ASME B107.57-2005 — Bricklayers’ Hammers and Prospecting Picks

28 10 月, 2026
ASME Standards

🧱 ASME B107.57-2005, issued by the ASME B107 Standards Committee on Hand Tools and Accessories, provides performance and safety requirements for bricklayers’ hammers and prospecting picks, superseding the 2001 edition. The Standard was previously numbered ANSI/HTI B173.6-1991 and entered the ASME system when the B173 Committee merged with B107 in 1996. A principal change in this edition is the addition of grip testing, and the document was restructured for consistency with other B107 standards. It was approved as an American National Standard on December 13, 2005.

💡 Bricklayers’ hammers support masonry “hammer-and-blade” work: setting, cutting (splitting) bricks, and chipping mortar from bricks; prospecting picks pull samples from the ground. The two tools work on very different materials, and their safety requirements differ accordingly.

1. Scope 📌

Section 1 (Scope) states that the Standard provides performance and safety requirements for:

Bricklayers’ hammers: intended specifically for setting and cutting (splitting) bricks and masonry tile, and chipping mortar from bricks;
Prospecting picks: intended specifically for pulling samples from the ground.

As with other B107 documents, it serves as a guide for selecting, testing, and using the covered tools; does not specify manufacturing details; supports manuals, posters, and personnel training; may be used by state authorities in formulating regulations; and is intended for voluntary use by establishments that use or manufacture the tools.

⚠️ The bricklayer’s hammer “cuts” bricks by splitting along the blade, not by battering hardened surfaces as if the hammer were a chisel. Keep the correct blade-to-brick angle to avoid edge chipping and flying fragments.

2. Design and Key Construction 🔧

Figure 1 (Bricklayer’s Hammer) and Figure 2 (Prospecting Pick) define the nomenclature of both tools:

Tool	Key Part	Description
Bricklayer’s hammer	Striking face	Strikes struck tools or the splitting surface of bricks
Bricklayer’s hammer	Blade / chisel end	Cuts and splits bricks; chips mortar
Bricklayer’s hammer	Handle	Securely joined to the head; reliable, slip-resistant grip
Prospecting pick	Head	Strikes rock and recovers mineral samples
Prospecting pick	Handle	Longer, for leverage and swing arc

3. Performance Requirements and Tests 📊

Sections 4 (Requirements) and 5 (Tests) specify:

Material and surface: heads made of steel meeting requirements, free of nonfunctional sharp edges and harmful defects;
Hardness: striking faces and blades per ASTM E 18, balancing wear resistance against chipping resistance;
Typical Static Force Test (Fig. 3): applies a specified static load to the head, verifying structure and handle joint;
Grip Testing (new in 2005): verifies the slip resistance and reliability of the handle grip area to prevent the tool flying out of the hand.

Test	Purpose	Notes
Hardness determination	Verify working-surface performance	ASTM E 18 Rockwell methods
Typical static force test	Verify structure and joint strength	Fig. 3 rig, specified static load
Grip testing	Verify grip slip resistance and reliability	New in the 2005 edition

4. Safety Requirements and Limitations of Use 🛠️

Section 6 (Safety Requirements and Limitations of Use) includes:

Do not strike hardened steel, concrete, or other unintended objects with bricklayers’ hammers; wear eye and face protection when splitting bricks to stop chips and dust;
Before swinging a prospecting pick, confirm bystander clearance and check the head-handle joint against head detachment;
Use correct swing technique, avoiding glancing blows and overstrikes;
Retire tools showing cracks, looseness, or deformation;
Safety labels per ANSI Z535.4; eye and face protection per ANSI Z87.1.

🚨 The typical bricklayer’s-hammer injury is brick chips and blade fragments in the eye; the typical pick injury is a detached head or a misdirected swing. Wear safety glasses for all splitting and picking work, and inspect head-handle joints.

5. Engineering Practice Essentials 🛠️

🔍 Selection: choose hammer weight by brick hardness and duty; choose pick head style and handle length by sampling geology.
🔧 Technique: score the target line lightly before splitting, then split along the score; keep the blade sharp without overheating (tempering) during grinding.
📊 Protection: wear eye protection and gloves during splitting, chipping, and field sampling; keep bystanders clear outdoors.
📋 Care: inspect the blade, striking face, and handle regularly; replace split or cracked wood handles immediately.

6. Frequently Asked Questions ❓

❓ Q: How does a bricklayer’s hammer differ from an ordinary hammer?
A: It carries a dedicated blade (chisel end) for cutting and splitting bricks and chipping mortar, plus a striking face for the splitting work; an ordinary hammer lacks this function combination.

❓ Q: What is a prospecting pick for?
A: Per the Standard, it is intended specifically for pulling samples from the ground — its head strikes and pries rock and soil to recover mineral samples.

❓ Q: What test was added in the 2005 edition?
A: Grip testing was added to verify handle grip slip resistance and reliability, and the chapter structure was aligned with other B107 standards.

🔍 Q: What is the key to safe brick splitting?
A: Wear eye and face protection per ANSI Z87.1 against brick chips; keep the correct blade angle to prevent edge chipping; and keep the swing path clear of people.

ASME B107.57-2005.pdf