Special Publication

This document was originally prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC125 ’Masonry’, the Secretariat of which is held by BSI, following initial preparation by Working Group 4 'Test Methods' and its TG5 'Mortar Durability tests'.

There has, however, been an extensive delay in reaching agreement on the content as an international standard. Consequently, as an interim measure Lucideon has finalised the draft as a Special Publication. In the first instance, this was in October 2016 to support the work of BSI Committee B519/2/4, which is responsible for drafting a Methodology for Testing and Assessing New Cements or Combinations for use in Prescribed Masonry Mortars. The current version is aimed at providing support to EN 998-2.

Dr Geoff Edgell, Lucideon's Principal Consultant for Construction, said: "This is an extremely important subject and becoming more so as time goes on because cement manufacturers, in seeking to produce more environmentally friendly products, are reducing the amount of ordinary Portland cement in their products.

"We are also seeing new types of mortar being introduced to the market.

"As a result, we need to be able to determine that mortars being produced are going to be durable for use in UK climatic conditions.

"The test, which has been calibrated against performance on-site at a very severe exposure location in the East Midlands, is available now.

"We believe it is the first of its type available in the UK."

The mortar durability test joins Lucideon’s established ‘freeze/thaw’ assessment method, used for the testing of clay-based products and forms the basis of the European test method for clay bricks.

Lucideon has been developing and operating these accelerated tests for over 45 years.

Accepted as industry standards, the Stoke-on-Trent based company's current tests for masonry walling, roof tiles and pavers are UKAS accredited and have been validated against natural conditions.