TECHNICAL FAQs

After you have created an account with us, you will be able to download a PDF copy of all our Think Brick Technical Manuals on our Technical Manual section.

You can order a paper copy of a Technical Manual directly from Think Brick Australia.

Email your request, specifying which manual(s) and the respective quantity to info@thinkbrick.com.au.

We will then send you an Order Form for you to fill in and return to us via email.

Yes, providing that the information correctly references Think Brick Australia and the relevant manual.

If you have a technical brick enquiry that is either private or commercial such as those listed below:

• Damaged brick work and any remedies
• Specifications of how block work relates to other materials
• Guidance on the use of tension-bar lintels
• Fire resistance levels for dry pressed clay
• Brick specifications and standards
• Brick oxidation
• Mortar types
• Recycled/re-used bricks
• Brick sample testing

You can obtain advice from the information provided in our Technical Manuals or contact Think Brick's Technical team on our technical helpline on 1300 667 617.

• Think Brick Australia's Technical Manual 13 – Clay Masonry Cleaning Manual provides detailed information about how to identify stains on brickworks and corresponding cleaning methods. You can download a soft copy (in a PDF format) from our website by clicking here
• A list of Accredited Brick Cleaners is available here

Please email info@thinkbrick.com.au or call our technical helpline 1300 667 617 for retailer information.

• Think Brick Australia Manual 5 Design of Clay Masonry Walls for Fire Resistance provides detailed information on fire resistance period (FRP) for structural adequacy, insulation, and integrity for clay masonry.
• The FRP for structural adequacy is indicated at the point where the wall height and length intersect on Chart 1 to Chart 20.
• The FRP for integrity from the tabulated values is the lesser of the FRP for structural adequacy and the FRP for insulation.
• The FRP for insulation depends on material thickness in Table 3 of Manual 5.

Below are companies that do building material testing.

We recommend finding a supervisor to do a site inspection first to see if such a test is needed.

• The sound insulation provisions are contained in Part F5 of Volume 1 and Parts 2.4 and 3.8.6 of Volume 2 of the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and apply to residential buildings.
• Compliance with the BCA’s performance requirements can be achieved by meeting the deemed-to-satisfy provisions introduced in the BCA or formulating an alternative solution to the Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions.
• For more information, please refer to Think Brick Manual 11 Design of Clay Masonry for Sound Insulation here.

• Masonry units are divided into five categories: DW0, DW1, DW2, DW3 and DW4 (see Section 2.2.3, AS/NZS 4455.1).
• DW stands for dimensional deviations for walling units.
• The relevant tolerances for each of these categories are listed in Table 2.1 of AS/NZS 4455 Part 1. For more information, please contact Think Brick’s Technical team.

• Think Brick Australia has a platform designed for all its members, that offers an engaging and interactive learning experience on bricks. This is only available to our member’s sales representative.
• Please do not register if you are a member of the public.

You can access the platform via our website or directly clicking here.