Natural stone test methods - Determination of real density and apparent density, and of total and open porosity

This European standard specifies methods for determining the real density, apparent density, and open and total porosity of natural stone.

Prüfverfahren für Naturstein - Bestimmung der Reindichte, der Rohdichte, der offenen Porosität und der Gesamtporosität

Diese Europäische Norm legt Verfahren zur Bestimmung der Reindichte, der Rohdichte, der offenen Porosität
und der Gesamtporosität von Naturstein fest.

Méthodes d'essai des pierres naturelles - Détermination des masses volumiques réelle et apparente et des porosités ouverte et totale

La présente Norme européenne spécifie des méthodes de détermination des masses volumiques réelle et apparente ainsi que des porosités ouverte et totale de la pierre naturelle.

Preskušanje naravnega kamna - Ugotavljanje prostorninske mase brez por in votlin in prostorninske mase s porami in votlinami ter skupne in odprte poroznosti

General Information

Status
Published
Publication Date
28-Feb-2007
Technical Committee
KAM - Natural stone
Current Stage
6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
Start Date
01-Mar-2007
Due Date
01-Mar-2007
Completion Date
01-Mar-2007

Relations

Effective Date
22-Dec-2008

Overview

SIST EN 1936:2007 (CEN) specifies laboratory methods to determine the real density, apparent density, and open and total porosity of natural stone. The standard establishes accepted test procedures and terminology for consistent characterization of stone materials used in construction, restoration and product specification. Principal test principles include vacuum-assisted water absorption with submerged weighing for apparent density and open porosity, and pulverisation followed by pycnometer or Le Chatelier volumenometer tests for real density and total porosity.

Key Topics

  • Scope and purpose: Measurement methods for apparent density, real density, open porosity and total porosity of natural stone.
  • Terms and definitions: Aligns with EN 12670:2001 terminology for natural stone.
  • Specimen preparation:
    • Dry specimens to constant mass at (70 ± 5) °C and store in a desiccator until cooled.
    • Test specimens should have an apparent volume of at least 60 ml and meet surface-area/volume ratio limits.
  • Open porosity and apparent density:
    • Determined by vacuum-assisted water absorption and submerged weighing of saturated specimens.
    • Evacuation vessel pressure and immersion procedures are specified to ensure open pores are filled.
  • Real density (two methods):
    • Method A - Pycnometer: more accurate; ground specimen dispersed in liquid and measured in a pycnometer.
    • Method B - Le Chatelier volumenometer: faster, suitable for production control; measures displaced liquid volume.
  • Results and reporting:
    • Results expressed as apparent density, real density, open porosity and total porosity with required precision and test-report content.

Applications

SIST EN 1936:2007 delivers practical value in multiple contexts:

  • Quality control and production testing: Rapidly identify material consistency using Le Chatelier method for on-site or production checks.
  • Specification and procurement: Provide standardized density and porosity values for material selection and tender documents.
  • Compliance and certification: Produce reproducible test reports required for conformity assessment and national adoption across CEN members.
  • Dispute resolution and reference testing: Use the pycnometer method (Method A) as a reference method where higher accuracy or arbitration is required.

Practical keywords: natural stone, apparent density, real density, open porosity, total porosity, pycnometer, Le Chatelier volumenometer, vacuum-assisted water absorption.

Related Standards

  • EN 12670:2001 - Natural stone terminology (normative reference)
  • ISO 3507 - Laboratory glassware, pycnometers (referenced for pycnometer specifications)

For laboratories and specifiers, SIST EN 1936:2007 provides a clear procedural framework to ensure consistent measurement of stone density and porosity, supporting reliable material assessment and procurement decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

SIST EN 1936:2007 is a standard published by the Slovenian Institute for Standardization (SIST). Its full title is "Natural stone test methods - Determination of real density and apparent density, and of total and open porosity". This standard covers: This European standard specifies methods for determining the real density, apparent density, and open and total porosity of natural stone.

This European standard specifies methods for determining the real density, apparent density, and open and total porosity of natural stone.

SIST EN 1936:2007 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 73.020 - Mining and quarrying; 91.100.15 - Mineral materials and products. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.

SIST EN 1936:2007 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to SIST EN 1936:2000. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.

You can purchase SIST EN 1936:2007 directly from iTeh Standards. The document is available in PDF format and is delivered instantly after payment. Add the standard to your cart and complete the secure checkout process. iTeh Standards is an authorized distributor of SIST standards.

