BRITISH STANDARD BS 187:1978

Incorporating
Amendment No. 1

Specification for

Calcium silicate
(sandlime and
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flintlime) bricks

UDC 691.316:666.965.2
 BS 187:1978

Cooperating organizations

The Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Committee

under whose direction this British Standard was prepared, consists of
representatives from the following Government departments and scientific and
industrial organizations:

Association of Consulting Engineers Department of Transport

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products Federation of Civil Engineering
Association Contractors
British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.* Federation of Stone Industries
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British Quarrying and Slag Federation* Greater London Council

British Railways Board Gypsum Products Development Association
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association Institute of Quarrying
British Steel Industry Institution of Civil Engineers
Cement Admixtures’ Association Institution of Municipal Engineers*
Cement and Concrete Association Institution of Structural Engineers
Cement Makers’ Federation Institution of Water Engineers & Scientists
Chemical Industries’ Association National Federation of Building Trades
Concrete Society Limited Employers*
Department of the Environment-Building Natural Environment Research
Research Establishment* Council-Institute of Geological Science
Department of the Environment (PSA)* Royal Institute of British Architects*
Department of the Environment-Housing Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
and Construction* Sand and Ballast Hauliers and Allied Trades
Department of the Environment-Transport Alliance
and Road Research Sand and Gravel Association Limited
Laboratory Society of Chemical Industries*

The organizations marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the
following, were directly represented on the committee entrusted with the
preparation of this British Standard:

Brick Development Association Royal Institute of Chemistry

British Ceramic Research Association The Modular Society Ltd.
This British Standard, having
been prepared under the Calcium Silicate Brick Association Ltd. Welwyn Hall Research Association
direction of the Cement, Incorporated Association of Architects and
Gypsum, Aggregates and Surveyors
Quarry Products Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Executive Board on
31 October 1978

© BSI 03-1999
First published March 1923
First revision March 1934
Second revision June 1942
Third revision September 1955
Fourth revision June 1967
Metric edition published as Amendments issued since publication
Part 2 July 1970
Fifth revision as BS 187
October 1978
Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

5427 August 1987 Indicated by a sideline in the margin

The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CAB/10
Draft for comment 76/10116DC

ISBN 0 580 10303 X

 BS 187:1978

Contents

Page
Cooperating organizations Inside front cover
Foreword ii
0 Introduction 1
1 Scope 1
2 References 1
3 Definitions 1
4 Materials 2
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5 Form 2
6 Sizes 2
7 Information to be provided by the purchaser 3
8 Appearance 3
9 Classification and compressive strength 3
10 Text deleted 3
11 Marking 3
12 Manufacturer’s certificate 4
13 Independent tests 4
14 Samples for test 4
Appendix A Method of sampling 5
Appendix B Method of measuring dimensions and
performing the compressive strength test 5
Appendix C Predicted lower limit and quality control
of compressive strength 6
Appendix D Text deleted 8
Appendix E Text deleted 8
Table 1 — Sizes 2
Table 2 — Compressive strength classes and requirements 3
Table 3 — Colours 4
Table 4 — Rates of increase of loading in compressive strength test 6
Table 5 — Procedure using formula 1 7
Table 6 — Procedure using formula 2 8
Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 03-1999 i
 BS 187:1978

Foreword

This revision of BS 187-2 has been prepared under the direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Committee.
NOTE Part 1 of this standard, imperial units, is now withdrawn.
In this revision, attention has been paid to the need to coordinate methods of
classification requirements and test procedures, wherever practicable, with those
for other types of bricks, given in BS 3921 and BS 6073-1. Advantage has been
taken, in making these changes, of investigations and experience gained by a
number of testing laboratories as well as by manufacturers and users.
Certification. Attention is drawn to the certification facilities described on the
inside back cover of this standard.
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A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 8, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

