MATERIAL DATA SHEET

Limestone Block/Panel

Metamorphic/Sedimentary
mineral › Stone › Metamorphic/Sedimentary
mineralstonelimestonesedimentarynatural-stoneblockworkcladdingnon-combustiblethermal-massload-bearingMount-Gambierlow-embodied-energyrecyclableAustralian-quarried
ATLAS CODE
MIN-STN-SED-001
Limestone Block/Panel
Category mineral
Material Family Stone
Regulatory Status A1 Non-Combustible
Density
1760-2700 kg/m3
Carbon (A1-A5)
0.09-0.22 kg CO2-eq/kg
Fire Class
A1 Non-Combustible
Lifespan
50-500+ years
Description

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), either as calcite crystite or from accumulation of marine organism shells and skeletal fragments. ASTM C568 classifies dimension limestone into three density categories: Low Density (I) at 1,760-2,160 kg/m3, Medium Density (II) at 2,160-2,560 kg/m3, and High Density (III) above 2,560 kg/m3, each with corresponding minimum compressive strength requirements (12, 28, and 55 MPa respectively). In Australian construction, Mount Gambier limestone — a distinctive cellular bryozoan limestone from South Australia — has been quarried for over 100 years, offering competitive pricing comparable to brick-and-render, natural insulation properties claimed at 3x that of clay brick due to its cellular structure, and excellent acoustic performance. Limestone blocks ('ashlars') can be load-bearing in low-rise construction or applied as cladding panels on structural frames. The material is inherently non-combustible (A1) with CSIRO-tested Fire Resistance Level (FRL) data available for Australian applications. Limestone's acid sensitivity (CaCO3 dissolves in acid rain) is the primary durability consideration, though Australian urban atmospheres are generally less acidic than European industrial environments.

