The fire performance of limestone : characterisation strategy for the fire performance of Maltese & Hungarian limestone

Abstract

Limestone is exploited as dimensional building stones for construction. Fire and high temperatures cause significant changes in physical & mineralogical properties of limestone in buildings and historic monuments. A strategy to investigate limestone is developed with reference to different limestones in Malta and in Hungary. The changes in properties of the limestones are assessed with respect to different test conditions including homogenous heating and the standard fire curve. The startegy includes an assessment of the physical parameters (density, porosity, water absorption, UPV, uniaxial compressive strength and indirect tensile strength); petrographic analysis (polarising microscope, XRD, SEM); colour and durability anlysis. A preliminary investigation of specific properties of limestone exposed to high temperatures is presented.