What Is Brick Brace?

BRICK BRACE

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Pro Builder Magazines Product of The Year 2015

A SUPERIOR FACTOR OF SAFETY DURING MASONRY ALTERATIONS

The stability & lateral strength of a masonry structure is unpredictable & varies from task to task due to the design of the structure, the length of the opening, the material, the mortar mix, the age/deterioration & the quality of the workmanship.

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 All existing propping methods weaken the structure when fitting and have a  reduced factor of safety due to solely relying upon the weakened & unknown lateral strength to work correctly.

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TESTING & SOLUTION

To stabilise the unknown variable lateral strength of a structure the force required from the fully tested Brick Brace safety tools is 700N. The recommended torque of 40Nm produces a force of 3.28kN which is 4.5 times more than required to stabilise a structure, this torque is also achievable on site and was also used in the test via a ratchet spanner. The 3.28kN of force produced is more than enough to prevent collapse and well below that to crush the end faces of the bricks with no movement or cracking.

RESEARCH

To calculate the weight/load of the structure during masonry alterations a structural engineer uses the same generic and assumed calculation as a permanent support and yet when fitting lintels within a new build the manufacturers recommend propping lintels central from the underside due to the newly laid masonry having none or very little lateral strength which increases the weight of the load considerably. Lintels can and do fail overtime not just through incorrect instalment but through the out of date and generic calculations which do not allow a safety factor for the deterioration of brickwork therefore the assumed calculation is also out of date for temporary masonry support propping equipment.

CONCLUSION

  Combining the above calculation with another assumed calculation of the unknown & variable safe working load of a tongued prop attachment is one of the causes why collapse is such a recurring theme on site during masonry alterations.

THE MOST POIGNANT SEGMENTS OF THE NEW STRONGBOY INSTRUCTIONS

Prior to using any Strongboy masonry support, you should identify that this is a suitable method to carry out the intended works. The Strongboy Masonry support is not recommended to be used to provide temporary support to unstable structures. 

To ensure a brick structure is sufficiently stabilised during masonry alterations the Brick Brace safety system should also be used where possible to prevent collapse, especially when propping with tongued attachments.

• THE BRICK BRACE BENEFITS

        Simple to adapt to

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 Improves Masonry Alterations knowledge

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Providing further temporary support options

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Keyhole surgery for face brickwork

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Full access to the task

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Ensures future generations are taught safely & correctly

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 Use at any height, high or low

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 Stabilises lime & weak mortar masonry to prevent collapse

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No Lost or falling masonry

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The only temporary support equipment fully tested in multiples on brickwork

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 Supports all of the masonry, even in lime mortars

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Guaranteed superior finish to a task

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Versatile & Lightweight

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No voids/traps in scaffolds

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Also use when propping for total control of a task

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On-site demonstrations available

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Instructions & help-line provided with every order

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Increases the variable & unknown S.W.L of bendable tongued prop attachments

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Protection against minor collapse in-between props

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Re-instates a load point to safely reduce the weight of the load

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Allows a prop to be manoeuvred safely during a task

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Safely minimising the number of props required

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Pays for itself within two applications

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Minimal Repair time

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Easy To Store/ Fits in a tool bag

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Reduced carbon footprint

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Designed & Manufactured with British steel in Great Britain

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Superior results and time saved

 GUARANTEED

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SAFER MASONRY ALTERATIONS GUARANTEED!

We created the Brick Brace to counter act all of the hidden problems of propping the working side of the exterior wall and to make masonry alterations more controllable, safer and easier during the task.

The fully tested Brick Brace safety tool is inserted into a drilled out mortar perpendicular joint and tightened with a 19mm ratchet spanner, increasing the unknown & variable lateral strength of bonded lime & cement mortar masonry with a force of 40Nm which through vigorous testing is proven to be strong and stable enough to prevent collapse.

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You require a hammer drill with a 10mm masonry drill bit to remove the mortar from the perp/joint and a 19mm socket spanner to expand the inserted Brick Brace.

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The Brick Brace safety system requires a scaffold tube, Hammer Drill, 8mm and 10mm masonry drill bits, 15, 19, 21mm sockets and a ratchet. The 40Nm torque required to expand the Brick Brace is similar to tightening a scaffold fitting. To remove the masonry below, use a disc cutter and a light set hammer drill with the correct chisel fittings, a masonry or traditional hand saw is sufficient for lime mortar mixes, full instructions and a correct procedure are provided and also available to read or print via our instructions/download page.

APPLICATIONS

Fit a permanent support within existing masonry at any height with the correct fitting/work access. Replace lintels, fit new cavity trays & D.P.C’s with ease. Re-instate a load-point to reduce the weight of the load that requires support. An under-pinning aid. Strengthen/stabilise lime mortar masonry and aids all remedial works, brickwork renovations & repairs.

We Are Here To Help You Adapt!

For unbiased advice regarding any masonry alterations task contact us; 01895 546405

Or

Call Anthony On; 07545 462463

E-mail; sales@brickbrace.com

To help us help you, please read our 2021 masonry wall propping guide to ensure you give us sufficient information of your task.

 Or

Book A Brick Brace Demonstration On your own project, from as little as £750.00, Includes ½ day training & the Brick Brace Full Set.

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ONCE USED, ALWAYS USED!

The stability & lateral strength of masonry during alterations is unpredictable and varies upon every task of which depends upon the length of the opening, the mortar mix, the quality & the age of the masonry.

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All existing propping methods rely on the unknown stability & lateral strength of the masonry to work safely which is why the Brick Brace should also be used to prevent minor & major collapse.

