Masonry Magazine September 1977 Page. 13
BIA Technical Notes
on Brick Construction
Brick Institute of America 1750 Old Meadow Road, McLean, Virginia 22101
36A
April
1970
DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF BRICK SOFFITS
INTRODUCTION
Technical Notes 36, "Flat and Sloped Brick Soffits" is devoted to illustrating some of the successful applications of brick soffits in designs throughout the country. This issue of Technical Notes discusses several methods of constructing brick soffits and some of the factors that should be considered in the design and construction of these elements.
MATERIALS
Masonry Units. The selection of brick for soffits depends on several factors. Standard brick shapes and sizes are adaptable to many soffit designs. For some designs special shapes are required. However, since all shapes are not necessarily available in all market areas, local availability of shapes should be investigated before proceeding with designs. The brick manufacturer should be consulted early in the design stage to determine the manufacturing capability for special shapes if these are required to satisfy the architect's design concept.
It is also important to consider the effect that available brick unit sizes will have on the overall dimensions of brick soffits. Shapes should be specified under the same specifications used for the surrounding or adjacent brick, usually ASTM C 216 for Facing Brick.
Another major factor to be considered is the nature of the surfaces of the brick, particularly exposed surfaces and where bond is important. Smooth, dense, heavily sanded or glazed surfaces are not usually satisfactory where high mortar or grout bond is required. Die skin surfaces occur and remain on stiff mud brick after they have been extruded through a die unless this surface is broken, scarified, or otherwise roughened. The extrusion die skin yields a smooth surface generally unsatisfactory for the development of high bond.
Brick with an initial rate of absorption less than 20 g per 30 sq in. are not required to be wetted.
FIG. 1
GAINESVILLE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE