Brick Tests — EN 771 / EN 772

What Is Brick?

Masonry unit tests are the determination of the properties of bricks, blocks and briquettes used in masonry. The EN 772 series defines compressive strength, size and shape, gross and net dry density, water absorption, water vapor permeability and freeze-thaw resistance; EN 771 series gives product requirements according to unit type.

Purpose of Brick

The aim is to demonstrate that the wall unit provides the required strength and durability properties for load-bearing or non-load-bearing use.

Which Products Is Brick Applied To?

Clay bricks and blocks
Concrete blocks and units
Gazbeton (AAC) bloklar
Lime-sandstone units
Natural stone masonry units

In Which Sectors Is Brick Used?

ConstructionConstructionCeramics

Standards Related to Brick

TS EN 771-1 (kil kâgir birimler)
TS EN 771-3 (beton kâgir birimler)
TS EN 771-4 (gazbeton kâgir birimler)
TS EN 772-1 (compressive strength determination)
TS EN 772-11 (capillary water absorption)
TS EN 772-13/-16 (density and size measurement)
TS EN 1996 (Eurocode 6 — design of masonry structures)

Brick Conditions

Conditioning: Drying or air dry conditions defined in the standard
Surface preparation: In the pressure test, the loading surfaces are corrected; Uneven surface reduces the result
Form factor: The result is normalized by the shape factor to unit dimensions
Number of samples: A number of units defined in the standard are tested

Equipment for Brick

pressure press
Oven and conditioning room
Caliper and dimension measuring devices
Freeze-thaw cabinet
Water absorption test tanks

Sample Requirements for Brick

Conditioning in building materials directly determines the result: concrete with incomplete curing time, damp wood or insulation material that is not balanced will not show its true performance. Sample age and conditioning conditions are always stated in the report.
Standard-defined number of exact units required
Unit type, size and hole ratio must be declared
Samples must be taken undamaged and representative of the production batch.

Duration of Brick

Size and density measurements are fast. Conditioning and drying times determine the total time; The freeze-thaw experiment is significantly longer depending on the number of cycles.

Brick Procedure

1Units are conditioned to the standard.
2Size and shape measurements are made.
3Gross and net dry density are determined.
4Loading surfaces are prepared for the pressure test.
5Compressive strength is measured and normalized by the shape factor.
6Water absorption and durability tests are carried out.

Brick Acceptance Criteria

The EN 771 series defines the properties to be declared according to unit type; The required normalized compressive strength in load-bearing walls is determined according to the Eurocode 6 design and project specifications. Within the scope of (EU) 305/2011, the test result is not a pass/fail decision, but the performance value to be announced in the Declaration of Performance (DoP). The national regulations and project specifications of the country where the structure where the product will be used determine which performance level is sufficient.

Evaluation of Results

Compressive strength depends on unit size; Therefore, the normalized value, not the raw result, is the basis for comparison. If the loading surface is not prepared properly, the load is concentrated at a single point and the result is significantly below the actual strength.

Brick Report

Unit type, manufacturer and dimensions
Conditioning conditions
Gross and net dry density
Compressive strength and normalized value for each unit
Water absorption and durability results

Accreditation

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.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011

Construction Materials Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Brick 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.

Construction materials testing shows whether a product performs the function it takes on within the structure. A wide field is gathered in this family, from the compressive strength of concrete to the thermal transmittance of glass, from sieve analysis of aggregate to the watertightness of windows.

What sets this family apart from the others is that the result turns directly into a REGULATORY DECLARATION. For products covered by construction products legislation a declaration of performance (DoP) is mandatory, and every essential characteristic in the declaration rests on a test result. Reaction-to-fire class, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, water permeability and release of dangerous substances are declared in this way. The declaration is a legal text carrying the manufacturer's signature; the test record behind it is the first document requested in an inspection.

The second distinguishing feature is that the product is assessed over its SERVICE LIFE. An electronic device runs for five years; a building component stays in place for fifty and is exposed throughout that time to freeze-thaw cycles, UV, moisture, chemical attack and load. Durability tests (freeze-thaw, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, ageing) therefore carry as much weight in this field as classical strength tests.

Tests are separated by material type and each group has its own set of standards: cement and concrete, aggregate, masonry units, wood-based panels, thermal insulation, glass and glazing units, ceramic tiles, floor coverings, screeds, joint fillers and coating systems. Where the product will be installed determines which set applies — the same panel is assessed against different standards on a wall and on a floor.

Factory production control (FPC) is a continuous component of the field. CE marking on a construction product is not obtained with a single test and then left; the manufacturer must set up a system showing that it monitors production consistency, takes samples regularly and intervenes when there is a deviation. Depending on the product group, this system may have to be audited by a notified body.

Site testing is a separate body of work. In the laboratory the product is approved; on site it is checked that the product really is of the declared class and that it has been applied correctly. Fresh concrete slump, cylinder sampling, aggregate sieve analysis and in-situ watertightness tests fall within this scope.

Method groups in this field

Concrete and cement
Slump, air content and unit weight in fresh concrete; compressive and flexural strength, water permeability and freeze-thaw resistance in hardened concrete. For cement, compressive strength, setting time and composition analysis.
Aggregate
Sieve analysis, particle shape, Los Angeles abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, alkali reactivity and density/water absorption.
Thermal and energy performance
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, calculation of thermal transmittance (U value) in glazing units, solar energy transmittance.
Facade and joinery
Air permeability, watertightness and wind load resistance in windows and doors; fire performance in facade systems.
Fire performance
Reaction-to-fire classification and fire resistance tests; these are two separate concepts and are addressed by separate standards.
Masonry, tile and flooring
Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, stain and chemical resistance.
Emissions and dangerous substances
Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels, VOC emissions from construction products, leaching behaviour of aggregates and waste.

Commonly confused in this field

REACTION to fire and RESISTANCE to fire are different concepts: one describes the material's contribution to a fire, the other how long a component holds the fire back.
A declaration of performance is not a certificate; it is the manufacturer's declaration. Notified body involvement varies with the product group and the assessment system.
A test result is valid for the mounting arrangement in which the product was tested. A different substrate, a different thickness or a different joint detail may require reassessment.
A site sample and a laboratory sample are not the same thing. A concrete cylinder taken on site also reflects application and curing conditions; it does not replace product approval.
ASTM and EN construction standards measure similar quantities with different specimens and scales; the results cannot be converted one-to-one.

Which decisions these results support

Declaration of performance (DoP) and CE marking
Establishing and maintaining the factory production control system
On-site conformity control of concrete, aggregate and workmanship
Meeting fire and energy performance requirements
Verifying the technical items in the project and tender specification

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Brick

How is the strength calculated in perforated brick?

Compressive strength is calculated from the gross cross-sectional area and then normalized by the shape factor. The hole ratio is declared separately because it directly affects thermal and sound performance.