Given below is a summary of the physical test results provided for us by the Building Research Establishment
(BRE) in 2006.
TEST |
|
Range |
BSEN 1936: Determination of open porosity |
% |
19.7 - 21.1 |
BSEN 1936: Determination of apparent density |
Kgm -3 |
2143 - 2179 |
BSEN 13755:Determination of water absorption at atmospheric pressure |
% |
7.0 – 7.7 |
BR 141: Determination of saturation coefficient |
|
0.77 – 0.80 |
BSEN 12370: Determination of resistance to salt crystallisation %weight loss |
% |
23.33 – 30.17 |
BSEN 1926: Determination of compressive strength dry perpendicular to bed |
MPa |
18.19 – 27.28 |
BSEN 12372: Determination of flexural strength dry perpendicular to bed |
MPa |
3.90 – 5.23 |
BSEN 12372: Determination of flexural strength dry perpendicular to bed after 48 cycles of freeze thaw |
MPa |
4.13 – 5.15 |
BSEN 12371: Determination of frost resistance |
|
Yes* |
BSEN 1341: Determination of abrasion resistance |
|
24.3 – 28.2 |
BSEN 1341: Determination of slip resistance wet |
|
84 - 91 |
* When the mean value of the flexural strength decreases by less than 20%, this should not be considered as significant because of the variability of natural stone as defined by EN 1431 2001: slabs of natural stone for external paving – requirements and test methods.
The frost damage which a stone may suffer when installed in a building will depend on the climatic conditions of the place of use, the relative position in the building (which determines the degree of saturation) and the predicted service of life of the building.
