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Characteristics of good bricks

Short answer

A good brick has uniform cherry-red colour, standard size 240×115×57 mm, compact fine-grained structure, metallic ring when struck, no nail scratch, compressive strength ≥3.5 N/mm², water absorption <20%, no efflorescence, and a rough surface for mortar bond.

What are the characteristics (qualities/properties) of a good brick?

A good brick has the following characteristics.

  1. Shape and size: well burnt, with a regular rectangular shape, sharp edges and plane faces. The Nepal Standard size is 240 × 115 × 57 mm (the IS modular size is 190 × 90 × 90 mm).
  2. Colour: uniform, bright cherry red.
  3. Structure: homogeneous and compact, with fine grains, and free from cracks, voids, lumps of lime and stones.
  4. Sound: gives a clear metallic ringing sound when two bricks are struck together.
  5. Hardness: a fingernail makes no mark.
  6. Strength: compressive strength not less than 3.5 N/mm² (higher for load-bearing and machine-made bricks).
  7. Water absorption: not more than 20% of dry weight after 24 hours of immersion.
  8. Efflorescence: nil or only slight.
  9. Durability: should withstand weathering, fire and frost.
  10. Weight and thermal behaviour: light in weight, and a poor conductor of heat and sound.
  11. Mortar bond: the surface should have a rough texture for a proper bond with mortar.

✓ Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort)

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