Assignment 1 CE5130 Construction Quality 1

31-08-2018 & Safety Management

Submitted by: P.Mohan Chandra
CE17D017

Eight Dimensions of Quality considering Masonry Brick

1. Performance:
Bricks are intended to be put to use for masonry construction. The masonry construction might be
construction of walls, floors, arches & cornices, khoa (broken brick as aggregate in concrete) and
surki (powdered bricks as lime plaster and lime concrete). The brick should satisfy the performance
criteria in order to be put to use for the intended masonry work. For example as the most common
application of brick is for wall construction which could be a partition or load bearing wall. The
brick put to use should have certain performance characteristics such as required characteristic
strength, shape, size, texture & colour, resistance to acid attacks, fire resistance, thermal insulation,
sound insulation and ease of cutting.
2. Reliability:
The reliability of the brick is based on its ability to remain intact in site handling practices. This
means that the brick should have its texture, shape and size intact i.e. the edges, corners and surface
should not be effected negatively. The brick should be free of defects such as lamination, blisters,
over burning, under burning, bloating, black core, efflorescence, chuff, checks & cracks and spots.
3. Durability:
Durability of a brick would mean how long it would last to be put to the intended use. Many bricks
of good durability last for the whole life cycle of the structure.
4. Serviceability:
Serviceability would mean the ease with which it can be repaired. In case of brick, it would mean
the ease with which brick can be reset in case it is loosely set into a masonry system. For a loosely
set brick into a wall due to poor workmanship or bad quality mortar, its serviceability would mean
that the brick could be taken out and the old mortar cleaned both from the wall cavity and brick.
Then the brick reset back into the wall properly.
5. Aesthetics:
In case of aesthetics, the brick should be of even dimensions, shape and texture.
6. Features:
A brick with good features will offer flexibility in application. It would mean if the brick can be
used as a common brick for general brick work, facing brick to give alternate appearance in colour
and texture, load bearing brick to take the specified load, damp proof course having specified low
water absorption capacity or having chemical resistance. Engineering bricks offer all the said
features and are primarily used in civil engineering works.
7. Perceived Quality:
Perceived Quality would depend upon the company reputation. Such brick would provide with
better functional performances and provide satisfactory results for tests for bricks such as crushing
test, water absorption test, test for presence of alkali and salt, test for hardness, test for soundness,
test for structure and test for shape and size.
8. Conformance to standards:
The brick should conform to certain standards as intended by designer. In India for bricks we follow
IS code standards such as IS 1077:1992 (Common burnt clay building bricks), IS 13757:1993
(Burnt clay flyash bricks) etc.