ASTM International

[the following is partially extracted from Marble Institute of America website and is by kind courtesy]

Introduction

ASTM International, formerly known as American Society for Testing and Material (ASTM) is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world for materials, products, systems, and services. Over 30,000 individuals from over 120 countries are the members of ASTM International, who are producers, users, consumers, and general interest parties such as government representatives and academicians.

Committees are established which focus on and have jurisdiction over standards for different designations, relevant to specific industries such as Dimensional Stone (Committee C18) or Cement (Committee C01). Implementation of standards are accepted only after balloting the full ASTM International membership including review of negative votes cast.

Companies, agencies, and individuals use ASTM standards. Buyers and sellers of materials, products, and services include these standards in contracts; engineers, scientists, architects, and designers use them in their work; government agencies reference them in codes and regulations; and many others refer to them for performance information.

Why ASTM standards and other like standards are important

In today's building environment, the emphasis is on safe, permanent, low maintenance products, of which stone leads the list in the minds of architects, designers, and consumers worldwide.

Without a consistent, realistic set of standards and testing procedures for stone products, the stone industry as a whole would be in disarray. The standards that have been developed and set in place for these products are important tools to help protect end users, individual companies, and the industry from negative effects related to product failures. Materials standards help to prevent the use of stone products for unsuitable applications. For instance, without the minimum standards for Abrasion Resistance of Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic (ASTM C241-90(1997)), it would be more likely that very soft, easily damaged materials would be installed in commercial applications.

These standards also serve as benchmarks for quality limits of products. If a stone with a below-minimum flexural strength is used for a lintel, then it may be more likely to fail, thus causing damage and possible injury. Interior or exterior flooring or paving with an inadequate slip resistance level will more likely cause slipping accidents in public or private projects.

How and when these standards apply

Most architectural specifications require that stone meet certain specified ASTM or other testing standards before it will be accepted for use.

Testing of stone can be performed by other companies in the event that required test data is not available. Independent labs can perform the appropriate tests and provide the information in a well organized, professional report.

It is important to know when a certain test is not required for a product. For example, a test for Slip Resistance would not be necessary for stone used in a vertical application, which will never receive foot traffic. Some examples are not as easily established. For instance, what are the needs for testing a stone to be used for interior flooring in a commercial application where the stone is installed over a raised floor deck subject to deflection, and will be subject to traffic from pedestrians and cleaning carts weighing 1,000 pounds? It may be required that the stone of choice meets standards related to Slip Resistance, Abrasion Resistance, Absorption, Compressive Strength, and Bending Strength. These are all physical requirements of the stone product during everyday use.

Be aware of the requirements of performance that will be placed on the stone at the time of installation, and in the future.

ASTM SPECIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS

The following ASTM standards are referenced in the MIA's Dimension Stone Design Manual, VI. To obtain copies of these standards, consult the ASTM website: www.astm.org

MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS

ASTM C503	Standard Specification for Marble Dimension Stone (Exterior)
ASTM C568	Standard Specification for Limestone Dimension Stone
ASTM C615	Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone
ASTM C616	Standard Specification for Quartz-Based Dimension Stone
ASTM C629	Standard Specification for Slate Dimension Stone
ASTM C1526	Standard Specification for Serpentine Dimension Stone
ASTM C1527	Standard Specification for Travertine Dimension Stone

TEST STANDARDS

ASTM C97	Standard Test Method for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone
ASTM C99	Standard Test Method for Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone
ASTM C120	Standard Test Method of Flexure Testing of Slate (Modulus of Rupture, Modulus of Elasticity)
ASTM C121	Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Slate
ASTM C170	Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone
ASTM C199	Standard Test Method for Pier Test for Refractory Mortars
ASTM C217	Standard Test Method for Weather Resistance of Slate
ASTM C241	Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic
ASTM C880	Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Dimension Stone
ASTM C1028	Standard Test Method for Determining the Static Coefficient of Friction of Ceramic Tile and Other Like Surfaces by the Horizontal Dynamometer Pull-Meter Method
ASTM C1201	Standard Test Method for Structural Performance of Exterior Dimension Stone Cladding Systems by Uniform Static Air Pressure Difference
ASTM C1352	Standard Test Method for Flexural Modulus of Elasticity of Dimension Stone
ASTM C1353	Standard Test Method Using the Taber Abraser for Abrasion Resistance of Dimension Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic
ASTM C1354	Standard Test Method for Strength of Individual Stone Anchorages in Dimension Stone

OTHER APPLICATION STANDARDS

ASTM Manual Series: MNL 21	Modern Stone Cladding: Design and Installation of Exterior Dimension Stone Systems. 1995.
ASTM A666	Standard Specification for Annealed or Cold-Worked Austenitic Stainless Steel Sheet, Strip, Plate, and Flat Bar
ASTM B221	Standard Specification for Aluminum and Aluminum-Alloy Extruded Bars, Rods, Wire, Profiles, and Tubes
ASTM C36/C36M	Standard Specification for Gypsum Wallboard
ASTM C59/C59M	Standard Specification Gypsum Casting Plaster and Gypsum Molding Plaster
ASTM C91	Standard Specification for Masonry Cement
ASTM C119	Standard Terminology Relating to Dimension Stone
ASTM C144	Standard Specification for Aggregate for Masonry Mortar
ASTM C150	Standard Specification for Portland Cement
ASTM C207	Standard Specification for Hydrated Lime for Masonry Purposes
ASTM C270	Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry
ASTM C295	Standard Guide for Petrographic Examination of Aggregates for Concrete
ASTM C630/C630M	Standard Specification for Water-Resistant Gypsum Backer Board
ASTM C920	Standard Specification for Elastomeric Joint Sealants
ASTM C1242	Standard Guide for Selection, Design, and Installation of Exterior Dimension Stone Anchors and Anchoring Systems
ASTM C1515	Standard Guide for Cleaning of Exterior Dimension Stone, Vertical and Horizontal Surfaces, New or Existing
ASTM C1528	Standard Guide for Selection of Dimension Stone for Exterior Use
ASTM E72	Standard Test Methods of Conducting Strength Test of Panels for Building Construction
ASTM E119	Standard Test Methods for Fire Test for Building Construction
ASTM E575	Standard Practice for Reporting Data from Structural Tests of Building Constructions, Elements, Connections, and Assemblies
ASTM E632	Standard Practice for Developing Accelerated Tests to Air Prediction of the Service Life of Building Components and Materials

How to Contact ASTM

ASTM International,
100 Barr Harbor Drive,
West Conshohocken,
PA 19428-2959,
U.S.A.
Telephone: 610.832.9585
Fax: 610.832.9555
www.astm.org

European Office:
Telephone: 146.243.7933
Fax: 146.243.3678

Commercial Portfolio of Work

Holland Marble Company, Inc.
1515 Monetary Lane, Carrollton, TX 75006