ASTM C1261-10

Standard Specification for Firebox Brick for Residential Fireplaces

ABSTRACT
This specification covers brick intended for use as the lining in the fireboxes of residential fireplaces. Firebox brick are manufactured from clay, fire clay, shale, or similar naturally occurring earthy substances and subjected to a heat treatment at elevated temperatures (firing). The heat treatment must develop a fired bond between the particulate constituents to provide the strength and durability requirements. Firebox brick shall be shaped during manufacture by molding, pressing, or extruding and cutting. Modulus of rupture test, pyrometric cone equivalent test, size test, and warpage test shall be performed to conform to the specified requirements.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers brick intended for use as the lining in the fireboxes of residential fireplaces.
1.2 Firebox brick are manufactured from clay, fire clay, shale, or similar naturally occurring earthy substances and subjected to a heat treatment at elevated temperatures (firing). The heat treatment must develop a fired bond between the particulate constituents to provide the strength and durability requirements of this specification (see Terminology C1232).
Note 1—Firebox brick are typically installed using ground fire clay mortar or refractory mortar. Mortar joints are typically 1/8 in. (3.2 mm) thick, just thick enough to accommodate dimensional variations in the firebox brick.  
1.3 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this specification.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Jul-2010
• ICS: 81.080 - Refractories
• Technical Committee: C15 - Manufactured Masonry Units
• Drafting Committee: C15.02 - Brick and Structural Clay Tile

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C1261-07 - Standard Specification for Firebox Brick for Residential Fireplaces
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2010
• Replaced By: ASTM C1261-13 - Standard Specification for Firebox Brick for Residential Fireplaces
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2013
• Referred By: ASTM C1232-21a - Standard Terminology for Masonry
• Effective Date: 01-Aug-2010