ii © BSI 03-1999
 BS 187:1978

0 Introduction 1 Scope
Since some of the manufacturing processes now This British Standard specifies requirements for
offer greater flexibility of form of bricks, provisions calcium silicate bricks for use in walling. It does not
have been made in this standard to cover solid cover lime based bricks made with calcined shale,
bricks, as well as traditional bricks with frogs. slag or other materials made by a similar process or
The lowest strength category, class 2, has been the colour and texture of bricks, which should be the
removed from this standard as bricks of strength subject of special agreement between the
below the requirements for class 3 are not now manufacturer and the purchaser.
produced in significant quantities. The bricks are intended to be laid on a bed mortar,
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The introduction of a requirement for “predicted following the recommendations in BS 5628-3. Sizes
lower limit of crushing strength”, instead of the and tolerances given in this standard apply only to
“coefficient of variation” limit in the previous the 225 mm ×× 112.5 mm ×× 75 mm format.
standard, is intended to give a more equitable basis Requirements for a 200 mm ×× 100 mm ×× 75 mm
of acceptance; it was possible on the previous basis format are given in BS 6649 and requirements for
to have a consignment rejected even though the special bricks are given in BS 4729.
bricks were of adequate strength because of the NOTE Some types of bricks may also be suitable for use in
form of distribution of strengths. The calculation paving (see BS 6677-1).
involves no more work than that of the coefficient of
variation. The minimum requirements in this
2 References
respect are in effect of similar stringency to those of The titles of the standards publications referred to
the previous standard, with consignments of normal in this standard are listed on the inside back cover.
strength distribution. The theoretical basis for this
requirement is indicated briefly in Appendix C. 3 Definitions
The drying shrinkage test has been deleted because For the purposes of this British Standard the
the test method formerly given in the standard was following definitions apply.
not reproducible and was in any case difficult and
3.1
costly to carry out. Research is in progress to
brick
develop a test method which will relate the
movement characteristics of the bricks more closely a walling unit which does not exceed 337.5 mm in
to the behaviour of calcium silicate masonry in length, 225 mm in width and 112.5 mm in height
service. If the new method proves to be satisfactory 3.2
it will be incorporated in the standard. frogs
The procedure for determining compressive depressions in the bed faces of a brick
strength has been revised to accord more closely
with procedures in other brick standards and to 3.3
take account of more recent studies on this subject. solid brick
Most materials have different strengths when a brick which has no holes, cavities or depressions
tested wet from those when tested dry; the wet 3.4
strength is normally the lower. In practice, bricks cavities
are rarely completely dry and their strengths may
holes which are closed at one end
vary from values closely approaching the wet
strengths towards those of the dry strengths. The 3.5
strength upon which calculations are based would, frogged brick
therefore, usually be the wet strength and for this a brick having depressions in one or more bed faces,
reason the wet strength is used in this standard. the volume of which does not exceed 20 % of the
No requirement regarding water absorption is gross volume of the brick
included in this standard since the water absorption 3.6
of calcium silicate bricks does not provide a loadbearing brick
satisfactory measure of durability. Furthermore,
with regard to rain penetration, the relationship a brick which is suitable for brickwork bearing
between absorption and permeability (the rate of significant loads and conforming to defined limits
for strength
flow of water through the brick) is not a simple one
and the penetration of water through the brickwork
is usually through mortar joints or mortar/brick
interfaces.

© BSI 03-1999 1
 BS 187:1978

3.7 facing brick 3.17

bricks which are specially made or selected to give compressive strength
an attractive appearance when used without the average value of the crushing strengths
rendering or plaster or other surface treatment of of 10 bricks tested in accordance with Appendix B
the wall
3.8 4 Materials
common brick The bricks shall consist essentially of an intimate
Text deleted and uniform mixture of sand consisting
predominantly of quartz or uncrushed siliceous
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3.9 gravel or crushed siliceous gravel or rock or a

special brick shapes combination of such materials, with a lesser
bricks that are shaped other than as a normal proportion of lime, mechanically pressed together
rectangular prism and combined by the action of steam under
NOTE Details of standard special bricks are given in BS 4729. pressure. Where only a natural sand is used with
3.10 the lime the bricks may alternatively be described
coordinating size as “sandlime” bricks and where a substantial
proportion of flint is included in the composition
the size of a coordinating space allocated to a they may alternatively be described as “flintlime”
masonry unit, including allowances for joints and bricks. Suitable pigments may be included in the
tolerances composition for producing bricks of required colours.
3.11
work size 5 Form
a size of a building component specified for its Bricks shall be solid, or frogged.
manufacture, to which its actual size should
conform within specified permissible deviations 6 Sizes
3.12 The sizes of bricks measured in accordance with
manufacturing size Appendix B shall be as given in Table 1.
the size within the specified permissible deviations Table 1 — Sizes
of the work size Length Width Height
3.13
mm mm mm
limits of size
Coordinating size 225 112.5 75
the extreme permissible manufacturing sizes
between which the actual size should lie Work size 215 102.5 65
3.14 Maximum limit 217 105 67
mean strength of manufacturing
the arithmetic mean of the strengths of a stated size
number of specimens Minimum limit of 212 101 63
NOTE See also Appendix C. manufacturing
3.15 size
standard deviation If bricks of non-standard dimensions or design are
a measure of the variation of the strength of a required, the limits of size and the design shall be
sample agreed between the purchaser and the supplier.
NOTE For the determination of standard deviation Such bricks shall then be deemed to comply with
see Appendix C. this standard provided that they comply with all the
3.16 other requirements.
predicted lower limit If when measured in accordance with Appendix B:
the value below which the mean strength of a a) more than one of the 10 bricks fails to comply
further sample, taken from the same consignment of with any dimension in this clause; or
bricks as the test sample, is likely to fall with a b) any one of the 10 bricks has any one dimension
probability of approximately 1 in 40 exceeding the maximum limit of manufacturing
NOTE For the determination of predicted lower limit size by more than 2 mm, or less than the
see Appendix C.
minimum limit of manufacturing size by more
than 2 mm;

