Similar International Standards
EN 1925:2000CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Natural stone test methods - Determination of water absorption by capillarity
Focuses on measuring water absorption through capillary action for natural stone, which is a key mechanism of water ingress and permeability.
EN 13755:2008CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Natural stone test methods - Determination of water absorption at atmospheric pressure
Covers the total water absorption for natural stone under atmospheric conditions, directly indicating its porous structure and overall permeability.
ASTM C97 / C97M – 20ASTM International, USA
HighCurrent
Standard Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone
Specifies methods for determining water absorption in dimension stone, serving as a primary indicator of its capacity to absorb water and thus its permeability.
ISO 15148:2002ISO (International Organization for Standardization), International
MediumCurrent
Hygrothermal performance of building materials and products — Determination of water absorption coefficient by partial immersion
Provides a method for determining water absorption by capillary action for various porous building materials, including stone, although not stone-specific.
Key Differences
≠IS 4348:1973, being an older standard, likely provides less stringent or less detailed specifications for specimen dimensions and tolerances compared to modern international standards. For example, ASTM C97 provides specific surface area requirements, while EN standards often specify exact nominal dimensions for cubes or cylinders, which might differ from a simple 50mm cube implied by IS.
≠While IS 4348 may consistently specify a drying temperature of 105 ± 5 °C for all conditioning, specialized international standards like EN 1925:2000 for capillary absorption often prescribe a lower drying temperature (e.g., 60 ± 5 °C). This difference is significant as higher temperatures can sometimes alter the pore structure or hygroscopic properties of certain natural stones, affecting capillary behavior.
≠The immersion duration for atmospheric water absorption can differ. ASTM C97/C97M–20 specifies a 48-hour immersion period to ensure thorough saturation. IS 4348:1973 might specify a shorter immersion time, such as 24 hours, which was common in older standards, potentially leading to lower reported absorption values if complete saturation is not achieved within that timeframe.
≠IS 4348's broad title 'determination of permeability' may encompass various water ingress tests without clear distinctions. In contrast, international standards explicitly differentiate between 'water absorption at atmospheric pressure' (e.g., EN 13755, ASTM C97), 'water absorption by capillarity' (e.g., EN 1925), and sometimes 'water permeability under pressure', each with distinct methodologies and reporting requirements.
≠Modern international standards like EN 1925:2000 require the calculation and reporting of a specific capillary absorption coefficient (e.g., in g/m²·s^0.5), based on mass change over defined time intervals. If IS 4348 includes capillary testing, it may simply report cumulative absorption at fixed times or lack a specific coefficient calculation for comparative purposes.
Key Similarities
≈Both IS 4348:1973 and its international counterparts operate on the fundamental principle of quantifying the increase in mass of a dry stone specimen due to water uptake, serving as a primary indicator of the material's permeability and porous nature.
≈All referenced standards uniformly require stone specimens to be conditioned to a constant dry mass, typically achieved by oven-drying, before the commencement of any water absorption or permeability testing to establish a consistent and reproducible baseline.
≈A common practice across IS 4348 and international standards is the specification of distilled or deionized water for immersion, ensuring that results are not influenced by impurities or dissolved minerals present in tap water.
≈The primary method for determining water uptake in all these standards is gravimetric measurement, involving precise weighing of the specimen before and after exposure to water.
≈The results obtained from these permeability and absorption tests, whether conducted under IS 4348 or international standards, are universally recognized as crucial indicators for assessing the durability, frost resistance, and overall performance characteristics of natural building stones in various applications.