ASTM C270-14

Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry

ABSTRACT
This specification covers mortars for use in the construction of non-reinforced and reinforced unit masonry structures. Four types of mortar are covered in each of two alternative specifications: (1) proportion specifications and (2) property specifications. The property specification applies to mortar mixed to a specific flow in the laboratory. When neither proportion nor property specifications are specified, the proportion specifications shall govern, unless data are presented to and accepted by the specifier to show that mortar meets the requirements of the property specifications. This specification does not cover the determination of mortar strengths through field testing. The compressive strength values resulting from field tested mortars do not represent the compressive strength of mortar tested in the laboratory nor that of the mortar in the wall. Physical properties of field sampled mortar shall not be used to determine compliance to this specification and are not intended as criteria to determine the acceptance of rejection of the mortar. Compliance to this specification is verified by confirming that the materials used are as specified, meet the requirements as given, and added to the mixer in the proper proportions as described.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers mortars for use in the construction of non-reinforced and reinforced unit masonry structures. Four types of mortar are covered in each of two alternative specifications: (1) proportion specifications and (2) property specifications.
Note 1: When the property specification is used to qualify masonry mortars, the testing agency performing the test methods should be evaluated in accordance with Practice C1093.  
1.2 The proportion or property specifications shall govern as specified.  
1.3 When neither proportion or property specifications are specified, the proportion specifications shall govern, unless data are presented to and accepted by the specifier to show that mortar meets the requirements of the property specifications.  
1.4 This standard is not a specification to determine mortar strengths through field testing (see Section 3).  
1.5 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.  
1.6 The terms used in this specification are identified in Terminologies C1180 and C1232.  
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.8 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods section of this specification: This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-May-2014
• ICS: 91.100.10 - Cement. Gypsum. Lime. Mortar
• Technical Committee: C12 - Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry
• Drafting Committee: C12.03 - Specifications for Mortars

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM C270-12a - Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Replaced By: ASTM C270-14a - Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry
• Effective Date: 15-Dec-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1791-16(2021) - Standard Guide for Reduction of Efflorescence Potential in New Unit Pavement Systems
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1324-20a - Standard Test Method for Examination and Analysis of Hardened Masonry Mortar
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1283-15(2021) - Standard Practice for Installing Clay Flue Lining
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1072-22 - Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Masonry Flexural Bond Strength
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C51-21 - Standard Terminology Relating to Lime and Limestone (as Used by the Industry)
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1707-18 - Standard Specification for Pozzolanic Hydraulic Lime for Structural Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM E2266-22 - Standard Guide for Design and Construction of Low-Rise Frame Building Wall Systems to Resist Water Intrusion
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1586-20 - Standard Guide for Quality Assurance of Mortars
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C387/C387M-23 - Standard Specification for Packaged, Dry, Combined Materials for Concrete and High Strength Mortar
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1403-22a - Standard Test Method for Rate of Water Absorption of Masonry Mortars
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1180-22 - Standard Terminology of Mortar and Grout for Unit Masonry
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1400-11(2017) - Standard Guide for Reduction of Efflorescence Potential in New Masonry Walls
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM C1722-23 - Standard Guide for Repair and Restoration of Dimension Stone
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014

