What Are Bricks?
A brick is a block-shaped building unit typically made from dried clay, though modern variants include concrete and fly ash compositions. Bricks are joined using mortar, adhesives, or interlocking systems. They come in various sizes, materials, and grades, catering to diverse construction and food factory design needs.
Standard Brick Dimensions
- Global Standard Brick Size:
- 225 x 112.5 x 75 mm (working size with mortar: 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm)
- India Standard Brick Size (As per BIS):
- 190 x 90 x 90 mm (with mortar: 200 x 100 x 100 mm)
These standards ensure uniformity in civil engineering and food factory infrastructure development.
Types of Bricks Used in Industrial Projects
🔸 Sun-dried Bricks
- Made of clay and dried in the sun
- Suitable for temporary structures
🔸 Burnt Clay Bricks
- Kiln-fired bricks, classified into:
- First-class: Best quality, sharp edges
- Second-class: Slightly irregular, ground-moulded
- Third-class: For temporary use
- Fourth-class: Over-burnt, used as aggregates
🔸 Fly Ash Bricks
- Made with fly ash and calcium oxide
- Self-cementing and eco-friendly
- Used in energy-efficient food factory design
🔸 Concrete Bricks and Blocks
- Made with sand, aggregates, cement, and water
- Customizable size and shape
- Used as load-bearing units with density >1800 kg/m³
🔸 Engineering Bricks
- High compressive strength
- Resistant to frost, acids, and moisture
- Ideal for basements and foundation areas of food manufacturing facilities
🔸 Calcium Silicate Bricks
- Also known as sand-lime bricks
- Applied in aesthetic masonry and hygienic areas of food plants
🔸 Eco Bricks (Porotherm)
- Hollow bricks with high thermal insulation
- Contribute to green building in food processing units
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Blocks
AAC blocks are made from fine aggregates, cement, and a foaming agent that creates a lightweight, aerated structure (about 80% air). These blocks are widely used in food industry infrastructure due to their sustainability and thermal properties.
✅ Advantages of AAC Blocks
- Excellent thermal insulation for cold storage and process areas
- Up to 3x lighter than traditional bricks
- Faster construction due to larger size
- Fire-resistant and moisture-absorbent
- Eco-friendly: Reduces CO₂ emissions and solid waste
- Cost-efficient in high-rise, large-scale food factory projects
- Durable and weather-resistant
- Lower transportation and handling costs
❌ Disadvantages of AAC Blocks
- Improper installation may cause cracks
- Requires skilled labor for proper handling and laying
- Fragile during transport
- Not ideal for load-bearing structures
- Slightly costlier for small-scale food projects
Conclusion
Whether you are planning a greenfield food processing plant or expanding an existing food manufacturing unit, understanding material selection—like bricks vs AAC blocks—is critical. Work with experienced engineering consultants and project management experts to ensure the use of optimal materials for hygiene, safety, and cost-efficiency.
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