07 Resources

Technical data

Which tests architects ask for, such as EN 1936 and EN 13755, and how to read a report. Values are published once verified test reports are available.

01 Tests

Tests to ask for

These are the standard tests that architects and importers most often request for natural stone. They are listed as what to ask for, not as results: no value is implied for any stone on this site. Which tests apply depends on the stone, the use and the rules of the destination country.

Property	Standard	What it measures	Where it matters
Density and porosity	`EN 1936`	Real and apparent density, and total and open porosity.	Weight for transport, handling and fixings. Pore structure also affects staining and frost behaviour.
Water absorption	`EN 13755`	The water the stone takes up at atmospheric pressure.	Staining, frost and de-icing salt exposure, and cladding that is exposed to rain.
Compressive strength	`EN 1926`	The load the stone resists when it is compressed.	Paving, steps, plinths and any piece that carries load.
Flexural strength	`EN 12372`	The bending load the stone resists under a concentrated load.	Thin cladding, anchor-fixed panels, treads, sills and lintels.
Abrasion resistance	`EN 14157`	How well the surface resists wear.	Floors and steps with heavy traffic.
Frost resistance	`EN 12371`	How the stone behaves after repeated freezing and thawing.	Exterior facades and paving in cold climates, and wherever de-icing salts are used.
Slip resistance	`EN 14231`	The slip resistance of the finished surface, measured with a pendulum tester.	Wet areas, ramps and steps. It belongs to the product and the finish you receive, not to the name of the finish.

02 Properties

Properties by stone

We publish a value only after the test report has been checked, and a report describes the lot that was tested. A property appears here as soon as a verified report for it is published.

No verified test values published yet

Request the data sheet and the test reports for the stone and the batch you are considering, and tell us the finish and the project.

Travertine
Own quarry
Request by email or include it in your RFQ
Tuff
Supplied
Request by email or include it in your RFQ
Basalt
Supplied
Request by email or include it in your RFQ

03 Reading a report

What to check in a test report

01 The stone, and the lot or the block the samples came from.
02 The standard and its year, so that values can be compared like with like.
03 The laboratory and the date of the report.
04 The finish, and the direction of the layers relative to the load. In layered stone such as travertine, strength can differ with the direction of the layers.
05 Whether a value is an average or a minimum. Natural stone varies, so ask how the range of results is reported.