Bricks are among the most crucial materials utilized in construction. Many people are unaware of the different kinds of bricks on the market, such as red bricks, fly-ash blocks, concrete bricks hollow bricks, etc.

So it is crucial to select the correct type of bricks to build your home, whether it be it your dream house or any other structure. Once the building has been built , it's not possible to modify the bricks.

Through technological advancements and advances numerous new building materials are being created. Hollow bricks are among them. In this article, I'll talk about hollow bricks and their advantages size, disadvantages cost, as well as the manufacturing the process.

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What Are Hollow Bricks?

Hollow bricks are vertically perforated with hollow space or holes in them that make up at least 25%- 60 percent of their bed. The hollow spaces can include cells, cores deep frogs, cells, or a combination of these.

Cores are voids that has an area smaller than or equivalent to 1.5 in2 (968 mm2) Cells are voids that are larger than the core. A deep frog is a groove on the top of the brick which is greater than 3/8 inch (9.5 millimeters).

Hollow bricks are rapidly getting more popular within the building industry because of their many advantages.

Advantages Of Hollow Bricks:

1. Strength & Durability

Hollow bricks are long-lasting and have a strong compresive force (3.5 N/mm2). They can be used for reinforced construction of masonry, because the strength increase of the brick can permit smaller wall sections to take the same load.

The strength of the compression of hollow bricks masonry is based on many factors like the strength of the unit, the types of mortars, the size of the mortar bedding area grouting, thicknesses of webs and face shells.

2. Lightweight

Because of their hollowness They are also lighter as compared to solid bricks. They are about 60% lighter than a concrete block. Thus, the dead load for the construction is decreased.

3. Electrical Installation

One of the main advantages is the fact that the presence that bricks are drilled makes it much easier to connect plumbing and electrical wires through the holes.

4. Thermal Insulation

Excellent thermal insulation due to the air that is present inside the hollow area. It keeps the interior cool in the summer, and warm during the winter months.

5. Energy Efficient

Hollow bricks' thermal properties allow them to cut down on energy use through the use of air conditioning and room heaters cutting down on the cost of heating and cooling.

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6. Sound Insulation

A good sound insulator, also, when compared to solid bricks.

7. Fire Resistance

They are fireproof and are much more secure than traditional bricks.

8. Speed Of Construction

Since these bricks are lighter than bricks made of solid material their ease of work with them allows for quicker construction time and prompt project conclusion.

9. Mortar Consumption

Since the bricks are larger in size, they decrease the amount of mortar used and the number of joints that have to be filled in the building process.

10. Carpet Area

It provides more carpet space that is available than clay brickwork.

11. Cost-effective and low-maintenance

Simple to use, it lowers labor costs. There is less mortar usage, and it's quick work, thus cost-effective and economical. Lower maintenance costs because of minimal or no efflorescence visible on the brick's surface, compared to bricks made of solid.

12. Eco-Friendly

Hollow bricks are environmentally friendly because they are made making use of non-toxic recycled waste materials or natural alternatives like fly ash, granite slurry, coal ash rice husk, and so on.

Disadvantages Of Hollow Bricks

I) the compressive strength as well as load bearing capacity of hollow bricks is much smaller than clay bricks of first-class. Therefore, they cannot be used in the larger load-bearing structures. They should not be used in areas that are susceptible to earthquakes.

II) Their density is significantly lower than bricks made of solid. This is why they aren't suitable for foundation or base-slab construction or when there is a groundwater table very high because they are not able to withstand against the pressure created by water or capillary action.

Iii) At risk of salt attack.

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