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IS 5766:1970 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for laying burnt clay brick flooring. This code of practice details the methodology for laying burnt clay brick flooring. It specifies requirements for materials, preparation of the sub-base, the laying process including bedding and patterns, jointing, finishing, and curing to ensure a durable and aesthetically pleasing surface.
Code of practice for laying burnt clay brick flooring
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Architectural — Flooring, Wall Finishing and Roofing
BS 7533-3:2005+A1:2009British Standards Institution (BSI), United Kingdom
HighCurrent
Pavements constructed with clay, natural stone or concrete pavers. Part 3: Code of practice for laying precast concrete paving blocks and clay pavers for flexible pavements
Covers modern flexible (unbound) installation of clay pavers, which is a direct evolution of traditional brick flooring.
BIA Technical Note 14A:2006Brick Industry Association (BIA), USA
HighCurrent
Paving Systems for Pedestrians and Light Traffic
Provides detailed installation guidance for clay brick pavers in both flexible (sand-set) and rigid (mortar-set) systems.
AS 3700:2018Standards Australia, Australia
MediumCurrent
Masonry structures
A broad masonry design and construction code with applicable principles for materials, mortar, and workmanship.
Key Differences
≠IS 5766 is prescriptive and focuses on rigid/semi-rigid construction using cement or lime mortar bedding and joints. Modern standards like BS 7533-3 emphasize performance-based flexible (unbound) construction with a sand laying course and sand-filled joints to achieve interlock.
≠Modern standards require an engineered sub-base design based on traffic loads and subgrade strength (CBR values), often including geotextiles. IS 5766 provides simple prescriptive options like a layer of lean concrete or rammed earth, without detailed design criteria.
≠For compaction, IS 5766 specifies manual tamping of individual bricks with a mallet. Modern practice for flexible paving (per BS 7533-3) mandates using a mechanical plate compactor over the finished surface to seat the pavers uniformly and vibrate jointing sand into place.
≠Modern standards place significant structural emphasis on robust edge restraints (e.g., concrete kerbs) to contain the paving and prevent lateral movement. IS 5766 treats the edges more as a finishing detail rather than a critical structural component of the pavement system.
Key Similarities
≈All standards recognize the fundamental importance of a well-prepared, stable, and compacted sub-grade to provide a uniform foundation and prevent settlement.
≈Both IS 5766 and its modern counterparts require the use of materials (bricks/pavers, sand, cement) that conform to specified national standards for quality and physical properties.
≈The principle of laying bricks in established patterns (e.g., herringbone, basket weave) to ensure load distribution and structural integrity is common to both the Indian standard and international guides.
≈The practice of pre-wetting bricks before laying them in a mortar bed is a common requirement to prevent premature drying of the mortar and ensure a proper bond, a principle shared by IS 5766 and other mortar-set paving guides like BIA's.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Bedding Layer Thickness (Mortar)
12 mm to 20 mm
13 mm to 38 mm (1/2 in. to 1.5 in.)
BIA Technical Note 14A
Bedding Layer Thickness (Sand)
12 mm thick bed of fine sand (for brick-on-edge flooring).
25 mm to 40 mm (compacted thickness)
BS 7533-3
Joint Width (Mortar Filled)
6 mm to 12 mm
Approx. 10 mm (3/8 in.)
BIA Technical Note 14A
Joint Width (Sand Filled)
Not explicitly specified, implies butt-jointing.
2 mm to 5 mm (to allow for sand infill and interlock)
BS 7533-3
Curing Period (for Mortar Bed)
Kept wet for a minimum of 7 days.
Protect from traffic for at least 3-7 days; full service after 28 days.
BIA Technical Note 14A
Sub-base Thickness (Typical)
75 mm to 100 mm of lean concrete or rammed material.
Typically 100 mm - 300 mm+ of granular aggregate, thickness based on engineering design.
BS 7533-3
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
Nominal thickness of sand cushioning layer12 mm
Average thickness of bedding mortar20 mm
Recommended joint thickness6 to 10 mm
Minimum curing period for mortar7 days
Recommended slope for drainage1 in 40 to 1 in 60
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Mortar Proportions for Bedding and Jointing