Masonry units — clay bricks, calcium silicate bricks, concrete bricks and blocks — carry load and form the building envelope. Dimensions, density, water absorption and compressive strength are the properties that set the class of the unit and determine how it will behave in the wall.
Compressive strength is the primary parameter for structural design. Water absorption relates to frost resistance and to the bond the unit forms with the mortar, while dimensional tolerance directly affects joint thickness and the quality of the masonry.
These tests can also be carried out on site, on units taken from the delivered consignment. For tests on masonry mortar, see our Mortar Testing page.
The masonry unit tests below are those our laboratory is accredited for under ISO/IEC 17025, certificate LT 069:
- Determination of dimensions — 0.1÷500 mm — BS EN 772-16:2011
- Gross, net and apparent density — 500÷2500 kg/m³ — BS EN 772-13:2000
- Water absorption — 0.1÷30 % — BS EN 772-21:2011
- Compressive strength — 1÷88 MPa — BS EN 772-1:2011+A1:2015
Please contact us for further details
Accreditation
Independently verified competence
Our laboratory is accredited by the General Directorate of Accreditation (DPA) of the Republic of Albania to S SH ISO/IEC 17025:2017, “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”.
ISO/IEC170252017
Testing Laboratory
Registration number LT 069. Granted 08.06.2025 and valid until 07.06.2029. The certificate is issued together with its accredited scope.
View certificate (PDF)
ISO/IEC170252017
Calibration Laboratory
Registration number LK 005. Granted 06.08.2025 and valid until 05.08.2029. The certificate is issued together with its accredited scope.
View certificate (PDF)
DPA is a signatory of the EA MLA and the ILAC MRA for testing.
