This specification covers building bricks intended for use in structural and nonstructural masonry where external appearance is not a requirement. The bricks are prismatic units available in a variety of sizes, shapes, textures, and colors and are manufactured from clay, shale, or similar naturally occurring earthy substances by firing. The heat treatment should develop sufficient fired bond between material particulates to produce a material that conforms to the required strength and durability. During manufacture, the breaks are shaped by molding, pressing, or extrusion. Bricks are classified into grades according to their resistance to damage by freezing when wet. All the materials should comply with the requirements on appearance, durability, absorption alternate, freezing and thawing alternative, breakage, cracking, weathering index alternative, strength, and initial absorption rate.

1.1 This specification covers brick intended for use in both structural and nonstructural masonry where external appearance is not a requirement. The brick are prismatic units available in a variety of sizes, shapes, textures, and colors. This specification does not cover brick intended for use as facing units or where surface appearance is a requirement. If brick are required to have a particular color, texture, finish, uniformity, or limits on cracks, warpage, or other imperfections detracting from the appearance they are purchased under Specification C216. This specification does not cover brick intended for use as paving brick (see Specifications C902 and C1272).

1.2 The requirements of this specification apply at the time of purchase. The use of results from testing of brick extracted from masonry structures for determining conformance or nonconformance to the requirements of this specification is beyond the scope of this standard.

1.3 Brick are ceramic products manufactured primarily from clay, shale, or similar naturally occurring earthy substances and subjected to a heat treatment at elevated temperatures (firing). Additives or recycled materials are permitted to be included at the option of the manufacturer. The heat treatment must develop sufficient fired bond between the particulate constituents to provide the strength and durability requirements of this specification (see Terminology C1232).

1.4 Brick are shaped during manufacture by molding, pressing, or extrusion, and the shaping method is a way to describe the brick.

1.4.1 This specification and its individual requirements shall not be used to qualify or corroborate the performance of a masonry unit made from other materials, or made with other forming methods, or other means of binding the materials.

1.5 Three grades of brick are covered.

1.6 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the specification.

1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.