QUALITIES OF A GOOD BRICK

A good brick should possess the following properties:

1. The brick should be uniform in shape and should be of standard size.
2. The brick when broken should show a uniform compact and homogeneous structure free from voids.
3. The brick should not absorb water more than 20 per cent for first-class bricks and 22 per cent for second-class bricks when soaked in cold water for a period of 24 hours.
4. The brick should be hard enough. No impression should be left when scratched.
5. The brick should not break into pieces when dropped from a height of 1 m.
6. The brick when soaked in water for 24 hours should not show deposits of white salts when allowed to dry in shade.
7. The brick should have low thermal conductivity and should be sound proof.
8. The crushing strength of brick should not be below 5.5 N/mm².
9. The brick should be table moulded, well burnt and free from cracks with sharp and square edges.
10. The colour should be uniform and bright.
11. The bricks should give a good metallic sound when struck with each other.

Concrete blocks, hollow blocks and bricks made of various materials like fly ash are being used successfully as substitutes.