Recycled brick product receives industry certification

The K-BRIQ is not kiln-fired and is manufactured through a process that results in 95% less embodied carbon compared to traditional clay bricks (Photo: K-Briq)

The British Board of Agrément (BBA), the UK’s construction certification body, has awarded K-Briq the same certification as standard clay bricks, enabling its use in a broad range of building applications.

With this accreditation, Kenoteq has begun commercial production at its facility in East Lothian, with an initial capacity of up to two million bricks per year. The company plans to increase this to four million and expand production across the UK and internationally, aiming to use regional waste sources to produce low-carbon bricks.

The K-Briq is not kiln-fired and is manufactured through a process that results in 95% less embodied carbon compared to traditional clay bricks. It has undergone extensive testing over several years and achieved the maximum durability rating, an important consideration for construction in the UK. The product is also certified for use in the US through a DrJ Technical Evaluation Report, and European certification is in progress.

According to the company, a standard two-bedroom house typically requires around 12,000 bricks. If built with traditional clay bricks, this equates to approximately 5.46 tonnes of CO₂e emissions. Using the K-Briq would reduce this figure to around 0.2 tonnes. 

The product has already been used in a number of pilot projects across the UK and Europe, including installations at Scotland’s National Retrofit Centre at BE-ST (Built Environment Smarter Transformation), Oaklands College in St Albans, a German hypermarket developed by Kaufland, and multiple sites operated by Gail’s Bakery.

Free construction sustainability ebook: Unlock the path to greener construction Essential information on what is one of construction’s key issues