STAFFORDSHIRE 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 frost resistance and strength or for aesthetic and architectural purposes where they feature in high quality and prestige facades. This means Ketley Staffordshire reds can be seen in commercial developments, landscaping, and for structural uses such as bridges and factory walls.
Case Studies
3 New Bailey in Salford
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
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
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
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
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: Fired in gas kilns to 1130o C
Raw materials: Etruria Marl Clay from our own quarry in Cannock, 12 miles from our factory, and sand
Lifespan: Bricks are long life building product and Ketley's bricks are the toughest and most durable bricks you can buy.
Recyclability: Mortar can be cleaned off so the bricks can be reused. They can also 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
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Type: |
Facing Brick Class A Solid |
Facing Brick Class A Perforated |
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Colour: |
Staffordshire Red |
Staffordshire Red |
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Structure: |
Solid |
Perforated |
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Texture: |
Smooth |
Smooth |
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Manufacture: |
Extruded, wirecut |
Extruded, wirecut |
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Dimensions: |
215 x 102.5 x 65mm |
215 x 102.5 x 65mm |
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215 x 102.5 x 73mm |
215 x 102.5 x 73mm |
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Complies with dimensions and tolerances of BS EN 771-1: 2011 |
Complies with dimensions and tolerances of BS EN 771-1: 2011 |
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Weight 65mm: |
3.3kgs per brick |
2.45kgs per brick |
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Weight 73mm: |
3.8kgs per brick |
3kgs per brick |
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No. per m2 65 mm (10mm joints): |
60 |
60 |
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No. per m2 73 mm (10mm joints): |
53 |
53 |
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Pack Size: |
400 |
400 |
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Packing: |
Banded for fork lift off-loading. |
Banded for fork lift off-loading. |
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Weight per pack 65mm: |
1320kg |
980kg |
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Weight per pack 73mm: |
1435kg |
1200kg |
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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 |
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Compressive strength: |
≥ 125N/mm² |
≥125N/mm² |
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Category: |
II |
II |
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Masonry Unit Group: |
HD |
HD |
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Engineering Grade: |
A |
A |
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Water absorption: |
≤4.5% |
≤4.5% |
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Initial Rate of Water absorption: |
≤1.5Kg/m²/min |
≤1.5Kg/m²/min |
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Thermal Conductivity: |
On Application |
On Application |
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Bond Strength: |
0.15N/mm² (For general purpose and lightweight mortar) |
0.15N/mm² (For general purpose and lightweight mortar) |
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Net Dry Density: |
2200 Kg/m³(Typically) |
2200 Kg/m³(Typically) |
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Density Tolerance: |
D1 |
D1 |
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Soluble salt content: |
S2 |
S2 |
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Durability: |
F2 |
F2 |
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Fire Reaction: |
A1 |
A1 |
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Dimensional Tolerance Mean: |
T2 |
T2 |
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Dimensional Tolerance Range: |
R1 |
R1 |
Special Shaped Bricks
Special Shaped Bricks
Because 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
Our 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.
