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The requirements of every project are
different, and so there is no 'definitive rules', which can be applied
to all natural stone projects. The information shown below is meant to
assist as a guide only, and should be read as such and we would welcome
any enquiries to discuss specific project requirements.
Stone Federation Technical Services
SFGB also produces a list of Publications on Natural Stone, which
are readily available British publications related to Natural Stone and
it's use today. To obtain a copy of any of the above, please contact the
Stone Federation on 020 7608 5094 or e-mail on enquiry@stone-federationgb.org.uk
The British Standard 'BS 8298:1994 The Design and Installation
of Natural Stone Cladding & Lining' is one of the main publications
to be referred to when dealing with Natural Stone Cladding.
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When choosing the stone for your project, included in the items
we would expect to be taken into consideration are;
- Area Location
- Climate
- Type of construction
- Colour and texture required
- Stones which have been successfully utilised in this area in
the past
- Test data indicating the properties of the stone
When selecting the stone, availability, both in total quantity
and of any special requirements of the particular project (e.g Large
Bed Heights, Long Heads over openings, Deep Cornice stones) together
with the capacity to produce the required quantity in the necessary
time-scale should be considered.
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This depends on the type of Construction and the type of stone
being used. Guidance for this aspect can be found in 'BS 8298:1994
The design and installation of Natural Stone Cladding & Lining',
page 14, table 4.
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Or, 'those horrid Compression Joints', as an Architect once said
! The compression joint is designed to accept primarily the shortening
of a frame, in order to prevent a build up of compressive forces
being transferred to the cladding. They are horizontal and are usually
provided at each floor level immediately under the support for the
cladding.
These are generally regarded as an undesirable requirement, but
are a necessary aspect of the building design. However, in certain
circumstances, such as Rain-screen Cladding, it may be possible
to avoid, or at least reduce the visual effect they have on the
building. Again, guidance for these can be found in 'BS 8298:1994',
page 29.
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Vertical movement joints accommodate the movement along the length
of a building. In many buildings, a structural movement joint (commonly
known as an expansion joint) may be incorporated in the design of
the main building structure and, where this is the case, the joint
has to be taken through the cladding.
These are provided to accommodate the dimensional changes (most
likely to be differential) between the units and the structure to
which they are fixed, so that the cladding is not disrupted.
A movement joint should be placed between 1.5m and 3.0m away from
any corner of the building, and the distance between the joints
should not exceed 6m. Again, guidance for these can be found in
'BS 8298:1994', page 30.
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The fixing of natural stone can be generally divided into two categories,
- support - this is usually at each floor level in the
form of stainless steel corbels, or plates fixed to a building
structure of concrete or steel and
- restraint - of every unit of stone, usually in the form
of stainless steel 'ties', or 'cramps'.
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Jointing materials
Jointing material's and mixes's will vary on the type of stone being
used, and it is always best to ask the advice of the stone supplier
regarding their recommended mixes.
Sealants
This is a complex subject, and general guidance is given in BS
6213, and the Manual of Good practice in sealant application.
It is always advisable to seek further guidance from the manufacturers
or their technical literature.
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