Mortar Standards Activities
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Although we tend to think of mortars as static, they are in fact
dynamic; new ingredients appear from time to time and new approaches
for specifying mortars are proposed. Ongoing standards development
activities, reaffirmed at the June 2006 American Society for Testing
and Materials meetings of C12, Mortars and Grouts for Unit Masonry,
demonstrate a vibrant mortar industry:
- Preservation Mortars will be able to address
the needs of specifiers and owners who want mortars for restoration
projects, notably older buildings in need of repair. These mortars
can be thought of as being more sensitive to the existing construction,
such as preserving architectural integrity.
- AAC Mortars are receiving increased attention
as a renewed interest in autoclaved aerated concrete takes hold.
Long recognized for its excellent thermal and acoustic properties,
AAC is also fire resistant and easy to use. AAC mortars are not
traditional masonry mortars, but are thin bed materials with special
characteristics.
- Performance Standards for Mortar will be a
different approach to specifying mortars. Traditional mortar specifications
are primarily prescriptive—they are based on a recipe. Alternately,
properties can be specified, but specifiers are limited to prescribed
materials. Performance standards for mortar are envisioned to
allow mortars to meet performance requirements without limitations
on recipes or materials, encouraging innovation and resulting
in environmental benefits.
For more information about ASTM or these activities in particular,
go to www.astm.org.
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