UNI EN 1936

Natural stone test methods

Determination of real density and apparent density and of total porosity and open porosity – 2007

Apparent density is the ratio between the mass of the specimen and the apparent volume, made up of solid part plus the
volume of cavities.
Open porosity is defined as the ratio between the volume of open pores and apparent volume of the specimen.
The apparent density of a rock and its porosity are therefore related to its mineral composition and its structure.
The method is based on the principle of archimedes (a body immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight
of the fluid displaced by the object). 6 cubes with 50 mm sides are dried at t=70 ± 5°c until the mass is constant (the
difference in mass between two weighings at an interval of 24 ± 2h must be <0.1%). The specimens are left in a drier until
they reach room temperature and then they are weighed (m d)
Specimens are placed in an evacuation vessel where pressure is lowered to 2kPa and kept for two hours. The vessel is then
filled with demineralised water so that specimens are completely immersed in no less than 15 minutes. When all the
specimens are immersed the vessel is brought again to atmospheric pressure and specimens are left at atmospheric pressure
for 24 hours. Afterwards, each saturated specimen is weighed in water by means of an instrument capable of weighing
specimens in water (ms) and in air (mh) after having wiped them quickly with a dampened cloth.

Immersion container
Vacuum pump Vacuum pump Hydrostatic balance
vacuum

The apparent density is expressed, by rounding off to 101 kg/m3, using the following equation:

Ρrh = density of the water at 20°c = 998 kg/m3

While the open porosity, rounded off to 0,1 % is calculated using the following equation:

UNI EN 13755
Natural stone test methods
Determination of water absorption at atmospheric pressure - 2008

This is the ratio between the water absorbed by the sample and its dry weight (it is a percentage value of its density). It is
carried out on 6 cubes with 50 mm sides or rather cylinders or prisms with a volume of at least 125 ml; the ratio between the
area of the surface and the volume must be between 0.1mm -1 and 0.2mm-1
The samples are dried at t=70 ± 5°C until they reach constant mass. Once they have reached room temperature in a drier they
are weighed (md). They are then immersed in demineralised water and when the specimens are saturated (because they have
reached a constant mass) they are weighed (ms) after having wiped them quickly with a dampened cloth.

Dryer

The WA (%) is given by:

UNI EN 1926
Natural stone test methods
Determination of uniaxial compressive strength - 2007

This is the resistance that bodies oppose to forces that tend to break them by crushing.
The acting forces must be evenly distributed on equal opposite faces of the specimen and their resultant force must pass
through the centre of gravity (single compression).
This is carried out on six cubic specimens with a 70 ± 5 mm side conditioned at 70 °C until constant mass.
The load is evenly applied perpendicularly (or parallel) to the anisotropy planes at a speed of 0,5 MPa/s by means of a press
equipped with a ball joint cell.

Press

The uniaxial compressive strength r of each specimen is given in MPa with at least 2 significant figures based on the
following equation:

Where:
F = breaking strength of the sample (n);
A = area of the cross section (mm2)

UNI EN 12372
Natural stone test methods
Determination of flexural strength - 2007

Flexural strength is the resistance that stone materials oppose to forces that tend to bend them.
This test is carried out on 10 specimens 150 x 50 x 25 mm conditioned at 70°c until they reach constant mass.
The specimens are positioned centrally on the support rollers of the testing machine. The load applied in the centre is
increased evenly up to the speed of 0,25 ± 0,05 mpa/s. The width and thickness of the sample are measured adjacent to the
breaking plane.

Control Panel machinery

testing flexural

The flexural strength Rf of each sample rounded off to 0,1 MPa is calculated with the following equation:

Where:
F = breaking load of the sample (N);
l = distance between the supports (mm);
b= width of the sample (mm);
h = height of the sample (mm).

UNI EN 12371
Natural stone test methods
Determination of frost resistance - 2003
Frost resistance is the ability of the stone material not to deteriorate mechanically when subjected to
freeze-thaw cycles.
The specimens are dried to constant mass at 70 °c, weighed and then placed in a container on special
supports, at least 15 mm from the adjacent specimens. They are then immersed in water at
atmospheric pressure up to half of their height for 60 minutes, then up to ¾ of their height for a
further 60 minutes and then immersed completely for 48 hours.
They are subsequently subjected to 48 freeze cycles in air for 6 hours at a temperature of –12°c, and
thaw cycles for 6 hours in water at a temperature of 5°C to 20°C.

Frost cycles machine Frost cycles machine

Temperature at the centre of the sample TIME

monitored
Inizio del ciclo ≥ +5°C ≤ 20°C T0
PHASE 1 IN AIR ≤ 0°C ≥ -8°C T0 + 2,0 h
PHASE 2 IN AIR ≤ -8°C ≥ -12°C T0 + 6,0 h
PHASE 3 IN WATER Total Immersion T0 + 6,5 h
PHASE 4 IN WATER ≥ 5°C ≤ 20°C T0 + 9,0 h
PHASE 5 IN WATER ≥ 5°C ≤ 20°C T0 + 12,0 h

The frost resistance is the Ratio between the flexural resistance of a sample of specimens subjected to freeze-thaw cycles
compared to a similar sample in natural conditions.

UNI EN 14231
Natural stone test methods
Determination of the slip resistance by means of a pendulum tester - 2004
This is the measurement of slip resistance of an unpolished surface (unpolished slip resistance value - USRV) or of a polished
surface (SRV).
The equipment consists of a pendulum With a standardized rubber slider fixed to its end. The Pad, 76,2 mm wide, runs along
a 126 mm surface and drags a needle on a graduated scale. 6 specimens are used, each one 200 x 200 mm, 10 mm thick.
The test equipment and sliders are kept in a room at a temperature of (20 ± 2)°C for at least 30 minutes before the beginning
of the test. The test May be carried out on the dry sample or on the wet sample. In the latter case the sample is immersed in
water at (20 ± 2)°C for at least 2 hours and immediately before the test the surface of the specimen and the slider is wet With
ample water. On each measurement the position of the needle on the reading scale is recorded. This
operation is repeated five times recording the average of the last three readings. The specimen is
then turned 180°C after which the procedure is repeated.
The slip resistance of each specimen is given by the average, rounded off to the unit, of the two
average values measured in opposite directions.

Dry slip Wet slip