by David West

Every so often, I hear the industry talking about standards. Now standardsare something I l ike to think I know a l i t t le bit about After al l , I 've been amember of several standards writing committees for over fifteen years l'vedrafted new standards, revised existlng standards, and done research to identifywhere standards needed to be changed.

The interestlng thing for me is that despite this involvement with standards,l'm really only just starting to understand what standards are for You see,I'm beginning to realise that standards are what owners and architects quotewhen they write the speclfication but don't know how the stone shor[d beinstalled, or when at the end of the job they don't like the colour of the stone,or the variation in joint width, or maybe they just don't want to pay thecontractor. And standards are what the coniractors quote when they needto cover up some sloppy fabricaton, or careless instal lat ion, or when theyneed to just i fy doing the work in a cheaper way than the ci ient wantedSometimes, I even get the lmpression that some sectors of the industry regardstandards as an obstacle they need to find a way past, So as a consultantto all tnese peope wher they need hetp lo sorI ou1 the problers thaL nevitaolyarise, I get to comb through standards irying to read between the lines, openor close the loopholes, or find a clause that addresses the particular situation

And the fr ightening thlng is that by and large, the people who wrote thestandards weren't thinking l ike this at al l Thejr inteni ion was to provide aiool to help the indushy do business better - and the bottom line of doingbusiness better is, of course, to make more money now and into the future.

Whenever I talk to business people, I come away with an affitmation thatthe fundamental rule of business is to satisfy the customer, and to do it in a'r''a;,' thar makes a profit 0f course, we also have to obey the laws on healtharc safel,' and pay the taxes and so on

S; ., s:-,-s:. n'e ilai maybe we have a slightly distorted view of the reasons.: i : : ' is : ' , s. i j r : : : i ai :he Oici ionary, the definit ions l f ind for the wordstz':z : a a

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' a Criieiral'. an establ ished o, a:: : !-e: ^-: : :. an exemplar. a definite level of excel lerce cr ecec-ra: ' ,

that is required, desired, or possib e

In other words, standards are business tools that heip a I ci i r ' . 3a:i . .a:-sin a transactlon understand what can be achieved and holv Sranc:r:s arealso tools that help us agree whai is to be suppl ed, We can use stanoarosto help the supplier understand what we want delivered to us We can ;sestandards to help the installer understand how we want the flooring lard Wecan use standards to heip the architect understand what variation he shouldexpect in the joint widths. And we can use standards to help us price the workat a reasonable ievel That is, we can use standards as a tool to do betterbusiness.

Now I can aimost hear the clamout . "but the standards don't do this. Theydon't exist They don't tell us how to install the stone They don't specify thejoint tolerances".

Sure, there are gaps rn the standards But what do you do if you can'tfabricatet l^at new shape r oenchtops rhar are {ashiorable - vou go ard f ind a tool

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that does. What do you do i f you can't f ix those tr iangular panels on . .wal l with the T pins - you go and get a bracket that does work And s-ls wrth standards - if they don't do what you want them to, you have t: ..some more tnat do

So, now we come to the interesting par! of the story Who writes stancia'-,It seems to me that this is ihe biggest source of misunderstanding in n-:parts of our world. The image rs of a small group of experts sttting c:and writng, in total agreement, a document that is perfect in every , ' .Oh, ard I suppose ihat rne gove"nmen* oays these eroe's using loo .^ J + L ^ ^ ^ + ^ . , ^ ^ . ^ , ^ A ^ . , ^ + ^ ^ ^ LOT IeO)e la\es We nave Lu pdy.

Well actual ly, i t 's not qurte l ike that. Certainly not here in AustraLia Th-,.documents thai cost an arm and a 1eg from Standards Austral ia certa.ost a tot of morey to produce. Aftet al ' . 'he'e are, omm'ttee ryeet --:to attend where the contents and structure are debated, followed by ,-.-about every single l ine of text And then there is al l the paper that has .be copied and printed and posted And finally, there ls the promotion apubliclty and distnbution So of course they are expenstve But wait a mon',e--The real work, the process of thinking and writ ingdown and shaping a-honing and polishing the words That isn't paid for. Not by the governrne-'not by the rndustry, No, people l ike me do i t in their own i irne. Just r ' .the writing of this article, standards are written for love Yeah, I know, a rkinky But that is the real i ty. And in this modern buslness world, i f indus. 'wants a standard, just like any other tool they get what they pay fc

ln some industr ies, where they have reaLised just what a benefi t thee\ 's e^ce or good standards can be. majol onpar'^s hare emoloye..whosc job i l is to ersu'e thdi l le slanda'ds are the besl they couLd poss r .be And they have employees whose responsrbi l ty i t is to ensure that t f -cornpany does its work in accordance with the standards. These industrie .typical ly wrlte thelr own standards, and then they work wlth standardsorganisations to get them recognised, published and distributed more widel.

