ASTM brick refers to clay brick manufactured and tested to meet standards set by ASTM International (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials). These standards define the required physical properties, dimensional tolerances, and allowable defects (like chips and cracks) for clay brick. These regulations ensure the brick's durability and appearance.
ASTM standards cover a wide range of requirements, categorizing brick based on properties like:
- Compressive Strength: How much pressure the brick can withstand.
- Water Absorption: How much water the brick absorbs, which affects its resistance to freezing and thawing.
- Saturation Coefficient: A ratio that helps predict the brick's resistance to freeze-thaw damage.
- Size Variation: Allowable deviations from specified dimensions.
- Efflorescence: Limits on salt deposits that can appear on the brick's surface.
- Grade: Designates the brick's intended use based on its exposure to weathering (e.g., SW - Severe Weathering, MW - Moderate Weathering, NW - Negligible Weathering).
These requirements are crucial for ensuring that clay brick performs adequately in its intended application. By specifying these requirements, ASTM standards help architects, engineers, and builders select the appropriate brick for a given project and environment.
