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ITI/NCVT Mason Building Constructor (AITT Theory) study materials
ITI/NCVT Mason Building Constructor (AITT Theory) study resources

ITI/NCVT Mason Building Constructor (AITT Theory) practice questions

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Question 1Trade Safety, Health and Environment

On a building construction site, which piece of personal protective equipment is mandatory for every worker entering the active work area, regardless of the task being performed?

  1. Full-body fall-arrest harness
  2. Industrial safety helmet Correct answer.
  3. Welding face shield
  4. Respirator with chemical cartridge

Explanation

A safety helmet is the baseline head protection required for all personnel in an active construction zone because of the constant risk of falling objects, knocks and head impact. The other items are task-specific and are worn only when the particular hazard (welding, airborne contaminants, work at height) is present.

Question 2Trade Safety, Health and Environment

A mason must cut and lay concrete blocks. Which combination best describes correct eye protection for this task?

  1. Sunglasses to reduce glare from sunlight
  2. Ordinary prescription spectacles without side shields
  3. A cloth tied over the face
  4. Safety goggles with side protection worn throughout cutting and chipping Correct answer.

Explanation

Chipping, cutting and dressing concrete blocks throw high-speed fragments and dust, so impact-rated safety goggles with side protection must be worn for the whole operation. Sunglasses and ordinary spectacles are not impact rated and leave the sides of the eye exposed, and a cloth offers no resistance to flying chips.

Question 3Trade Safety, Health and Environment

What is the correct way to store and handle a bag of cement on a construction site to control health hazards?

  1. Stack bags in the open so rain can settle the dust
  2. Keep bags in a dry, ventilated store and handle them so dust generation is minimised Correct answer.
  3. Open bags by tearing them sharply to speed up the pour
  4. Store bags in the site canteen to keep them warm

Explanation

Cement dust is a respiratory and skin irritant and wet cement is alkaline and can cause burns, so bags must be kept dry and ventilated and handled gently to limit airborne dust. Tearing bags sharply or leaving them exposed increases dust release and product loss, and cement must never be stored where food is prepared.

Question 4Trade Safety, Health and Environment

Before any excavation for a foundation is dug by hand, what is the most important preliminary safety action?

  1. Confirm the locations of buried services and set up barricades and access control Correct answer.
  2. Place the spoil heap directly at the edge of the trench
  3. Ask the newest worker to test the soil by digging a trial pit
  4. Wet the ground to keep the dust down

Explanation

The critical first step is to establish that no underground electricity cables, gas or water mains lie in the digging zone, and to isolate the excavation with barriers and controlled access. Spoil placed at the trench edge adds surcharge load that promotes collapse, and trial digging by an untrained worker is not a safe method of locating services.

Question 5Trade Safety, Health and Environment

Why must a wooden handle of a mason's hammer or trowel be inspected before use?

  1. To confirm the handle has been painted recently
  2. To check the colour of the timber
  3. To detect cracks, splits or a loose head that could cause the tool to fly off Correct answer.
  4. To make sure the handle is the same length as others on site

Explanation

A cracked, split or loose handle can fail under impact and send the steel head flying, causing serious injury. Handles should be sound, tightly wedged and free of splinters, and defective tools must be withdrawn from service rather than used.

Question 6Trade Safety, Health and Environment

A mason is required to work on a scaffold platform 3 m above a concrete slab. Which measure meets the fall-protection requirement?

  1. Rely on balance and keep both hands free
  2. Stack blocks on the platform edge to use as a step
  3. Use a complete guardrail system with toe boards, or a fall-arrest harness anchored to a suitable point Correct answer.
  4. Stand on the scaffold guardrail to reach the higher course

Explanation

At 3 m the fall is clearly liable to cause serious injury, so either a full guardrail system with toe boards or a properly anchored personal fall-arrest system must be provided. Climbing on guardrails or stacked materials defeats the protection and is a common cause of scaffold falls.

