Basic facts about brickwork 1 — Structural brickwork

Architects and engineers are turning to structural masonry more and more today to provide the solutions for their building needs. Over the past ten years or so a growing awareness of the use of masonry and a growing interest in designing in brickwork has been a discernable trend in the construction world. This article discusses structural masonry from three points of view. Firstly, it looks at the use of structural brickwork in Britain today — while this is predominantly unreinforced, reinforced brickwork is also discussed. Secondly, the article looks at some areas of design which, considered at the design stage, may avoid possible problems in the future. Finally, workmanship factors — which affect the structural performance of the completed building — are discussed.