Designation: C 43 – 99

Standard Terminology of
Structural Clay Products
This standard is issued under the xed designation C 43; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of original
adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A superscript
epsilon ( ) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope C 1232 Terminology of Masonry

1.1 This terminology contains terms and de nitions of terms C 1261 Speci cation for Firebox Brick for Residential Fire-
associated with the standards speci c to masonry units and places
roo ng tile manufactured by ring clay and shale raw materi- C 1272 Speci cation for Heavy Vehicular Paving Brick
als.
3. Terminology
1.2 The de nitions and de nitions of terms in this terminol-
ogy pertain to Speci cations C 32, C 34, C 56, C 62, C 126, 3.1 Terms and De nitions:
C 212, C 216, C 279, C 410, C 652, C 902, C 1088, C 1167, RAW MATERIALS
C 1261, C 1272 and Test Methods C 67.
1.3 Generic terminology for masonry is found in Terminol- clay, n—an earthy or stony mineral aggregate consisting
ogy C 1232. Terminology C 1232 also applies to masonry units essentially of hydrous silicates of alumina, plastic when
manufactured by ring clay and shale raw materials. sufficiently pulverized and wetted, rigid when dry, and
vitreous when red to a sufficiently high temperature.
2. Referenced Documents re clay, n—a sedimentary clay of low ux content.
2.1 ASTM Standards: reactive particulates, n—a particle or particles present in a
C 32 Speci cation for Sewer and Manhole Brick (Made clay body, which when near the surface may ake off or
from Clay or Shale) cause an eruption (pop-outs) of the surface when exposed to
C 34 Speci cation for Structural Clay Load-Bearing Wall the weather.
Tile shale, n—a thinly strati ed, consolidated, sedimentary clay
C 56 Speci cation for Structural Clay Non-Load-Bearing with well-marked cleavage parallel to the bedding.
Tile surface clay, n—an unconsolidated, unstrati ed clay, occur-
C 62 Speci cation for Building Brick (Solid Masonry Units ring on the surface.
Made from Clay or Shale)
C 67 Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and MANUFACTURE
Structural Clay Tile bed surface, n—the bed surface of the brick is the in situ
C 126 Speci cation for Ceramic Glazed Structural Clay non-vertical surface intended to be joined by mortar.
Facing Tile, Facing Brick, and Solid Masonry Units brick face, n—the face of brick is any surface intended for use
C 212 Speci cation for Stuctural Clay Facing Tile to form the exposed surface of the masonry structure.
C 216 Speci cation for Facing Brick (Solid Masonry Units coring, v—the process of perforating structural clay products,
Made from Clay or Shale) generally performed during extrusion by supporting cores
C 279 Speci cation for Chemical-Resistant Masonry Units (rods) within the shaping cap of the extruder.
C 410 Speci cation for Industrial Floor Brick cells/core holes, n—continuous openings or perforations
C 652 Speci cation for Hollow Brick (Hollow Masonry within extruded clay products. The extent of permissible
Units Made from Clay or Shale) openings is speci ed for each product as the percentage of
C 902 Speci cation for Pedestrian and Light Traffic Paving gross area in the normal bedding surface plane that must be
Brick net (solid) area. Core hole is generally used for brick while
C 1088 Speci cation for Thin Veneer Brick Units Made cell is used for structural tile. Cells are distinguished from
from Clay or Shale core holes by being larger in size. As an illustration, cells
C 1167 Speci cation for Clay Roof Tiles must be larger than 1 in . (645 mm ) under Speci cation
C 34, and 1 ⁄ in. (968 mm ) under Speci cation C 652.
This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C-15 on extrusion, n—shaping of brick by pushing plastic clay or shale
Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee through a die opening that forms the peripheral dimensions
C15.08 on Terminology. of the brick. The column of extrudate is then cut into
Current edition approved June 10, 1999. Published September 1999. Originally
published as C 43–65T. Last previous edition C 43–98a.
sections to provide the third dimension of the brick. Water is
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.05. added to the clay or shale in sufficient quantities to permit

Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.