Question 7Trade Safety, Health and Environment

During mixing of mortar, a worker complains of dizziness and headache in a confined basement area where a fuel-powered mixer is running. What is the most likely cause and the correct response?

  1. Cement dust allergy; issue a dust mask and continue
  2. Carbon monoxide build-up from engine exhaust; stop the engine, ventilate and move the worker to fresh air Correct answer.
  3. Low humidity; increase the water in the mix
  4. Heat exhaustion; give the worker a cold drink and continue

Explanation

Petrol or diesel engines running in an enclosed space produce carbon monoxide, which causes headache, dizziness and can be fatal. The correct response is to shut down the engine, ventilate the space and get the affected person to fresh air, seeking medical help if symptoms persist.

Question 8Trade Safety, Health and Environment

What is the primary purpose of a toe board on a working platform?

  1. To mark the maximum load the platform can carry
  2. To give workers a footrest while laying blocks
  3. To prevent tools, materials and debris from being kicked off the platform onto people below Correct answer.
  4. To stiffen the scaffold standards

Explanation

Toe boards close the gap at platform level so that loose objects cannot be kicked or swept off the edge and strike workers below. They are part of the edge-protection system, not a structural stiffener, footrest or load-limit indicator.

Question 9Trade Safety, Health and Environment

A worker is about to mix and place concrete using bare hands. Which control most directly prevents cement burns and dermatitis?

  1. Working faster so the concrete does not stay on the skin
  2. Rubbing barrier cream on and continuing with bare hands
  3. Wearing cotton gloves that soak up the wet mix
  4. Wearing waterproof gloves and long sleeves, and washing skin promptly after contact Correct answer.

Explanation

Wet cement is strongly alkaline and abrasive, so waterproof gloves and covered skin plus prompt washing are the direct controls against chemical burns and dermatitis. Cotton gloves absorb the alkaline slurry and hold it against the skin, and barrier cream alone is not a substitute for gloves.

Question 10Trade Safety, Health and Environment

Which statement correctly describes the safe method for erecting a masonry wall alongside a public footpath?

  1. Erect a suitable barrier or covered walkway to protect the public from falling materials Correct answer.
  2. Post a warning sign and allow pedestrians to pass close to the wall
  3. Ask pedestrians to look up as they pass
  4. Work only at night when fewer people are about

Explanation

Where masonry work overhangs or adjoins a public route, the public must be physically separated from falling objects by a suitable barrier, fan or covered walkway. Signs alone do not stop a falling brick, and changing the working hours does not remove the hazard.

Question 11Trade Safety, Health and Environment

A mason needs to break out a section of hardened concrete floor using a hand-held power breaker. Which control is the most important for limiting vibration injury?

  1. Wearing two pairs of cotton gloves
  2. Gripping the tool more tightly to reduce kickback
  3. Selecting low-vibration equipment and limiting trigger time with regular breaks Correct answer.
  4. Working continuously to finish the job quickly

Explanation

Hand-arm vibration syndrome is prevented mainly by choosing low-vibration tools and controlling exposure time through trigger-time limits and rest breaks. Gripping harder or working without pause increases exposure, and cotton gloves do not attenuate vibration reaching the hand.

Question 12Trade Safety, Health and Environment

What does a green safety sign with a white symbol, such as one showing a first-aid cross, indicate on a construction site?

  1. A safe condition such as a first-aid point or emergency exit Correct answer.
  2. A mandatory action that must be carried out
  3. A warning of a specific hazard such as electricity
  4. A prohibition that must not be done

Explanation

Under the standard safety-sign colour code, green denotes a safe condition or the location of safety equipment such as first-aid posts, escape routes and emergency showers. Blue is used for mandatory actions, red for prohibition and fire equipment, and yellow for warnings.

Question 13Trade Safety, Health and Environment

A brick pallet is to be lifted by crane to an upper floor. Which practice is correct?

