New Product Category Rule for Clay Brick Published

With support from the brick industry, ASTM has published a new Product Category Rule (PCR) for clay brick products. This significant milestone allows for development of North American Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for clay brick products, including brick, pavers and structural clay tile.

The formal name is the Clay Brick, Clay Brick Pavers, and Structural Clay Tile PCR.

The product group includes manufactured masonry units made by forming and ring prepared mixtures of clay, shale and other materials. These are generically known as clay brick, clay brick pavers, and structural clay tile. Specific products are listed in Section 3.0 definitions and are given in Table 1.

The full PCR can be found as a PDF on the ASTM website.
Designing Masonry Openings Without Compromising Aesthetics
July 2026

One of masonry's greatest strengths is its ability to create visually striking architecture. From arches and deep reveals to decorative brick detailing, masonry provides texture, depth, and character that continue to inspire architects today. As buildin

Restoring the Breath of the Building: The Life-Saving Science Behind Historic Masonry Repairs
July 2026

When I first set out to become a historic preservation and restoration mason, I imagined that most of my trade would involve repairing the effects of old age. Instead, 99 percent of my work is attempting to stabilize and reverse damage caused by recent an

Laying the Foundation for the Future: Workforce Development at the Arizona Masonry Council
July 2026

For generations, masonry has been built on a simple but powerful principle: knowledge passed from one set of hands to the next. In Arizona, the Arizona Masonry Council (AMC) is working to ensure that tradition continues by investing in one of the industr

Preserving Masonry Aesthetics with Concealed Lintel Systems
July 2026

Masonry has long been valued for its ability to create buildings with character, permanence, and visual appeal. Features such as arches, deep reveals, corbelling, and decorative brickwork continue to be popular design elements in modern architecture. Howe