 The Brick Brace Safety System safely supports masonry upon openings up to 3,150mm (14 Brick Lengths) without any impeding Acrow props at any height high or low

Openings up to 5,400mm  with full fitting access when using a 6 metre aluminium scaffold beam over the opening.

Also use above openings when propping or needling to reduce the weight of the load and prevent collapse from overloading & safely minimise the number of Acrow props within the fitting area, to hold the brickwork in-between props and support the masonry as one whole piece rather than individual bricks as in the case of only using existing propping equipment.

Full Access & Safer and Superior Masonry Alterations.

 RECENT BRICK BRACE FEEDBACK

Mr S. Dunaway

 (Builder From Surrey)

 Top quality product.

After taking the time to read and understand what the Brick Brace has to offer, I can now appreciate the impact this system can have on improving the safety of structural alterations.
After all it’s the only general construction based procedure where NO training or advice is offered to any tradesman.
For me, Brick brace is not just a product; it has provided an understanding of the task, with clear guidance on the limitations of all the equipment.
I also received very helpful advice and instructions from the guys at Brick Brace regarding my own project.
I challenge you all to find another company so invested in your own safety when it comes to structural alterations!

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The more methods known, the safer and easier the different tasks of supporting masonry become.

Temporary support equipment options in alphabetical order; Acrow props, Brick Brace, Needles, Prop-Wise and Strongboy’s?

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Using a variety of temporary masonry support equipment allows safer options, reduces repair time and supports all of the masonry in between props and also improves the unknown variable safe working load of the existing propping methods;

Brick Brace with Acrow props, Brick Brace with Needles, Brick Brace with Prop-Wise or Brick Brace with Strongboy’s and depends on the task at hand of which variety is most suitable.

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Safety tools are fitted 3 bricks apart in a cement mortar mix, a maximum of 2.5 bricks apart within a lime mortar mix and in every perpendicular joint within block work.

To fit a single safety tool you require the use of a hammer drill with a 10mm masonry drill bit to remove the mortar from the perpendicular joint and a 19mm socket spanner to expand the Brick Brace. The Brick Brace safety system requires a Hammer Drill, 8mm and 10mm masonry drill bits, 15, 19, 21mm sockets and a ratchet. The 40Nm torque required to expand the Brick Brace is similar to tightening a scaffold fitting. To remove the masonry below, use a disc cutter and a light set hammer drill with the correct chisel fittings, a masonry or traditional hand saw is sufficient for lime mortar mixes, full instructions and a correct procedure are provided and also available to read or print via our instructions/download page.

  Watch Our Video Presented By Skill Builder Roger Bisby!

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  PROP-WISE

LIMITED EDITION

Designed for the head plate of the Acrow prop to take the load and not the side of the inner tube.

Designed with a flat head to ease internal use at ceiling height and to fit neatly into a tool bag.

The safest method of propping 4″ to 6″masonry.

Using fewer Acrow props due to reduced eccentricity which also gives a superior safe working load.

Maximum safe working load 500kg, supplied with full instructions and Acrow prop guidance and is by far the safest tongued prop attachment on the market.

Prop-Wise x 4 – Click Here To View Product Only £99.00

The Brick Brace Safety Tool, the Prop-Wise masonry support, our guidance, weight charts and proven strategies safely ease a difficult task and address all the main causes of collapse during masonry alterations.

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To please a client, an architect has the artistic freedom to design & draw any new opening size they wish within existing masonry with a few lines and a rubber and with no care of how the most difficult and dangerous task within the construction industry  is carried out in real life.

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A structural engineer can provide the method of using the out of date tongued prop attachment which may save time by cutting corners but also compromises the builder’s safety as the method doesn’t allow the correct fitting access without dangerously overloading the structure above.

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Upon this assumed, generic and out of date calculation, the builder purchase/hire Strongboy’s of which are supplied with zero guidance by a vast majority of retailers with limited masonry alterations knowledge, and when the obvious accidents of overloading continue to re-occur, only the builder is at fault and fined or worse case scenario imprisoned for corporate manslaughter where collapse causes a fatality.

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 Brick Brace review

By Lateral Solutions Group Ltd

(April 2016)

Having been a builder now for over 30 years, I could be justifiably accused of being stuck in my ways in certain aspects of the building trade, one of those areas are removing sections of load bearing walls and creating new window and door openings, tools required, Props, Needles & Strong boys . . . . . Not anymore!

 After reading an article regarding safe working loads of when using Acrow props, in a nut shell the load calculations are as follows ; 

An Acrow prop, max S.W.L is 3,400Kg

Two Acrow props & a needle method this is then reduced to max S.W.L 1,700kg

 An Acrow fitted with a prop attachment ( Strongboy) this is then reduced to max S.W.L 340Kg

So with a little research on the best kept secret in the building trade . . . 

Brick Brace steps into the ring! 

I’ve used this product now for nearly 1 year, first of all, it’s like carrying around 12 Acrows,5 Needles & two Strongboys in a small tool box, Great start! 

Secondly, does it work & How?

The answer to the first question is an easy yes it does!

The answer to the second question, without sounding like a salesman for this product is as follows;

A single Brace that fits in your hand can support an opening of up to 1575mm opening supporting the full triangle of Cement, mortar & masonry above.

With the full kit, as mentioned carried in a small toolbox capable of supporting an opening of up to 4500mm with the use of only 1 prop to the middle! No Acrow hindering access for the installation of steels, no repairing brickwork above where to needles were! Window opening above ground floor. . A breeze!

 Finally in my opinion . . . IT’S A KNOCK OUT!! Brick Brace  wins, hands down! 

I have now vowed as a builder to stop living in the dark ages and start moving forward with new equipment and new methods of construction.