  1. Loop a single rope around the pallet and lift slowly
  2. Allow workers to steady the load by hand while it is in the air
  3. Use a properly rated pallet or cage with edge restraints and a tested sling, keeping people clear of the lift path Correct answer.
  4. Cut the pallet strapping before the load leaves the ground

Explanation

Loose bricks must be carried in a rated pallet or cage with edge restraints so they cannot fall, using tested slings and keeping everyone out from under the lift path. A single rope does not secure a brick stack, and steadying or releasing a suspended load by hand exposes workers to crushing injuries.

Question 14Trade Safety, Health and Environment

A worker collapses inside a deep trench and appears unresponsive. Which action sequence is correct?

  1. Raise the alarm, secure the area against further collapse and call for rescue with proper equipment before entering Correct answer.
  2. Jump in immediately and pull the worker out
  3. Send one worker in while others continue bricklaying
  4. Ask the worker to climb out before calling for help

Explanation

Trench collapse and hazardous atmospheres are common causes of unconsciousness in excavations, and an untrained rescuer entering the trench often becomes a second casualty. The correct sequence is to raise the alarm, prevent further collapse or entry, and use proper rescue equipment and trained rescuers.

Question 15Trade Safety, Health and Environment

A task requires a mason to use a powered cut-off saw to cut paving slabs in an enclosed courtyard. Which combination of controls best reflects the hierarchy of control?

  1. Use wet suppression or on-tool extraction first, then suitable respiratory protection and restricted access Correct answer.
  2. Ask workers to hold their breath during the cut
  3. Open all doors and rely on natural ventilation only
  4. Rely on a dust mask alone and proceed

Explanation

The hierarchy of control requires eliminating or reducing the hazard at source before relying on PPE, so wet suppression or on-tool dust extraction comes first, backed by suitable respiratory protection and exclusion of others. A mask alone is the last line of defence and does not control the dust cloud in the courtyard.

Question 16Trade Safety, Health and Environment

A site stores fuel for a small generator. Which arrangement best satisfies fire-safety requirements for this store?

  1. Pour spilled fuel onto the ground so it evaporates
  2. Store the fuel under the site office desk
  3. Keep fuel in an open drum next to the generator for quick refuelling
  4. Store fuel in a suitable closed container in a designated, ventilated area away from ignition sources, with fire-fighting equipment nearby Correct answer.

Explanation

Flammable liquids must be held in suitable closed containers in a designated, ventilated store separated from ignition sources, with appropriate fire-fighting equipment and no smoking controls. Open drums, indoor storage near occupied spaces and deliberate spillage all create an unacceptable risk of fire or environmental contamination.

Question 17Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which IS masonry mortar grade is specified for general load-bearing brickwork in ordinary building construction as per IS 2250?

  1. M2 (1:2:9 cement-lime-sand)
  2. M3 (1:3:12 cement-lime-sand)
  3. M1 (1:1:6 cement-lime-sand) Correct answer.
  4. M4 (1:4:16 cement-lime-sand)

Explanation

IS 2250 classifies masonry mortars by mix proportion; M1 with a 1:1:6 cement-lime-sand ratio gives the strength and durability expected of general load-bearing brickwork. The leaner M2, M3 and M4 mixes are reserved for lighter or non-structural applications where lower strength is acceptable.

Question 18Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

A mason needs a trowel for spreading and buttering mortar on brick faces during laying. Which tool is designed for this task?

  1. Club hammer
  2. Brick trowel Correct answer.
  3. Plumb bob
  4. Spirit level

Explanation

The brick trowel has a flat, pointed steel blade with a handle, letting the mason pick up, spread and tap mortar onto bed and head joints. A club hammer breaks bricks, a spirit level checks level, and a plumb bob checks verticality, so none of these performs the spreading function.

Question 19Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which cement is most suitable for masonry work exposed to sulphate-bearing soils and groundwater?

