prEN 13364-1

Natural stone test methods - Part 1: Determination of the breaking load at dowel hole

This document specifies a test method to determine the breaking load at the dowel hole of natural stones used for external or internal cladding or lining in building construction.

Prüfung von Naturstein - Bestimmung der Ausbruchlast am Ankerdornloch

Dieses Dokument legt ein Prüfverfahren zur Bestimmung der Ausbruchlast von Natursteinen am Ankerdornloch fest, die im Hochbau als Wandbekleidung oder  auskleidung für die Außen- oder Innenanwendung verwendet werden

Méthodes d'essai pour pierre naturelle - Partie 1: Détermination de l'effort de rupture au niveau du goujon de l'agrafe

Le présent document définit une méthode d'essai visant à déterminer la rupture aux attaches des pierres naturelles utilisées pour le bardage extérieur ou intérieur ou le revêtement lors de la construction des bâtiments.

Preskušanje naravnega kamna - 1. del: Ugotavljanje lomne obremenitve ob sidrni izvrtini

Ta dokument določa preskusno metodo za določitev porušne obremenitve pri izvrtini za čep naravnih kamnov, ki se uporabljajo za zunanje ali notranje obloge ali oblaganje v gradbeništvu.

General Information

• Status: Not Published
• Publication Date: 02-Jan-2028
• ICS: 73.020 - Mining and quarrying
• ICS: 91.100.15 - Mineral materials and products
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 246 - Natural stones
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 246/WG 2 - Test methods
• Current Stage: 4020 - Submission to enquiry - Enquiry
• Start Date: 12-Mar-2026
• Due Date: 17-Aug-2026
• Completion Date: 12-Mar-2026
• Ref Project: oSIST prEN 13364-1:2026 - Natural stone test methods - Part 1: Determination of the breaking load at dowel hole

Relations

• Referred By: EN ISO 80369-6:2025 - Small bore connectors for liquids and gases in healthcare applications - Part 6: Connectors for neural applications (ISO 80369-6:2025)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO 1135-4:2025 - Transfusion equipment for medical use - Part 4: Transfusion sets for single use, gravity feed (ISO 1135-4:2025)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Referred By: EN ISO 1135-5:2025 - Transfusion equipment for medical use - Part 5: Transfusion sets for single use with pressure infusion apparatus (ISO 1135-5:2025)
• Effective Date: 28-Jan-2026
• Revises: EN 13364:2001 - Natural stone test methods - Determination of the breaking load at dowel hole
• Effective Date: 08-Oct-2025

Overview

prEN 13364-1:2026, developed by CEN/TC 246, specifies a standardized test method for determining the breaking load at the dowel hole of natural stones. This method is critical for assessing the performance and suitability of natural stones used in external or internal cladding and lining applications in building construction. By defining clear methodologies for sample preparation, testing, and reporting, prEN 13364-1 helps ensure consistent safety, durability, and quality across the construction industry.

Key Topics

• Test Scope and Purpose

  • Evaluates the mechanical strength of natural stone around dowel holes, which is essential for safe anchoring in architectural cladding systems.
  • Applicable to all types of natural stone, regardless of bedding planes or finish.

• Specimen Preparation

  • Guidelines for the number of specimens, dimensions, surface finishes, and dowel hole positioning.
  • Emphasizes the importance of sample orientation with respect to bedding planes and anisotropy.

• Dowels and Materials

  • Specifies dowel dimensions and the use of stainless steel materials, ensuring reproducibility of results.
  • Details mortar composition and dowel fixation requirements.

• Test Procedure

  • Load is applied perpendicular to the dowel, following strict rate control.
  • The method includes precise requirements for measurement and conditioning of natural stone samples.

• Result Interpretation and Reporting

  • Defines how to calculate and report mean values, standard deviation, and lower expected values.
  • Provides a statistical approach to interpreting the strength test results for greater reliability.