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laminar ow through the extrusion machine. The consis- PARTS, OPENINGS, AND
tency of the extrudate may vary from stiff and capable of DESIGNATION OF DIMENSIONS
supporting several times its weight to soft and deformable
height, n—the vertical dimension of the unit in the face of a
under slight loads.
wall.
red bond, n—bond developed between particulate constitu-
length, n—the horizontal dimension of the unit in the face of
ents of brick solely as the result of the ring process. The
the wall.
bond may result from fusion or melting of one or more
constituents of the composition or the surface of particles. PRODUCT PROPERTIES
Other thermal mechanisms such as sintering and interpar-
ticle reaction may be responsible for the bond. absorption, n—weight of water picked up by a clay masonry
The higher the heat treatment, the greater the extent of unit during immersion at prescribed conditions expressed in
bonding and consequently the greater the developed strength relation to the dry weight of the unit.
and the lower the resulting porosity. The bond development Two conditions of immersion are designated in standards
should be sufficient to provide the speci ed strength, poros- relating to brick: 24 h in room temperature (60–86°F
ity, and durability for any particular product. (15.5–30°C)) water or 5 h in boiling water. (Different time
ring, v—process of heating the material to elevated tempera- intervals are speci ed for structural tile and other products.)
tures. The temperatures are usually in excess of 930°C. The The resulting absorptions are termed cold absorption and
extent of ring is a function of both time and temperature. boiling absorption.
The ring develops the inter-particulate bond, the strengths, Absorption values are used in brick and tile standards as
the pore structure, and the color of the product. The extent of one factor in classifying these products into durability
ring should be sufficient to produce the levels of these grades. Absorptions are indicators of the extent of ring
properties required by the speci cations for the particular during manufacture as well as being indicators of durability.
product. initial rate of absorption, n—a distinct property that offers
frog, n—an indentation in one bed surface of a brick manu- different information from absorption. It is a measure of the
factured by molding or pressing. The identation may be suction of water upward into a dry brick from a bed face
shallow (not exceeding ⁄ in. (9.5 mm)) and is termed a during one minute of exposure. It is expressed as grams of
panel. A deeper indentation is called a deep frog. Limits on water picked up in one minute by a net area of 30 in. (194
the extent of frogging are given in Speci cations C 62, cm ).
C 216, and C 652. Initial rate of absorption is one factor in uencing the
incipient fusion, n—beginning of the development of red quality of bond between brick and mortar. It is used in brick
bond. standards to recommend construction practices for enhanc-
molding, v—shaping of brick by dropping, throwing, or ing mortar to brick bonding.
vibrating wet clay or shale in a mold cavity shaped to
SURFACE FEATURES
provide the peripheral dimensions of the brick. Sufficient
water is mixed with the clay or shale to produce a soft combed nish, n—units whose face surfaces are altered by
consistency. more or less parallel scratches or scarfs in manufacture.
When insides of molds are sanded to prevent sticking of exposed nish, n—units whose surfaces are intended to be left
clay, the product is sand-struck brick. When the molds are exposed or painted.
wetted to prevent sticking, the product is water-struck brick. ashed nish, n—units whose surface faces have a range of
pressing, v—shaping of brick by pressing clay or shale into a color produced by the control of the atmospheric conditions
mold cavity which forms the peripheral dimensions of the in the kiln during ring.
brick. Different sub-classi cations of pressing are de ned by glaze, n—a hard, glassy, fused ceramic coating which may
the quantity of water mixed with the clay or shale. have a matte or glossy surface.
Dry pressing uses high forming pressures and low water natural nish, n—units having unglazed or uncoated surfaces
contents usually between 0 and 5 %. burned to the natural color of the material used in forming
Plastic pressing uses low pressures and sufficient water to the body.
produce a plastic mixture. plaster-base nish, n—units whose surfaces are intended for
Semi-dry pressing uses intermediate pressures and water the direct application of plaster.
quantities nominally between 5 and 14 %. DISCUSSION —Plaster-base nish units may be smooth, scored,
DISCUSSION—Molding was listed as soft mud process and extrustion combed, or roughened.
was listed as stiff mud process in Terminology C 43–92 and earlier
roughened nish, n—units whose plane die surfaces are
editions of this standard.
entirely broken by mechanical means, such as wire cutting or
shells, n—the outer walls of tile or hollow brick. wire brushing.
struck surface, n—the surface of a molded brick that is not in salt glaze, n—units whose surface faces have a lustrous glazed
contact with the mold and from which the excess clay/shale nish from the thermo-chemical reaction of the silicates of
mixture is removed. the clay body with vapors of salt or chemicals.
webs, n—the partitions dividing tile or hollow brick into cells.

