The code offers detailed instructions for designing and building reinforced brick (RB) and reinforced brick concrete (RBC) floors and roofs, predominantly utilized across India’s northern regions. It covers essential aspects such as materials, reinforcement detailing, corrosion prevention, construction methods, curing processes, and finishing techniques to guarantee structural strength and longevity. This standard is vital for professionals engaged in masonry and concrete roofing and flooring projects aiming for optimal durability and performance.
Overview
The code offers detailed instructions for designing and building reinforced brick (RB) and reinforced brick concrete (RBC) floors and roofs, predominantly utilized across India’s northern regions. It covers essential aspects such as materials, reinforcement detailing, corrosion prevention, construction methods, curing processes, and finishing techniques to guarantee structural strength and longevity. This standard is vital for professionals engaged in masonry and concrete roofing and flooring projects aiming for optimal durability and performance.
Audience
Contents
Structure
Frequently Asked
For reinforced brick (RB) constructions, bricks should be of Class 75 or higher according to IS 1077-1976, avoiding overburnt or vitrified bricks. For reinforced brick concrete (RBC) systems, bricks of Class 35 or above, also conforming to IS 1077-1976, are suitable with the same restrictions regarding overburnt bricks. Bricks are placed directly on the formwork without bedding, with concrete filling the joints and covering the reinforcement to ensure structural strength and protect against corrosion.
To minimize corrosion risk, reinforcement must have a minimum concrete cover of 25 mm all around and should not come into direct contact with bricks. Bars should be arranged so that no two bars lie within the same joint, and a minimum brick spacing of 60 mm should be maintained to allow adequate mortar coverage and ventilation. All reinforcement bars must be clean, free of rust, conforming to IS 432 (Part I), IS 1139, or IS 1786 standards, fully embedded in concrete, and securely fixed to prevent displacement. Splices should be staggered to avoid weak points susceptible to corrosion.
Initially, the brickwork should be kept moist by covering it with wet straw, wet sand, or by gentle water sprinkling for about 24 hours after finishing. Following this, slabs require profuse watering to maintain wet curing for at least 10 days to ensure adequate hydration and strength development. This curing regimen is crucial to achieve the necessary durability and performance as per IS 10440 and IS 456 guidelines.
Formwork should be constructed from timber or steel, possessing sufficient strength to support all imposed loads. Platforms consist of planks or sheets supported on runners or beams, with props and bracing provided to ensure lateral stability. An upward camber of 1 mm per 150 mm span (maximum 30 mm) should be incorporated to counteract initial settlement. Prior to concreting, alignment, cleanliness, and stability of formwork must be verified. Formwork removal should not occur before 14 days post concrete placement to allow adequate strength gain.
The standard specifies applying a waterproofing layer on floors and roofs using either lime concrete as per IS 3036-1980 or Mud Phuska with tiles following IS 2115-1980. Ceilings should be plastered after drying using either cement mortar (1:3) or lime mortar (1:2) with a single coat thickness of 12 mm according to IS 1661-1972. The finished surfaces must be cured by watering for a minimum of three weeks to ensure durability and proper setting.
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