Applications

prEN 13364-1 serves multiple stakeholders in the natural stone and construction industries:

• Manufacturers and Suppliers

  • Use the test to demonstrate product suitability for architectural stone panels and comply with building codes.
  • Support product marketing by providing independent test data on stone strength.

• Architects and Engineers

  • Specify stones that meet structural and aesthetic requirements for facade cladding and interior linings.
  • Assess risk and select materials ensuring long-term safety and performance.

• Testing Laboratories

  • Follow precise test protocols to deliver accredited, comparable results in line with European standardization.

• Regulatory Compliance

  • Facilitate conformity assessment with harmonized European and national standards for construction materials.

Related Standards

For comprehensive stone quality assessment and regulatory compliance, prEN 13364-1 references and complements several other European Standards (EN):

• EN 13373: Geometric characteristics on natural stone units.
• EN 1926: Compressive strength of natural stone.
• EN 1936: Real and apparent density, open porosity.
• EN 12372: Flexural strength under concentrated load.
• EN 12407: Petrographic description.
• EN 10088-1: Stainless steels - Material standard for dowels.
• EN 197-1: Specifications for cements used in dowel fixing.
• EN 12390-4: Specification for machines used in compressive testing.

These interrelated standards provide a robust framework for verifying the performance, durability, and safety of natural stone products in building applications.

Practical Value

Implementing prEN 13364-1 helps:

• Prevent failures of cladding systems caused by stone breakage around anchor points.
• Ensure consistency in quality assurance and test reporting across Europe and internationally.
• Support the sustainable use of natural stone by verifying its mechanical properties.
• Streamline the CE marking process and market access within the EU.

By adhering to the procedures outlined in prEN 13364-1, the natural stone and construction industries can deliver safer, more reliable, and high-quality building solutions.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-maj-2026
Preskušanje naravnega kamna - 1. del: Ugotavljanje lomne obremenitve ob sidrni
izvrtini
Natural stone test methods - Part 1: Determination of the breaking load at dowel hole
Prüfung von Naturstein - Bestimmung der Ausbruchlast am Ankerdornloch
Méthodes d'essai pour pierre naturelle - Partie 1: Détermination de l'effort de rupture au
niveau du goujon de l'agrafe
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 13364-1
ICS:
73.020 Rudarstvo in kamnolomsko Mining and quarrying
izkopavanje
91.100.15 Mineralni materiali in izdelki Mineral materials and
products
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
March 2026
ICS 73.020; 91.100.15 Will supersede EN 13364:2001
English Version
Natural stone test methods - Part 1: Determination of the
breaking load at dowel hole
Méthodes d'essai pour pierre naturelle - Partie 1: Prüfung von Naturstein - Bestimmung der
Détermination de l'effort de rupture au niveau du Ausbruchlast am Ankerdornloch
goujon de l'agrafe
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 246.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations
which stipulate the conditions for giving this European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other
language made by translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC
Management Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2026 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 13364-1:2026 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 Principle . 5
5 Symbols . 5
6 Apparatus . 6
7 Preparation of the specimens . 6
7.1 Sampling and position of bedding . 6
7.2 Test specimens . 6
7.2.1 General. 6
7.2.2 Number of specimens . 6
7.2.3 Surface finish of the specimens . 9
7.2.4 Dimensions of the specimens . 9
7.2.5 Location of the dowel holes . 9
7.2.6 Dimensions and tolerances of the dowel holes . 9
7.2.7 Drilling the dowel holes. 10
7.2.8 Planes of anisotropy . 10
7.2.9 Conditioning . 10
7.2.10 Measuring d and d1 . 10
8 Dowels . 10
8.1 Dimensions and tolerances . 10
8.2 Material . 10
8.3 Placing the dowels . 10
9 Test procedure . 11
10 Expression of the results . 11
11 Test report . 11
Annex A (normative) Statistical evaluation of the test results . 14
Bibliography . 17

