Introduction

Interlocking bricks are best suited for earthquake prone areas. They reduce mortar consumption, time and cost. In order to reduce the time and cost involved in the construction industry, several innovations happened in the recent past. One such development is interlocking bricks, and this article will look into the properties, advantages, and disadvantages of the interlocking bricks in detail.

What are Interlocking bricks?

Interlocking bricks are manufactured differently from regular bricks. The bricks are designed in such a way that they can lock in with the other bricks without the use of mortar or any external bonding material. Through shear-key and lock mechanisms, the bricks are able to self-lock and stay intact.

Interlocking bricks are not baked; they are manufactured by combining soil, sand, and water and are then compressed at high pressure and dried naturally. This compression helps to enhance their strength. They are left to cure for around 7 days. The cost of manufacturing these bricks is lesser than regular bricks, and the process is also simpler.

Properties of Interlocking bricks

• Interlocking bricks are made of soil, sand, cement, water, and stone dust.
• They can be made in different shapes, sizes, and patterns.
• The size of one Interlocking brick is approximately 230x100x75mm (9x4x3 inches). It is generally bigger than the regular brick.
• They are seismically resistant due to the self-locking structure; seismic loads travel through the bricks evenly and are not damaged.
• Interlocking bricks weigh more than a similar volume of regular bricks.

Cost of Interlocking bricks

Since there are different sizes, colors, and shapes of Interlocking bricks, the prices vary accordingly.

Advantages of Interlocking bricks

• Interlocking bricks are suitable for earthquake-prone areas.
• They are cheaper than regular bricks.
• They reduce the requirement for manual labor at the construction site as the entire masonry process gets simplified.
• There is no additional expenses for mortar and plastering.
• Interlocking bricks reduce almost half the construction time required for building.
• Reduce overall construction cost.
• They are eco-friendly.
• The Interlocking bricks do not heat up as easily as normal bricks and thus keep the interior cooler.

Disadvantages of Interlocking bricks

• Interlocking bricks cannot be used for structures that are more than two stories high.
• If the bricks are not locked in properly or are not sealed, then the space between bricks could become infested.
• The color might fade if exposed frequently to rain. However, it can be avoided by painting the walls.
• The durability of interlocking bricks is less than regular bricks.

Types of Interlocking bricks

There are two main types of interlocking bricks:

1. Vertical usage - The bricks are used as a substitute for regular red bricks and are used for building wall structures.
2. Horizontal usage - The bricks are used to pave pathways and driveways. In this case, it is possible to design the ways differently and also replace any broken bricks easily. Most of us are aware of this type of usage, and we see it more frequently.

When to use interlocking bricks?

If you wish to construct a small structure with time and cost constraints, then interlocking bricks are a good option. However, note that the structure might not be strong enough to sustain harsh weather conditions or commercial buildings. We would recommend that you use interlocking bricks only if it is favorable for the particular context. Especially in India, structures are very prone to infestation, and we also enjoy heavy monsoons. So it might not be a good decision to choose these bricks for vertical structure purposes.