What is PCI thin brick?

Thin brick made and tested to the PCI Specification for Embedded Clay Thin Brick for casting into precast concrete panels. It meets the dimensional tolerances, a cold water absorption maximum of 6% for nonglazed brick and 5% for glazed brick, no detectable spalling, cracking or breaking after 300 freeze thaw cycles on assembled specimens, and a pull-out strength of not less than 150 psi before and after freeze thaw.

What are the PCI thin brick tolerances?

Thickness plus 0 in., minus 1/16 in. Face size plus 0 in., minus 1/16 in. on dimensions of 8 in. or less, and plus 0 in., minus 3/32 in. on dimensions over 8 in. Warpage not more than 1/16 in. concave or convex. Out of square plus or minus 1/16 in. Shape angle plus or minus 1 degree. Measured in accordance with ASTM C67.

Can any thin brick be cast into a precast panel?

No. A brick can meet the ordinary standards for veneer brick and still fail in an embedded panel, because an embedded brick is tested as an assembly with the concrete. The PCI specification adds a pull-out strength requirement of 150 psi and a 300 cycle freeze thaw test run on brick already cast into concrete. Ask the supplier for test documentation against that specification.

What is the maximum water absorption for embedded thin brick?

Under RP 152-25 it depends on the brick. Nonglazed brick is a maximum of 6% at 24 hours per ASTM C67, and glazed brick a maximum of 5% per ASTM C373. Water taken into the brick is water that can freeze inside it once the panel is on a building.

What face sizes meet the PCI specification?

Many. The specification sets dimensional tolerances and test requirements, and a thin brick of any face size that holds them complies. Modular, Norman, closure and utility are the sizes drawn in the RP 152-25 coursing guide. Thickness runs from 1/2 in. to 1 in. The sizes each maker offers are on the maker pages.

How often does thin brick have to be tested?

Under the PCI specification, dimensional tolerances on every run before it ships. Cold water absorption on every clay body and color before each shipment, with written documentation. Every other specified test at an accredited laboratory at least every six years.

Thin brick cast into concrete, the mortar joints formed by the liner

PCI thin brick

What thin brick has to meet under the PCI Specification for Embedded Clay Thin Brick, and where each maker we carry stands.

PCI spec, PDF Word

PCI thin brick tolerances.

Measured in accordance with ASTM C67. The back texture is selected and named in the project spec.
Thickness	Plus 0 in., minus 1/16 in.
Face size, dimensions 8 in. or less	Plus 0 in., minus 1/16 in.
Face size, dimensions over 8 in.	Plus 0 in., minus 3/32 in.
Warpage	Not more than 1/16 in. concave or convex from a consistent plane
Out of square	Plus or minus 1/16 in.
Shape angle	Plus or minus 1 degree from the specified angle
Back surface texture	Scored, Combed, Wire roughened, Ribbed, Keybacked, Dovetailed

PCI thin brick tests.

Property	Requirement	Test method	What it protects against
Modulus of rupture	Not less than 250 psi (1.7 MPa)	ASTM C67	The brick has to survive handling into the liner and the pressure of the pour without cracking. The 2016 specification calls this breaking strength; RP 152-25 and DN-25 call it modulus of rupture.
Cold water absorption, nonglazed	Maximum 6% at 24 hours	ASTM C67	Water taken into the brick is water that can freeze inside it once the panel is on a building.
Cold water absorption, glazed	Maximum 5% at 24 hours	ASTM C373	Glazed brick is held tighter. RP 152-25 separates the two, and a single 6% figure is the wrong number for a glazed product.
Efflorescence	Rated "not effloresced"	ASTM C67	Salts migrating to the face leave white bloom on a finished building, and it is close to impossible to fix after erection.
Freeze thaw resistance	No detectable spalling, cracking, or breaking after 300 cycles	ASTM C666, Method A or B, on assembled specimens	Tested with the brick already cast into concrete, because the assembly fails differently than a loose brick does.
Freeze thaw, coated brick	No observable difference in the finish at 20 ft after 50 cycles, plus the 300 cycle test above	ASTM C67 and ASTM C666	A surface coloring that survives the brick but not the weather changes the building a few winters in.
Pull-out strength	Not less than 150 psi (1.0 MPa) from the base concrete, before and after freeze thaw	Modified ASTM E488	This is the number that says the brick stays on the panel. It is measured both new and weathered, because the bond is what ages.
Chemical resistance	Rated "not affected"	Modified ASTM C650	Panels get washed down, and masonry cleaners are acidic. The 2016 specification names a 10% hydrochloric acid solution; RP 152-25 refers to a modified C650 method without stating the concentration.