European foreword
This document (prEN 13364-1:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 246 “Natural
Stone”, the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
This document will supersede EN 13364:2001.
This document is one of the series of standards for tests on natural stone.
Test methods for natural stone consist of the following parts:
EN 1925, Natural stone test methods - Determination of water absorption coefficient by capillarity
EN 1926, Natural stone test methods - Determination of compressive strength
EN 1936, Natural stone test methods – Determination of real density and apparent density and of total
open porosity
EN 12370, Natural stone test methods - Determination of resistance to salt crystallization
EN 12372, Natural stone test methods - Determination of flexural strength under concentrated load
EN 12407, Natural stone test methods – Petrographic description
EN 14066, Natural stone test methods - Determination of Determination of resistance to ageing by
thermal shock.
EN 14581, Natural stone test methods - Determination of thermal dilatation coefficient
EN 14579, Natural stone test methods - Determination of sound - speed propagation
EN 14157, Natural stone test methods - Determination of abrasion resistance
EN 14231, Natural stone test methods - Determination of slip resistance by means of the pendulum tester
EN 14580, Natural stone test methods - Determination of static elastic modulus
EN 14258, Natural stone test methods - Determination of rupture energy
EN 14146, Natural stone test methods - Determination of the dynamic modulus of elasticity (by measuring
the fundamental resonance frequency)
EN 16140, Natural stone test methods - Determination of sensitivity to changes in appearance produced
by thermal cycles
EN 16301, Natural stone test methods - Determination of sensitivity to accidental staining
EN 16306, Natural stone test methods - Determination of resistance of marble to thermal and moisture
cycles.
EN 13373, Natural stone test methods - Determination of geometric characteristics on units
It is intended that other ENs call up this EN 13364 series as the basis of evaluation of conformity.
(Nevertheless, it is not intended that all natural stones products are subjected regularly to all the listed
tests. Specifications in other standards are intended to call up only relevant test methods).
This document has an Annex A (normative).
1 Scope
This document specifies a test method to determine the breaking load at the dowel hole of natural
stones used for external or internal cladding or lining in building construction.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 197-1, Cement - Part 1: Composition, specifications and conformity criteria for common cements
EN 10088-1, Stainless steels - Part 1: List of stainless steels
EN 12390-4, Testing hardened concrete - Part 4: Compressive strength - Specification for testing machines
EN 13373, Natural stone test methods - Determination of geometric characteristics on units
3 Terms and definitions
No terms and definitions are listed in this document
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
4 Principle
This test consists of applying a force in a direction perpendicular to the face of a specimen through a
dowel previously placed in a dowel hole drilled in one of its sides and measuring the breaking load of
the specimen.
5 Symbols
d is the thickness of the test specimen, in millimetres
d is the distance from the dowel hole wall to the face where fracture occurs, in millimetres
b is the maximum distance of the centre of the dowel hole to the fracture edge on the face, in
A
millimetres
F is the individual breaking load, in newtons
d is the mean value of d, in millimetres
F is the mean value of F, in newtons
b is the mean value of b , in millimetres
A A
6 Apparatus
6.1 A balance capable of weighing the specimens with an accuracy of 0,01 % of their mass.
6.2 A ventilated oven capable of maintaining a temperature of (70 ± 5) °C and (40 ± 5) °C.
6.3 A linear measuring device with an accuracy of 0,05 mm.
6.4 A rotary drilling machine equipped with a diamond or tungsten carbide tipped bit.
6.5 A testing machine of appropriate force in accordance with EN 12390-4 and calibrated according
to this document.
6.6 A clamping device consisting of two metal plates having the shape and sizes shown in Figure 1.
7 Preparation of the specimens
7.1 Sampling and position of bedding
The sampling is not the responsibility of the test laboratory except where specially requested.
The position of any bedding or anisotropy shall be indicated on each specimen by means of at least two
parallel lines.
7.2 Test specimens
7.2.1 General
The test can be carried out as an identification test or as a technological test.
Identification tests are tests carried out when the use of the stone with respect to the position of the
planes of anisotropy and th
...