Granite Dimension Stone

C615: Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone

Granite dimension stone is a cornerstone of architectural and structural design, prized for its durability, aesthetic appeal, and timeless quality. For professionals involved in construction, architecture, and materials engineering, understanding the industry-leading ASTM C615 standard is essential for ensuring the integrity and longevity of projects utilizing this robust natural material. This comprehensive specification provides the authoritative framework for selecting and specifying granite dimension stone, safeguarding against material failure and aesthetic disappointment.

What is C615?

ASTM C615, "Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone," is a pivotal industry standard developed by ASTM International. Its primary purpose is to establish the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling procedures for granite intended for general building and structural applications. This specification ensures that granite supplied for construction meets proven performance criteria, offering professionals a reliable benchmark for material selection.

Scope & Purpose

The scope of ASTM C615 encompasses granite that has been sawn, cut, split, or otherwise finished into specific dimensions for architectural and structural use. This includes applications such as exterior and interior cladding, curbing, paving, structural components, retaining walls, and monuments. Crucially, the standard explicitly excludes artificially aggregated units composed of crushed or broken stone fragments. Its purpose is to provide a clear, standardized method for specifying and procuring granite that meets rigorous performance and durability expectations.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Materials Engineers, Civil Engineers, Architects, Stone Suppliers, Quality Control Inspectors, and Project Managers.
• • Industries affected: Construction, Building Materials Manufacturing, Stone Quarrying and Processing, Architecture, and Landscape Architecture.
• • Compliance nature: While often specified voluntarily in contracts, adherence to ASTM C615 is highly recommended and frequently becomes a de facto mandatory requirement for projects demanding high-quality, predictable material performance.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is typically verified through material submittals, third-party testing, and quality assurance inspections during project execution, ensuring the specified granite meets the standard's requirements.

Key Requirements Overview

The standard requires that granite dimension stone possess specific material characteristics and physical properties tailored for its intended use. Key provisions include:

• • Soundness and Durability: Granite must be free from defects like cracks, open seams, or spalls that could compromise structural integrity or long-term performance.
• • Physical Property Benchmarks: The specification mandates minimum thresholds for critical physical properties such as compressive strength, flexural strength, modulus of rupture, absorption, and abrasion resistance, as determined by standardized ASTM testing methods.
• • Aesthetic Control: Permissible variations in color and texture are defined, with control samples required to establish expectations for the final material delivered to the project site.
• • Defect Avoidance: Granite should be free of minerals that could lead to objectionable staining under normal environmental conditions.
• • Engineering Evaluation for Deviations: While strict adherence to tabulated physical properties is expected, the standard permits the use of granite with values below minimums, provided a competent engineering authority has thoroughly evaluated its suitability, considering factors like durability and thermal expansion.

Related Standards & References

ASTM C615 works in conjunction with several other ASTM standards to provide a comprehensive framework for granite dimension stone. Key complementary standards include:

• • ASTM C119: "Standard Term