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IS 3115:1992 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for lime based blocks. This standard specifies the requirements, dimensions, and testing methods for solid and hollow lime-based masonry blocks. It covers blocks manufactured using building lime, fly ash, and other pozzolanic materials intended for use in load-bearing and non-load-bearing walls.
lime based blocks
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Materials Science — Building Limes and Gypsum Products
! Lime-based blocks gain strength more slowly than Portland cement-based blocks; adequate curing time is essential before testing or use.
! Because of potentially high water absorption, blocks may need to be lightly pre-wetted before laying to prevent them from absorbing water from the mortar.
! These blocks serve as an eco-friendly masonry alternative by utilizing industrial by-products like fly ash.
EN 771-2:2011+A1:2015CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Specification for masonry units - Part 2: Calcium silicate masonry units
Specifies characteristics and performance requirements for calcium silicate masonry units.
ASTM C73-19ASTM International, USA
HighCurrent
Standard Specification for Calcium Silicate Face Brick (Sand-Lime Brick)
Covers requirements for bricks made from sand and lime intended for use in brick masonry.
BS 187:1978BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
HighWithdrawn
Specification for calcium silicate (sandlime and flintlime) bricks
Covered materials, dimensions, and physical requirements for calcium silicate bricks.
AS/NZS 4455.2:2010Standards Australia / Standards New Zealand
LowCurrent
Masonry units and segmental pavers and flags - Methods of test - Part 2: Determining compressive strength of masonry units
Provides a test method for compressive strength, a key parameter, but is not a full product specification.
Key Differences
≠IS 3115 classifies blocks into two classes based on strength and density, whereas EN 771-2 uses a much more granular system of declared classes for strength, density, and dimensional tolerances, allowing for greater product variety.
≠ASTM C73 classifies bricks into Grade SW (Severe Weathering) and MW (Moderate Weathering) based on compressive strength and water absorption, directly linking classification to durability. IS 3115 has no such explicit weathering-based classification.
≠The minimum compressive strength required by IS 3115 (5.0 N/mm²) is significantly lower than the minimums in ASTM C73 (Grade MW approx. 17.2 N/mm²).
≠EN 771-2 follows a 'declaration' model where manufacturers state the performance values (e.g., for thermal properties, shrinkage), while IS 3115 uses a prescriptive approach with fixed maximum/minimum limits for most parameters.
Key Similarities
≈All standards cover masonry units manufactured from a mixture of lime, sand/siliceous aggregates, and water, hardened by a high-pressure steam (autoclaving) process.
≈The fundamental properties specified are consistent across all standards, including compressive strength, water absorption, dimensional stability (drying shrinkage), and dimensional tolerances.
≈The intended application for the units is the same: for use in load-bearing and non-load-bearing masonry walls, partitions, and columns.
≈The basic test principle for determining compressive strength, involving applying a uniform compressive load to a unit until failure, is conceptually similar across all referenced standards.