Brick Engineering Quiz

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of engineering bricks?

To offer high strength and durability (correct)

To be lightweight and easy to handle

To ensure high thermal insulation

To provide an attractive appearance

Which type of brick comprises 60% of all clay brick production?

Calcium silicate bricks

Engineering bricks

Wire-cut bricks

Pressed bricks (correct)

What is the standard block size mentioned for blocks?

400 x 200 x 100mm

440 x 215 x 100mm (correct)

440 x 215 x 75mm

460 x 220 x 100mm

What is a key characteristic of lightweight blocks?

Good thermal insulation Signup and view all the answers

What combination of materials is used to make calcium silicate bricks?

Sand and lime Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary cause of durability problems in brickwork?

Moisture penetration Signup and view all the answers

Which type of brick structure is generally more frost-resistant?

Bricks with a coarse pore structure Signup and view all the answers

What is NOT a performance requirement of external walls?

Flexibility Signup and view all the answers

What structural feature enhances the stability of a wall?

Design of the wall – slenderness ratio Signup and view all the answers

Which type of wall is described as consisting of an outer skin of brick and an inner skin of block?

Cavity wall Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of English Bond in brickwork?

Alternating use of headers and stretchers Signup and view all the answers

What modification is often made in English Bond for garden walls?

Reduction of headers to speed up work Signup and view all the answers

What indicates rising dampness in brick walls?

Surface staining above brick plinth Signup and view all the answers

What does the U-value represent in the context of fabric heat loss?

Thermal transmittance of a building element Signup and view all the answers

Which formula is used to calculate the rate of ventilation heat loss?

Pv = Cv x N x V x Δt / 3600 Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary factor that contributes to ventilation heat loss in a building?

Loss of warm air and its replacement with colder air Signup and view all the answers

How is total heat loss determined?

Total heat loss = ventilation heat loss + fabric heat loss Signup and view all the answers

Which variable is NOT part of the formula for calculating fabric heat loss?

Volumetric heat capacity Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason for using stretchers more frequently than headers in bricklaying?

Fewer stretchers are rejected for size errors. Signup and view all the answers

In Flemish Bond, what is the arrangement of headers and stretchers in each course?

Headers and stretchers alternate. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following defines Flemish Garden Wall bond?

Two stretchers followed by a single header in each course. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes early cavity walls in the 1920s from later constructions?

Internal leaves were primarily made from common bricks. Signup and view all the answers

Why did some internal leaves begin to be constructed from blockwork in the 1930s?

Blockwork was cheaper than brickwork. Signup and view all the answers

What material slowly replaced lightweight aggregates in blocks by the late 1970s?

Aerated concrete. Signup and view all the answers

What feature is common in the construction of Flemish bond houses from the Georgian and Victorian periods?

Use of Flemish bond pattern. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of wall structures, what does 'DPC' stand for?

Damp Proof Course. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main benefit of using lightweight blocks in modern cavity walls?

Improved thermal insulation Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended spacing for wall ties in modern cavity walls?

900 mm horizontally and 450 mm vertically Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does thin joint masonry provide compared to conventional construction methods?

Faster construction times Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of timber frame construction?

Improved quality control Signup and view all the answers

What type of heat loss is characterized by the loss of heat through building elements?

Fabric loss Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the quick-setting thin bed mortar in thin joint masonry?

To increase the construction speed Signup and view all the answers

Which U-value range is associated with the Kingspan TEK Building System?

0.19 - 0.21 W/m²·K Signup and view all the answers

Why is closer spacing of wall ties required around window and door openings?

