BDC Magazine - Online version December 2015 Issue - 216 | Page 65

Stone fed News.qxp_feature 2 21/10/2015 08:50 Page 63

Selection
Selection
Selection...
The key to a successful natural stone project
When it comes to using natural stone in your project, the key

range of geological characteristics typically found within the

to success is selection. A combination of selecting the cor-

bed of stone as opposed to the small snapshot you would

rect stone and the right stone professional is the recipe to a

find in a single indicative sample piece. This helps to avoid

successful natural stone project. Selecting the correct stone

any confusion as to what the end product will look like, how-

professional is without doubt the best place to start. Some

ever, it is worth bearing in mind that this is a natural product

clients want to rush straight into looking to source the mate-

and therefore, each stone will have its own unique features.

rial but may lack the experience, technical knowledge and
understanding of the application suitability of each stone.

Step two is tied into the first, and this is to visit the quarry
or mine itself.

Most natural stone experts strongly advise

There are a few key things to ask for when selecting your stone

that a visit is made so that the stone proposed for the project

professional that will ensure you are employing the services of a

can be carefully inspected. This is also a great chance to see

company operating at the highest standards of best practice.

exactly how the process works. There is something special

It is important is to ensure that they are a member of an

about seeing the stone at both ends of the process and a very

official trade association or professional body. The trade

visible reminder that stone is a natural, sustainable material.

bodies will ensure that their members are kept up to date

The third and final step is the technical assessment of the

with the latest guides to best practice, Government legisla-

stone. It is important to make an initial assessment of the

tion and British and European Standards. As with any mate-

stone’s technical properties before it is added to the project

rial, the guidelines to best practice and legislation surround-

short list. There are various tests that help build a picture of

ing natural stone are always changing, but through the tech-

a stone’s potential suitability for a particular application and,

nical support a trade body can provide, you can rest assured

whilst past projects are a good indicator, recent test data

that your professional is ahead of the curve.

should be examined.

Once the natural stone professional has been chosen, it is

While on the subject of testing, it is important to mention the

then vital to ensure you are selecting the correct stone for the

CE Marking legislation. As of July 1st 2013 it has been a legal

application you have in mind. The stone professional should

requirement for all construction products, including natural

be able to assist with this, but here are a few pointers so that

stone, placed on the market in the EEA (European Economic

you too can enter this stage with a good level of “know how ”.

Area) to have a CE Certificate and Declaration of Performance

The first step is to ensure that your samples are up to the

(DoP). The information on the CE Certificates and DoPs pro-

task in hand – namely giving you a true representation of

vide the architects, client, designers and developers with vital

what the final product will look like. One key factor in this

information that aids correct stone selection which, in turn

is looking at range/control samples. These will show the

helps to ensure that the correct stone is used from the outset.