ASTM C126-22

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: C126 − 19 C126 − 22
Standard Specification for
Ceramic Glazed Structural Clay Facing Tile, Facing Brick,
and Solid Masonry Units
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C126; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers structural clay load-bearing facing tile and facing brick and other “solid masonry units” made from
clay, shale, fire-clay, or mixtures thereof, with or without the addition of grog or other mixtures, having a finish consisting of a
ceramic glaze fused to the body at above 1500°F (655°C) making them inseparable, excluding natural salt-glazed ware.
1.2 The property requirements of this specification apply at the time of purchase. The use of results from testing of brick and tile
extracted from masonry structures for determining conformance or nonconformance to the property requirements (Section 6) of
this standard is beyond the scope of this specification.
1.3 Brick and tile covered by this specification are manufactured from clay, shale, or similar naturally occurring substances and
subjected to a heat treatment at elevated temperatures (firing). The heat treatment must develop sufficient fired bond between the
particulate constituents to provide the strength requirements of this specification. (See firing and fired bond in Terminology C1232.)
1.4 Two grades and two types of ceramic glazed units are covered.
1.5 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.6 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.7 The following precautionary caveat pertains only to the test portion of this specification. This standard does not purport to
address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish
appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.8 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C15.02 on Brick
and Structural Clay Tile.
Current edition approved Dec. 1, 2019June 1, 2022. Published January 2020June 2022. Originally approved in 1936. Last previous edition approved in 20182019 as
C126 – 18.C126 – 19. DOI: 10.1520/C0126-19.10.1520/C0126-22.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
C126 − 22
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C67/C67M Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and Structural Clay Tile
C1232 Terminology for Masonry
E84 Test Method for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
E2105 Practice for General Techniques of Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) Coupled With Infrared Analysis (TGA/IR)
2.2 National Fire Protection Association Standard:
NFPA No. 255 Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials
2.3 Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. Standard:
UL No. 723 Flammability Studies of Cellular Plastics and other Building Materials used for Interior Finishes
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions relating to ceramic glazed structural clay facing tile, facing brick, and solid masonry units, refer
to Terminology C1232.
4. Classification
4.1 Grades—Grades classify units according to their permissible variation in face dimensions and warpage. tolerances. Two grades
of ceramic glazed facing tile, brick, and solid masonry units are covered. The requirements are given in Section 7.
4.1.1 Grade S (select), for use with comparatively narrow mortar joints.
4.1.2 Grade SS (select sized or ground edge), for use where variation of face dimension must be very small.
4.1.3 When the grade is not specified, the requirements for Grade S shall govern.
4.2 Types—Two types of ceramic glazed facing tile, brick, and solid masonry units are covered. The requirements are given in
Section 7.
4.2.1 Type I (single-faced units), for general use where only one finished face will be exposed.
4.2.2 Type II (two-faced units), for use where two opposite finished faces will be exposed.
4.2.3 When the type is not specified, the requirements for Type I shall govern.
5. Ordering Information
5.1 Orders for material under this specification shall include the following information:
5.1.1 Grade—When the grade is not specified, the requirements for Grade S shall govern.
5.1.2 Type—When the type is not specified, the requirements for Type I shall govern.
5.1.3 Sizes and Shapes—The sizes and shapes shall be specified in accordance with Section 7.1.
5.1.4 Color and Texture of Finish—The color and texture of the finish shall be specified in accordance with Section 8.6.
5.1.5 Back Surfaces—Unless otherwise specified, smooth, scored, combed, or roughened unglazed backs and smooth unselected
glazed backs or a mixture thereof, are furnished. When plaster is to be applied, the back surface shall be specified in accordance
with Section 8.5.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
Available from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), 333 Pfingsten Rd., Northbrook, IL 60062-2096, http://www.ul.com.
C126 − 22
5.1.6 Coring—Unless otherwise specified, either standard or special duty units as prescribed in Section 9 are furnished.
5.1.7 Opacity—Where ceramic glazed units are not specified as opaque, they need not meet the requirements for opacity
prescribed in 8.4.2.
5.1.8 Exterior Use—Where ceramic glazed units are required for exterior use, the manufacturers shall be consulted for material
suitable for this purpose.
NOTE 1—The requirements included in this specification do not cover minimum criteria for durability of units exposed to exterior environments.
6. Physical Properties
6.1 The compressive strengths (based on gross area) of the units shall be not less than the values prescribed in Table 1.
NOTE 2—Special duty units may be available from various manufacturers where higher compressive strengths are required.
7. Dimensions and Permissible Variations
7.1 The face sizes of ceramic glazed units and fittings therefore shall be as specified.
NOTE 3—The sizes shown in Table 2 are standard in the industry for single-faced units (Type I).
7.2 Face Dimension Tolerances—The total variation in the finished face dimensions of units shall be not more than the values
shown in Table 3.