To provide greater structural stability Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

External Walls

External walls are the most common type of cavity wall
Cavity walls consist of an outer skin of brick and an inner skin of block with thermal insulation in the cavity
Performance requirements for external walls include stability, moisture resistance, sound insulation, thermal insulation, and fire resistance
The stability of the wall is determined by the type of material used, the construction of the wall and its design and stiffness
Stiffness of the wall is determined by the design, piers, buttresses, and lateral restraint, and the type of load

Learning Outcomes

Students should understand what bricks are
Students should understand what blocks are
Students should understand what solid walls are
Students should understand what cavity walls are
Students should understand what wall details are
Students should understand what thin joint masonry is
Students should understand what heat loss is

Building Regulations

Buildings must be constructed to sustain the combined dead, imposed, and wind loads safely and without causing excessive deflection or deformation of any part of the building.
Ground movement like swelling, shrinkage or freezing of the subsoil, land-slip, and subsidence will not impair building stability
All aspects of external walls must comply with building regulations

Types of Clay Bricks

Common bricks are ordinary bricks, not designed for appearance or strength. They are the cheapest option
Facing bricks are used for their appearance and categorized into Press Bricks (60% of production) and Wire-cut Bricks (30% of production, usually have one textured side)
Engineering bricks are designed for strength and durability

Types of Blocks

Dense blocks, made from cement, sand, and crushed gravel, provide good sound insulation for load-bearing partitions. They should be at least 75mm thick
Lightweight blocks, made from lightweight aggregates. They provide good thermal insulation

Block Sizes

Blocks are equivalent to 6 bricks (3 high and 2 long)
Standard block sizes are 440 x 215 x 100mm

Durability

Most durability problems stem from moisture penetration
Main types of damage include frost damage (freezing of water below brick surface) and other problems like efflorescence and dampness
Bricks with coarse pore structures generally resist frost damage better than those with fine pores

Brickwork Terminology

Key terms used in brickwork include perp joints, queen closers, bed joints, stretchers, and headers

Calcium Silicate (Sand Lime) Bricks

Made by blending finely ground sand or flint and lime in a 10:1 ratio
High degree of regularity
Wide range of colors

Heat Loss

Heat losses from a building can be categorized as fabric loss or ventilation loss
Fabric loss is from heat transfer through walls, roofs, and floors.
Ventilation loss is heat loss due to warm air replacement with cold air

Calculation of Heat Loss

The rate of fabric heat loss (P₁) can be calculated as U x A x ∆t.
Where:
- U is the U-value of the building element (W/m²K).
- A is the area of the element (m²).
- ∆t is the temperature difference between the inside and outside ( °C).
Ventilation loss (P₁) is calculated as C₂ x N x V x ∆t where:
- C₂ is the volumetric specific heat capacity of air (J/m³K).
- N is the air infiltration rate, or the number of complete air changes per hour.
- V is the volume of the room (m³).
- ∆t is the air temperature difference between inside and outside (°C).

Modern Cavity Walls

Modern cavity walls use lightweight blocks with brick outer leaf with partial or clear cavity fill

Wall Ties

Wall ties are spaced at 900mm horizontally and 450mm vertically in a staggered arrangement
Closer spacing required around window and door openings

Early Cavity Walls

Early cavity walls (prior to 1960s) were built from different materials like bricks and lightweight blocks made of aggregates like clinker or pumice
By the 1970s, lightweight blocks were becoming the norm to provide improved thermal insulation

Timber Frame Construction

Timber frame construction is fast, with good quality control due to pre-fabrication
It has reduced dependence on traditional "wet" skills, reduced dead load, and good thermal insulation

Thin Joint Masonry

Thin joint masonry is a fast-building method commonly using dimensionally accurate blocks with quick-setting thin bed mortar.
This method significantly speeds up construction time

Sill Details

Horizontal DPC (Damp Proof Course) protect the underside of sills
Need for DPC depends on sill

Types of Bonds

English Bond: Headers in one course; stretchers in next; Queen closer keeps bond.
Flemish Bond: Headers and stretchers alternate in each course; Queen closer keeps bond.
Garden Wall bond: Less headers than other English and Flemish bonds. Quicker to lay.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge on the fundamentals of brick engineering with this quiz. Explore key characteristics, production statistics, and structural features important in the field of brickwork. Challenge yourself and see how much you know about different types of bricks and their specific properties.