Primary Sectors
[Residential]
Typical Uses
  • Residential Blockwork
  • Exterior Wall Cladding
  • Retaining and Boundary Walls
  • Interior Feature Elements
  • Floor Tiles and Paving
390190mm
Size
Primary Form [Blocks: / 390x190x190mm / Standard; / Panels: / Custom / To / 600x900mm]
Dimensional Tol. ± [+/-1mm (machine-cut), +/-3mm (natural)] mm
Recycled Content 0 (primary stone)
Renewable Content 0
Recyclability 100
Embodied Carbon 0.09-0.22 kg CO2-eq/kg
Embodied Energy 0.85-1.5 MJ/kg
EPD Available Yes
Advantages
Non-combustible (A1) with CSIRO-tested FRL data for Australian applicationsExcellent thermal mass — moderates internal temperature swings in passive designMount Gambier cellular limestone: thermal insulation 3x that of clay brickCompetitive cost — approximately one-quarter the price of sandstone, comparable to brick-and-renderLow embodied energy — quarried and cut, no firing or chemical processingAttractive natural appearance that weathers gracefully over decadesLoad-bearing capability — can be structural in low-rise construction (no separate frame needed)Good acoustic isolation — cellular structure absorbs sound
Cautions
Acid-sensitive — calcium carbonate dissolves in acid rain and acidic cleaning productsPorous varieties (Type I) absorb water and stain readily if unsealedSofter than granite and marble — scratches and wears in high-traffic areasHeavy — blockwork approximately 40-65 kg per block, requires crane/forklift for upper-storey workLimited compressive strength in porous varieties (Type I: 12 MPa minimum)Salt crystallisation damage in coastal environments (porous varieties)Fossil content can create weakness planes in structural applications
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TECHNICAL DATA: PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES MIN-STN-SED-001
Density (Dry) 1760-2700 kg/m3
Specific Gravity 1.76-2.70
Porosity 1-30 %
Water Absorption 1-12 %
Hardness 3-4 Mohs
Surface Roughness 0.5-500 (finish-dependent) um
UV Resistance Excellent
Chemical Resistance Poor (acids); Good (alkalis)
pH Tolerance 7-14 (dissolves below pH 7) pH
Available Colors
Cream-white — Mount Gambier bryozoan limestone (most common Australian)Buff/golden — Bath Stone, Cotswold (UK imports)Grey — Portland Stone, many European varietiesHoney/amber — Indiana Limestone, some Mediterranean varietiesRose/pink — some Spanish and Turkish limestonesDark grey — Belgian Blue, Kilkenny limestone
Surface Finishes
Natural/quarry-cut — untreated surface, most economicalHoned — smooth matte, good for interiorsSplit-face — rough texture for exterior characterBush-hammered — textured for slip resistancePolished — high gloss on dense varietiesTumbled — aged/antique appearanceAcid-washed — controlled surface etching for texture (dense varieties)
Texture Options
Split-face — rough natural fracture surfaceBush-hammered — dimpled textured surfaceHoned — smooth matte finishSawn — clean-cut surface showing saw marksPolished — smooth gloss (dense varieties only)Sand-blasted — uniform matte textureNatural — as-quarried with minimal finishing
Pattern Options
Ashlar — regular coursed blocks with thin joints (traditional formal)Random ashlar — varied block sizes in regular coursesRubble — irregular blocks with wider mortar joints (rustic)Stacked bond — blocks aligned vertically and horizontallyRunning bond — blocks offset by half (most common for blockwork)
Compressive Strength 12-150 MPa
Tensile Strength 2-10 MPa
Flexural Strength 2.9-15 MPa
Shear Strength 5-25 MPa
Elastic Modulus 10-65 GPa
Yield Strength N/A (brittle) MPa
Impact Resistance 2-6 J
Bearing Capacity Per AS 3700 (masonry design) kPa
Poisson's Ratio 0.20-0.30
Creep Resistance Good
Abrasion Resistance Ha 10+ (ASTM C241, dense varieties)
Thermal Conductivity 0.5-1.8 W/mK
Thermal Resistance 0.06-0.20 (per 100mm) m2K/W
Specific Heat Capacity 840-910 J/kgK
Thermal Expansion 0.004-0.008 mm/m/degC
Melting Point 898 (decomposition) degC
Ignition Temperature N/A (does not ignite) degC
Sound Transmission Class (STC) 45-55
Noise Reduction Coeff. (NRC) 0.01-0.15
Optical
Light Transmittance 0 %
Light Reflectance (LRV) 25-80 (colour-dependent) %
Solar Reflectance (SRI) 30-80

Limestone construction dates to the earliest permanent architecture. The Great Pyramid of Giza (c. 2560 BCE) used approximately 2.3 million limestone blocks averaging 2.5 tonnes each, quarried from the nearby Tura and Mokattam formations. Greek and Roman builders extensively used limestone for temples, aqueducts (Pont du Gard, 19 BCE), and civic buildings. Portland Stone from Dorset, England, became the defining material of London architecture after the Great Fire of 1666, with Christopher Wren specifying it for St Paul's Cathedral (1675-1711) and the Houses of Parliament. In Australia, limestone construction has strong regional traditions: Mount Gambier limestone has been quarried since the 1850s for homes, public buildings, and boundary walls throughout South Australia's Limestone Coast region. Perth's colonial architecture extensively used locally quarried Tamala limestone. Adelaide's heritage buildings incorporate Murray Bridge and Adelaide Hills limestone. The material remains popular in Australian residential construction, particularly in South Australia and Western Australia, where local quarries provide competitively priced blocks for housing, retaining walls, and landscaping.

