WATER ABSORPTION TEST ON BRICKS IS 3495 (part 2) : 1992 Theory: - Brick for external use must be capable of preventing rain water from passing through them to the inside of walls of reasonable thickness. A good brick should absorb water maximum 1/7th of the weight of the brick. Water absorption test on bricks are conducted to determine durability property of bricks such as degree of burning, quality and behaviour of bricks in weathering.  The degree of compactness of bricks can be obtained by water absorption test, as water is absorbed by pores in bricks. The water absorption by bricks increase with increase in pores.  water absorption shall not be more than 20 percent by weight up to class 12.5 and 15 percent by weight for higher classes. Equipment for Moisture Content of brick :- Water Bath: Temperature should be maintained at 27 ± 2°C for 24 hours. Weighing Balance: A sensitive balance capable of weighing within 0.1 percent of the mass of the specimen. Oven: Temperature should be maintained at 105 to 115 degree Celsius. Testing Procedure:- Immerse specimen in clean water at a temperature of 27 ± 2°C for 24 hours. Remove the specimen and wipe out any traces of water with a damp cloth and weigh the specimen. Complete the weighing 3 minutes after the specimen has been removed from water (W1). Dry the specimen in a ventilated oven at a temperature of 105 to 115°C for 24 hours. Cool the specimen to room temperature and obtain its weight (W2). Specimen warm to touch shall not be used for the purpose. Water absorption, percent by mass, after 24-hour immersion in cold water is given by the following formula: (𝑊1 −𝑊2)/𝑊2 * 100

1. TESTS ON
BRICKS
Mayur. U. Rahangdale
M.Tech (Construction Management – VJTI, Mumbai)
Construction Materials Laboratory

2. WATER ABSORPTION TEST ON BRICKS
IS 3495 (part 2) : 1992

3. THEORY
• Brick for external use must be capable of preventing rain water from passing
through them to the inside of walls of reasonable thickness. A good brick should
absorb water maximum 1/7th of the weight of the brick.
• Water absorption test on bricks are conducted to determine durability property of
bricks such as degree of burning, quality and behaviour of bricks in weathering.
• The degree of compactness of bricks can be obtained by water absorption test, as
water is absorbed by pores in bricks. The water absorption by bricks increase with
increase in pores.

4. Class Water Absorption
35 ≯ 15 %
30 ≯ 15 %
25 ≯ 15 %
20 ≯ 15 %
17.5 ≯ 15 %
15 ≯ 15 %
12.5 ≯ 20 %
10 ≯ 20 %
7.5 ≯ 20 %
5 ≯ 20 %
3.5 ≯ 20 %
• water absorption shall not be more than 20 percent by weight up to class 12.5
and 15 percent by weight for higher classes.
Classes of burnt clay bricks (As per IS 1077: 1992)

5. AIM
• To determine water absorption of bricks.

6. Equipment for Moisture Content of brick
• Water Bath: Temperature should be maintained at 27 ± 2°C for 24
hours.
• Weighing Balance: A sensitive balance capable of weighing
within 0.1 percent of the mass of the specimen.

7. Oven: Temperature should be maintained at 105 to 115 degree Celsius.

8. Testing Procedure
• Immerse specimen in clean water at a temperature of 27 ± 2°C for 24 hours.
Remove the specimen and wipe out any traces of water with a damp cloth and
weigh the specimen. Complete the weighing 3 minutes after the specimen has
been removed from water (W1).
• Dry the specimen in a ventilated oven at a temperature of 105 to 115°C for 24
hours. Cool the specimen to room temperature and obtain its weight (W2).
Specimen warm to touch shall not be used for the purpose.

9. • Water absorption, percent by mass, after 24-hour immersion in cold
water is given by the following formula:
•
𝑊1 −𝑊2
𝑊2
* 100

10. Reporting of results
• Report the average of water absorption of three bricks.