate of about 12% and will have a metallic appearance when stuck together. These bricks cost the most, which is why they would be used on the exterior of a construction.

Second Class Bricks: Less Appealing, Quality Construction

Second Class Bricks will be used as reinforcement bricks in areas of the building that are concealed. They have mostly the same qualities as first-class bricks, but will have a marginally higher absorption rate of about 20%, with more irregularities in the texture, and have a slightly less robust strength. Their edges aren’t sharp, unlike fist class bricks, and come in irregular shapes.

 Third Class Bricks: Temporary Bricks

These bricks are primarily used in temporary structures as they are under burnt. These bricks appear as gray and dull, have a high water absorption rate of around 25% with uneven edges. These bricks are not suitable for areas that receive a lot of rainfall.

Fourth Class Bricks:

These bricks are very weak and are never used to construct a building. They are often crushed to be used in the creation of concrete and later into floors. They are overburnt and vary in size, color, and shape.

The post What Are Brick Classes? appeared first on Search A Brick.