ASTM C503-08

Standard Specification for Marble Dimension Stone

ABSTRACT
This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling method appropriate to the selection of marble dimension stone for general building and structural purposes. Dimension marble shall include stone that is sawed, cut, split, or otherwise finished or shaped into blocks, slabs or tiles, and shall specifically exclude molded, cast and artificially aggregated units composed of fragments, and also crushed and broken stone. Marbles covered here are classified as either calcite or dolomite. The physical property requirements to which marble stones shall adhere to are absorption by weight, density, compressive strength, modulus of rupture, abrasion resistance, and flexural strength.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the selection of marble for general building and structural purposes. Refer to Guides C 1242 and C 1528 for the appropriate selection and use of marble dimension stone.
1.2 Dimension marble shall include stone that is sawed, cut, split, or otherwise finished or shaped into blocks, slabs or tiles, and shall specifically exclude molded, cast and artificially aggregated units composed of fragments, and also crushed and broken stone.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 14-Jan-2008
• ICS: 91.100.15 - Mineral materials and products
• Technical Committee: C18 - Dimension Stone
• Drafting Committee: C18.03 - Material Specifications

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C503-05 - Standard Specification for Marble Dimension Stone
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2008
• Replaced By: ASTM C503-08a - Standard Specification for Marble Dimension Stone
• Effective Date: 01-Oct-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1401-23 - Standard Guide for Structural Sealant Glazing
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1528/C1528M-20 - Standard Guide for Selection of Dimension Stone
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1242-23 - Standard Guide for Selection, Design, and Installation of Dimension Stone Attachment Systems
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1515-20 - Standard Guide for Cleaning of Exterior Dimension Stone, Vertical And Horizontal Surfaces, New or Existing
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2008
• Referred By: ASTM C1721-22 - Standard Guide for Petrographic Examination of Dimension Stone
• Effective Date: 15-Jan-2008

