Bricks have been part of human development since the dawn of civilisation. In this article we want to summarise the core history of bricks and how interlocking bricks are now becoming part of that history.
Structure
- How long/history of bricks
- Why were bricks first used
- Evolution of bricks
- What does the future of building/bricks look like
- Why Interlocking bricks
History
Man has used bricks for thousands of years. The first evidence of brick use dates back to 8000 BC. Over these eight millennia bricks have been used from building mud huts to fortresses to commercial and industrial buildings, bricks have been a fundamental component of human enterprise and development.
The first bricks were sun dried (7500 BC) in what is now South East Asia. Then came fired bricks around 4,000BC in China. Fired bricks were then adopted by the Romans and its popularity continued in Europe through the industrial revolution into the Americas.
Why
The use of bricks in hot countries was primarily a means to build stronger more durable structures. The populations of these ancient civilisations understood that leaving clay out in the hot sun would harden the clay and allow it to be used to build stronger constructions.
Evolution of bricks
Mud bricks – These are sun dried bricks that were used in ancient civilisations such as Jericho by leaving clay mud in the sun to dry.
Fired Bricks – In Mesopotamia (Iraq) bricks were made by mixing clay with straw and dried using an artificial heat source (baking in a kiln) to dry.
Hydraulic pressed bricks – In the industrial revolution is when the first modern brick machines were used to produce bricks more quickly, efficiently and at a cheaper production cost.
Since the industrial revolution the use of bricks for larger corporate buildings (especially with large multi storey buildings) has been replaced with steel based structures in modern large building and of course sky scrapers.
Future of brick making
There have been further developments in brick making. These range from concrete to calcium silicate based bricks to the newer fly ash bricks developed to recycle the waste products of processing plants.
Why Interlocking (ISSB) bricks
Interlocking Stabilised Soil Bricks (compressed bricks) are the next step, we feel, in the evolution of brick building. The need for sustainable and environmentally friendly brick making that uses natural resources (earth and sun) has brought ISSB to the attention of those who are looking for sustainable building.
Interlocking brick technology (using the Tanzania Interlocking Brick system of stacking of bricks like Lego) allows the brick stacking to form a strong bond. This is further strengthened by the use of iron rods through the core holes of the brick. This means less use of mortar, less expense whilst achieving a stronger building bond (compared to brunt bricks, blocks and mortar alone). ISSB also are widely used in countries and areas that are more prone to earth quakes (South East Asia) due to the benefit (vs conventional burnt bricks with mortar) of stronger resistance to structural movement (caused by earth quakes and subsidence).
There have been several experiments concerning the strength of interlocking bricks and resistance to earth quakes. The latest in Thailand by the Department of Civil Engineering University of Thailand, looks at the lateral response of cement clay interlocking bricks to earth quake loads (using different construction designs). This is a core issue given that earth quake deaths are a large proportion of the overall deaths caused by natural disasters and that 60% of deaths from earth quake events are caused by falling masonry.