Standards Content (Sample)


SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-marec-2007
1DGRPHãþD
SIST EN 1936:2000
Preskušanje naravnega kamna - Ugotavljanje prostorninske mase brez por in
votlin in prostorninske mase s porami in votlinami ter skupne in odprte poroznosti
Natural stone test methods - Determination of real density and apparent density, and of
total and open porosity
Prüfverfahren für Naturstein - Bestimmung der Reindichte, der Rohdichte, der offenen
Porosität und der Gesamtporosität
Méthodes d'essai des pierres naturelles - Détermination des masses volumiques réelle
et apparente et des porosités ouverte et totale
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 1936:2006
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.

EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN 1936
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
December 2006
ICS 73.020; 91.100.15 Supersedes EN 1936:1999
English Version
Natural stone test methods - Determination of real density and
apparent density, and of total and open porosity
Méthodes d'essai des pierres naturelles - Détermination Prüfverfahren für Naturstein - Bestimmung der Reindichte,
des masses volumiques réelle et apparente et des der Rohdichte, der offenen Porosität und der
porosités ouvertes et totale Gesamtporosität
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 25 October 2006.
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. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the Central Secretariat or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists 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 Central Secretariat has the same status as the official
versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2006 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 1936:2006: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
Foreword.3
1 Scope.4
2 Normative references.4
3 Principle.4
4 Terms and definitions .4
5 Symbols.5
6 Apparatus.5
7 Preparation of the specimens .6
7.1 Sampling.6
7.2 Test specimens.6
7.3 Drying the specimens.6
8 Test procedure.6
8.1 Open porosity and apparent density .6
8.2 Real density.7
8.2.1 General.7
8.2.2 Method A (pycnometer).7
8.2.3 Method B (Le Chatelier volumenometer) .7
9 Expression of results.8
9.1 General.8
9.2 Apparent density.8
9.3 Open porosity.8
9.4 Real density.8
9.5 Total porosity.9
10 Test report.9
Bibliography .11

Foreword
This document (EN 1936:2006) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 246 “Natural stones”,
the secretariat of which is held by UNI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by June 2007, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by June 2007.
This document supersedes EN 1936:1999.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic,
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This European standard specifies methods for determining the real density, apparent density, and open and
total porosity of natural stone.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application 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 12670:2001, Natural stone - Terminology
ISO 3507, Laboratory glassware - Pyknometers
3 Principle
After drying to constant mass, the apparent density and open porosity are determined by vacuum assisted
water absorption and submerged weighing of specimens. The real density and total porosity require the
specimen to be pulverised.
4 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 12670:2001 and the following apply.
4.1
apparent density (ρ )
b
ratio between the mass of the dry specimen and its apparent volume
4.2
apparent volume
volume limited by the external surface of the specimen, including any voids
4.3
volume of the solid part
difference between the apparent volume of the specimen and the volume of the voids (open and closed pores)
4.4
real density (ρ )
r
ratio between the mass of the dry specimen and the volume of its solid part
4.5
open porosity
ratio (as a percentage) between the volume of the open pores and the apparent volume of the specimen
4.6
total porosity
ratio (as a percentage) between the volume of pores (open and closed) and the apparent volume of the
specimen
5 Symbols
m mass of the dry specimen, in grams;
d
m mass of the specimen immersed in water, in grams;
h
m mass of the saturated specimen, in grams;
s
m mass of the specimen ground and dried (for the tests using the pycnometer or the volumenometer), in
e
grams;
m mass of the pycnometer filled with water and the ground specimen, in grams;
m mass of the pycnometer filled with water, in grams;
V apparent volume of the specimen, in millilitres;
b
V volume of open pores of the specimen, in millilitres;
o
V volume of liquid displaced by the mass m (volumenometer test);
s e
ρ apparent density of the specimen, in kilograms per cubic metre;
b
ρr real density of the specimen, in kilograms per cubic metre;
ρ density of water, in kilograms per cubic metre;
rh
p open porosity of the specimen, as a percentage;
o
p total porosity of the specimen, as a percentage.
6 Apparatus
6.1 A ventilated oven which maintain a temperature (70 ± 5) °C.
6.2 An evacuation vessel which can maintain a pressure of (2,0 ± 0,7) kPa = (15 ± 5) mm Hg and allow
gradual immersion of the contained specimens.
6.3 A weighing instrument which has an accuracy of at least 0,01% of the mass to be weighed, also
capable of weighing the specimen in water.
6.4 A linear measuring device with an accuracy of at least 0,01%.
6.5 An ISO 3507 type 3 pycnometer having a nominal capacity of 50 ml.
6.6 A La Chatelier type volumenometer consisting of a flat-bottomed flask with a tube graduated form 0 ml
to 24 ml in 0,1 ml graduations.
6.7 A sieve with a 0,063 mm mesh.
6.8 A dessicator with dessicant.
7 Preparati
...

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