P H Y S I C A L   P R O P E R T I E S

The Irish Blue Limestone is a natural material and the physical properties reflect the conditions under which the stone originally formed and the subsequent geological history of Ireland. The best pedigree for the stone is its successful use as a building material in Ireland during the last 3000 years and the fact that many of the older structures are still standing.    

Modern man, however, normally seeks to confirm the suitability of the stone by using a range of tests to quantify what are considered to be the important physical parameters of the material. Unfortunately, because the material is not synthetic, random variation is inevitable both within a single bed and between different levels within a single quarry.

The Irish Blue Limestone has been tested by a wide range of laboratories in a number of countries during the last 10 years and the producers have drawn on these results to produce a general guide to the physical properties of the stone.    

Where certain properties of the stone are of paramount importance to a particular project, the various International Standards all recommend that accurate sampling and testing of the material to be used should be undertaken. In accordance with these principles, the Irish Limestone Producers will always facilitate the collection of representative samples which prospective customers may wish to test prior to use in major projects.

The test protocols used to determine the physical properties have been given. If the values are to be used for design calculations it is important to confirm that the test cited is comparable with the relevant country standard.