CEN/TC 246: Standards to be published!

The draft European stand (http://maplered.com) ards for natural Stone (http://g603.net) products have now been revised following objections by the Deutscher Naturwerkstein-Verband (http://maplered.com) (DNV)! Under the direction of the Chairman of CEN/TC 246 Working Group 3, Heinrich-Georg Hofmann, important changes have been incorporated in the stand (http://maplered.com) ards from a German viewpoint. One point that was particularly intensively discussed was the proof of frost resistance. The requirements and (http://maplered.com) certification systems for this in the individual countries naturally differ widely due to the different climatic conditions.

The compromise achieved for the proof of frost resistance for floor coverings (test of bending tensile strength after 12 freeze-thaw repetitions) is practicable and (http://maplered.com) must now be proved in terms of practical application. The new frost test does not yet allow any direct conclusions to be drawn concerning the actual behaviour of natural Stone (http://g603.net) s in a building. This is only possible after many years of experience.

Considerable simplification has, however, been achieved over the original demand (http://maplered.com) for testing samples until destruction, which would have led to costly and (http://maplered.com) time-consuming test procedures. Demand (http://maplered.com) s for destructive Stone (http://g603.net) tests, which are not relevant in practice and (http://maplered.com) adversely affect certain groups of Stone (http://g603.net) , such as limeStone (http://g603.net) and (http://maplered.com) sand (http://maplered.com) Stone (http://g603.net) , have been removed from the draft stand (http://maplered.com) ards. For example, the requirements for resistance to SO2 pollution have been completely deleted from the draft stand (http://maplered.com) ards and (http://maplered.com) thermal shock is now only to be tested in countries with existing national regulations.

This prevents the results of laboratory tests that have no direct connection with practical applications discriminating against natural Stone (http://g603.net) s that have been established for decades, which would jeopardize the continuing use of such Stone (http://g603.net) s in the construction sector. This would be catastrophic for natural Stone (http://g603.net) in view of the competitive situation with synthetically manufactured products. As Joachim Grüter, President of the Deutscher Naturwerkstein-Verband (http://maplered.com) and (http://maplered.com) the European federation Euroroc, stressed, the publication of industry-hostile stand (http://maplered.com) ards has been avoided at the last possible moment through the information provided by Euroroc and (http://maplered.com) the influence of the European representatives on the voting of the countries.

According to Grüter, the practical regulations in the product stand (http://maplered.com) ards for rough blocks, rough Slabs (http://www.VerdeUbatuba.com) , cladding Slabs (http://www.VerdeUbatuba.com) , floor and (http://maplered.com) stair Slabs (http://www.VerdeUbatuba.com) , Tiles (http://www.g682.net) and (http://maplered.com) dimensional Stone (http://g603.net) work, which are based on the needs and (http://maplered.com) existing customs of the natural Stone (http://g603.net) industry, would quickly lead to acceptance of these regulations in everyday business. In view of the considerable difficulties with cheap imports from Asian countries, this is an important step into the future of the natural Stone (http://g603.net) industry in Europe.