How to Check Brick Quality?

My brother works in the construction industry. They have to check the brick quality almost everyday. I asked, how to check brick quality? He said that brick testing is done both on the construction site and in the lab. The 6 ways to check the brick quality are; absorption test, crushing or compressive strength test, hardness test, shape and size test, soundness test, structure of bricks. 

I have shared details of these tests below, you can check them out.

How to Check the Quality of Bricks?

To know how to check quality of brick and whether it is suitable for construction, the following tests are required:

• Absorption test:

This test is done on bricks to find out how much moisture the brick can absorb overall in harsh circumstances. A dry brick is taken and weighed to conduct this test. The brick is weighed and then submerged in water for a full day. The wet brick is then weighed. The amount of water absorption is calculated from the difference in weight between the wet and dry bricks. 

• Crushing or compressive strength test:

A brick is put in a compression testing machine and pressure is applied until the brick breaks to determine the crushing strength of the brick. The minimum pressure at which the bricks break should be greater than 3.50 N/mm2. If the value is less than that, the brick is not fit for use in the building.

• Hardness test:

A perfect brick will be able to withstand scratches caused by sharp objects. For this particular test, bricks are scratched with a fingernail or sharp object. When there are no visible signs of scratches, the brick is regarded as hard.

• Shape and size test:

Every brick that is used in construction has to be the same size. Each brick should have a distinct, sharp edge and be rectangular. Twenty bricks are chosen at random and stacked according to their dimensions to serve as a comparison in this test. Bricks are appropriate for use in construction if they are all the same size.

• Soundness test:

Here's an additional method for testing bricks. This experiment illustrates the behaviour of bricks under abrupt impact. Two bricks are selected at random and struck against one another to conduct this test. Not only should the sound be a clear, bell-ringing sound, but the bricks themselves should not break or crack. 

• Structure of bricks:

One brick is broken after being randomly selected from a group to successfully identify the structure of a brick. The interior of the brick is given careful consideration. The brick needs to be lump-free and smooth.

I hope this helps!

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