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Bricks and AAC Blocks – Types, Standards, and Use in Industrial Construction

By PMG Engineering ·

 

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. 

Frequently asked
What are the standard brick dimensions we should specify for a food factory in India?
For food factory infrastructure in India, the BIS standard brick size is 190 x 90 x 90 mm, becoming 200 x 100 x 100 mm with mortar. The global standard brick size is 225 x 112.5 x 75 mm, with a working size of 215 x 102.5 x 65 mm including mortar. These standards ensure uniformity across civil engineering and food factory infrastructure development.
Which type of brick suits basements and foundations of a food manufacturing facility?
Engineering bricks are ideal for basements and foundation areas of food manufacturing facilities. They offer high compressive strength and resist frost, acids and moisture, which suits them to below-grade and exposed conditions. Where load-bearing masonry units are needed, concrete bricks and blocks made from sand, aggregates, cement and water with density greater than 1800 kg/m³ are also used.
Why would we choose AAC blocks over conventional bricks for cold storage and process areas?
AAC blocks are made from fine aggregates, cement and a foaming agent, giving an aerated structure that is about 80 percent air. This delivers excellent thermal insulation for cold storage and process areas. They are up to three times lighter than traditional bricks, speed up construction due to larger size, are fire-resistant, durable and weather-resistant, and reduce transportation and handling costs.
What are the drawbacks of AAC blocks on a food plant project?
AAC blocks are not ideal for load-bearing structures and can crack if installation is improper, so skilled labour is required for correct handling and laying. They are fragile during transport, and they are slightly costlier for small-scale food projects. Their cost-efficiency is realised mainly in high-rise and large-scale food factory projects.
How are burnt clay bricks graded, and which grades are usable?
Burnt clay bricks are kiln-fired and classified into four grades. First-class bricks are the best quality with sharp edges. Second-class bricks are ground-moulded and slightly irregular. Third-class bricks are suitable only for temporary use. Fourth-class bricks are over-burnt and used as aggregates rather than as masonry units. Sun-dried clay bricks are also limited to temporary structures.
Which brick options support green or energy-efficient food factory design?
Fly ash bricks, made with fly ash and calcium oxide, are self-cementing and eco-friendly, and are used in energy-efficient food factory design. Eco bricks such as Porotherm are hollow units with high thermal insulation that contribute to green building in food processing units. AAC blocks are also eco-friendly, reducing CO₂ emissions and solid waste.
CITE THIS

PMG Engineering. (2024). Bricks and AAC Blocks – Types, Standards, and Use in Industrial Construction. PMG Engineering. https://pmg.engineering/Article/364/bricks-and-aac-blocks-types-standards-and-use-in-industrial-construction/

https://pmg.engineering/Article/364/bricks-and-aac-blocks-types-standards-and-use-in-industrial-construction/