Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
natural stone products. The standard suite of tests varies
depending on the product type, in accordance with the
product specifications listed below:
Stone product
marking does not necessarily mean that a stone will be fit
for the intended purpose. In the absence of an approved
classification system, the test data must be assessed by an
engineer or stone specialist to determine if the stone is
suitable for a particular project. Testing beyond that
required for CE marking is prudent for certain applications.
In America, stone is specified in accordance with ASTM
C1528 -
Selection of Dimension Stone for Exterior Use
(ASTM International, 2008a). The American system differs
from the European one in that the stone test requirements
are specific to the stone type rather than the product type.
Each type of stone has its own ASTM standard as follows:
Applicable American
Applicable European
specification
standard
Masonry units
EN 771-6
Exernal paving
EN 1341
Setts
EN 1342
Kerbs
EN 1343
Rough blocks
EN 1467
Rough slabs
EN 1468
Cladding
EN 1469
Modular tiles
EN 12057
Flooring
EN 12058
Stone type
standard
Granite
ASTM C615
All of the European product specifications require that
petrographic examination be performed on stone from
new sources as part of initial type testing and in many
cases, at least every 10 years for existing sources, as part
of factory production control. Stone products that have
been subjected to standard suite of European tests can be
CE marked. Currently, the European standards give little
guidance as to how to interpret the test results and CE
Limestone
ASTM C568
Marble
ASTM C503
Quartz-based
ASTM C616
The ASTM standards provide pass/fail criteria for a
standard range of physical tests (
Table 5
). Petrographic
examination is not currently a requirement of the ASTM
standards, although it is likely to become one in the future.
Table 5
Classification of stone quality from results of ASTM tests (modified from Burton, 1999)
Minimum
Minimum
Minimum
Minimum
compressive
flexural
modulus
Minimum
density
Maximum
strength
strength
of rupture
abrasion
Stone type/
ASTM
absorption
ASTM
ASTM
ASTM
resistance
ASTM
C97
ASTM
C170
C880
C99
ASTM
specification
Subdivision
(Mg/m
3
)
C97 (%)
(MPa)
(MPa)
(MPa)
C241
Granite/C615
-
2560
0.4
131
8.27
10.34
25
Limestone/
Low density
1760
12
12
-
2.9
10
C568
Medium density
2160
7.5
28
-
3.4
10
High density
2560
3
55
-
6.9
10
Marble/C503
Calcite
2595
0.2
52
7
7
10
Dolomite
2800
0.2
52
7
7
10
Serpentinite
2690
0.2
52
7
7
10
Travertine
2305
0.2
52
7
7
10
Quartz-
Sandstone
2003
8
27.6
-
2.4
2
based/
C616
Quartzitic
2400
3
68.9
-
6.9
8
sandstone
Quartzite
2560
1
137.9
-
13.9
8