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sand nish, n—units whose surface faces are covered with designed to carry superimposed loads. See Speci cation
sand, applied either to the clay column in the stiff mud C 34.
process or as the lubricant to the molds in the soft mud non-load-bearing tile, n—tile for use in masonry construc-
process. tions carrying no superimposed loads. See Speci cation
scored nish, n—units whose face surfaces are grooved as C 56.
they come from the die. partition tile, n—tile for use in building interior partitions,
smooth nish, n—units whose surfaces are not altered or subdividing areas into rooms, or similar constructions, and
marked in manufacture, but left as a plane surface as formed carrying no superimposed loads.
by the die. side-construction tile, n—tile designed to receive its compres-
sive stress at right angles to the axes of the cells.
GENERAL DEFINITIONS structural clay facing tile, n—tile designed for use in interior
building unit, n—a unit, the speci cations for which include and exterior unplastered walls, partitions or columns. See
measures of durability, strength, and other structural prop- Speci cation C 212.
erties, but not requirements affecting appearance. structural clay tile, n—hollow burned-clay masonry building
units with parallel cells or cores or both.
DISCUSSION—This classi cation includes building brick and struc-
tural clay tile. CLAY ROOF TILE
BRICK batten lugs, n—protrusions on the underside of tile designed
to engage over the upper edge of tiling battens.
acid-resistant brick, n—brick suitable for use in contact with
clay roof tile, n—a solid unit of clay or shale, or both, formed
chemicals, usually in conjunction with acid-resistant mor-
into any of a range of generally rectangular planar shapes
tars. See Speci cation C 279.
while plastic and red in kiln. Clay roof tile is a ceramic
brick, n—a solid masonry unit of clay or shale, usually formed
product. See Speci cation C 1167.
into a rectangular prism while plastic and burned or red in
head lap, n—(1) the distance between the lower (nose) edge of
a kiln. Brick is a ceramic product.
an overlapping tile and the upper edge of the lapped unit in
building brick, n—brick for building purposes not especially
the course immediately below; ( 2) for shingle tile only—the
produced for texture or color (formerly called common
distance between the lower (nose) edge of an overlapping
brick). See Speci cation C 62.
shingle tile and the upper edge of the lapped unit in the
facing brick, n—brick made especially for facing purposes.
second course below.
Produced from selected clays and available in all typical face
sizes, various colors, and in smooth, ne, medium, and DISCUSSION—The head lap and side lap speci ed with a particular tile
coarse textures. See Speci cation C 216. form the basis for determining area coverage of the speci c design and
oor brick, n—smooth, dense brick, highly resistant to abra- the computation of the number of units required to cover a given area
of roof. Tile is speci ed and sold on the basis of number of units
sion, used as nished oor surfaces. See Speci cation required to cover one roo ng square, that is, 100 ft. (9.29 m ) of roof.
C 410.
hollow brick, n—a cellular masonry unit made from clay or high pro le tile, n—tile having a rise to width ratio greater
shale and kiln- red to produce designated properties. See than 1:4.
Speci cation C 652. The hollow brick has larger percentages hip and ridge tile, n—tile designed for application to the hip
of void areas than permissible with solid brick. See Speci- or ridge of a roof.
cation C 62 and Speci cation C 216. interlocking tile, n—tile with a system of ribs or grooves
paving brick, n—brick made to provide the wearing surface of enabling the lateral joining of adjacent tiles in the same
highways, streets, driveways, walkways, patios, and similar course with the overlocking edge of one tile covering the
applications. See Speci cations C 902 and C 1272. underlocking edge of another forming the side lap. In some
sewer brick, n—low absorption, abrasive-resistant brick in- tile designs, provision is also made for interlocking in the
tended for use in drainage structures. See Speci cation C 32. overlapping area of the head lap.
specially-shaped brick, n—a brick manufactured to a basic length, n—the maximum dimension of the tile measured
shape of other than a rectangular prism. parallel to the water channels or perpendicular to the eave of
the roof.
STRUCTURAL CLAY TILE low pro le tile, n—tile having a rise to width ratio equal to, or
end-construction tile, n—tile designed to receive its compres- less than 1:4.
sive stress parallel to the axes of the cells. nail hole, n—an appropriately sized opening such that tile shall
reproo ng tile, n—tile for use as a protection for structural not be fractured by the fastener and xing process used to
members against re. attach the tile to the roof deck.
furring tile, n—tile for lining the inside of walls and carrying non-interlocking tile, n—tile without restrictive ribs, grooves,
no superimposed loads. or channels at the side lap or head lap.
header tile, n—tile designed to provide recesses for brick nose, n—the lower visible edge of tile as applied on the roof.
header units in masonry faced walls. nose lugs, n—projections on the underside of the nose of each
load-bearing tile, n—tile for use in masonry constructions tile contoured to t into the main water courses of the tile

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immediately below, inhibiting the entry of wind-driven rain. for interlocking tile this corresponds to the width of that part
pro le, n—the contour of the top surface of the tile when of the tile that contains the ribs, grooves, or channels which
viewed from the nose end. provide for interlocking. (See Discussion under head lap.)
rise, n—the maximum dimension of the cross-sectional pro le thickness, n—a measurement of the cross section of the tile
of the tile measured perpendicular to the roof surface as made perpendicular to its surface.
installed. width, n—the maximum dimension of the tile measured
side lap, n—the distance by which the side edge of one tile perpendicular to the length.
overlaps the side edge of an adjacent tile in the same course;