On the issue of requirements and tests for ceramic bricks frost resistance

In last years, manufacturers and builders have been paying increasing attention to the ceramic bricks frost resistance, especially front ones. In most cases, this is due to the bricks destruction in the masonry, when responsibility is placed on the brick, since it is in plain sight. This often leads to long-term disputes in search of a culprit, although there may be many reasons for the bricks destruction in the masonry. These are salt corrosion under certain conditions, violations of building norms and regulations during buildings construction, various temperature deformations, etc. Currently, the situation when bricks are tested according to the GOST 530–2012 requirements are frost-resistant, but destroyed in the masonry, has become quite common. Increasingly questions on changing the bricks frost resistance testing methods are being raised. However in order to effectively protect ceramic brick manufacturers from unreasonable claims, fundamental issues must be resolved. Firstly, among the brickmakers” there is uncertainty and constant substitution of concepts between the frost resistance of ceramics as a material and bricks as a product. In this regard GOST 530–2012 makes no distinction (Appendix B). Secondly, there are common uncertainties for wall products (rock products, concrete wall stones) when the products are operated under the same conditions, but the requirements and testing methods differ. Thirdly, taking into account the significantly increased requirements for frost resistance, the development of accelerated frost resistance testing methods is an urgent issue. Fourthly, the issue of the possibility and legality of bricks taken from the masonry testing remains unresolved. There are also other issues that need to be addressed. The authors have identified the existing uncertainties and contradictions on the above issues and propose solutions to them.