A: The following is a brief explanation of what is necessary to specify brick for a construction project. The most important information includes:

• Referenced ASTM brick specification
• Manufacturer’s name or number
• Grade and type
• Size (length x height x bed width)
• Compressive strength, optional
• Initial rate of absorption, IRA, optional
• Special brick, such as shapes or 100 percent solids

For a solid face brick, 25 percent core holes, the industry standard is ASTM C216. The grade, either SW or MW, indicates the brick’s ability to resist deterioration from freeze-thaw action. Severe weathering grade, SW is for climates that have many cycles of freeze-thaw weather. This criterion provides brick with higher compressive strengths and lower saturation coefficients. Most parts of the United States require grade SW. ASTM C216 indicates what parts of the country require grade SW or MW.

The type of the face brick is either FBS, FBX or FBA. The type of brick governs the dimensional tolerances that the brick must be manufactured to meet. FBS has the largest tolerances while FBX has the smallest tolerances, but it is also more expensive.

Specifying compressive strength of the brick is normally done when the brick is to be used in a structural application that requires engineering to analyze the brickwork.

Indicating the IRA, while not required under ASTM C216, may assist the mason to be better prepared to install the brick. The IRA varies widely among brick and specifying the IRA may limit the brick selection. In addition, a brick with a high IRA is easier to install in the wintertime than a brick with a low IRA. Similarly, a brick with a low IRA is easier to install in the summertime, while the brick with the high IRA is more difficult.

Brick with IRAs between 15 and 20 are suitable for most climates. The moisture resistance of a brick veneer is not dependent on the IRA of the brick unless the mason ignores the extreme IRA brick. Most masons will automatically adjust for high and low IRA brick in order to maintain their productivity. The best recommendation is to let the mason know the IRA of the brick, so he can compensate for it during construction. A typical product specification would read:

All brick specified or shown on construction drawings shall be (name) as manufactured by Hanson Brick and shall comply with ASTM (C216 or C652 or C55 or C62,) Grade SW, Type (FBS or FBX or FBA.) The size will be (Standard or King or Modular or Queen or Engineer.)

Note: For ASTM C652, Type (HBS or HBX or HBA.) For ASTM C62 there is not an associated type.

Note: Information on compressive strength and initial rate of absorption (IRA) is available from manufacturer on request.

Provide special shapes for applications as shown on drawings which require brick of size, form, color and texture on exposed surfaces that cannot be produced by sawing.

Additional information concerning ASTM C216 can be found in Hanson Brick Technical Document 4B and Brick Industry Association Technical Note 9A. There are many spec writing services such as Masterspec which have standard formats for specifying brick products and installation procedures.