  1. Rapid-hardening Portland cement
  2. Sulphate-resisting Portland cement Correct answer.
  3. White Portland cement
  4. Ordinary Portland cement 33 grade

Explanation

Sulphate-resisting Portland cement limits the tricalcium aluminate content, which is the compound that reacts with sulphates and causes expansion and cracking. It is therefore specified for foundations and masonry in sulphate-laden soil or water. Ordinary, white and rapid-hardening cements lack this resistance.

Question 20Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

A sample of sand for masonry mortar is tested for bulking. Why must bulking be accounted for when measuring sand by volume?

  1. Dry sand compacts and occupies more volume than damp sand
  2. Moisture films push grains apart, increasing apparent volume and reducing the actual sand content in the mix Correct answer.
  3. Bulking increases the cement content required for the same strength
  4. Bulking decreases the water demand of the mortar

Explanation

Surface moisture films separate the grains, so damp sand occupies a larger loose volume than dry sand of the same mass. If the mason measures volume without correcting for bulking, the mortar receives less sand than intended and becomes over-rich and shrink-prone. Bulking is a volume effect caused by moisture, not a change in water demand or cement requirement.

Question 21Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which test is used to determine the consistency of freshly mixed mortar on site?

  1. Slump test on a standard cone
  2. Flow table test Correct answer.
  3. Sieve analysis of sand
  4. Compressive strength test on cubes

Explanation

The flow table test measures the spread of a mortar sample subjected to standard jolting, giving a flow value that indicates workability and consistency. Slump is a concrete test, cube crushing measures hardened strength, and sieve analysis characterises aggregate grading rather than fresh consistency.

Question 22Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

A mason is laying first-class brickwork and must check that each course is truly horizontal over a 3 m wall. Which equipment is most appropriate?

  1. A 600 mm mason's level held on each brick
  2. A plumb bob
  3. A try square
  4. A dumpy level with staff Correct answer.

Explanation

A dumpy level with a staff establishes a horizontal datum over long distances and reveals cumulative error across many courses. A short level checks only local horizontality, a plumb bob checks verticality, and a try square checks right angles on a small scale.

Question 23Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which property of good building stone is assessed by the water absorption test?

  1. Crushing strength
  2. Porosity and likely durability Correct answer.
  3. Fire resistance
  4. Tensile strength

Explanation

Water absorption indicates the pore volume of stone; higher absorption suggests greater porosity and greater susceptibility to frost action and decay. It is an indirect indicator of durability rather than a direct measure of strength or fire resistance.

Question 24Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

For a load-bearing wall, which bond provides the greatest longitudinal strength and is commonly used for thick walls?

  1. English bond Correct answer.
  2. Stretcher bond
  3. Flemish bond
  4. Header bond

Explanation

English bond alternates full courses of stretchers and headers, so no continuous vertical joint runs through the wall thickness, giving high longitudinal and transverse strength. It is therefore preferred for thick load-bearing walls. Stretcher bond is a half-brick facing bond, Flemish bond is decorative, and header bond is used mainly for curved work.

Question 25Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which defect in bricks is caused by soluble salts crystallising near the surface after wetting and drying cycles?

  1. Cracking due to shrinkage
  2. Lime blowing
  3. Warping
  4. Efflorescence Correct answer.

Explanation

Efflorescence is the whitish deposit left when soluble salts migrate to the surface in solution and crystallise as water evaporates. Lime blowing involves unslaked lime particles expanding inside the brick, while warping and shrinkage cracking arise during manufacture.

Question 26Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

A 230 mm thick brick wall in a cement-sand mortar is being built. Which mortar mix is commonly adopted for this general masonry work?

  1. Pure lime mortar
  2. 1:2 cement-sand
  3. 1:6 cement-sand Correct answer.
  4. 1:10 cement-sand

Explanation

A 1:6 cement-sand mix is the usual specification for general brick masonry, balancing strength, workability and economy. A 1:2 mix is excessively rich and shrink-prone, 1:10 is too lean for structural work, and pure lime mortar has low strength and slow hardening.