Let me give you an example In Austral ia, we don't have any standardsdedicated to dimension stone There are a few standards that we use,but these have been prepared by other industr ies, and adapted to ourcause 0r ese they rave been -posed uoor lhe stor-e irdustry by ot l-ecompetitor industr ies, such as the brick tndustry orthe ceram c t i l ingindustry . ard the reason'hey were imposcd is beca-se these i 'd.-rsl t .e,put funds into developing standards that were a good business tool forthem too bad i f i t didn't help the sione industry maybe they'd se imore bricks or cerarnic t i lesl l l

ln the United States, there is a very successfu organisation called ASTMi.r i i ' l i tes vot!ntar,v consensus siandards Their standards are not:a--a- sl , , : l : car be ca leo up b1" codes or regulat ions, lustas ourst:: :: -r-. r srardar,ls aie rr,rrter by committees composed of interestedi.:r-f;s :r rrC'..rsiry The commlttee compositton is required to be balancedbeir. ,reen producers of the product oT service whjch ts the subiect of thestandard, users of the product or service, and general interest, includinqmembers of the public, or academic, or governmeni

On Committee C1B on Dimension Stone, there are people who quarrystone, peopTe who fabricate stone, and people who instal l stone, Thereare engineers and people who run test Labs There are representativesfrom government departmenis, and from industry associatlons And thereare consultants who nave expeflence In One or more areas

Standards are writ ten when somebody says l think we need a standardabout something, and a few other people agree Then a small group ofpeople go away and f ind a model on which to base the standard, theydevelop it, test it (by sending it out to other people to read and review andprovrde comments on), before going through a formal voting process to

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:.rfirm that it is acceptable, and publishing it So getting a new standards really quite easy, All you have to do ts ask, and provide the reasons;rr ihe new standard, and help tell ihe writers what they need to includeri does take a while . , but much of this is because most of the peoplervclved are doing it because they believe in the importance ofthe process,nct because somebody is compensating them for the process The memberscf Committee CLB are involved in the standards writing business becauserhey believe it will help the stone industry do better business ln the futurelf they were paid for their efforts, by the rest of the industry it will benefit,then l'm sure ihat the standards would be written in a fraction of the time,and would be better and more comprehensive documenis And then wecould al l get on with doing better business

V/e could do that here. Who's interested? Who believes thattheir businessv,rould be more profttable if there were better standards that were morev,ridely recognised and accepted across our industry? Come and talk to meabout rt After all, I am supposed to be representing the stone industry,snterests on the following Standards Australia technrcal commjttees:BDl26 lVasonry Units and Segmental PaversBDl44 Fixing of Ceramic Tiles

(including BDl44l4 on Natural and Reconstituted Stone Tiles)CEl72 Rocks for Engineering Purposes

And I can only do this if you talk to me You can reach me via the editorof Discovering Stone, or by email to: david west@hyder.com au

This is the first of a series of colurnns on the standards writing processNext issue l 'm hoping to explain the new European Standards, and whatthey wil l mean to the industry in the future ln the meantime, the Editorhas agreed to print a Iist of relevant standards each issue as a referencetool lf anybody knows of other useful standards, iei me know and we,llincorporate them

References:t http://www standards.com,au2 http;//www astm.org3 http:/ /bsonl i ne technindex,co. uk4 http;//wwwcenorm be

List of dimension stone standards-he following list of standards relevant to dimensjon stone is comprehensive,:,rt not exhaustive. lt has been compiled by searching the websites for-ustralian, American and Brjtish standards, where the latter now incorporate:uropean standards as well, There also exist an assortment of GermanDIN) standards, and a range of other standarcjs frorrr other European

,:cuntries, which have not been referenced. Many of these are oerngJeveloped into European standards, There are many draft Europeanstandards that have not been listed on these tables at this stage, butsome reference to these will be made in the next issue

