Why is brick well suited for resisting fire and weather?

Brick is highly regarded as a building material due to its inherent resistance to fire and weather, which compares favorably to stone.1

The material's fire-resisting qualities are a result of the manufacturing process, where bricks are fired in a kiln at temperatures ranging from 870° to 1,100° C (1,600° to more than 2,000° F). This process effectively pre-conditions the material to withstand high heat. For specialized applications requiring extreme thermal endurance, such as lining furnaces or fireplaces, manufacturers produce firebrick, a refractory material composed of nonmetallic minerals designed to sustain high temperatures.234

Regarding weather resistance, brick is valued for its durability against the elements and its resistance to abrasion. Its physical properties allow it to be used effectively in various outdoor applications, including retaining walls, patios, and walkways, where it provides a long-lasting, low-maintenance solution.5