---
title: "Specifications of brick masonry work"
subject: "Building Technology"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_6/building_technology:brick-masonry-specs"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/brick-masonry-specs
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Specifications of brick masonry work

Building Technology · Chapter 3: Mortars & Masonry works

- Asked in: 2081 Chaitra, 4 marks; 2078 Poush, 6 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Brick Masonry Construction](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XGt-p-hpdU) — Mtutor & Mschool
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/building_technology/brick-masonry-specs
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/building_technology/chapter-3

## Question

Write in short specifications of brick masonry work.

## Answer

**Brick masonry** is the construction of walls from bricks bonded with mortar. A typical specification (as per Nepal Standard and IS 2212) is:

#### Materials
- **Bricks**: First-class, well burnt, uniform in colour, shape and size (Nepal standard brick 240 × 115 × 57 mm; IS modular brick 190 × 90 × 90 mm), with compressive strength not less than about 10 N/mm² for first-class bricks (3.5 N/mm² minimum for common bricks); water absorption not more than 20 %; free from cracks, lime nodules and soluble salts.
- **Mortar**: Cement-sand 1:4 to 1:6 (as in the drawing) for ordinary work; sand clean and graded, passing a 2.36 mm sieve; clean water.

#### Workmanship
1. Bricks are soaked in clean water for at least 2 hours (until the bubbles stop) before use.
2. Bricks are laid in **English bond** or **Flemish bond** on a full mortar bed, with frogs upward; vertical joints are filled completely and are staggered (no vertical joint directly above another); the minimum overlap is a quarter of a brick.
3. **Joint thickness**: 10 mm (not more than 12 mm and not less than 6 mm); joints are raked to a depth of 10 to 15 mm for plastering or pointing.
4. The work is carried up evenly in all parts; the maximum height of a day's work is 1.0 to 1.5 m; the wall is kept plumb and level using a plumb bob, spirit level and string line.
5. Toothing of 150 mm is left at the end of a day's work; the junctions of walls are made with proper bond.
6. The wall is kept wet by sprinkling water and cured for 7 to 10 days; it is protected from rain and sun.
7. DPC is provided at plinth level, and lintels and sill bands as designed; no chasing after completion.

#### Measurement and payment
Measured in cubic metres (m³), with deductions for openings; the rate includes materials, labour, scaffolding and curing.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Bricks before use should be:
   A. Heated
   B. Soaked in clean water at least 2 hours
   C. Painted
   D. Used dry
   Answer: B. Soaking prevents bricks sucking water from mortar. (Key point: Soaking)

2. Normal joint thickness is:
   A. 10 mm
   B. 30 mm
   C. 50 mm
   D. 1 mm
   Answer: A. Not more than 12 mm nor less than 6 mm. (Key point: Joint thickness)

3. Maximum height of a day's work is:
   A. 1.0 to 1.5 m
   B. 0.1 m
   C. 5 m
   D. No limit
   Answer: A. Limits uneven settlement of fresh work. (Key point: Day's work)

4. Vertical joints in successive courses should be:
   A. Left empty
   B. Same as horizontal
   C. Aligned
   D. Broken (no vertical alignment)
   Answer: D. Breaking joints gives bond and strength. (Key point: Brick bond)

## Related in Building Technology

- [Masonry work, materials for 20 cum brickwork](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abrickwork-20cum-1to6) — Building Technology, chapter 3
- [Types of bonds in brick masonry](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Abrick-bonds-types) — Building Technology, chapter 3
- [Making brick masonry earthquake resistant](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aeq-brick-masonry) — Building Technology, chapter 11
- [Retrofitting a brick masonry building](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Aretrofit-brick-masonry) — Building Technology, chapter 11
- [Brick layer's scaffold and dead shoring](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Ascaffold-brick-layer-dead-shore) — Building Technology, chapter 8
- [Painting work on metal surfaces](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Fbuilding_technology%3Apainting-metal) — Building Technology, chapter 9, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Brick masonry pier: brickwork and pointing](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Abrick-pier-quantity-pointing) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 6
- [Brick masonry infill walls in RC frames](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-infill-walls) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7, asked 3×
- [Use of masonry; types of brick bond](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Amasonry-uses-bond-types) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 7, asked 2×
- [Flat-jack test for brick masonry wall](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aflat-jack-test) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 10, asked 2×