Brick Slips and Brick Panels

Question 1

What is a brick slip and what problems are associated with their use?

Answer 1

• A brick slip is a thin layer of brick that is use aesthetically as opposed to structurally.
• Often used in the 1950’s – 1970’s to conceal the exposed edges of concrete frame buildings.
• Brick slips can become detached from a building and cause a safety hazard.

Question 2

What causes brick slips to detach?

Answer 2

• Poor adhesion due to variation in the thickness of the bedding materials.
• Poor adhesion due to contamination by brick dust or mould oil of the reverse face of the brick slips or surface of the concrete frame.
• Lack of mechanical fixings whereby plane of weakness can develop between mortar and concrete frame.
• Movement within the concrete frame, particularly shrinkage, places stress and strain on the brick slips leading to bulging and detachment.

Question 3

How can you remedy brick slip detachment?

Answer 3

• Remove all bowing and bulging brick slips.
• Ensure movement joints are provided above and below the course of brick slips.
• Ensure mechanical fixings such as stainless steel clips are used as opposed to bedding mortar.
• Modern methods are brick slips manufacture and installation are available whereby the brick slips are pressed onto a panel of rigid foam insulation with nibs.

Question 4

What are brick panels and what problems are associated with their use?

Answer 4

• Brick-faced panels which were often used in the 1950’s – 1970’s to infill areas in between the concrete frame.
• Bulging, distortion and detachment of brick-facing can occur and cause a safety hazard.

Question 5

What causes the defects within the brick panels?

Answer 5

• Expansion of the brickwork combined contraction of the concrete frame lead to distortion, bowing and detachment of brickwork.