Pulverised Fuel Ash Cement Brick Testing
(PFA-Cement Brick — IS 16720:2018)
Complete physical testing of Pulverised Fuel Ash Cement (PFA-Cement) bricks as per IS 16720:2018 — verifying 28-day wet compressive strength class designation, water absorption, efflorescence and dimensional tolerances for green building and masonry construction acceptance.
What is the Pulverised Fuel Ash Cement Brick Testing?
Pulverised Fuel Ash Cement (PFA-Cement) Bricks are manufactured from a mixture of fly ash (pulverised fuel ash conforming to IS 3812) as the primary constituent, Ordinary Portland Cement as the binder, and aggregate or sand — hydraulically pressed and water-cured. Unlike PFA-Lime bricks (IS 12894) which use lime as binder, PFA-Cement bricks use Portland cement — achieving higher early strength, wider size range (up to 300×150×100mm) and superior dimensional accuracy.
At Global Lab, PFA-Cement brick testing is conducted as per IS 16720:2018 covering 28-day wet compressive strength (Class 5 to Class 15 N/mm²), water absorption (Group I — ≤20% for Classes 5/7.5/10; Group II — ≤15% for Classes 12.5/15), efflorescence rating, dimensional tolerances and visual quality inspection. All tests conducted per IS 3495 Parts 1, 2 and 3 on NABL-calibrated equipment — with 28-day curing required before compressive strength testing.
Pulverised Fuel Ash Cement Brick Testing — Site Images
How the Pulverised Fuel Ash Cement Brick Testing is Conducted
-
1Sample CollectionMinimum 20 bricks selected per IS 5454 sampling procedure from each consignment or production batch. Visual quality inspection conducted.
-
2Dimensional MeasurementLength, width and height of all 20 bricks measured. Tolerances checked against IS 16720:2018 Table 1 limits.
-
328-Day Curing + Wet Compressive StrengthSpecimens water-cured for 28 days. 5 bricks soaked 24 hours and tested wet in CTM per IS 3495 Part 1. Individual brick not to fall below class minimum by more than 20%.
-
4Water Absorption Test5 bricks tested for 24-hour cold water absorption per IS 3495 Part 2. Group I (≤20%) or Group II (≤15%) compliance checked.
-
5Efflorescence & IS 16720 Class ReportEfflorescence rating per IS 3495 Part 3. All results vs IS 16720:2018 limits. NABL report with class designation issued within 35 days.
Applicable Test Standards
| Standard | Title | Scope | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| IS 16720:2018 | Pulverized Fuel Ash-Cement Bricks — Specification | PFA Cement Brick | Indian Standard |
| IS 3495 | Methods of Tests of Burnt Clay Building Bricks — Parts 1, 2 and 3 | Brick Testing | Indian Standard |
| IS 3812 | Pulverized Fuel Ash — Specification (for fly ash used in brick manufacture) | Fly Ash Material | Indian Standard |
| IS 5454 | Method for Sampling of Clay Building Bricks (applicable to PFA bricks) | Sampling | Indian Standard |