2 © BSI 03-1999
 BS 187:1978

then the bricks represented by the sample shall be Table 2 — Compressive strength classes and
deemed not to comply with the requirements of this requirements
standard. Designation Class Compressive Predicted lower
strength limit of crushing
7 Information to be specified by the strength not less
than
purchaser
N/mm2 N/mm2
The purchaser shall specify in his enquiry and order
that the bricks are required to be of one of the Loadbearing 7 48.5 40.5
following designations: brick
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loadbearing bricks, 6 41.5 34.5

facing bricks. or 5 34.5 28.0
Facing brick 4 27.5 21.5
The purchaser may also specify, if so required, that
3 20.5 15.5
the bricks shall be of one of the compressive
strength classes given in Table 2 or the Text deleted
manufacturer and the purchaser may agree that NOTE 2 The calculation of the predicted lower limit involves
the standard deviation of the sample and hence inclusion of this
strengths intermediate between these classes may limit in the requirements gives some weight to the uniformity
be specified. If no strength class is specified then the of production. Its practical implication is that if a further
lowest strength class for that designation shall be sample of 10 bricks were to be taken from the same
consignment, its mean strength would be unlikely to be below
implied. the predicted lower limit. The probability of such an occurrence
would be approximately 1 in 40.
8 Appearance NOTE 3 If the predicted lower limit from regular control tests
is consistently above the compressive strength for the specified
Loadbearing bricks and facing bricks shall be free strength class given in Table 2, the control of production may be
from visible cracks and noticeable balls of clay, loam fairly claimed to be in the special category of manufacturing
and lime. control. The compressive strength for the specified strength
class given in Table 2 then becomes the “acceptance limit”
Facing bricks shall be of the colour1) and texture [see C.4 b)].
agreed between the manufacturer and the
purchaser and shall be reasonably free from 10 Drying shrinkage
damaged arrises.
Text deleted
9 Classification and compressive
strength 11 Marking
Calcium silicate bricks that comply with the
Any consignment of bricks, when sampled in
requirements of this standard shall be marked with
accordance with clause 14 and Appendix A and
the following particulars, on, or in relation to, the
tested in accordance with Appendix B, shall conform
product (e.g. on the delivery note, invoice or
to the appropriate compressive strength
supplier’s certificate):
requirements in Table 2 for the specified
designation and strength class, in respect both of a) the name, trade mark or other means of
compressive strength and of predicted lower limit of identification of the manufacturer;
strength calculated as described in Appendix C. b) the strength class of brick as designated in
Table 2;
c) the work size length, width and height, and
whether with or without a frog;
d) the number of this British
Standard, i.e. BS 187.
A proportion of the bricks in each delivery may also
be colour-marked by the manufacturer to show the
strength class. Where this is done the colours to be
used shall be as given in Table 3.

1)
The colour of calcium silicate bricks is darker when wet than when dry.

© BSI 03-1999 3
 BS 187:1978

Table 3 — Colours 14 Samples for test

Class Mean Compressive strength not Colour Samples for independent testing shall be taken in
less than
accordance with clause 13 and Appendix A before or
N/mm2 immediately after delivery at the option of the
purchaser.
7 48.5 Green
A total of 16 bricks shall constitute a sample for a
6 41.5 Blue complete set of tests. Of these, 10 will be required
5 34.5 Yellow for the compressive strength test, leaving 6 as
reserves for use in the event of damage in transit.
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4 27.5 Red
The reserves shall not be marked as such before
3 20.5 Black despatch but upon receipt at the laboratory the 14
bricks for testing shall be taken from those which
are undamaged. Each sample of 20 shall represent
12 Manufacturer’s certificate not less than 2 000 nor more than 10 000 bricks.
Stacks containing more than 10 000 bricks shall
The supplier shall be satisfied, by periodical testing, have such samples taken which represent, as far as
that at the time of delivery the bricks comply with possible, an individual delivery or part
the requirements of this standard and, if requested, consignment.
he shall provide the purchaser with a certificate to
this effect. If separate samples are taken from different
deliveries or part consignments, these shall be
13 Independent tests clearly marked to identify them as such.

