ABSTRACT
The durability of masonry mortars has historically been assumed rather than tested, not least as there has been no standard test method available. Lucideon in the mid 2000's developed a masonry panel durability test for the laboratory assessment of mortar frost resistance, based on the TS 772-22 freeze-thaw test method used for assessing the frost resistance of clay masonry units. Various mortar mixes were chosen to represent the range of cements currently available in the UK market. Initially the initial rate of suction of the brick removes free water from the surface of the mortar, and in doing so is thought to transfer cement particles as well as mortar paste into the surface pore structure of the brick. The cement type used for the mortar does appear to play a role in the degree of damage the mortar suffers, however there is some variation between the results of the laboratory based testing and the results from the Severe Exposure Site.