A standards listed are the most recently publrshed version, correct as at15 March 2003. lt is important to understand that the year referenceappended to the number of the standard is an important clesignator thatcommunicates the version of the standard to be used Normally, mostsupply specifications and regulations refer to the most recent version ofa standard, so that it is important to keep up to date

ihe standards encompass a range of documents, including test methocJs,specifications for supply of stone, and guideiines for instaliation of stone-his ranges across the full gamut of stone uses, from traditional masonry:onstruction, through paving and t i l ing to cladding, as well as cemetery1lON U TNCNTS

Australian Standardsrelating to Dimension Stonehttp : I lwww. sta nda rds' com a u

AS/NZS 3661'2tL994Slip resistance of pedestrian surfaces - Guide to the reduction of slip hazards

AS/NZS 4585:1999Slip resistance classification of new pedestrian surface matenals

AS/NZS 4663:2O02Slip resrstance measurement of existing pedestrian surfaces

HB 197:1999An introductory guide to the sljp resisiance of pedestrian sudace materials

AS 2358-1990Adhesives - For f ixing ceramic t i les

AS 3958.1-1991Ceramic t i les - Guide to the instal lat ion of ceramic i i les

AS 3958.2-1992Ceramic t i les - Guide to the selection of a ceramic t i l ing system

AS/NZS 4455:L997Masonry units and segmental pavers

AS/NZS 4456:L997Masonry units and segmental pavers - Methods of test

AS 3700-20011\4asonry structures

AS 4204-1994Headstones and cemetery monuments

AS/NZS 45t7:L998Abrasive products - Segmented saws for machining of stone and masonry

cutt ing - Dimensions of steeL blades

ASTM Dimension Stone Standards

http:llwww.astm.orgCommittee Cl8 on Dimension StoneTest Methods

c97-02StandardTestMethods forAbsorp t ionandBu]kSpec l f i cGrav i tyo fDimension Stone

c99-87(2000)Standard Test lVlethod for Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone

c120-00Standard Test Methcds of Flexure Tesiing of Slate (Modulus of Rupture'Mociulus of Elasticity)

c121-90(1999)Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Slate

c170-90(1999)Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone

c2L7-94$999)Standard Test Method for Weather Resistance of Slate

III

C24L-9O(L997)e1 Standard lest Method forAbras on Resistance of Stone Suojecred to FootTralfic

c880-98Standard Test lVlethod for Flexural Strength ofDimension Stone

c1201-91(1996)Standard Test Method for StructuralPerformance of Exterior Dimenslon StoneCladding Systems by Uniform Static AlrPressure Difference

C1352-96(2002) Standard Test Method forFlexu"al lVodul-s or E'aslci ly o- D:-ensio- Sroro

C1353-98e1 Standard lbst Method Usrng theTaber Abraser for Abrasron Resrstance cj Drrlersrrr-Stone Subjected to Fcci Trafr;c

C1354-96 Siandari Tes: i\,1eil..: f3'$ r311; ,3.l r d r : - a S - c ' t - " ' : a . : " , l - = : - . S . . :lVa- ' ' a SO' . t C ; - l rs

C406-00 Srdnd"'d Spec' icat.o- to' Roof.rg S.ale

C503-99e1 Standard Specif icat ion for MarbleDimension Stone (Exterior)

C558-99 Standard Specificaiion for LimestoneDimension Stone

C615-99 Standard Specification for GraniteDrmension Stone

C515-99 Standard Specification for Quar'lz-BasedDimension Stone

C629-99 Standard Specificatior for Sla.eDimension Stone

C7526-02 Srandard Spec flcatio- fo'Se'pentineDimension Stone

CL527-02 Standa'd Specif icat ion 'o ta,ert ineDimension Stone Guides

Cl l9-02c Standard Terminology Relating toDimension Stone

CL242-O2a Standard Guide for Selection,Design, and Installation of Exterior DimensionStone Anchors and Anchoring Systems

C1496-01 Standard Guide for Assessment andIValntenance of Exterior Dimension Stone MasonryWalls and Facades

C1515-01 Standard Guide for Cleaning of ExteriorDimension Stone, Vertical And Horizonial Sufaces,New or Existing

C1528-02 Standard Guide for Selection ofDimension Stone for Lrterior Use British Standardson Natural Stone

r t \l . \ l | \ \ \ \ \ \1dr :co \e_r rq i lunL .Lor r , i ssue #3\,, \./

BS 5385-1:1995 Wall and f loor t i l lng Code ofpract ce for the design and instal lat ion of internalceramic and naiural stone wall iiling and mosaicsin normal condit ions

BS 5385-5:1994 Wa t ard f loor t l ing. Cooe ofnrac-ine for tl^c desipn ard :nstallation of ler.azzotile and slab, natural stone and composition blockfloorings

BS 5642-L:L978 Sills and copings Specificatronf n r r r r l n d n u r c i l l c ^ f n r a . t c l . ^,-- . . 1C"ele, CaS- Srone.clayware. s are ard ratura slo'e

BS 5642-2:1983 Sills and copings Specificatron+ ^ , ^ ^ ^ ; - - . ^ ; ^ , ^ ^ . r + ^ ^ - ^ , .