If the purchaser requires independent tests, notice

shall be given, in writing, to the supplier. The tests
required and the laboratory at which the tests are to
be made shall be agreed between the purchaser and
the supplier both of whom shall have the
opportunity to be present or represented at the time
of testing. Samples for testing shall be taken in
accordance with clause 14 and Appendix A, and the
tests shall be carried out in accordance with
Appendix B.

4 © BSI 03-1999
 BS 187:1978

Appendix A Method of sampling Where no frog or similar indentation is present

calculate the area of the smaller bed face.
A.1 Sampling in motion. Whenever practicable, Where there is a frog, calculate the gross area of the
take samples while units are being moved, for bed face in which the frog lies and calculate the net
example, during loading or unloading. In this case, area of application of the load as the gross area
take 2 bricks from each of 10 approximately equal minus the area of the frog. Where the frog or
sections of the delivery to be tested. indentation is so ill-defined as to make
A.2 Sampling from a stack or designated measurement impracticable, test the bricks in
portion of a stack. When it it necessary to take a accordance with clause 31 of BS 3921:1974 as it
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sample from a stack, adopt the following procedure. applies to frogged bricks to be laid frog upwards.
Divide the stack, or a designated portion of the For bricks having holes or perforations calculate the
stack, into 10 real or imaginary sections and draw 2 gross area of the smaller bed face.
bricks from each. The prearranged pattern of B.2 Preparation of specimens. Immerse the 10
sampling shall be such that bricks are taken from bricks in water at a temperature of 20 ± 5 °C
the top and sides of sections which are accessible for 18 ± 2 h before testing.
and also from inside the stack, which will
B.3 Apparatus. The testing machine shall have
necessitate the movement of bricks in the upper
adequate capacity to crush all the test specimens
layers.
but the scale used shall be such that the ultimate
Where only one sample is required to represent loads on the specimens exceed 20 % of the full scale
the 10 000 bricks or a part of the bricks, draw only reading. The machine shall be provided with a load
the 20 bricks. Where 2 or more samples of 20 bricks pacer or equivalent means with a ± 10 % tolerance
are required to represent different portions of the on its rate setting to enable the specified loading
stack, use the same sampling procedure for each rate to be applied without shock. It shall meet the
portion. Mark the samples in such a way that the requirements for accuracy of grade B of BS 1610.
portion of the stack represented by the sample is
The testing machine shall be equipped with two
clearly identified.
rigid bearing platens made of a material which will
A.3 Treatment of sample. Keep the bricks in the not deform irreversibly or wear excessively in
sample dry and free from contamination by normal use. They shall be at least as large as the
deleterious substances and from extreme conditions work size of the specimen to which the load is
of temperature, both before and during transit to applied.
the laboratory and until they are tested.
The upper machine platen shall be able to align
If in the course of sampling it is considered by either freely when contact is made with the specimen but
the purchaser or the supplier that some of the bricks the platens shall be restrained by friction, or by
are so badly damaged as to be unfit for testing, other means, from tilting with respect to each other
correspondingly increase the number of bricks during loading. The bearing surfaces of the platens
taken in accordance with the procedure above. shall not depart from a plane by more
Include the damaged bricks in the sample and mark than 0.05 mm.
them as such before despatch. On receipt at the NOTE 1 Polar lubricants are designed to maintain a continuous
laboratory, note and report, with the results of the film under high bearing pressures not accompanied by rapid
test, the number of bricks marked as damaged movements and should not be used in ball seatings of testing
before despatch and any other bricks damaged in machines. The intention is that the seating should enable the
platen to accommodate itself initially to the shape of the test
transit and considered unsuitable for testing. specimen but should, thereafter, be restrained from moving. This
condition is achieved with a thin film of petroleum jelly or similar
Appendix B Method of measuring preservation because metal-to-metal contact is obtained under
the loads used.
dimensions and performing the NOTE 2 To meet the flatness requirement of 0.05 mm the
compressive strength test platens, when new, should be flatter to allow for wear and they
should be refaced when the wear approaches this limit. In order
B.1 Test specimens. From the sample obtained as to avoid excessive wear it is recommended that the surface
hardness should be at least 550 Vickers hardness value as
specified in clause 14 take 10 undamaged whole defined in BS 427.
bricks and for each one measure and report the NOTE 3 “Normal use” implies the testing of specimens and the
average overall dimensions including the length use or proving devices which comply with the requirements of
and width of the frog, if present, to the BS 1610.
NOTE 4 An auxiliary platen, to assist in centering the
nearest 1 mm. specimen, may be used between the lower machine platen and
NOTE The length and width of frogs should be taken as the the specimen.
average length and width through which clear daylight can be
seen when a straight edge is placed at right angles to the face of
the brick along its length and across its width.

