Hoop Iron vs Brick Force: Which Should You Use?

Builders often ask whether to use hoop iron or brick force. While both reinforce masonry, they serve different purposes and are not interchangeable.

What Is Hoop Iron?

Hoop iron is a flat galvanised steel strip (typically 30mm or 40mm wide, 0.6mm or 0.8mm thick) laid flat in the mortar bed. It provides horizontal tensile reinforcement to prevent walls from cracking and separating.

What Is Brick Force?

Brick force (also called "brickforce" or "ladder reinforcement") is a welded wire mesh reinforcement, typically 75mm wide, with two parallel wires connected by cross wires. It provides bed joint reinforcement and helps control cracking.

Key Differences

When to Use Each

Use hoop iron when: - SANS 10400 specifies it (every nth course, around openings) - Building boundary walls, retaining walls, or structural walls - You need to tie walls together at corners and intersections

Use brick force when: - Additional crack control is needed (long walls, walls with large openings) - Your engineer specifies it for particular applications - Building walls subject to vibration or movement

Use both when: - Building high walls (above 2.1m) - Constructing walls in seismic areas - Your structural engineer specifies both

In most South African residential construction, hoop iron is the primary requirement under SANS 10400. Brick force is an additional reinforcement used where extra crack control is needed.