• Measuring fundamental frequency of marble to determine loss of elasticity after freeze-thaw test
  • Rusticated sandstone masonry at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York
  • Sandstone sample at project thickness loaded into custom flexural strength fixture before testing
  • Limestone curtain wall panels with incipient kerf failures
  • Petrographic examination of limestone shows fossils visible under cross polarized light
  • New brownstone production quarry evaluated by Highbridge geologist

Building Stone

Geology is a core competency of our staff and this informs our understanding of natural stone and its performance in the built environment.

  • Production Testing

    Highbridge provides support to stone suppliers and consultants looking for quality production testing. We offer testing in accordance with the ASTM standards for the six industry categories of dimension stone. Of course, your customer may have a special concern about their application such as the potential for bowing of thin marble cladding or the freeze-thaw resistance of a buff limestone. As a specialty laboratory, we can also provide other standard testing or proprietary methods designed to evaluate a specific concern.

    Dimension stone cubes and blocks fabricated for ASTM compressive strength and modulus of rupture compliance testing

  • Forensic Evaluations

    Natural stone can take a long path from quarry to installation and may have been subjected to undesirable conditions in transit. Even where pristine, certain building stone may not be suitable for every application despite meeting ASTM minimum requirements. Cracking, crumbling, efflorescence, or discoloration can appear in a short time, and the causes may not be obvious. Our laboratory can work with your design professional or stone consultant to develop an analytical approach that most effectively answers the relevant questions.

    Newly constructed limestone wall with white mineral runs

  • Masonry Investigations

    As experts in historic masonry materials, Highbridge is often called on to provide laboratory support for field investigators. We regularly work with our clients to design appropriate testing programs to further understand the performance and deterioration of historic stone and candidate replacement materials. These may include determining hygrothermal properties, identifying and quantifying salts, detecting swelling clays, and performing petrographic analysis to evaluate cracking or other distress.

    Marble deterioration including discoloration and delamination

Test Methods for Building Stone

Highbridge performs many tests in accordance with standard test methods but also constructs protocols for property characterization and durability evaluations using proprietary methods.

Building Stone Test Methods:

Some test methods for newly-manufactured stone are adapted to test installed stone in existing buildings.

ASTM C97 Standard Test Methods for Absorption and Bulk Specific Gravity of Dimension Stone

ASTM C99 Standard Test Method for Modulus of Rupture of Dimension Stone

ASTM C120 Standard Test Methods for Flexure Testing of Structural and Roofing Slate

ASTM C121 Standard Test Method for Water Absorption of Slate

ASTM C170 Standard Test Method for Compressive Strength of Dimension Stone

ASTM C217 Standard Test Methods for Weather Resistance of Slate

ASTM C880 Standard Test Method for Flexural Strength of Dimension Stone

ASTM C1353 Standard Test Method for Abrasion Resistance of Dimension Stone Subjected to Foot Traffic Using a Rotary Platform Abraser

ASTM C1498 Standard Test Method for Hygroscopic Sorption Isotherms of Building Materials (reference water content)

ASTM C1721 Standard Guide for Petrographic Examination of Dimension Stone

ASTM C1794 Standard Test Methods for Determination of the Water Absorption Coefficient by Partial Immersion

ASTM E96 Standard Test Methods for Water Vapor Transmission of Materials

ISO 12572 Hygrothermal performance of building materials and products — Determination of water vapour transmission properties — Cup method

DIN EN 12087 Determination of long term water absorption by immersion (free water saturation)

Proprietary Instrumental Analysis:

Highbridge partners with trusted institutions and commercial providers to offer research-grade instrumental analysis.

X-Ray diffraction analysis of clay minerals extracted from dimension stone

X-Ray diffraction analysis of water-soluble salts extracted from masonry

Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy

Thermogravimetric analysis for identification or quantification of volatile constituents

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of organic constituents

Pyrolysis - Gas chromatography / mass spectroscopy for organic components

Transient plane source for thermal conductivity and heat capacity

Other Proprietary Tests:

Accelerated Patina Development of Dimension Stone

Colorimetry to Evaluate Color of Dimension Stone

Freeze-Thaw Testing of Dimensions Stone and Determination of Evaluation of Losses in Dynamic Modulus of Elasticity (Adapting Methods from ASTM C666 and C215)

Building Stone Specifications:

ASTM C406 Standard Specification for Roofing Slate

ASTM C503 Standard Specification for Marble Dimension Stone

ASTM C568 Standard Specification for Limestone Dimension Stone

ASTM C615 Standard Specification for Granite Dimension Stone

ASTM C616 Standard Specification for Quartz-Based Dimension Stone