7.3 Bed-Depth Dimension Tolerances—The total variation in the bed-depth (through the wall) dimension of units shall be not more
than the value shown in Table 4.
7.4 Warpage Tolerances—The maximum permissible deviation of the plane and the edges of the face of individual units from a
plane surface and from a straight line, respectively, shall not exceed the value shown in Table 5.
NOTE 4—When convex units are laid upon a plane surface, the apparent variation is greater than the actual variation from the plane of the unit.
8. Finish and Appearance
8.1 The body of the units shall be free of cracks or other imperfections which would impair the strength or durability of the
masonry.
8.2 Unless otherwise agreed upon between the purchaser and the seller, a delivery of brick or tile shall not contain more than 3 %
brick or tile that are chipped, cracked or broken.
8.3 The finished face (one face of stretcher units and the finished faces of shapes) that will be exposed when in place shall be
covered with a ceramic glaze of uniform quality. The glaze shall be free of chips, crazes, blisters, crawling, or other imperfections
detracting from the appearance of the finished wall when viewed from a distance of 5 ft (1.52 m) under diffused lighting at right
angles from the wall.
NOTE 5—The purchaser or his authorized representative shall be accorded opportunity for sampling and inspecting units at the place of manufacture, prior
to shipment. At least 10 days from the time of sampling should be allowed for completion of the tests. Unless otherwise specified in the purchase order,
the cost of tests is typically borne as follows: If the results of the tests show that the brick does not conform to the requirements of this specification,
TABLE 1 Compressive Strengths of Units
Direction of Minimum Average of Five Individual Minimum, psi
Coring Tests, psi (MPa) (MPa)
Vertical 3 000 (20.7) 2 500 (17.2)
Horizontal 2 000 (13.8) 1 500 (10.3)
C126 − 22
TABLE 2 Size of Single-Faced Units
Specified Face Dimensions
Series
Specified Thickness, in. (mm)
Designation
Height, in. (mm) Length, in. (mm)
1 5 3 5 5 5
4S 2 ⁄4 (57.2) 7 ⁄8 (193.7) 1 ⁄4 , 3 ⁄8, 5 ⁄8, or 7 ⁄8 (44.5, 92.1, 142.9, or 193.7)
5 5 3 5 5 5
4W 7 ⁄8 (193.7) 7 ⁄8 (193.7) 1 ⁄4 , 3 ⁄8, 5 ⁄8, or 7 ⁄8 (44.5, 92.1, 142.9, or 193.7)
5 5 3 5 5 5
6P 3 ⁄8 (92.1) 11 ⁄8 (295.3) 1 ⁄4 , 3 ⁄8, 5 ⁄8, or 7 ⁄8 (44.5, 92.1, 142.9, or 193.7)
11 3 5 5 5
6T 5 (127) 11 ⁄16 (296.9) 1 ⁄4 , 3 ⁄8, 5 ⁄8, or 7 ⁄8 (44.5, 92.1, 142.9, or 193.7)
5 5 3 5 5 5
8W 7 ⁄8 (193.7) 15 ⁄8 (396.9) 1 ⁄4 , 3 ⁄8, 5 ⁄8, or 7 ⁄8 (44.5, 92.1, 142.9, or 193.7)
TABLE 3 Permissible Variations in Face Dimensions
NOTE 1—Permissible variations for units having specified dimensions
more than ⁄4 in. (6.4 mm) greater than shown in this table shall be the
same as for the next larger dimension.
Maximum Difference
Maximum Differ-
Specified Face Between Dimension
ence Between
Dimension, Return or of Any Unit and
Largest and Small-
Reveal (Height, the Specified Dimension
est Unit in One
Length), in. (mm) If Larger, If Smaller,
A
Lot, in. (mm)
in. (mm) in. (mm)
Grade S Units
1 3 3
6 (152.4) and Under ⁄16 (1.6) ⁄32 (2.4) ⁄32 (2.4)
1 1 5
Over 6 to 8 ⁄16 (1.6) ⁄8 (3.2) ⁄32 (4.0)
(152.4 to 203.2)
1 5 3
Over 8 to 16 ⁄16 (1.6) ⁄32 (4.0) ⁄16 (4.8)
(203.2 to 406.4)
Grade SS—Select Sized or Ground-Edge Units Only
1 1 1
Any dimension ⁄16 (1.6) ⁄16 (1.6) ⁄8 (3.2)
A
Size of lot shall be determined by agreement between the purchaser and the
seller.
TABLE 4 Permissible Variation in Bed Depth Dimensions
NOTE 1—Permissible variations for units having specified dimensions
more than ⁄4 in. (6.4 mm) greater than shown in this table shall be the
same as for the next larger dimension.
NOTE 2—Variation in the bed depth of individual units is controlled by
the limitations
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