A refractory brick list is ready for quotation when a supplier can identify every item, price the same scope and explain any deviation. A list containing only “high alumina bricks, one container” leaves the grade, shapes, quantities and delivery basis unresolved.
This checklist is for distributors, contractors and industrial purchasing teams buying to a defined specification. It is not a lining design or a guarantee that a proposed brick is suitable for a particular furnace.
Choose the quotation route first
For an exact-specification purchase, send the controlled grade specification and drawings. Ask the supplier to identify compliance and exceptions against those documents.
For a proposed equivalent, name the reference grade and state that alternatives are permitted. Request a comparison rather than accepting a supplier’s “equivalent” label as approval.
For an early budget, define the assumptions: standard grade or shape, provisional quantities, delivery basis and excluded items. Keep it separate from a firm procurement quotation. A budget is not confirmation of final specification or availability.
Prepare one line for each grade and shape
Use a stable item number that can be repeated in the drawing, supplier quotation and purchase order. Do not combine different grades, wedge shapes or special pieces into a single quantity.
| Field | What to include |
|---|---|
| Item ID | A unique line number used across the package |
| Material | Grade designation and specification reference |
| Shape | Standard format or drawing number and revision |
| Dimensions | Units, orientation and required tolerances |
| Quantity | Quantity and unit for that specific item |
| Accessories | Matching mortar or other items, separately identified |
| Required evidence | Documents and inspection requirements applying to that line |
If quantities are stated in tonnes but the drawings describe individual pieces, ask how piece quantities and weight will be established. Do not treat a preliminary weight calculation as a verified packing quantity.
Resolve drawing and specification conflicts
Make the drawing revision visible. Identify which specification takes precedence if a purchase list, drawing and grade sheet disagree. Mark open questions rather than letting a supplier select the cheapest interpretation.
For shaped bricks, show the orientation and relevant geometry instead of relying on a local brick nickname. State contractual tolerances or request the supplier’s proposed tolerance basis for review; do not invent a tolerance after the quotation arrives.
The detailed shape discussion belongs in our brick sizes and dimensions guide. This checklist addresses how those drawings connect to the commercial package.
Put documents on a submission schedule
“All certificates required” is not a reviewable document instruction. Identify the document, the product or batch it must cover, and the stage when it is needed.
| Stage | Agree before quotation |
|---|---|
| Bid or supplier review | Datasheet, proposed compliance comparison and any mandatory qualification evidence |
| Before order release | Approved specification/drawing and disposition of deviations |
| Production or inspection | Applicable inspection plan, sampling and witness arrangements |
| Before shipment | Required batch records, packing list and agreed release documents |
The project may use a different sequence. The purchaser’s requirements take precedence over this suggested workflow. Do not assume a document that will exist after production can satisfy a requirement due before bid submission.
Keep typical grade data distinct from required acceptance limits. For a report, establish the method, sample conditions and link to the ordered material. Our refractory COA review guide covers that review separately.
Define what the price includes
Give the destination and requested delivery basis. Identify packing, marking, inspection, sample or mould charges, freight and any separately requested services. Request an itemised response for each offered line.
Include the required delivery date and whether split shipments are acceptable. Ask the supplier to state what starts the lead time: order confirmation, drawing approval, receipt of payment or another defined event. Do not compare lead-time figures with different starting points.
Separate material supply from lining design, installation and site work. A materials quotation should not silently become an engineering or field-service commitment.
Ask for a structured supplier response
Request: offered grade and drawing revision; quantity and unit; compliance/deviation status; document availability and stage; price and validity; MOQ or special charges; packing; delivery basis; and lead-time conditions.
Where a supplier does not offer an item, mark it “not offered.” A blank price cell is not confirmation that the item is included elsewhere.
Compare offers using the same material list. Record whether an apparent price difference comes from a different grade, quantity, tolerance, packing arrangement or excluded requirement. Obtain written acceptance of any proposed deviation before order release.
A practical RFQ package
Keep the package small and controlled:
- An itemised material list with quantities and units.
- Drawings and a specification register showing current revisions.
- A document/inspection schedule with submission stages.
- Commercial instructions and a supplier response/deviation sheet.
This is a suggested procurement format, not a mandatory standard. If the final duty or specification has not been determined, request clarification or a clearly conditional budget before seeking a firm quotation.
Sources and scope
This is procurement-process guidance. It does not prescribe a material grade, test limit or furnace service life. HWI’s application-engineering discussion provides context for why one headline chemistry value is not a complete performance assessment; it is not a shaped-brick specification or evidence of Vuulcan capability.
For assistance reviewing a defined material list, submit your RFQ. Product availability, documentation and quotation timing remain subject to confirmation.
General procurement guidance. Source scope is stated above. Product availability, compliance, documentation and quotation timing require confirmation against the current project.