This standard prescribes the testing procedures to determine the water absorption capacity of burnt clay building bricks. It details two primary methods: the 24-hour cold water immersion test and the 5-hour boiling water test.
Specifies the procedure for determining the water absorption of burnt clay building bricks.
Quick Reference Values
oven drying temperature110 to 115 °C
cold water immersion time24 hours
water temperature for cold immersion27 ± 2 °C
boiling water immersion time5 hours
cooling time after boiling16 to 19 hours
weighing time limit after removalWithin 3 minutes
Key Formulas
Water Absorption, % by mass = [(M2 - M1) / M1] * 100 — where M1 is dry mass, M2 is mass after immersion
Practical Notes
Ensure bricks are completely dried in a ventilated oven at 110-115°C until a constant mass is achieved to get an accurate dry weight (M1).
Always wipe off surface water with a damp cloth immediately after removing the brick from the water, and complete weighing within 3 minutes.
The 24-hour cold water test is typically used for standard field/lab quality checks, whereas the boiling test determines the absolute maximum water absorption.