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: C 503 – 08
Standard Specification for
1
Marble Dimension Stone
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 503; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.1.1 marble, n—a crystalline rock composed predomi-
nantly of one or more of the following minerals: calcite and
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics,
dolomite capable of taking a polish (see TerminologyC119).
physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the selec-
tion of marble for general building and structural purposes.
4. Classification
Refer to Guides C 1242 and C 1528 for the appropriate
4.1 Dimension marble is classified as follows:
selection and use of marble dimension stone.
4.1.1 I Calcite.
1.2 Dimension marble shall include stone that is sawed, cut,
4.1.2 II Dolomite.
split, or otherwise finished or shaped into blocks, slabs or tiles,
and shall specifically exclude molded, cast and artificially
NOTE 1—See Terminology C119 for definitions of calcite and dolo-
aggregated units composed of fragments, and also crushed and mite.
broken stone.
5. Soundness
2. Referenced Documents
5.1 Marbles are further classified into four “Soundness”
2
groups: A, B, C, and D. Classifications are based on the
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C97 Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Grav- properties encountered in fabrication and has no reference
whatsoever to comparative merit or value. Marble is classified
ity of Dimension Stone
C99 Test Method for Modulus of Rupture of Dimension by its producer.
5.2 The Soundness classifications indicate what repairs may
Stone
C119 Terminology Relating to Dimension Stone be necessary prior to or during installation, based on standard
trade practices.
C 170 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension
Stone 5.3 The groupings A, B, C, and D, should be taken into
C 241 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Stone Sub- account when specifying marble, for all marbles are not
suitableforallbuildingapplications.Thisisparticularlytrueof
jected to Foot Traffic
C 880 Test Method for Flexural Strength of Dimension the comparatively fragile marbles classified under Soundness
Groups C and D, which may need additional fabrication before
Stone
C 1242 Guide for Selection, Design, and Installation of or during installation. Only Soundness GroupAmarble should
be used for exterior installations, or any applications that
Dimension Stone Anchoring Systems
C 1353 Test Method Using the Taber Abraser for Abrasion require the stone panel to resist lateral loads or to bear weight
without reinforcement.
Resistance of Dimension Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic
C 1528 Guide for Selection of Dimension Stone for Exte- 5.3.1 The four groups are:
Group A—Sound marbles with uniform and favorable
rior Use
working qualities; containing no geological flaws, voids,
3. Terminology
spalls, cracks, open seams, pits or other defects.
3.1 Definitions—All definitions are in accordance with Ter- Group B —Marble similar in soundness to Group A, but
minologyC119. with less favorable working qualities; may have some minor
small holes or voids that may require a limited amount of one
3 4 5
or more of the following: waxing , sticking , and filling .
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C18 on
Dimension Stone and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C18.03 on
Material Specifications.
3
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2008. Published February 2008. Originally Waxing refers to the practice of filling minor surface imperfections such as
approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as C 503 – 05. voids or sand holes with melted shellac, cabinetmaker’s wax or certain polyester
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or compounds. It does not refer to the application of paste wax to make the surfaces
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM shinier.
4
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Sticking describes the butt edge repair of a broken piece now generally done
the ASTM website. with dowels, cements or epoxies. The pieces are “stuck” together, thus “sticking.”
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
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C503–08
Group C—Marble with some variations in working quali- 6.3 Marble for interior use may be Soundness GroupA, B,
ties; geological flaws, voids, and lines of separation are CorD.
common. It is standard practice to repair these variations by
6.
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:C503–05 Designation: C 503 – 08
Standard Specification for
1
Marble Dimension Stone
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 503; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the selection of
marble for general building and structural purposes.
1.1 This specification covers the material characteristics, physical requirements, and sampling appropriate to the selection of
marble for general building and structural purposes. Refer to Guides C 1242 and C 1528 for the appropriate selection and use of
marble dimension stone.
1.2 Dimension marble shall include stone that is sawed, cut, split, or otherwise finished or shaped into blocks, slabs or tiles, and
shall specifically exclude molded, cast and artificially aggregated units composed of fragments, and also crushed and broken stone.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C 97 Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone
C 99 Test Method for Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone
C 119 Terminology Relating to Dimension Stone
C 170 Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone
C 241 Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic
C 880 Test Method for Flexural Strength of Dimension Stone
C 1242 Guide for Selection, Design, and Installation of Dimension Stone Anchoring Systems
C1353Test Method Using the Taber Abraser for Abrasion Resistance of Dimension Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic 1353 Test
Method Using the Taber Abraser for Abrasion Resistance of Dimension Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic
C 1528 Guide for Selection of Dimension Stone for Exterior Use
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions—All definitions are in accordance with Terminology C 119.
3.1.1 marble, n—a crystalline rock composed predominantly of one or more of the following minerals: calcite and dolomite
capable of taking a polish (see Terminology C 119).
4. Classification
4.1 Dimension marble is classified as follows:
4.1.1 I Calcite.
4.1.2 II Dolomite.
NOTE 1—See Terminology C 119 for definitions of calcite and dolomite.
5. Soundness
5.1Marbles are further classified into four “Soundness” groups. The basis of this classification is the characteristics encountered
in fabrication and has no reference whatsoever to comparative merit or value. The classifications merely indicate what method of
fabrication is considered necessary and acceptable in each instance, as based on standard trade practice. Marble is classified by its
producer.
5.1 Marbles are further classified into four “Soundness” groups: A, B, C, and D. Classifications are based on the properties
encountered in fabrication and has no reference whatsoever to comparative merit or value. Marble is classified by its producer.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C18 on Dimension Stone and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C18.03 on Material
Specifications.
Current edition approved June 1, 2005. Published July 2005. Originally approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as C503–03.
Current edition approved Jan. 15, 2008. Published February 2008. Originally approved in 1962. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as C 503 – 05.
2
For referencedASTM standards, visit theASTM website, www.astm.org, or contactASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

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C503–08
5.2 The Soundness classifications indicate what repairs may be necessary prior to or during installation, based on standard trade
practices.
5.3 The groupings A, B, C, and D, should be taken into account when specifying marble, for all marbles are not suitable for
all building applications. This is particularly true of the comparatively fragile marbles classified under Soundness Groups C and
D, which may need additional fabrication before or during installation. Only Soundness Group A marble should be used for
structural, load bearing purposes. exterior installations, or any applications tha
...