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.
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.
TEST
UNITS
MINIMUM
TYPICAL
MAXIMUM
Apparent Density
Kg/m3
2.68
2.69
2.70
Porosity
%Vol
0.15
0.31
0.51
Frost Resistance
No Effect
Capillarity Coefficient
GC
-5.55
-6.8
-8.43
Thermal Expansion
mm/mk
0.01
Thermal Conductivity
W/mK
2.5-3.1
Compressive Strength
N/mm2
110-126
Flexural Strength
N/mm2
13.3
14.7
15.8
Ultrasonic Velocity
m/s
5180
5416
5785
Scratch Test
mm
0.3
Wear Resistance
mm/1000m
3.5-4.2
Modulus of Elasticity
N/mm2
740000
751000
760000
Water Absorption
%Dry Mass
0.12
0.14
0.20
Sulphate Attack
Minimal due to compact grain structure
Sound Insulation
Dependent on homogeneous mass, large blocks of Irish Blue Limestone
Offer good sound attenuation.
