ASTM C1515-20

Standard Guide for Cleaning of Exterior Dimension Stone, Vertical And Horizontal Surfaces, New or Existing

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Exterior dimension stone is chosen for use in contemporary architecture in part because of its aesthetic appeal. Aesthetics can be significantly diminished when dirt, grime, fly ash, algae and other contaminants collect on the surface of stone.  
4.2 This guide is intended to assist those who wish to preserve the original appearance of a new structure or to return a stone-clad building to its original color and appearance.  
4.2.1 Note that cleaning may not be able to return discolored or faded stone to its original appearance.  
4.3 This guide may be used as a construction document.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide describes materials and procedures which may be used to clean dimension stone exteriors as well as the conditions under which they may be used. It is intended to aid owners, maintenance supervisors and building managers, architects and engineers, and contractors in cleaning vertical exterior dimension stone on commercial, residential and institutional structures. This guide may also be helpful to those who wish to clean stone masonry on bridges, retaining walls, ramps, and plazas, and free-standing stone objects such as statuary, memorials and grave markers.  
1.2 This guide relates primarily, to routine maintenance of the surface finish of exterior dimension stone. The techniques noted herein may not be appropriate or cost effective with regard to restoration of disfigured, severely soiled or stained stonework, or of stonework of particular historic importance. In cases where staining occurs on surfaces which have cultural, civic, historic or architectural significance, consultation with a specialist is recommended.  
1.3 The user of this guide should also obtain and have on file at both the job site and the office Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) describing the nature of all chemical products utilized during the cleaning process.  
1.4 A file of literature from the manufacturers of all products involved within the scope of each project should be available for reference.  
1.5 These procedures are not intended for interior stonework.  
1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.  
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 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Sep-2020
• ICS: 91.100.15 - Mineral materials and products
• Technical Committee: C18 - Dimension Stone
• Drafting Committee: C18.07 - Environmental Properties, Behavior, and Cleaning

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: C1515 − 20
Standard Guide for
Cleaning of Exterior Dimension Stone, Vertical And
1
Horizontal Surfaces, New or Existing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1515; 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.
1. Scope sent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of
a given professional service must be judged, nor should this
1.1 This guide describes materials and procedures which
document be applied without consideration of a project’s many
may be used to clean dimension stone exteriors as well as the
unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this
conditions under which they may be used. It is intended to aid
document means only that the document has been approved
owners, maintenance supervisors and building managers, ar-
through the ASTM consensus process.
chitects and engineers, and contractors in cleaning vertical
exterior dimension stone on commercial, residential and insti- 1.7 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
tutionalstructures.Thisguidemayalsobehelpfultothosewho as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
wishtocleanstonemasonryonbridges,retainingwalls,ramps, conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
and plazas, and free-standing stone objects such as statuary, and are not considered standard.
memorials and grave markers.
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
1.2 This guide relates primarily, to routine maintenance of
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
the surface finish of exterior dimension stone. The techniques
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
noted herein may not be appropriate or cost effective with
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
regard to restoration of disfigured, severely soiled or stained
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
stonework, or of stonework of particular historic importance.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
Incaseswherestainingoccursonsurfaceswhichhavecultural,
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
civic, historic or architectural significance, consultation with a
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
specialist is recommended.
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
1.3 The user of this guide should also obtain and have on
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
file at both the job site and the office Material Safety Data
Sheets (MSDS) describing the nature of all chemical products
2. Referenced Documents
utilized during the cleaning process.
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.4 A file of literature from the manufacturers of all prod-
C119 Terminology Relating to Dimension Stone
ucts involved within the scope of each project should be
C503 Specification for Marble Dimension Stone
available for reference.
E1971 Guide for Stewardship for the Cleaning of Commer-
1.5 These procedures are not intended for interior stone- cial and Institutional Buildings
work.
3. Terminology
1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information
3.1 Terms used in this guide are defined in Terminology
oraseriesofoptionsanddoesnotrecommendaspecificcourse
C119.
of action. This document cannot replace education or experi-
ence and should be used in conjunction with professional 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
judgment. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all 3.2.1 exterior dimension stone—a general term for a stone
circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to repre- installed in a location where temperature, moisture and wind-
carried contaminants are regulated solely or primarily by the
forces of nature.
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C18 on Dimension
Stone and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C18.07 on Environmental
2
Properties, Behavior, and Cleaning. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2020. Published October 2020. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 2014 as C1515-14. DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/C1515-20. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 B
...

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: C1515 − 14 C1515 − 20
Standard Guide for
Cleaning of Exterior Dimension Stone, Vertical And
1
Horizontal Surfaces, New or Existing
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C1515; 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.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide describes materials and procedures which may be used to clean dimension stone exteriors as well as the conditions
under which they may be used. It is intended to aid owners, maintenance supervisors and building managers, architects and
engineers, and contractors in cleaning vertical exterior dimension stone on commercial, residential and institutional structures. This
guide may also be helpful to those who wish to clean stone masonry on bridges, retaining walls, ramps, and plazas, and
free-standing stone objects such as statuary, memorials and grave markers.
1.2 This guide relates primarily, to routine maintenance of the surface finish of exterior dimension stone. The techniques noted
herein may not be appropriate or cost effective with regard to restoration of disfigured, severely soiled or stained stonework, or
of stonework of particular historic importance. In cases where staining occurs on surfaces which have cultural, civic, historic or
architectural significance, consultation with a specialist is recommended.
1.3 The user of this guide should also obtain and have on file at both the job site and the office Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) describing the nature of all chemical products utilized during the cleaning process.
1.4 A file of literature from the manufacturers of all products involved within the scope of each project should be available for
reference.
1.5 These procedures are not intended for interior stonework.
1.6 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of
action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not
all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the
standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied
without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that the
document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
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
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C18 on Dimension Stone and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C18.07 on Environmental Properties,
Behavior, and Cleaning.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2014Oct. 1, 2020. Published February 2014October 2020. Originally approved in 2001. Last previous edition approved in 20132014 as
C1515-13.C1515-14. DOI: 10.1520/C1515-14.10.1520/C1515-20.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

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C1515 − 20
1.8 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 safety, health, and healthenvironmental practices and determine the
applicability of regulatory requirementslimitations prior to use.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
C119 Terminology Relating to Dimension Stone
C503 Specification for Marble Dimension Stone
E1971 Guide for Stewardship for the Cleaning of Commercial and Institutional Buildings
3. Terminology
3.1 Terms used in this guide are defined in Terminology C119.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 exterior dimension stone—a general term for a stone installed
...