The Ultimate Guide to Engineering Bricks
Engineering bricks are a construction industry staple. They’re nearly as common as your standard-facing brick, only lacking their variety of styles.
Created to resist harsh weather conditions, extreme temperatures and high-pressure situations, engineering bricks are crucial for building foundations, retaining walls, and sewers. Also known as Class A bricks, engineering bricks are a popular choice for construction projects that require durability and strength.
Are you considering using engineering bricks in your own building project? This ultimate guide will tell you everything you need to know.
What are Engineering Bricks?
What sets engineering bricks apart is their high compression strength, durability and water absorption. Traditional clay bricks perform poorly when in regular contact with water and are unsuited for some heavy-duty tasks. That’s where engineering bricks come in.
These bricks are made from high-quality materials such as dense clay and concrete. This makes them resistant to water absorption, frost, and chemical damage. For this reason, they are commonly used in industrial settings and where harsh environments are present.
Uses of Engineering Bricks
Their main uses are for:
- Foundations: because of their high strength and durability, these bricks are an ideal choice for building foundations. They can provide excellent structural support and take the weight of the building.
- Retaining walls: highly resistant to water and frost damage, engineering bricks are often used to build retaining walls as they can withstand the pressure of the soil.
- Industrial settings: these bricks are often used in chimneys, furnaces, and other industrial structures due to their resistance to high temperatures and harsh chemicals.
- Sewers: they are also used in sewer systems because they can withstand the corrosive effects of wastewater and provide long-lasting performance.
Properties of Engineering Bricks
Engineering bricks have a compressive strength of up to 100N/mm². This is much higher than other types of bricks, like facing bricks, which typically have half their compressive strength, around 50N/mm².
In addition to their high strength, engineering bricks have excellent resistance to water, frost, and chemical attack. These bricks resist frost damage because of their low water absorption rate. Their low porosity also makes them ideal for use in areas where harsh weather conditions are prevalent.
Advantages of Engineering Bricks
The top five advantages of engineering bricks are:
- High strength makes them ideal for high-pressure situations and heavy loads.
- Durability: engineering bricks resist water absorption, frost, and chemical damage.
- A low water absorption rate makes them ideal for building in wet environments.
- Fire resistance makes engineering bricks perfect for chimneys and furnaces.
- Their appearance: a smooth surface finish in different colours makes engineering bricks ideal for intricate building designs.
How to Choose the Right Engineering Bricks
The five most important factors to consider when choosing engineering bricks for your construction project are:
- Strength: select engineering bricks with a high compressive strength that can withstand heavy loads.
- Colour: select engineering bricks that match the colour scheme of your building design.
- Size: select engineering bricks that are a suitable fit for your building design.
- Chemical resistance: select engineering bricks resistant to chemical damage if you are building in industrial settings.
- Water absorption: select engineering bricks with a low water absorption rate if you build in wet environments.
Cost of Engineering Bricks
Because of their higher strength and durability, engineering bricks are generally more expensive than other types of bricks. Factors such as the bricks’ size and shape and the required quantity will affect their cost.
FAQs
Yes, engineering bricks are a type of brick suitable for use in external walls because of their resistance to harsh weather conditions.
Engineering bricks are designed for their high strength and durability, whereas standard bricks are designed for their aesthetics.