Question 27Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which type of mortar is made by mixing cement, sand and lime with water and offers improved workability and water retention?

  1. Mud mortar
  2. Cement mortar
  3. Lime mortar
  4. Composite (gauged) mortar Correct answer.

Explanation

Composite or gauged mortar combines cement for strength with lime for plasticity and water retention, giving a workable mix that resists premature drying. Cement mortar alone is harsh, lime mortar alone is weak, and mud mortar is a traditional low-grade material.

Question 28Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

During a masonry project the mason must cut a large number of bricks to a consistent half-brick size. Which tool gives the most accurate repetitive cut?

  1. Brick bolster and club hammer
  2. Masonry saw with diamond blade Correct answer.
  3. Brick trowel
  4. Cold chisel used freehand

Explanation

A masonry saw with a diamond blade produces clean, dimensionally consistent cuts and is used where accurate repetitive cutting is required. A bolster and hammer or a freehand cold chisel depend on manual skill and give rougher, less uniform edges, and a trowel cannot cut brick.

Question 29Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

A concrete block masonry wall requires units with a compressive strength of at least 3.5 N/mm². Which class of hollow concrete block is appropriate?

  1. Class B blocks Correct answer.
  2. Class A blocks
  3. Class D blocks
  4. Class C blocks

Explanation

Hollow concrete blocks are graded by strength; Class B blocks correspond to the moderate strength range appropriate for load-bearing walls where about 3.5 N/mm² is required. Class A is stronger, while Classes C and D are lighter grades used for non-load-bearing partitions.

Question 30Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which equipment is essential for maintaining the verticality of a tall masonry pier during construction?

  1. Plumb rule or plumb bob with line Correct answer.
  2. Spirit level only
  3. Trowel
  4. Jointer

Explanation

A plumb rule or a plumb bob suspended on a line gives a true vertical reference over the full height of the pier, which a short spirit level cannot do reliably. The trowel and jointer are mortar-handling and finishing tools and give no verticality check.

Question 31Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which mortar joint profile is recommended for external brickwork exposed to heavy rain because it sheds water effectively?

  1. Flush joint
  2. Recessed joint
  3. Weathered (struck) joint Correct answer.
  4. V-joint

Explanation

A weathered or struck joint slopes outward from the top edge so rainwater drains off and does not collect on the ledge. Recessed and flush joints trap water on the top edge, and a V-joint, though neat, does not shed water as effectively as a properly struck joint.

Question 32Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which test on cement determines the soundness of the cement paste?

  1. Compressive strength test on 1:3 mortar cubes
  2. Blaine air permeability test
  3. Vicat apparatus test for initial setting time
  4. Le Chatelier apparatus test Correct answer.

Explanation

The Le Chatelier apparatus measures expansion of a cement paste, revealing unsoundness caused by free lime or magnesia. Vicat testing gives setting times, Blaine testing gives fineness, and mortar cube testing gives strength, none of which measures soundness.

Question 33Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

A mason finds that lime mortar sets very slowly in a damp winter season. Which measure is most appropriate to improve early strength without changing the basic mortar type?

  1. Add more lime to the mix
  2. Use coarser sand in the mix
  3. Gauge the lime mortar with a small proportion of cement Correct answer.
  4. Add more water to improve workability

Explanation

Gauging lime mortar with a small quantity of cement accelerates hardening and increases early strength while retaining lime's workability. Adding more lime or water further retards setting, and coarser sand affects texture and grading rather than the rate of set.

Question 34Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which statement correctly describes the function of a mortar plasticiser (air-entraining admixture) in masonry mortar?

  1. It increases compressive strength by reducing voids
  2. It improves workability and frost resistance by entraining tiny air bubbles Correct answer.
  3. It prevents efflorescence by sealing the surface
  4. It accelerates the initial setting time of cement

Explanation

Air-entraining plasticisers create minute, evenly distributed bubbles that lubricate the mix, improving workability and providing freeze-thaw resistance. They slightly reduce strength rather than increase it, do not act as accelerators, and do not seal surfaces against efflorescence.

