Designation:C1528−15StandardGuideforSelectionofDimensionStone1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationC1528;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.INTRODUCTIONNaturalstone,whilebeingperhapstheoldestbuildingmaterialknowntoman,canalsobeoneofthemostdifficultofallbuildingmaterialstoproperlyevaluate,select,andspecify.Everynaturalstoneproductisunique,havingitsownphysicalpropertiesandperformancecapabilities.Responsiblestoneselectioninvolvesextensiveandobjectiveevaluationofboththestonematerialandtheapplicationinwhichitisrequiredtoperform.Thisguidepresentsacursoryreviewofthedifferentstonetypescommonlyusedinconstruction,commonapplications,availablefinishes,andfactorsaffectingproductcosts.Itisintendedtobeusedincombinationwithgoodjudgment,responsibleengineeringanalysis,localbuildingcodes,andanyotheravailableresources.Itisnota“how-to”ora“step-by-step”guide,andhasbeenpreparedwiththeassumptionthattheuserhassomefamiliarityintheuseofnaturalstonepriortoutilizingthisguide.Pastperformanceisthebesttestofadimensionstone’sdurability.Yetbecausethephysicalpropertiesofanaturalstonecanvarywithinasingledeposit,evenstoneswithahistoryofsatisfactoryperformancemayneedtobetestedtoascertainthequalityofthecurrentproductionstock.Commonphysicalpropertytestsincludeabsorption,density,compressivestrength,modulusofrupture,flexuralstrength,abrasionresistance,andanchorstrength.Additionaltestsmayalsoberequireddependingonthematerialandapplication.Inahighproportionofthecases,failureofanaturalstoneinserviceisaresultofimproperapplication,ratherthantheinherentpropertiesofthestone.Placingstonesinunsuitableenvironments,faultyfabrication,installation,orconstructionpractices,andincompatibleassociatedmaterialsarefrequentcausesofstonesystemfailures(forexample,high-porositystonesinsubgradeappli...