, J IJ t r r ' I Ld5 ur ' -P . CaS- S IO^e.

ciayu,are, s ate ard fatufal stone

t r ) / 3 5 5 - . + : r y y 6? a . : - = - . s : : - S . , : . ; . j . ' . - . . a a . r ? , - r r a l S : c n e

. :altsl iLat l i : : i 3areretis ; ; :re:as, concre13fags c l na tura s ione s iabs

BS 7533-6:1999 Pavements constructed withc1ay, natural stone or concrete pavers, Code of^ , ^ , r i ^ ^ f ^ . - . , i ^ ^ - - . ,

" - l ^ , ^ ^ ^

i J d t u ( c r u r d y i l r B | o t u , d r ) t u r u . p r u L d j r L U r r c l rand clay kerb units

BS 7533-7:2002 Pavements constructed withcray. na.ural stole or conc"ete pave's Code ofpractice for the constructlon of pavements ofnatural stone setts and cobbles

BS 8000-11.2:1990 Workmanshrp on bui ldingsites Code of practice for wa I and f loor t i l ingNatural stone tr les

BS 8221-1r2000 Code of practice for cleaningand su'face epa r of bu ldirgs. Clearirg of raru alstones, brick, terracotta and concrete

BS 822I-2:2000 Code eF pracl ce for clea.:19and surface /epai 'of bui ldings Surtace repa r ofnatural stones, brlck and terracotta

BS 8298:1994 Code of pracrce f6' ls5ig. 6nlinstal lat ion of naturaJ stone cladding and l ining

European Standards for Natural Siones

BS EN 12370:1999 NaturaL stone test methodsDetermination of resistance to salt crystallization

BS EN 12371:2001 Natural stone test methodsDetermination of frost resistance

BS EN 12372:1999 Natural stone test methodsDeterminat on of flexural strength underconcentrated load

BS EN 12407:2000 Natura stone test methodsPetrographic examination

BS EN 13161:2001 Natural stonetest m.".''Determination of flexural strengh under cci-:..mornent

BS EN 13364:2002 Natural stone test rne.--Determination of the breaking load at donre - , .

BS EN 13755:2002Natural stone test methods. Determinatior' ,'wa-e' aosorpr'on ar at-ospheric pressure

BS EN 13919;2002 Natural stone test metr^: -,Determlnation of resistance to ageing by SC-actron in the presence of humidity

BS EN 1925:1999 Naiural stone test meth:.;:Determination of water absorption coeffrcier :capi lar i ty

BS EN 1926:1999 Natural stone test methc:.Deierminatron of compressive strength

BS EN 1935:1999 Natural stone test methc:.Deter::ination of reaL densrty and apparent dens:and of tctal and open porosity

BS EN 12440:2001 Natural stoneDenomination cri teria

BS EN 12670;2002 Natural stone,Terminology

BS EN 1341:2001 Slabs of natural stonefor externaL paving Requirements and testmetn00s

BS EN 1342:2001 Setts of natural sto:-for external paving. Requirements and te:methods

BS EN 1343:2001 Kerbs of natura src--for external pavrng. Requirements and tes:melno0s

BS EN 771-6:2001 Specif icat ion for mas:units. Natural stone masonry units

BS EN 772-11:2000 lVethods of test formasonry units. Dere'minatior of ware'abso'r ' .ol agg'egate conc'e' ie, -at,- i 'actured stole a-:nalu,al store masorr\. Jl LS d-e to cap. lary 66-1-aro rhe ' r i t ' a 'a ie o l wa le 'absorp ton o f c la ,rnasonry un IS

BS EN 772-20:2000 Methods of test formasonry units. Determination of flatness of facesof aggregate concrete, manufactured stone andnatural stone masonry uni is

BS EN 772'4:1998 Methods of test formasonry units Determination of real and bulkdensity and of total and open porosity for naturalstone masonry unrrs