Question 35Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which property of sand is indicated by a fineness modulus of about 2.5?

  1. Coarse sand
  2. Gravel
  3. Very fine sand
  4. Fine to medium sand Correct answer.

Explanation

Fineness modulus is a numerical index of grading; a value around 2.5 indicates fine to medium sand suitable for mortar. Very fine sands have values near 1.5 or below, coarse sands exceed about 3.0, and gravel would fall in a much higher range.

Question 36Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which defect is most likely when bricks are soaked insufficiently before laying in hot weather?

  1. The mortar becomes over-rich
  2. The mortar dries out too quickly and develops poor bond and low strength Correct answer.
  3. The wall becomes excessively plastic
  4. The bricks expand and crack the wall

Explanation

Dry bricks absorb water from the mortar, leaving too little water for cement hydration; the result is weak, poorly bonded mortar. Soaking bricks before laying prevents this suction. Brick expansion, mortar richness and wall plasticity are not consequences of dry bricks.

Question 37Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which type of scaffolding is independent of the wall and carries its own load through standards and ledgers?

  1. Suspended scaffolding
  2. Needle scaffolding
  3. Single scaffolding (putlog)
  4. Double scaffolding Correct answer.

Explanation

Double scaffolding uses two rows of standards tied by ledgers and is independent of the wall, so it can carry heavier loads and is used for stone masonry and tall work. Putlog scaffolding depends partly on the wall, needle scaffolding projects from openings, and suspended scaffolding hangs from above.

Question 38Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which masonry unit is manufactured by autoclaving a mixture of lime, sand and water under high pressure steam?

  1. Concrete block
  2. Fly ash brick
  3. Burnt clay brick
  4. Calcium silicate (sand-lime) brick Correct answer.

Explanation

Calcium silicate or sand-lime bricks are formed from lime and sand and hardened in an autoclave under steam pressure, giving accurate shape and good strength. Burnt clay bricks are fired in kilns, concrete blocks are cement-based, and fly ash bricks use fly ash with lime or cement but are not defined by the lime-sand autoclave process.

Question 39Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

A mason uses a mortar containing too much clay or silt in the sand. What is the most likely effect on the hardened masonry?

  1. Increased strength and reduced permeability
  2. Improved frost resistance
  3. Faster setting of the cement
  4. Reduced strength and increased shrinkage and permeability Correct answer.

Explanation

Excess clay or silt coats the sand grains, preventing proper bond with cement paste and increasing water demand; the result is weaker, more permeable and more shrink-prone mortar. It does not increase strength, improve frost resistance, or accelerate setting.

Question 40Materials, Tools and Equipment for Masonry

Which tool is used to finish the mortar joints in brickwork to give a neat, compacted surface?

  1. Brick hammer
  2. Jointer or pointing trowel Correct answer.
  3. Line and pins
  4. Brick axe

Explanation

A jointer, or a pointing trowel, compacts and shapes the mortar in the joint to the desired profile, improving weather resistance and appearance. A brick hammer and brick axe are cutting tools, and line and pins only guide the course alignment.

Question 41Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

In English bond brickwork, what is the vertical arrangement of headers and stretchers from one course to the next?

  1. Headers and stretchers alternate course by course Correct answer.
  2. Stretchers appear in every course with a header course every sixth course
  3. Stretchers appear in every course with headers only at the quoins
  4. Headers form every fourth course with stretchers in the rest

Explanation

English bond is defined by alternating whole courses of headers and whole courses of stretchers. This gives strong longitudinal and transverse bonding with no continuous vertical joint through the wall thickness.

Question 42Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

In Flemish bond, what does each course contain?

