When designing masonry buildings, the designer should set out the masonry units to full or half brick lengths where possible. This will avoid unsightly and unnecessary cutting of bricks on site. The bricks will be properly bonded if they are designed using co-ordinated dimensions.

The following illustration demonstrates the difference between using the correct co-ordinating, and using an uncoordinated approach.

The image above shows how when not co-ordinated correctly you can be left with cut bricks, and poorly finished openings. All the blue bricks in the example above represent bricks that are neither whole or half bricks and would have to be cut to size on site.

The above image shows co-ordinated brick sizing to ensure all openings align to 1 or 1/2 brick size.

Often in early design stages, brick dimensions are not considered, leaving the complete external envelope needing to be re-adjusted or re-drawn at detailed design stage. If the brick dimensions are considered at early stages, it can save time and money!

How to use brickwork dimension tables

There are different co-ordination factors depending on the wall configuration you are designing.

CO+

This is the co-ordinated size plus a joint on each side. So, this is the brick height or length, plus 2 joints.

CO

This is the co-ordinated size plus one joint. So, the brick height or length, plus 1 joint.

CO-

This is the co-ordinated size with no joints. So, the brick height or length.

Once you have decided which co-ordintiaton factor you need to use, you find the required dimension, and read off the related number of bricks.

All brickwork dimensions in the table are determined by one of three options that relate to specific wall configurations.

CO+

CO

CO-

Brickwork Width Dimensions Table

 

Vertical brickwork course and dimension table

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