Confirm against the current published specification before issuing.

Thin brick makers and PCI.

Tumbled and handmade units fall outside PCI tolerances.
King Klinker	King Klinker thin brick. Roman, Modular, Norman, Meridian, Expanded Modular.
MetroBrick	MetroBrick thin brick. Modular, Norman, King, Utility.
Endicott	Endicott thin brick. Roman, Modular, Norman, King, Closure, Utility, Triple.
General Shale	General Shale thin brick. Modular. Outside PCI tolerances. General Shale issues a PCI letter of variance for all of its brick.
Summitville	Summitville thin brick. Modular, Utility.

Test frequency.

Dimensional tolerances	Every run of brick supplied to the project, before it ships
Cold water absorption, 24 hour	Every clay body and color, before each shipment, with written documentation. The buyer may run the same test before the first shipment.
All other specified tests	Every clay body, at an accredited laboratory, at least every six years

In your spec section.

Name the PCI Specification for Embedded Clay Thin Brick in PCI RP 152-25. Your rep supplies the test documentation on request.

Copy-ready spec language →

The PCI documents.

Published by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute
RP 152-25, Recommended Practice for Embedded Clay Thin Brick	Published 2025. Brick selection, formliner selection, preproduction and production, with compliance and variance letter templates and tolerance measurement procedures.
PCI Specification for Embedded Clay Thin Brick	Effective May 4, 2016. The material requirements on this page. From the PCI guide specifications library at no charge.
DN-25, Clay Product-Faced Precast Concrete	Panel configurations, corner details, coursing and tolerances for clay-faced elements. Predates RP 152-25.

Read the specification Find these at pci.org

Common questions.

What is PCI thin brick?: Thin brick made and tested to the PCI Specification for Embedded Clay Thin Brick for casting into precast concrete panels. It meets the dimensional tolerances, a cold water absorption maximum of 6% for nonglazed brick and 5% for glazed brick, no detectable spalling, cracking or breaking after 300 freeze thaw cycles on assembled specimens, and a pull-out strength of not less than 150 psi before and after freeze thaw.
What are the PCI thin brick tolerances?: Thickness plus 0 in., minus 1/16 in. Face size plus 0 in., minus 1/16 in. on dimensions of 8 in. or less, and plus 0 in., minus 3/32 in. on dimensions over 8 in. Warpage not more than 1/16 in. concave or convex. Out of square plus or minus 1/16 in. Shape angle plus or minus 1 degree. Measured in accordance with ASTM C67.
Can any thin brick be cast into a precast panel?: No. A brick can meet the ordinary standards for veneer brick and still fail in an embedded panel, because an embedded brick is tested as an assembly with the concrete. The PCI specification adds a pull-out strength requirement of 150 psi and a 300 cycle freeze thaw test run on brick already cast into concrete. Ask the supplier for test documentation against that specification.
What is the maximum water absorption for embedded thin brick?: Under RP 152-25 it depends on the brick. Nonglazed brick is a maximum of 6% at 24 hours per ASTM C67, and glazed brick a maximum of 5% per ASTM C373. Water taken into the brick is water that can freeze inside it once the panel is on a building.
What face sizes meet the PCI specification?: Many. The specification sets dimensional tolerances and test requirements, and a thin brick of any face size that holds them complies. Modular, Norman, closure and utility are the sizes drawn in the RP 152-25 coursing guide. Thickness runs from 1/2 in. to 1 in. The sizes each maker offers are on the maker pages.
How often does thin brick have to be tested?: Under the PCI specification, dimensional tolerances on every run before it ships. Cold water absorption on every clay body and color before each shipment, with written documentation. Every other specified test at an accredited laboratory at least every six years.

More thin brick reference.

Request a brick sample.

Every color Advanced distributes is supplied for embedded work. Your rep sends the test documentation.

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