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:C270 −14
StandardSpecification for
1
Mortar for Unit Masonry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C270; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
1.1 Thisspecificationcoversmortarsforuseintheconstruc- 2.1 ASTM Standards:
tion of non-reinforced and reinforced unit masonry structures. C5 Specification for Quicklime for Structural Purposes
Four types of mortar are covered in each of two alternative C91 Specification for Masonry Cement
specifications: (1) proportion specifications and (2) property C109/C109M Test Method for Compressive Strength of
specifications. Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or [50-mm] Cube
Specimens)
NOTE 1—When the property specification is used to qualify masonry
C110 Test Methods for Physical Testing of Quicklime,
mortars, the testing agency performing the test methods should be
Hydrated Lime, and Limestone
evaluated in accordance with Practice C1093.
C128 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific
1.2 Theproportionorpropertyspecificationsshallgovernas
Gravity), and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
specified.
C144 Specification for Aggregate for Masonry Mortar
1.3 When neither proportion or property specifications are
C150 Specification for Portland Cement
specified, the proportion specifications shall govern, unless
C188 Test Method for Density of Hydraulic Cement
data are presented to and accepted by the specifier to show that
C207 Specification for Hydrated Lime for Masonry Pur-
mortar meets the requirements of the property specifications.
poses
1.4 This standard is not a specification to determine mortar C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement
Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
strengths through field testing (see Section 3).
C511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets,
1.5 The text of this specification references notes and
Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the
footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and
Testing of Hydraulic Cements and Concretes
footnotes (excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be
C595 Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
considered as requirements of the standard.
C780 Test Method for Preconstruction and Construction
1.6 The terms used in this specification are identified in
Evaluation of Mortars for Plain and Reinforced Unit
Terminologies C1180 and C1232.
Masonry
C952 Test Method for Bond Strength of Mortar to Masonry
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
Units
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
C979 Specification for Pigments for Integrally Colored Con-
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
crete
and are not considered standard.
C1072 Test Methods for Measurement of Masonry Flexural
1.8 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the
Bond Strength
test methods section of this specification:This standard does
C1093 Practice for Accreditation of Testing Agencies for
not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any,
Masonry
associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this
C1157 Performance Specification for Hydraulic Cement
standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices
C1180 Terminology of Mortar and Grout for Unit Masonry
and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior
C1232 Terminology of Masonry
to use.
C1324 Test Method for Examination and Analysis of Hard-
ened Masonry Mortar
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C12 on
Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonryand is the direct responsibility of Subcom-
2
mittee C12.03 on Specifications for Mortars. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2014.PublishedJuly2014.Originallyapproved contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
in 1951. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as C270 – 12a. DOI: 10.1520/ Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
C0270-14. the ASTM website.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C270−14
C1329 Specification for Mortar Cement 4.1.3 Water—Water shall be clean and free of amounts of
C1384 Specification for Admixtures for Masonry Mortars oils,acids,alkalies,salts,organicmaterials,orothe
...

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: C270 − 12a C270 − 14
Standard Specification for
1
Mortar for Unit Masonry
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C270; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the U.S. Department of Defense.
1. Scope*Scope
1.1 This specification covers mortars for use in the construction of non-reinforced and reinforced unit masonry structures. Four
types of mortar are covered in each of two alternative specifications: (1) proportion specifications and (2) property specifications.
NOTE 1—When the property specification is used to qualify masonry mortars, the testing agency performing the test methods should be evaluated in
accordance with Practice C1093.
1.2 The proportion or property specifications shall govern as specified.
1.3 When neither proportion or property specifications are specified, the proportion specifications shall govern, unless data are
presented to and accepted by the specifier to show that mortar meets the requirements of the property specifications.
1.4 This standard is not a specification to determine mortar strengths through field testing (see Section 3).
1.5 The text of this specification references notes and footnotes which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered as requirements of the standard.
1.6 The terms used in this specification are identified in Terminologies C1180 and C1232.
1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.8 The following safety hazards caveat pertains only to the test methods section of this specification:This standard does not
purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to
establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C5 Specification for Quicklime for Structural Purposes
C91 Specification for Masonry Cement
C109/C109M Test Method for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (Using 2-in. or [50-mm] Cube Specimens)
C110 Test Methods for Physical Testing of Quicklime, Hydrated Lime, and Limestone
C128 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), and Absorption of Fine Aggregate
C144 Specification for Aggregate for Masonry Mortar
C150 Specification for Portland Cement
C188 Test Method for Density of Hydraulic Cement
C207 Specification for Hydrated Lime for Masonry Purposes
C305 Practice for Mechanical Mixing of Hydraulic Cement Pastes and Mortars of Plastic Consistency
C511 Specification for Mixing Rooms, Moist Cabinets, Moist Rooms, and Water Storage Tanks Used in the Testing of Hydraulic
Cements and Concretes
C595 Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements
C780 Test Method for Preconstruction and Construction Evaluation of Mortars for Plain and Reinforced Unit Masonry
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C12 on Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonryand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C12.03
on Specifications for Mortars.
Current edition approved June 1, 2012June 1, 2014. Published July 2012July 2014. Originally approved in 1951. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as
C270 – 12.C270 – 12a. DOI: 10.1520/C0270-12A.10.1520/C0270-14.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM 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.
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
C270 − 14
C952 Test Method for Bond Strength of Mortar to Masonry Units
C979 Specification for Pigments for Integrally Colored Concrete
C1072 Test Methods for Measurement of Masonry Flexural Bond Strength
C1093 Practice for Accreditation of Testing Agencies for Masonry
C1157 Performance Specification for Hydraul
...