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SAFETY, ECOLOGY & INSTALLATION MIN-STN-SED-001
Flame Spread Index 0
Smoke Developed Index 0
Combustibility Class A1 Non-Combustible
Ignition Temperature N/A (does not ignite) degC
Fire Resistance Rating 120+ (200mm blockwork) minutes
Heat Release Rate 0 kW/m2
Toxicity of Combustion Very Low
Embodied Carbon (A1-A3) 0.09-0.22 kg CO2-eq/kg
Embodied Energy 0.85-1.5 MJ/kg
Water Footprint 5-15 L/kg
EPD Available Yes — Natural Stone Council EPDs for limestone. BRUHN Limestone: sustainability data available. Indiana Limestone Institute: extensive environmental data. Source: EPD registries, industry associations
Recycled Content 0%
Renewable Content 0%
LEED Points 3-6 points
Circular Economy Score 7.0 /10
VOC Emissions 0 ug/m3
Skill Level Qualified (mason/bricklayer)
Crew Size 2-3 persons
Installation Time 0.5-2.0 hours/m2
Curing Time 24-168 (mortar full cure) hours
Setting Time 2-8 hours
Temperature Range 5-35 degC
Humidity Range 30-80 %RH
Required Tools
Masonry saw (diamond blade) for cutting blocks to sizeTrowels for mortar applicationSpirit level and string line for course alignmentRubber mallet for block positioningMortar mixerLifting equipment for upper-storey work (crane/scaffold hoist)Angle grinder with diamond blade for trimming
Certifications Required
Certificate III in Bricklaying/Blocklaying (CPC33020) for load-bearing workLicensed builder for structural limestone constructionWorking at heights certification for wall construction above 2mNo specific limestone certification, but experience with natural stone recommended
Weather Limitations
Mortar application: avoid rain, frost, and temperatures below 5 degCProtect fresh mortar joints from rain for 24 hoursCover blockwork overnight in wet weather
CLAD MATERIALS ATLAS PAGE 3 OF 4
COMMERCIAL, LOGISTICS & REGULATORY MIN-STN-SED-001
Material Cost 30-400 AUD/m2
Installation Cost 40-150 AUD/m2
Annual Maintenance 1-10 AUD/m2/year
Lifecycle Cost (50yr) 300-600 (over 100 years) AUD/m2
Market Availability Excellent (SA/WA); Good (national)
Lead Time 5-120 days
Supply & Logistics
Design Life 50-500+ years
Warranty Period 5-10 (product liability) years
Maintenance Interval 1825-3650 (5-10 year exterior inspection) days
Service Temp Range -30 to 200 degC
Freeze/Thaw Resistance 10-100+ (density/absorption dependent) cycles
Dimensional Stability Less than 0.1 mm/m
Certifications Held
ASTM C568 classification testing (density, absorption, strength)CE marking for European-sourced limestoneEPD available (Natural Stone Council, specific quarry EPDs)Green Star compliant — low embodied energy, regional materialsLEED compliant — regional materials and EPD creditsNon-toxic mineral — no health certification requiredDust management during cutting per Safe Work Australia
Fire Code Compliance
AS 1530.1 — Non-combustible (natural stone)NCC 2022 Specification C1.10 — Non-combustible wall materialCSIRO fire test reports for specific FRL ratings of Australian limestone
Standards Compliance
NCC 2022 Volume 1/2 — Non-combustible construction materialAS 3700 — Masonry Structures (for load-bearing limestone blockwork)AS 4654.2 — Waterproofing (membrane beneath limestone in wet areas)AS 4586 — Slip resistance (flooring applications)ASTM C568/C568M — Standard Specification for Limestone Dimension Stone (Type I/II/III)ASTM C97 — Absorption and Bulk Specific GravityASTM C170 — Compressive StrengthASTM C99 — Modulus of RuptureASTM C880 — Flexural StrengthASTM C241 — Abrasion Resistance (flooring only)ISO 22282 — Natural stone test methodsISO 9001 — Quality management for quarryingEN 1469 — Natural stone products: slabs for claddingEN 12057 — Natural stone products: modular tilesEN 13501-1 — Fire classification (A1 for natural stone)EN 1926 — Compressive strength determinationEN 13161 — Flexural strength determination

DISCLAIMER: This specification document is generated from the CLAD Materials Atlas Database. Information is for general guidance only and does not constitute professional engineering advice. Values are typical and may vary by batch, manufacturer, and production run. Verify suitability for specific project applications independently.

ID: MIN-STN-SED-001 Schema: v3.0
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