Please note that this is a scanned copy of a paper originally published in 1999, so the text is not as clear as in documents created as pdf files.

BRE Digests 164 and 165 (now withdrawn) were published in the 1970s. They covered performance, specification and general design issues for clay bricks and appropriate mortars used in a wide range of building elements. Since then markets and products, Codes and Standards have changed and will change further. 'Sustainability' and 'green' issues increasingly are being advocated as key criteria in the selection of building materials.

This part of Digest 441 covers the main technical issues, especially the specifications and testing of key performance criteria: strength, size, shape and durability in the light of current and future Codes and Standards. 12 pages.

Part 2 (a separate publication - see DG441/2) covers appearance, the important environmental issues, and in-service performance of composite brickwork.