Granite Dimension Stone

C615/C615M: Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone

When specifying granite for critical construction and architectural projects, ensuring material integrity and performance is paramount. ASTM C615/C615M provides an essential framework for selecting and utilizing granite dimension stone, offering proven guidelines that engineers and designers rely on for durable and aesthetically pleasing results. This authoritative standard is the go-to resource for professionals committed to quality in stone applications.

What is C615/C615M?

ASTM C615/C615M, the Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone, establishes the material characteristics and physical performance requirements for natural granite intended for building and structural applications. Originating from ASTM Committee C18 on Dimension Stone, its primary purpose is to define quality benchmarks and testing methodologies to ensure the suitability of granite for a wide range of construction uses.

Scope & Purpose

This comprehensive standard governs the selection and application of natural granite that has been physically shaped or finished into dimension stone. It explicitly excludes artificially aggregated materials. The scope encompasses granite intended for exterior and interior cladding, structural components, and landscape features such as curbing and paving, but it does not cover the methods for attachment or installation, which are addressed in complementary guides.

Who Must Comply?

• • Primary audience: Materials Engineers, Civil Engineers, Architects, Stone Fabricators, and Quality Control Inspectors.
• • Industries affected: Construction, Architecture, Stone Processing, Civil Engineering, and Monument Fabrication.
• • Compliance nature: Typically voluntary, but often mandated by project specifications and contracts.
• • Enforcement: Compliance is generally verified through material submittals, testing reports, and site inspections by project engineers, architects, or designated quality assurance personnel.

Key Requirements Overview

• • The standard requires that granite dimension stone be sound and durable, free from defects like spalls, cracks, or open seams that could compromise its structural integrity.
• • Professionals must ensure that the granite meets specific physical property thresholds for absorption, density, compressive strength, modulus of rupture, and abrasion resistance, as detailed in referenced test methods.
• • Key provisions include specifying that granite should not contain minerals prone to causing objectionable staining.
• • The standard mandates the use of control samples to establish and verify desired color, texture, and permissible natural variations for project consistency.
• • It outlines that granite with physical properties below the specified minimums may be acceptable if evaluated and approved by a competent engineering authority, considering factors beyond basic strength.

Related Standards & References

ASTM C615/C615M works in conjunction with several other ASTM standards:

• • ASTM C97/C97M (Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone) and ASTM C170/C170M (Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone) are critical for verifying the fundamental material properties outlined in C615/C615M.
• • ASTM C1242 (Guide for Selection, Design, and Installation of Dimension Stone Attachment Systems) and ASTM C1528 (Guide for Selection of Dimension Stone) offer complementary guidance on the practical application and selection processes, ensuring a holistic approach to granite dimension stone projects