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Class A Red Facing BricksSTAFFORDSHIRE RED

'Class A' facing bricks

Ketley are one of the very few manufacturers who can produce solid red facing bricks to a Class A specification.

Ketley Staffordshire red 'Class A' bricks are used in a broad variety of applications either due to their acid resistance and strength or for aesthetic and architectural purposes.  This means Ketley Staffordshire reds can be seen in commercial developments, landscaping, and for structural uses such as bridges and factory walls.

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Case Studies

3 New Bailey in Salford

New baileyNew bailey 1

Winner of 2022 Surface Design Award and designed by Make Architects, this is the UK's first  largescale building of interwoven brick.  Inspired by Salford’s textile heritage, the highly articulated red brick woven facades break up the orthogonal mass of this large new office building, home to the HMRC, creating depth, movement and interest.  For Full Details

Victoria Gate Arcade in Leeds

Winner of 2 2017 Brick Awards

panel of mixed red brick slips case studyVictoria

A blend of light and dark red Ketley brick slips have being used in conjunction with a range of bespoke Ketley Class A red bricks to create a stunning brick facade for the new Victoria Gate Arcade in Leeds.  The precast panels, both brick slips and special bricks were built by Thorp Precast.  For full details>>

CHELTENHAM FLOOD ALLEVIATION SCHEME

Cheltenhamfloodred csChelenhamt-flood-aleviation cs

During exceptionally wet weather the River Chelt used to break its banks and cause damage to properties in Cheltenham.   Much of the section through the town centre was in culverts beneath shops and business premises. To resolve this situation a flood alleviation scheme was developed where there was a requirement for a strong, dense brick with a very low water absorption, to ensure that it was not damaged by water-born flotsam and be resistant to frost attack. For this reason a class A brick was chosen and it was considered that a Red smoothfaced brick with Staffordshire Blue detailing work would give the project an attractive appearance. Ketley Brick were specified as being the only company to meet the high physical characteristics required in both colours.

Owen Street Underpass, Tipton

Owen-Street-Tipton casestudy 1Owen-Street-Tipton-casestudy

Sandwell Metrolitan Borough Council were keen to involve the local community in this project which was funded partly by the local Transport Plan and partly by Network Rail.    Birmingham City University architecture students were approached with a design competition to come up with a pictorial idea for the brick facing of the underpass.  The winning design was a typical local black-country historic industrial skyline, of heavy industry and canals, made in Staffordshire blue and Staffordshire red brick.  On one side of the road the red brick forms the buildings while the blue brick makes up the skyline.  On the other side of the road, this is reversed, to create the night time version where the blue brick forms the buildings and the red brick represents the industrial glow of the night sky.   The tunnel was opened in January 2010 by the regional minister for the West Midlands, Ian Austin.  He said, “I am very proud to see locally produced materials create such a great piece of design that thousands of people see everyday.”

Brierley Hill WW1 War Memorial

Old bricks at Dudley War MemorialKetley Red Special Bricks at Dudley War memorial

When Dudley Borough Council decided to replace the old retaining walls to the War Memorial in Brierley Hill, they were keen to use local materials and rebuild it exactly as it was designed.  Ketley were asked to take detailed measurements of the existing bricks in the old wall and to produce drawings from which purpose-made specials were then made up.  All the bricks and ornamental bricks within the wall are non standard 86mm and had to be specially made.  The images above show the old wall  and the new wall with the bespoke Ketley bricks.

Environmental

Place of Manufacture: Brierley Hill, UK
Environmental Management: 14001     Download Certificate
Quality Management : 9001                     Download Certificate 

Download the Ketley Quality and Environmental Policy

Life Cycle: BRE Global Certification in accordance with  EN 15804:2012  Download Certificate
Energy: Cured in gas fired kilns to 1130C
Raw materials: Etruria Marl Clay from our local quarry in Brierley Hill, sand
Lifespan:  Ketley's bricks are the toughest and most durable bricks you can buy.
Recyclability: Can be crushed and used as aggregate and/or as an inert bulk fill
Packaging: We keep packaging to a minimum using wooden pallets and we do not shrink wrap our brick packs.

Find out more about Ketley's approach to sustainability

Click for the Brick Development Association infographic on Sustainability of Brick 

See below the latest video about Sustainability of Brick from the Brick Development Association

Technical Specification

Staffordshire Red Brick Specification Sheet

Standard: BS EN 771-1: 2011

Keltey Staffordshire Red Bricks are produced at our works located in the heart of the Black Country.  Ketley Bricks have been made from our own Etruria Marl since Victorian times.  They are recognised as a Class A engineering brick of high quality with a strong aesthetic appeal.