  1. Two stretchers to one header in the same course
  2. Only stretchers throughout the course
  3. Alternate headers and stretchers in the same course Correct answer.
  4. Only headers throughout the course

Explanation

Flemish bond places a header and a stretcher alternately in every course. The bond combines good appearance on both faces with reasonable longitudinal strength.

Question 43Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

What is the standard nominal size of a modular clay brick used in Indian masonry practice?

  1. 300 mm x 150 mm x 100 mm
  2. 230 mm x 110 mm x 70 mm
  3. 230 mm x 110 mm x 110 mm
  4. 190 mm x 90 mm x 90 mm Correct answer.

Explanation

The modular brick has actual dimensions of 190 x 90 x 90 mm and a nominal size of 200 x 100 x 100 mm after adding a 10 mm mortar joint. This module allows walls to work to a 100 mm grid.

Question 44Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

What is the purpose of a queen closer in brick masonry?

  1. To adjust the bond at a quoin without cutting a full brick Correct answer.
  2. To close the end of a wall with a half-brick
  3. To provide a bearing for a lintel
  4. To fill the core of a hollow wall

Explanation

A queen closer is a brick cut lengthwise into two equal halves along its length. It is placed next to the quoin header so that the following stretcher course can be set out without using a cut brick of awkward size.

Question 45Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

Which mortar mix is generally specified for general brickwork in moderate exposure conditions?

  1. 1:12 cement-lime mortar
  2. 1:6 cement-sand mortar Correct answer.
  3. 1:1 cement-sand mortar
  4. Neat cement slurry

Explanation

A 1:6 cement-sand mix gives adequate strength and workability for ordinary brickwork in moderate conditions. Stronger mixes are reserved for load-bearing or damp situations and weaker mixes for non-structural infill.

Question 46Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

In a one-brick thick wall, how many bricks are required per cubic metre of brickwork, approximately?

  1. 350
  2. 1000
  3. 500 Correct answer.
  4. 750

Explanation

With the modular brick and 10 mm joints, approximately 500 bricks are needed per cubic metre of brickwork. This figure is used for estimating quantities and ordering materials.

Question 47Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

What is the chief advantage of rat-trap bond in a 250 mm wall?

  1. It eliminates the need for mortar joints
  2. It gives the highest possible compressive strength
  3. It allows the wall to be built without quoins
  4. It reduces brick consumption while retaining a cavity for insulation Correct answer.

Explanation

Rat-trap bond uses bricks on edge to create a hollow wall, saving roughly a quarter of the bricks and providing a dead air space for thermal insulation. Its strength is lower than solid English bond, so it suits non-load-bearing or lightly loaded walls.

Question 48Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

Why is a quoin header placed at the corner of an English bond wall?

  1. To carry the load of the floor slab above
  2. To act as a damp-proof course
  3. To allow the wall to be plastered more easily
  4. To bond the return wall and give a toothed edge for future extension Correct answer.

Explanation

The quoin header at the corner ties the two faces of the wall together and provides a toothed end so that the wall can be continued later with a proper bond. It also gives a neat, regular appearance at the angle.

Question 49Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

A masonry wall is to be built with Flemish bond for appearance. Which statement about its structural behaviour is correct?

  1. It is stronger than English bond in every direction
  2. It is weaker than English bond in longitudinal strength because of the many small mortar joints Correct answer.
  3. It requires no headers and relies entirely on stretchers
  4. It cannot be used for load-bearing walls at all

Explanation

Flemish bond has more mortar joints per unit length than English bond, so it is slightly weaker in longitudinal strength and is often chosen for appearance. It is still used for load-bearing walls where design permits.

Question 50Masonry Bonds, Brick and Block Work

What is the minimum lap required when continuing a brick wall in English bond after a break?

  1. A quarter-brick lap
  2. One brick length of toothed bond Correct answer.
  3. No lap is needed if mortar is strong
  4. A straight vertical joint

Explanation

When a wall is continued, the end must be left toothed with a lap of at least one brick length so that the new work interlocks with the old. A straight vertical joint would create a plane of weakness.