Bricks with Sarah Jefferson and Mat Davies of Vandersanden Lecture

Brick Basics: Essential Insights from Vandersanden’s CPD Session

Clay Brick and Fire Safety

Clay brick isn’t just beautiful — it’s naturally non-combustible. Classified as A1 under BS EN 13501-1:2018, clay brick provides inherent fire resistance without additional treatments. Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy, fire safety regulations tightened significantly. Designers must stay current with resources like the RIBA’s fire safety campaign and the updated Approved Document B for dwellings over 11m.

Brick as a Sustainable Product

Sustainability sits at the heart of responsible construction. Brick manufacturing uses clay — often a by-product of infrastructure projects — and increasingly incorporates rainwater harvesting and heat recuperation systems. Bricks require minimal packaging, offer remarkable longevity, and, with lime mortar, can be reused in future builds. Even with cement mortar, crushed bricks can serve as fill material.

Types of Bricks: Stock, Water-Struck, and Wire-Cut

We explored the character of different brick types:

• Stock (Handform): Authentic, sandy, veined appearance often with a frog indentation

• Water-Struck: Smooth yet softly textured with a slightly glazed look

• Wire-Cut: Clean, crisp lines with perforations, high dimensional accuracy, and flexibility for custom shapes

Brick Terminology & Setting Out

A few basics:

• Head/Perpend Joint: Vertical mortar joint

• Bed Joint: Horizontal mortar joint

• Bed: The mortar layer between the top and bottom faces of bricks. When planning, it’s crucial to work with coordinating sizes and standard 10mm mortar joints

• Ensure dimensions suit your apertures and elevations to avoid awkward cuts and maximise material efficiency

Construction Essentials

• Below Damp Proof Course: Use F2 durability and S2 soluble salt-rated bricks

• Cavity Walls: Maintain a minimum 50mm air gap with properly placed wall ties

• Movement Joints: No more than 12m apart; halved at corners to 6m

• Mortar Joints: Profiles like bucket handle, weather struck, and recessed joints offer different aesthetic and durability benefits

Compliance and Standards

All clay bricks should meet:

1. BS EN 771-1:2011+A1:2015

2. BS 8000-3:2020

3. PD 6697:2019 for masonry structure design

4. PAS 70:2003 for site tolerances

5. Environmental certifications like ISO 14001 add further assurance.

Health, Safety & Wellbeing

Designers have a legal duty under CDM Regulations 2015 to design out foreseeable risks. On-site, proper PPE, dust control when cutting bricks, safe scaffolding, and safe lifting practices are paramount.

Supply, Management & Handling

Order bricks in one batch to ensure consistency. Protect against rain, avoid using wet bricks or excessive mortar water, and mix from different packs for colour blending. Never build below 5°C or above 30°C for coloured mortars.