There is a new type of brick called fly ash brick trending not only in Pakistan but its worldwide usability increasing day by day. Particularly in the construction of houses as an alternative to red bricks. Mostly everyone prefers red bricks to use while building their new home for many years. But people are now well aware of new emerging technologies and chemicals which are being used in producing such building materials. Fly ash bricks are one of them.
In this article, we will mention the short comparison of fly ash bricks and red bricks or clay bricks.
What is Fly Ash?
Fly ash is an industrial material, namely masonry units, made from compressed air, comprising primarily class F or C fly ash and water, which are injected into the ground.
Class F Flyash
Class F flyash is considered best to use in the manufacturing of fly ash brick because of the lower amount of calcium is present in this type. The bricks are hardened by means of an air injection system, compressed at 2800 MPa and cured in a vapour bath for 24 hours before being used. They are ideal for use on structures, such as home garages and industrial buildings, because they are exceptionally durable and hard-wearing, while still retaining a remarkable beauty.
Composition and Advantages
Fly ash is a by-product of burning coal and contains several different minerals. It is also a sodium silicate mineral, which consists of two amino acids – silicate and boron. When these two chemicals react together in the presence of heat, they produce sodium silicates, which become fly ash.
Fly ash Bricks in House Construction
Fly ash bricks are rapidly become a popular choice among homeowners for making their dwellings look better and feel more luxurious. These lightweight constructions are easy on the pocket too. In fact, they have become so popular that they can be easily purchased from online resources. People have started to realize the benefits of installing these durable building materials in their homes.
Advantages
Conventional masonry techniques are primarily based on the use of bricks and concrete. This is because they are extremely heavy. As a result, it becomes difficult to carry them from one place to another. Moreover, once you have used them, they tend to look old and dirty over a period of time. On the other hand, fly ash bricks are light in weight. So, they can be easily carried from place to place and are easy to maintain.
Another major advantage of fly ash bricks is that they are extremely fire resistant. This is one of the most important benefits that prospective buyers prefer to buy. Fireproof materials are always preferred by homeowners and building owners for increasing the sound insulation level of their dwellings. Moreover, as the material absorbs moisture, it does not allow any sort of growth of termites into your house.
In addition to this, fly ash products are also highly flexible. This means that while you are carrying out the remodelling process, you can easily reconfigure the structure as and when required. You can also move the structure around without having to face any kind of trouble. Fly ash bricks are also known for their strength. So, they can withstand extreme weather conditions. Another advantage of fly ash bricks is that they are very easy to install.
Disadvantages
Now that you have understood the advantages of using fly ash bricks, it is important to know about its disadvantages. One of the disadvantages of using fly ash as a wall or ceiling composition is that it contains small amounts of arsenic, a dangerous chemical compound that is poisonous when ingested. Arsenic is naturally present in the soil, but humans exposed to it through a bite or inhale becomes ill instantly. Other types of fly ash contain only negligible levels of arsenic, making them safe for human ingestion. Nevertheless, arsenic is still a poison and exposure to it should always be avoided.
Although fly ash is not harmful, some people choose to avoid it if possible. Because it releases airborne particles into the air, one’s lungs can become irritated or polluted. Exposure to this material is especially dangerous for those who have breathing difficulties. Those with lung diseases such as COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) are not advised to inhale large amounts of fly ash. Lung cancer can also occur from excessive exposure to fly ash.
Composition of Fly Ash Bricks Available in Pakistan
Companies are manufacturing fly ash bricks with different compositions, but the main ingredients are 50 % fly ash, 8 – 10% of stone dust, gypsum, and cement.
Composition Type 1
It includes fly ash, sand, sludge lime, and gypsum.
Composition Type 2
It includes fly ash, sand, hydrated lime, and gypsum.
Composition Type 3
It includes fly ash, cement, and sand or stone dust.
Note: In all compositions, the usage of fly ash must be 50% or more than that. The composition type 3 is costly yet stronger than others. It is also seen that the composition of materials used for fly ash bricks is different in the local and international market. Even in the same market, different companies are using different material instead of cement to cut the cost of manufacturing.
Here is the difference between fly ash brick and red brick/clay brick as per the Pakistan market
| # | Fly Ash Brick | Red Brick / Clay Brick |
| 1 | Fly ash bricks are manufactured by mixing fly ash, sand, cement, gypsum, and lime with the help of brick making machinery in a large number of quantities per day. | Red Brick manufacture by mixing top-fertile soil and lime in hand made molds and requires more time and labor to manufacture a large number of quantities. |
| 2 | The strength of fly ash brick is up to 2000 PSI. | The strength of good quality red brick is up to 1600 PSI. |
| 3 | The compressive strength of fly ash brick is 75-100 kg/cm2. | The compressive strength of red brick is 30-35 kg/cm2. |
| 4 | Less water penetrates these bricks, making them a suitable option, especially for house construction. The water absorption ratio in fly ash brick is 6-12% that is very low. | The % ratio of water absorption in red brick is double as compared to the fly ash brick, approximately 20-25% seepage of water is possible. |
| 5 | Fly ash brick is very light in weight, almost 2.6 kg – 3 kg is the weight. Due to this, the overall dead load of a building decreases, which is one of the advantages. | The weight of red brick is 3.5kg – 4 kg, and the structural load is high of such buildings using red bricks in construction. |
| 6 | The shape of the fly ash brick is uniform, and the color is grey due to which they require less plastering during the construction of the building’s grey structure. Hence a cost-effective building material. | The size of the red brick is not uniform and available in red or orange color. Therefore they require more plaster, and the overall cost of construction goes higher. |
| 7 | Fly ash bricks are eco-friendly and have good fire-resistant and sound insulation properties. | Red bricks, on the contrary, have less such properties. |
Contact Tameerkaro for House Grey Structure Construction
For economical and well-built house construction services in Pakistan, contact the expert at Tameerkaro Construction Company. Since 1986, the company has a history of building jaw-dropping houses in all Pakistan cities, especially in Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Sialkot, and other cities of Punjab. Place your order by calling at 0300-0556666.