Download Specification sheet as pdf.

Download Specification clause as a word doc

Download water absorption and compressive strength test report for solidsDownload water absorption and compressive strength report for perforated bricks

Download textured brickwork freeze thaw test report

Type: 

Facing Brick Class A Solid

Facing Brick Class A Perforated

Colour:

Staffordshire Red

Staffordshire Red

Structure:

Solid

Perforated
≤ 25% void with a mean of 19%

Texture:

Smooth

Smooth

Manufacture:

Extruded, wirecut

Extruded, wirecut

Dimensions:

215 x 102.5 x 65mm

215 x 102.5 x 65mm

 

215 x 102.5 x 73mm

215 x 102.5 x 73mm

 

Complies with dimensions and tolerances of BS EN 771-1: 2011

Complies with dimensions and tolerances of BS EN 771-1: 2011

Weight 65mm:

3.3kgs per brick
3.3 Tonnes per 1,000

2.45kgs per brick
2.45 Tonnes per 1,000

Weight 73mm:

3.8kgs per brick
3.8 Tonnes per 1,000

3kgs per brick
3 Tonnes per 1,000

No. per m2 65 mm (10mm joints):

60

60

No. per m2 73 mm (10mm joints):

53

53

Pack Size:

400

400

Packing: 

Banded for fork lift off-loading.

Banded for fork lift off-loading.

Weight per pack 65mm:

1320kg

980kg

Weight per pack 73mm:

1435kg

1200kg

Special Bricks

A complete range of Special Shapes to BS 4729 2005 is available.  We also undertake the manufacture of 'non-standard' specials to customers' specification as required.

A complete range of Special Shapes to BS 4729 2005 is available.  We also undertake the manufacture of 'non-standard' specials to
customers' specification as required.  (Note: some specials are only manufactured solid).

 

 

 

Compressive strength: 

≥ 125N/mm²

≥125N/mm²

Category:

II

II

Masonry Unit Group:

HD

HD

Engineering Grade:

A

A

Water absorption: 

≤4.5%

≤4.5%

Initial Rate of Water absorption: 

≤1.5Kg/m²/min

≤1.5Kg/m²/min

Thermal Conductivity: 

On Application

On Application

Bond Strength: 

0.15N/mm² (For general purpose and lightweight mortar)

0.15N/mm² (For general purpose and lightweight mortar)

Net Dry Density: 

2200 Kg/m³(Typically)

2200 Kg/m³(Typically)

Density Tolerance:

D1

D1

Soluble salt content: 

S2

S2

Durability: 

F2

F2

Fire Reaction: 

A1

A1

Dimensional Tolerance Mean:

T2

T2

Dimensional Tolerance Range:

R1

R1

Special Shaped Bricks

Special Shaped Bricks 

view the gallery

studio-shot-special-bricks1 250x263Because Special Shaped bricks are generally used in situations of severe exposure such as copings and cills, powerful resistance to water penetration and high durability has always been essential.

Ketley Bricks are generally solid and have stood the ultimate test, the test of time.  In the early part of the 20th Century their blue colour was regarded as the stamp of durability, nowadays their performance under crushing tests, water absorption and abrasion tests is evidence of this. 

The use of Ketley Specials to add a high quality finish to brickwork ensures extra durability and protection to vulnerable areas and will save time on-site by overcoming extensive hand cutting.

Download Special Shaped Brick Brochure  

or browse our range of specials online

Consistent natural colours

bluespecials1 250x164Our unique plant produces traditional natural Staffordshire clay colours for both the Paver and Brick ranges in Blue, Brown Brindle and Red.  Because our bricks, pavers and specials are fired together, our colours are consistent through the range.

Ketley Brick manufactures a wide range of special shaped bricks for a multitude of applications. 

Ketley will also manufacture specials from drawings supplied, allowing you to explore imaginative design options and decorative detail, confident that Ketley will be able to acurately match  requirements.  

Request Sample

Bricks Sample Request Form

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Please complete this form to let us know which samples you would like.  Due to the high courier cost in sending them out, we cannot supply them free of charge in all cases.

I'd like to receive the following brochures
Choose Samples. Unsure which brick size you want? 65mm are the standard UK size for buildings today, and 73mm bricks are used mainly for renovations
Please complete details of your project in the space below, together with quantities and timescales if possible. We may need to contact you prior to sending samples out to confirm your requirements, so please provide your day time contact details with your sample request. Please also note there is a substantial courier cost to send out samples and we cannot supply samples free of charge in all cases.
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