Brick Compressive Strength

In the compressive test on masonry units, a brick or block, after its loading surfaces are capped, is loaded to failure. The standard defines calculation on gross area for perforated units and the application of a shape factor.

The purpose is to determine the load-bearing capacity of a unit to be used in masonry. Wall strength depends not only on the unit but also on the mortar and bonding pattern; this test measures the unit's contribution.

• Perforated and solid bricks
• Concrete blocks and units
• Aerated concrete blocks
• Natural stone masonry units
• Paving and flooring units

• EN 772-1 (methods of test for masonry units — compressive strength)
• EN 771 series (specifications for masonry units)
• EN 1996 series (Eurocode 6 — design of masonry structures)
• TS EN 771-1 (clay masonry units)

Surface preparation

Loading surfaces are ground or capped in accordance with the standard

Conditioning

Air dry or oven dry condition defined in the standard

Loading speed

From standard to unit type

Correction

Shape correction coefficient is applied from the table of the standard

• Compression testing press
• Surface grinding or capping setup
• Oven and conditioning environment
• Measurement equipment and balance

• The sample must be taken so as to represent the batch and in accordance with the sampling rules of the relevant standard.
• The sampling date, location and the person who took the sample must be recorded.
• Samples requiring curing or conditioning must be stored under the defined conditions.
• The number of samples must meet the minimum required by the standard.
• The sample must not be damaged during transport.

Conditioning time is decisive; the test extends over several days when the oven-dry condition is required.

1. 1Samples are taken from the batch in the number required by the standard.
2. 2Loading surfaces are prepared.
3. 3Samples are conditioned under the defined condition.
4. 4Dimensions are measured and the cross-sectional area calculated.
5. 5The sample is placed in the press and loaded at the defined rate.
6. 6The failure load is recorded.
7. 7The normalised strength is calculated by applying the shape factor.

The acceptance class does not come from the test method but from the product standard and the project: concrete class, reinforcement class, aggregate category, or fire performance class is defined in the specification. The report gives the measured value; the conformity decision is made against the relevant product standard.

The result is compared against the declared strength value in the relevant EN 771 product specification. Assessment is made via the average of the sample set and the single-value lower limit; the manufacturer's declaration must satisfy both conditions together.

• Sample description, sampling location and date
• Sampling method and witness sample information, if any
• Standard and test conditions applied
• Sample dimensions, curing conditions and age information
• Measured values and calculated results
• Failure mode or damage description (where applicable)
• A statement that the result applies only to the specimen submitted for testing

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

• EU 305/2011 Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
• Construction Products Regulation (Turkey)
• TS 500 / Requirements for Design and Construction of Reinforced Concrete Structures
• Turkish Building Earthquake Code

The section below describes the field that the Brick Compressive Strength test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

• Concrete Compressive Strength
• Concrete Tensile Strength
• Aggregate Sieve Analysis
• Aggregate Los Angeles Abrasion
• Reinforcing Steel Tensile Test
• Ceramic Flexural Strength
• Glass Impact Test
• Wind Load
• Façade Watertightness
• Fire Resistance
• Reaction to Fire
• Cement