Standard Guide for Quality Assurance of Mortars, ASTM C1586 (ref. For this reason, no pass/fail criteria exist for field tests of mortar. Because conditions of the units and environment can vary greatly from job to job, the properties of the plastic mortar may need to vary as well to ensure quality construction. Therefore, the properties of the sampled and tested mortar can be expected to differ significantly from mortar in contact with masonry units. Nearly all of the available mortar test methods, however, are performed on mortar before it comes into contact with masonry units. When fresh mortar is placed on concrete masonry units during construction, its characteristics immediately begin to change due to water absorption by the masonry units. In fact, ASTM does not publish minimum compressive strength requirements for field-prepared mortar. Note that the physical properties of these field mortar evaluations cannot be compared to the values required by the ASTM C270 property specification. This is discussed in detail in the section Compressive Strength Testing of Field-Prepared Mortar, below. Note that mortar compressive strength is not an accurate indication of mortar strength in the wall, nor of the masonry wall compressive strength. 4), which includes the following test methods: consistency by cone penetration consistency retention by cone penetration consistency by modified concrete penetrometer mortar-aggregate ratio and water content air content and compressive strength. Both consistency testing and testing to verify compliance with the property specification are covered in this TEK.įield-prepared and preconstruction mortar should be evaluated using Standard Test Method for Preconstruction and Construction Evaluation of Mortars for Plain and Reinforced Unit Masonry, ASTM C780 (ref. 3), the special inspector, as part of his duties, is required to verify compliance with the approved mix proportions for field-prepared mortar.
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Where special inspection is required in accordance with the International Building Code (ref. This information is required for submittals, so is performed prior to construction. The property specification requires testing to be performed on laboratory-prepared mortar to demonstrate compliance with a specified minimum compressive strength, minimum water retention and maximum air content. TEK 9-1A covers the proportion specification in detail.Īlthough physical testing of the mortar is not required to demonstrate compliance with the proportion specification, the mortar is often tested to verify consistency throughout the job, most often by cone penetration or compressive strength testing. Of the two options, the proportion specification is much more commonly used. Note that these compliance options are completely independent of each other the requirements from one should not be used in conjunction with the other. Two methods of demonstrating compliance with ASTM C270 are permitted: the proportion specification or the property specification. Typically, project specifications require mortar to comply with Standard Specification for Mortar for Unit Masonry, ASTM C270 (ref. Misinterpretations of these standards can result in improper testing and confusion regarding compliance with specifications. When mortar testing is required, it is essential that all parties involved possess a thorough knowledge of the mortar specifications, test methods and standard industry practices. Quality assurance testing of site-prepared mortar is fairly uncommon, except on large jobs or for essential facilities.
These materials are described in Mortars for Concrete Masonry, TEK 9-1A (ref. Admixtures may include such materials as coloring pigments, water repellent agents, accelerators, retarders and air-entraining agents. Aggregates consist of natural sand or manufactured sand. Cementitious materials include portland cement, masonry cement, mortar cement, slag cement, blended hydraulic cement, hydraulic cement, quicklime, hydrated lime and lime putty. Masonry mortars are composed of cementitious materials, aggregates, water, and admixtures when specified.