SolidBrick
The primal element of architecture. A clay block fired at high temperatures (900-1000°C), without perforations. It offers exceptional thermal inertia, high compressive load-bearing capacity and a natural hygrometric regulation that has guaranteed the survival of millennial buildings.
Block masonry section. Daytime heat is sequestered by the mass of the baked clay and released slowly during the night, passively air-conditioning the environment.
From the Colosseum to Victorian kilns, the solid clay brick is the backbone of pre-modern architecture. Composed solely of clay, water, and fire, it blends formidable structural resistance with thermodynamic behavior that modern buildings still try to replicate.
Production begins with selected clays fired in tunnel kilns at 900-1000°C. Partial vitrification of silicates creates unscratchable ceramic bonds, while iron oxidation gives the brick its iconic reddish color.
Although solid brick is not an effective winter insulator, its density gives it excellent thermal capacity. It acts like a battery: absorbing energy slowly during the day, releasing it at night (phase shift > 12 hours), while its microporous matrix regulates indoor humidity.
Standards
European and international references applicable.
Physical properties
Usage environment
Solid brick is totally ecological at end of life. Rubble is crushed to produce Cocciopesto, the historic hydraulic aggregate used for waterproof mortars and highly prized breathable plasters.
Documented applications
TAV. DLoad-bearing Masonry
Massive crossed perimeter walls historically used in seismic areas for high monolithicity.
Exposed Brick Facades
External cladding where the brick is not plastered, exposing textures, sandblasting and fired colors.
Arches and Vaults
Exploitation of compressive strength in self-supporting curved structures (barrel vaults, groin vaults).
Outdoor Paving
Herringbone or knife-edge laying for historic frost-resistant courtyards, squares and sidewalks.
Internal Areal Heat Capacity (kJ/m²K)
TAV. EUnlike dry systems that heat up and cool down instantly, a solid brick wall stabilizes room temperature. Winter heating takes hours to fade, and in summer the house remains cool until late evening.
Reference regulations
6 norms- Circolare n. 7/2019The NTC Circular 2019: instructions for applying the Technical StandardsIn force
- D.M. 16/02/2007Fire-resistance classification of construction products and elementsIn force
- D.M. 17/01/2018Technical Standards for Construction (NTC 2018)In force
- D.M. 58/2017D.M. 58/2017: the Sismabonus and the seismic-risk classesIn force
- Eurocodici (EN 1990–1999)The Eurocodes: the European language of structural designIn force
- UNI EN 13501-2:2016Fire classification of construction products and building elements - Part 2: Classification using data from fire resistance tests, excluding ventilation servicesIn force
Informational links to the regulatory framework. Always verify the current text on the official source.
Operational documents from this sheet
Specification clauses, site checklists and compliance dossiers generated from the graph — and kept in sync when a cited norm changes. Join the waiting list.
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