Flexible & Rigid Paving Guide

Clay pavers have a long and illustrious record of creating attractive and durable pavements in a wide variety of applications including paths, pedestrian areas, driveways, patios and recreation areas.

This manual is intended to provide guidance for clay pavers only, for the design and construction of flexible and rigid clay pavements. If your project uses concrete pavers, you should refer to the Concrete Manufacturers Association (CMA) of South Africa.

Content

  1. Definitions
  2. Specifying clay pavers
  3. Flexible pavements
  4. Rigid Pavements
  5. Maintenance

Benefits of Clay Paving

The timeless, earthy look and inherent durability that has seen clay brick pavers withstand centuries of use are some of the primary reasons the product is constantly chosen for outdoor construction. However, these are just some of the numerous benefits of the environmentally sustainable product.

“Because every paver is sourced from age-old deposits, they each exude an appealing earthy nature that is both aesthetically pleasing while also creating an extremely strong product, able to withstand high levels of loading,” explains CBA Chairman, Musa Shangase. “Clay brick pavers also comes in a wide palette of colours and textures which are suited to a broad spectrum of tastes and lifestyles.”

Clay pavers are renowned for their colour integrity which comes from natural pigmentation as opposed to an artificial additive. They retain the original colour without being affected by any form of ultraviolet light, creating an unmatched richness and warmth for any paved area.

The shape of each paver has a natural, textured character which not only blends into any environment with ease, but also creates a pedestrian-friendly, non-slip surface through its abrasive characteristics.

“The skid-resistant features of clay brick pavers have proven increasingly popular with many governmental departments selecting it for construction in schools and hospitals,” explained Shangase. “It provides an excellent solution for any heavily trafficked areas that could become wet, such as pathways or even swimming pools.”

The installation of clay brick paving is a relatively quick and easy laying process and, once laid, the pavers can be used immediately. This means that paving can be left until last, taking pressure off contractors when time is of the essence. In addition, the natural characteristics mean that clay brick pavers will adjust to accommodate to the movement of any underlying earth materials, preventing cracks.

The durability of clay pavers means replacement is generally unnecessary, however, if there is any damage to a paver, they are easily replaced. It is simply a matter of removing the damaged paver and replacing it with a new one, thereby decreasing any future maintenance costs. They also do not need any expensive year-on-year upkeep procedures.

thinkbrick.pngAcknowledgements

Published in association with: www.thinkbrick.com.au Neither the Clay Brick Association of South Africa nor Think Brick Australia can accept any liability whatsoever regarding the contents of this publication. While the contents of this publication are believed to be accurate and complete, the information given is intended for general guidance and does not replace the services of professional advisers on specific projects.

First published September 2016

The Standards referenced in this manual were current at the time of publication.

The Clay Brick Association of South Africa is proud to bring you the completely revised and revamped version of its well-received Clay Brick Technical Guide. The publication has not only undergone a full visual overhaul with a new look and feel and completely new illustrations, it has also undergone a complete revision of all its technical content.

With the complete revision of the SABS and its SANS codes, which included the new SANS 10400, we as the CBA felt it time to bring our technical guide up to speed with the new standards and in turn ensure it is the most up to date publication in regarding best practices for masonry walling. Taking a lot of its cues from SANS 10400 – Part K, the publication covers the need to know aspects of clay masonry from manufacture of clay units to accommodation of movement and standards for structural masonry, all in the pages of this handy guide.

One of the corner stones (no pun intended) of the Clay Brick Association is to preserve and uphold technical excellence within the clay brick industry, whether it be through the numerous technical projects we are involved in and promoting or through producing technical publications such as this.

Upholding the great name of clay brick as one of the earth’s most sound and versatile building materials will always remain our passion.

We have also included three new chapters on sustainability, energy efficiency standards, thermal comfort and the role clay brick has to play in complying within the eco space. Whether you are and experienced clay mason, brick manufacturer or trainer, this publication offers invaluable professional insight into clay masonry.

  1. CLAY BRICK MANUFACTURE
  2. KNOW YOUR CLAY BRICKS
  3. PRODUCT SPECIFICATION AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

Overall Dimensions and Tolerances
Warpage and Tolerance
Brick Strength
Efflorescence
Irreversible Moisture Expansion
Other Properties
Durability: Selection Criteria
Initial Rate of Absorption
Fire Resistance
Acoustic Insulation
Thermal Properties

  1. ACCOMMODATION OF MOVEMENT

Overall Movement
Thermal Movement
Irreversible Moisture Expansion Movement
Moisture Content Movement
Movement in Adjoining Structures
Provision of Control Joints

  1. 5. STRUCTURAL MASONRY WITH CLAY BRICK

Structural Design Requirements
Empirical Design
Building Limitations
Strength Requirements for Masonry Units and Mortar
Dimensions of Masonry Walls in Buildings
Empirical Rules for Foundations
Foundation Preparation
Minimum Width of Strip Foundations in Single Storey Structures
Compaction
Minimum Thickness of Foundation Walls
Free-standing Walls
Retaining wails
Rain Penetration Requirements
Mortar
Mix Proportions
Cement
Lime
Sand
Mortar Plasticisers
Pigments
Ready-mixed Mortar

  1. CLEANING OF CLAY BRICKWORK

General Precautions
Preparation
Mortar and Mortar Smear
Lime and Lime Bloom
Vanadium
Efflorescence
Lichens and Mosses
Running Water
Various Oils
Paint
Rust or Iron
Manganese
Timber
Smoke and Soot
Tar
Large Projects – Multi-storeyed Buildings

  1. CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
  2. SUSTAINABILITY AND RELEVANCE OF CARBON EMISSIONS

Concepts of Sustainability
Greenhouse Gases
Carbon Footprint
Life Cycle Assessment/s
National Emission Reduction Programme/s
Green Building Rating System/s
Green Product Labelling System/s
Environmental Product Declarations
Conclusions; The impact of the above issues on the Clay Brick Industry

  1. THERMAL EFFICIENCY & COMFORT ACHIEVED WITH MASONRY WALLING

Human Comfort & Adaptive Theory
Benefits of Providing Comfort in Buildings
Building Human Comfort into Building Designs
Passive Design Strategies for the various RSA Climates
Thermal Resistance (R-value)
Thermal Mass or Thermal Capacitance

  1. COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATIONS & STANDARDS

Introduction
Amended Regulations
SANS 10400XA Satisfies the Regulations
Guidance and Comments as the choice of Compliance Routes
Compliance with Regulation & Standards for masonry walling in South Africa
CR-value Applications