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:C1261 −10
StandardSpecification for
1
Firebox Brick for Residential Fireplaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1261; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* 4. Materials, Manufacture, and Finish
1.1 This specification covers brick intended for use as the 4.1 Clay, as it occurs in nature, differs in composition and
lining in the fireboxes of residential fireplaces. physical properties. These differences are compensated for by
varying the manufacture processes of forming and firing. In
1.2 Firebox brick are manufactured from clay, fire clay,
order to be satisfactory for firebox brick production, clays must
shale, or similar naturally occurring earthy substances and
have plasticity that permits them to be shaped or molded when
subjected to a heat treatment at elevated temperatures (firing).
mixed with water. Clays must also have sufficient tensile
The heat treatment must develop a fired bond between the
strength to maintain shape.
particulate constituents to provide the strength and durability
requirements of this specification (see Terminology C1232). 4.2 Firebox brick are shaped during manufacture by
molding,pressing,orextrudingandcutting.Fireboxbrickshall
NOTE 1—Firebox brick are typically installed using ground fire clay
be 100 % solid with no cores or frogs.
1
mortar or refractory mortar. Mortar joints are typically ⁄ in. (3.2 mm)
thick, just thick enough to accommodate dimensional variations in the
4.3 Firebox brick shall be free of defects, deficiencies, and
firebox brick.
surface treatments, including coatings, that would interfere
1.3 The text of this specification references notes and
with the proper setting of the brick or significantly impair the
footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and
strength or performance of the construction.
footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be
5. Physical Properties
considered as requirements of this specification.
5.1 Modulus of Rupture—Residential firebox brick shall
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
have a minimum modulus of rupture of 500 psi (3.45 MPa).
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
5.2 Pyrometric Cone Equivalent (PCE)—Fireboxbrickshall
and are not considered standard.
have a minimum pyrometric cone equivalent (PCE) of 13.
6. Size and Tolerances
2. Referenced Documents
2
6.1 Size—The size of the firebox brick shall be as specified
2.1 ASTM Standards:
by the purchaser. In the sample of units, no firebox brick shall
C24 Test Method for Pyrometric Cone Equivalent (PCE) of
depart from the specified size by more than the maximum
Fireclay and High Alumina Refractory Materials
permissible variation given in Table 1.
C67 Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and
Structural Clay Tile
6.2 Warpage—Tolerances for warpage of face or edges of
C1232 Terminology of Masonry
individual brick from a plane surface and from a straight line,
respectively, shall not exceed the maximum permissible war-
3. Terminology
page given in Table 1.
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms relating to this
6.3 Visual Inspection—The brick, as delivered to the site,
specification, see Terminology C1232.
shall conform by visual inspection to the samples approved as
the standard of comparison. Minor indentations or surface
cracks incidental to the usual method of manufacturing or the
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C15 on
chippage resulting from the customary methods of handling in
Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
C15.02 on Brick and Structural Clay Tile.
shipments and delivery shall not be deemed grounds for
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2010. Published September 2010. Originally
rejection.
approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 2007 as C1261 – 07. DOI:
10.1520/C1261-10.
6.4 Variation of Appearance Requirements—When units are
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
required for decorative installations that have appearance
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
requirements, that is, size variation, warpage, or chippage,
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website. other than those prescribed by this specification, the purchaser
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:C1261–07 Designation: C1261 – 10
Standard Specification for
1
Firebox Brick for Residential Fireplaces
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1261; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope*
1.1 This specification covers brick intended for use as the lining in the fireboxes of residential fireplaces.
1.2 Firebox brick are manufactured from clay, fire clay, shale, or similar naturally occurring earthy substances and subjected to
aheattreatmentatelevatedtemperatures(firing).Theheattreatmentmustdevelopafiredbondbetweentheparticulateconstituents
to provide the strength and durability requirements of this specification (see Terminology C1232).
1
NOTE 1—Firebox brick are typically installed using ground fire clay mortar or refractory mortar. Mortar joints are typically ⁄8 in. (3.2 mm) thick, just
thick enough to accommodate dimensional variations in the firebox brick.
1.3The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only.
1.4The text of this specification references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this specification.
1.3 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes that provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of this specification.
1.4 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C24 Test Method for Pyrometric Cone Equivalent (PCE) of Fireclay and HighAlumina Refractory Materials C43Terminology
of Structural
Clay Prod-
ucts
C67 Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and Structural Clay Tile Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Brick and
Structural Clay Tile
C1232 Terminology of Masonry
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—For definitions of terms relating to this specification, see Terminology C43C1232.
4. Materials, Manufacture, and Finish
4.1 Clay,asitoccursinnature,differsincompositionandphysicalproperties.Thesedifferencesarecompensatedforbyvarying
the manufacture processes of forming and firing. In order to be satisfactory for firebox brick production, clays must have plasticity
that permits them to be shaped or molded when mixed with water. Clays must also have sufficient tensile strength to maintain
shape.
4.2 Firebox brick are shaped during manufacture by molding, pressing, or extruding and cutting. Firebox brick shall be 100 %
solid with no cores or frogs.
4.3 Firebox brick shall be free of defects, deficiencies, and surface treatments, including coatings, that would interfere with the
proper setting of the brick or significantly impair the strength or performance of the construction.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee C15 on Manufactured Masonry Units and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C15.02 on Brick
and Structural Clay Tile.
Current edition approved JuneAug. 1, 2007.2010. Published June 2007.September 2010. Originally approved in 1994. Last previous edition approved in 20052007 as
C1261 – 057. DOI: 10.1520/C1261-107.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
*ASummary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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C1261 – 10
5. Physical Properties
5.1 Modulus of Rupture—Residential firebox brick shall have a minimum modulus of rupture of 500 psi (3.45 MPa).
5.2 Pyrometric Cone Equivalent (PCE)—Firebox brick shall have a minimum pyrometric cone equivalent (PCE) of 13.
6. Size and Tolerances
6.1 Size—Thesizeofthefireboxbrickshallbeasspecifiedbythepurchaser.Inthesampleofunits,nofireboxbrickshalldepart
from the specified size by more than the maximum permissib
...