Brick characteristics according to GOST

Clay brick was and remains the most demanded material for decoration and construction of structures. It is versatile, with its help you can build structures of any shape, as well as insulate, decorate rooms and perform other work. All these requirements are regulated by GOST 530-2007.

A building stone (brick) is a piece product that is made from clay and placed on a mortar. The standard product has a regulated size of 250x120x65 mm and is a parallelepiped with smooth edges and edges.

All types of building stone are made according to a single standard, regardless of whether it is a facing or building material. Such requirements are also imposed on clinker bricks, despite the fact that they are manufactured using a different technology, as a result of which they have higher strength characteristics, which makes it possible to use such products in places where large loads will be exerted on the surface. The cost of such a product will be an order of magnitude higher than the usual analogue.

Brick today is presented in several forms.

• Private. Ordinary brick with standard dimensions, which does not have voids inside. Its cost is affordable, it is used for the construction of various structures.
• Corpulent. There are a small number of voids, the total volume of which does not exceed 13% of the volume of the product itself.
• Hollow. It has voids of various configurations in the body, which can be through and non-through.
• Facade. Presented in different forms, it is used for facade finishing.

• Clinker. It is highly durable, does not absorb water. It is used as a decorative material in landscape design. Dimensions are the same as for a standard product, but if necessary, it can be made in other parameters.
• Facial. Refers to decorative materials, but its characteristics are not inferior to ordinary brick. Meets all requirements for strength and other indicators.
• Ceramic stone. A ceramic product that has many voids inside and differs from ordinary brick in its large size.

According to their strength characteristics, bricks are divided into 7 types. Strength is indicated by the letter "M" and a numerical value that comes after it. For the construction of small outbuildings, fences and low buildings, ordinary bricks of the M100-M200 brands are used. If you need to erect a high-rise structure or use a brick where heavy loads will be affected, it is recommended to give preference to products of the M300 and higher brand.

On the surface of any ceramic product, the batch number and its weight are indicated. Manufacturers can indicate other data that do not contradict the standards and make it possible to quickly identify the goods of a particular manufacturer.

• The main requirement for facing bricks is its appearance. Typically, such products have textured, glazed coatings with the application of a certain relief. Ordinary bricks do not have any decor on their surface. They are produced in a natural color, and, if necessary, are painted in the required shade after installation.
• According to GOST 5040-96, a slight deviation in the dimensions and characteristics of ordinary bricks is allowed, among which chips, cracks, abrasions and other defects can be noted. At the same time, the same flaws should be excluded in the front brick, which will not be plastered in the future.
• Facing brick is more expensive, especially if it refers to stones of the first grade SHA 5, which should not have any flaws on their surface. The presence of voids in the brick provides a reduction in its weight, which makes it possible to reduce the pressure on the base when erecting walls. Also, such bricks are used instead of tiles for finishing already built houses. At the same time, a minimum load acts on the facade, and the structure itself takes on an attractive appearance. These surfaces are easy to clean and keep clean.

Any clay brick has its own strengths and weaknesses, like other materials.

The benefits include:

• high density indicators;
• resistance to low temperatures;
• practicality of use;
• fire resistance;

• environmental friendliness;
• the ability to carry out various projects, regardless of the complexity of the design;
• a wide range of products;
• with experience, laying can be done on your own;
• aesthetic qualities.

Minuses:

• fragility;
• rather high cost of certain types of bricks;
• under unfavorable factors, efflorescence may appear on the surface;
• laying requires certain skills.

If it is necessary to transport the bricks, they must be packed in a special material or stacked on pallets, which will protect them from atmospheric and other influences. Products from the same batch are placed on pallets so that they do not differ in parameters and color. If necessary, you can store bricks in open areas, taking into account the seasonality.

All bricks must be checked for compliance with standards prior to being marketed. All these activities are carried out in the factory that manufactures them. When checking, samples are randomly selected, which are tested and checked for frost resistance, strength, water absorption and other characteristics. All these data are indicated in the product passport.

In order for an organization to sell its products, they must first be tested. This is done in laboratories where the following characteristics are checked.

• Geometry deviations. In this case, the parameters of the products are checked using a ruler. Deviations should not exceed the requirements of the standards in accordance with GOST.
• Absorption. Initially, the brick is weighed, and then placed in water for 24 hours, after which it is weighed again. The difference in values ​​determines the degree of absorption.
• Strength. The sample is placed under a press, where a certain pressure is applied to it. As a result of this test, the ability of the product to withstand a given weight is determined.

• Frost resistance. The sample is placed in a special chamber, where it is exposed to low and high temperatures alternately. All these cycles are calculated, which makes it possible to determine the number of freezing / defrosting cycles of the product during its further operation.
• Density. Determined using a special device.
• Thermal conductivity. The resistance to heat transfer and the ability to retain heat in the room are checked.

To prevent unnecessary waste of money and make a profitable purchase, it is necessary to pay attention to the following points when choosing a brick.

• Product appearance.The brick should have a uniform color, which indicates that it is not overdried.
• Products should not have mechanical damage on the surface. No more than 2-3 percent of such bricks in a batch are allowed.
• All goods must be packed and certified.
• It is worth refusing to purchase products from unverified manufacturers.

As you can see, GOSTs are important not only for manufacturers, but also for buyers. If the latter have the necessary information regarding a particular product, this will allow them to avoid purchasing low-quality material.

You will learn how to choose a brick in the next video.