ASTM C 32 : Standard Specification for Sewer and Manhole Brick

Standard Specification for
Sewer and Manhole Brick (Made From Clay or Shale)

This specification covers brick intended for use in (1)
drainage structures for the conveyance of sewage, industrial
wastes, and storm water, and (2) related structures such as
manholes and catch basins.

The property requirements of this standard apply at the
time of purchase. The use of results from testing of brick
extracted from masonry structures for determining conformance or non-conformance to the property requirements of this standard is beyond the scope of this standard.

Classification

Grades—Two grades of sewer brick are covered:

Grade SS—Brick intended for use in structures requiring low absorption and resistance to the action of sewage
carrying large quantities of abrasive material at velocities
exceeding 8 ft (2.4 m)/s.

Grade SM—Brick intended for use in structures requiring resistance to the action of sewage carrying abrasive
materials at velocities less than 8 ft (2.4 m)/s.

Grades—Two grades of manhole brick are covered:

Grade MS—Brick intended for use in manholes and
catch basins not requiring high degrees of abrasive resistance
but where a high and uniform degree of resistance to frost
action and disintegration is needed when the brick may be
frozen when permeated with water

Grade MM—Brick intended for use in manholes not
requiring high degrees of abrasive resistance but where a
moderate and nonuniform degree of resistance to frost action
and disintegration is needed when the brick may be permeated
with water

Physical Properties

Brick for sewer or drainage structures shall conform to
the physical properties for the specified Grades SS or SM as
established in Table 1

Brick for manholes, catch basins, and other related
structures shall conform to the physical properties for the
specified Grades MS or MM as established in Table 1.

Unless otherwise specified by the purchaser, brick of
Grade SS shall be accepted instead of Grade SM; also Grade
MS shall be accepted instead of Grade MM

 Dimensions and Permissible Variations

The size of the brick shall be specified by the purchaser,
selecting any of the standard sizes of building brick

For any lot of sewer brick furnished under this
specification, not more than 2 % of the brick shall vary from
the nominal size requirements specified in 6.1 by more than
61⁄8 in. (3 mm) in either transverse dimension, or by more
than 61⁄4 in. (6 mm) in length