© BSI 03-1999 5
 BS 187:1978

Table 4 — Rates of increase of loading in compressive strength test

Brick work size Brick form Approximate area of Maximum rate of increase of total
loadinga loading

Length Width Initial rate Subsequent rate

mm mm mm2 kN/min kN/min

215 102.5 with frog 11 000 400 200 ± 20

215 102.5 not frog 22 000 800 400 ± 40
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a
The area of frogs is assumed, for this purpose, to be about 50 % of the area of the bed face for 215 mm × 102.5 mm bricks.

B.4 Testing procedure. Take each brick out of the C.2 Definitions
water and place it with a bed face perpendicular to C.2.1 Mean strength (see clause 3.) The mean
the direction of application of the load in the testing strength of a set of 10 bricks is the sum of the
machine. To ensure a uniform bearing, place the individual results divided by 10. This is only an
brick between European birch or softwood plywood estimate of the true mean of the consignment from
sheets of 4 mm nominal thickness. The plywood which the sample was taken. (The word “average” is
should be precut to a size exceeding that of the work often used as a synonym for mean.)
size length and width of the brick by not less
C.2.2 Standard deviation (see clause 3.) The
than 8 mm or more than 15 mm and the brick
standard deviation (Ö) can be calculated using
should be placed centrally between the sheets so
either formula (1) or formula (2), the latter being
that they extend beyond the faces of the brick all
advantageous with calculating machines:
round the perimeter of each bed face.
Use a fresh pair of plywood sheets for each test. 2
C(x – x ) (1)
Ö = -------------------------
Start to apply the load axially without shock and [n – 1]
increase it continuously at a rate of about 36 N/mm2 2
per minute for the initial rate of loading. When 2 (Cx)
C x – --------------- (2)
about half of the expected maximum load has been Ö =
n
---------------------------------
applied adjust the rate of increase of load to [n – 1]
about 18 N/mm2 per minute until the maximum
failing load is reached. where
Table 4 shows the rate of increase of loading x is the individual strength
applicable to standard bricks. x is the mean strength
Take the crushing strength of each brick as the n is the number of samples tested
maximum load that is indicated by the testing C denotes summation of the quantity following
machine divided by the area of the bed face as it for all the individual strengths in the
defined in B.1.2. Express the strength of each brick sample.
to the nearest 0.1 N/mm2 and report the mean
strength of the 10 bricks to the nearest 0.1 N/mm2. The standard deviation is expressed to the
nearest 0.1 N/mm2.
Appendix C Method for the C.2.3 Predicted lower limit (see clause 3) For
determination of the predicted lower samples of 10 the predicted lower limit is obtained
limit and quality control of by subtracting the standard deviation from the
compressive strength mean. Provided that the sample mean is
approximately normally distributed the lower limit
C.1 Method. Calculate, by the procedure given for a further sample from the same consignment of
in C.3, the predicted lower limit of crushing bricks as the test sample, each sample having 10
strength from the individual values for 10 bricks bricks, is given by:
determined as given in Appendix B and report the tÖ
x – -------
result to the nearest 0.1 N/mm2. 5

6 © BSI 03-1999
 BS 187:1978

where C.3 Worked example. The use of formulae (1)

t is the value from tables of Student’s and (2) is illustrated by the following example. The
t-distribution with 9 degrees of freedom at the individual results, rounded off to the
required probability level. The value of t = Æ5 nearest 0.1 N/mm2, in a determination of
gives the factor of unity and corresponds to a compressive strength on 10 bricks, are as listed in
probability of 1 in 38. the second column of Table 5. The calculation of
mean strength, standard deviation, and predicted
lower limit follows either the procedure shown in
Table 5 or that shown in Table 6.
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Table 5 — Procedure using formula 1

