215mm x 215mm Square Hole Clay Air Brick Red (9" x 9")

What Is A Red Clay Air Brick? 

Red clay air bricks are durable, fired clay ventilation bricks designed to promote natural cross-ventilation. Featuring a grid of square perforations, they allow air to circulate freely through building voids and enclosed spaces, helping to prevent dampness and related issues within the building structure.

The 215mm x 215mm face dimensions are a standard UK size, often equivalent to three standard brick courses in height by one standard brick length, allowing for straightforward integration into brickwork patterns. 

The 50mm depth may suit particular construction details, such as applications in narrower wall sections, within rendered panels, or in conjunction with specific ducting, sleeving, or cavity liner systems to bridge wider cavities.

These bricks are commonly utilised within:

• Sub-floor voids: This is the most critical application, helping to remove damp air, manage moisture levels, and significantly reduce the risk of timber decay in floor joists, fungal growth, and condensation build-up beneath suspended floors.
• Other specific ventilation needs: They can also be used to provide airflow to other enclosed areas where their size, depth, and ventilation capacity are deemed appropriate by a designer or regulations.

Benefits

• Effective Natural Ventilation: The square hole design promotes consistent airflow, aiding in moisture control.
• Durable Clay Construction: Made from fired clay, offering excellent longevity, good weather resistance, and, if specified as frost-resistant (to BS EN 771-1), robust performance against freeze-thaw cycles.
• Traditional Red Aesthetic: The natural red achieved from fired clay offers a versatile aesthetic that enhances traditional and some contemporary designs. It coordinates with a broad range of red, terracotta, and russet bricks, complements many brown brick shades, and can be used to enhance various natural stones and render colours.
• Standard Face Size: The 215mm x 215mm face allows for neat incorporation into conventional UK brick bonding patterns.
• Helps Prevent Damp & Decay: Essential for ventilating sub-floor voids, mitigating moisture buildup, and protecting structural timbers.
• Natural & Sustainable Material: Clay is an abundant natural resource, offering an environmentally considerate building component.

Applications

• Sub-Floor Ventilation: Providing airflow to the void beneath suspended timber or concrete ground floors in new builds, extensions, and renovation projects.
• Ventilating Other Building Voids: Can be used for other enclosed spaces where passive ventilation is required and its specific dimensions and airflow capacity are suitable.
• Garden Walls & Outbuildings: Sometimes incorporated into garden walls or other external structures for decorative purposes or minor ventilation needs.
• Specific Architectural Details: 50mm depth may be particularly suited for applications where a standard brick depth (65mm or 100mm+) is not required or is too deep.

Installation Considerations

• Mortaring: Built into masonry walls using standard bricklaying mortar and techniques. Ensure a full mortar bed for stability.
• Airflow Path: It is crucial that a clear, unobstructed path for airflow is maintained both in front of and, critically, behind the air brick. Mortar droppings or debris within the cavity or sub-floor void can block airflow and render the vent ineffective.
• Alignment: Position and align the air brick carefully with surrounding brick courses for a professional and aesthetically pleasing finish.
• Consideration of 50mm Depth: In a standard single-skin 100mm (4-inch) wall, a 50mm deep air brick will sit recessed unless built flush with one face and detailed accordingly.
• If used in a cavity wall, appropriate sleeving or ducting (a "periscope" vent or telescopic sleeve) is usually required to carry air across the cavity from the air brick to the void being ventilated, especially to prevent moisture transfer. The 50mm depth might necessitate specific types of compatible sleeves.
• Pest & Insect Resistance: The square holes may allow entry for insects or small vermin. Consider installing a fine mesh grille or screen behind the air brick within the void or as part of any ducting, if this is a concern.
• Regulatory Compliance: Ensure a sufficient number and correct strategic placement of air bricks are used to meet the ventilation requirements of UK Building Regulations (specifically Approved Document F for ventilation and Approved Document C for moisture control) for the size and type of area being ventilated. This is often calculated based on the "free air space" provided by the vents.