Specimen number Crushing strength, Difference from average, Square of difference
N/mm2 N/mm2
x (x – x )a (x – x )2
1 30.3 4.6 21.16
2 33.5 1.4 1.96
3 33.6 1.3 1.69
4 33.9 1.0 1.00
5 43.0 8.1 65.61
6 33.1 1.8 3.24
7 39.3 4.4 19.36
8 35.4 0.5 0.25
9 30.8 4.1 16.81
10 36.0 1.1 1.21
Total, C x = 348.9 2
Total, C ( x – x ) = 132.29
34.9b
Mean, x = total
2
--------------- C(x – x ) total
------------------------- = --------------- = 14.70
10 n–1 9

Standard deviation B = Total ⁄ 9 = 3.83

Predicted lower limit = mean – standard deviation

= x–Ö
= 34.9 – 3.8b
= 31.1 N/mm2
a
If x is less than x , the difference x – x is taken here.
b Rounded to the nearest 0.1 N/mm2.

© BSI 03-1999 7
 BS 187:1978

Table 6 — Procedure using formula 2

Specimen number Crushing
1 30.3
2 33.5
3 33.6
4 33.9
5 43.0
6 33.1
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7 39.3
8 35.4
9 30.8
10 36.0
Stage Calculation Notation
1) Sum the individual strengths Cx 348.9
2) Divide this sum 1) by the number of Cx 34.9a
------- = x
specimens to give the mean strength, x n
3) Sum the squared values of each Cx2 12 305.41
strength
4) Divide the square of sum 1) by the (Cx )
2 12 173.12
number of specimens ---------------
n
5) Subtract 4) from 3) 2 2 132.29
Cx – [(Cx ) ⁄ n ]
6) Divide 5) by one less than the number of 2 2 14.70
Cx – [ (Cx ) ⁄ n]
specimens ---------------------------------------------
n–1
7) Take root of 6) to give the standard 2 2 3.83
deviation, Ö Cx – [( Cx ) ⁄ n ]
Ö= ---------------------------------------------
n–1
8) Subtract 7) from 2) to give the predicted x – Ö 31.1a
lower limit
a
Rounded to the nearest 0.1 N/mm2.

C.4 Suggested levels of manufacturing control. 2) operates a quality control scheme, the
Where manufacturers carry out regular routine results of which can be made available to
testing one or other of the following categories of demonstrate to the satisfaction of the
control may be recognized. purchaser that the acceptance limit is
a) Normal category. When the supplier is able to consistently being met in practice and where
meet the requirements for compressive strength the probability of failing to meet the limit is
in the appropriate British Standard but does not never greater that that stated above.
meet the requirements for the special category
given below. Appendix D
b) Special category. Where the manufacturer: Text deleted
1) agrees to supply consignments of structural
units to a specified strength limit, referred to Appendix E
as the “acceptance limit” for compressive
strength, such that the compressive strength Text deleted
of a sample of structural units, taken from any
consignment and tested in accordance with the
appropriate British Standard specification,
has a probability of not more than 2.5 % of
being below the acceptance limit; and

8 © BSI 03-1999
 BS 187:1978

Publications referred to

BS 427, Method for Vickers hardness test.

BS 1610, Methods for the load verification of testing machines.
BS 3921, Specification for clay bricks.
BS 4729, Shapes and dimensions of special bricks.
BS 5628, Code of practice for use of masonry.
BS 5628-3, Materials and components, design and workmanship.
BS 6073, Precast concrete masonry units.
BS 6073-1, Specification for precast concrete masonry units.
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BS 6649, Specification for clay and calcium silicate modular bricks.

BS 6677, Clay and calcium silicate pavers for flexible pavements.
BS 6677-1, Specification for pavers.

The Kitemark is a registered certification trade mark of the British Standards Institution. A licence to
use the Kitemark on or in relation to a product will be granted to any manufacturer or producer who
demonstrates that he can and will be able consistently to make that product to a specified British
Standard. His capability of doing so is initially assessed by inspection of his production process, quality
control organization and test facilities, and by independent testing of a sample of the product against all
the criteria of the relevant standard. The licensee is required to accept, and to operate in accordance
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Further particulars of the terms of licence may be obtained from the Quality Assurance Department,
British Standards Institution Maylands Avenue, Hemel Hempstead, Herts. HP2 4SQ.

© BSI 03-1999
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Licensed copy:MOHAMED SALAHUDDIN CONSTRUCTION, 29/01/2009, Uncontrolled Copy, © BSI

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