The IS 1805:1973 standard serves as an extensive glossary covering terminology associated with stones, quarrying, and dressing techniques used in construction and masonry. It provides standardized definitions for tools, finishes, defects, and processes vital for professionals handling natural stone materials. This code is indispensable for engineers, architects, quarry personnel, and masons engaged in stone extraction and finishing operations.
Overview
The IS 1805:1973 standard serves as an extensive glossary covering terminology associated with stones, quarrying, and dressing techniques used in construction and masonry. It provides standardized definitions for tools, finishes, defects, and processes vital for professionals handling natural stone materials. This code is indispensable for engineers, architects, quarry personnel, and masons engaged in stone extraction and finishing operations.
Audience
Contents
Structure
IS 1805 (1973, reaffirmed 2003) outlines the terminology relevant to natural building stones, including their classification, testing procedures, and dressing. Formulated by the Stones Sectional Committee (BDC 6) under the Civil Engineering Division Council, this standard covers natural stones used in construction, tools such as trammels and scribers (Clause 4.34), and quality benchmarks for stone masonry workmanship. It excludes detailed design formulas or tables within its scope clause. For design and testing specifics, one should refer to particular clauses within IS 1805 or complementary codes like IS 456 for concrete masonry with stones.
This section establishes the key terminology used in stone quarrying, dressing, and tool identification. The standard references other IS codes for related domains, such as geology and mining (IS 5940-1970), blasting (IS 4863-1968), rock classification (IS 1123-1957), and masonry construction (IS 1597 Part I - 1967). Definitions include basic terms such as quarry, dressing, bed, joint, and tools employed in stone processing. This glossary ensures uniform understanding across the construction and engineering sectors, although it does not provide technical parameters or formulas.
Defines terms associated with different stone finishes obtained through quarrying and dressing. It includes definitions for rough quarry face (natural broken surface), hammered finish (surface shaped by hammer blows), polished finish (smooth, glossy surface from grinding), and bush hammered texture (created by a bush hammer tool). The standard serves as a terminology reference and does not include design data or mechanical properties, which are found in IS 1123 and masonry standards.
Provides terminology related to the tools used in stone quarrying and dressing operations such as chisels, hammers, wedges, plugs, feathers, crowbars, and drills. Although IS 1805 does not specify detailed tool specifications, it references other standards like IS 5940-1970 (blasting tools), IS 4863-1968 (mining terminology), IS 1123-1957 (rock classification), and IS 1597 (Part I)-1967 (masonry tools). The section emphasizes the importance of selecting durable, hardened steel tools appropriate to stone type and finish desired.
Focuses on defining terms related to quarrying processes rather than detailing operational techniques. It explains quarrying methods such as drilling, blasting, splitting using wedges and feathers, and cutting. The section cross-references IS 5940-1970, IS 4863-1968, IS 1123-1957, and IS 1597 (Part I)-1967 for more detailed information on geology, blasting, rock classification, and masonry construction. Basic volume estimation formula and common stone types with typical uses are also referenced.
Lists common stone defects and natural properties relevant to construction stone quality, including cracks, fissures, weathering, inclusions, porosity, and uneven texture. It highlights key physical properties such as density, compressive strength, water absorption, and durability. Acceptable ranges for these properties are provided to guide quality assessment. For detailed testing and specifications, IS 1121 and IS 1387 are recommended.
Describes surface treatment methods including punched dressing (rough tooled surface with ridges and gap ≤ 3 mm under a straight edge), two-line dressing (similar to punched), and palmane dressing (uniform finish achieved with a square-ended tool after two-line dressing). These finishes enhance aesthetics and mechanical interlocking in masonry. The section includes tool dimensions and emphasizes quality control parameters for surface flatness.
Defines blasting as breaking rock by drilling holes, loading explosives, and detonating them. Drilling is defined as making holes in rock for blasting or other purposes. References are provided to IS 5940-1970, IS 4863-1968, IS 1123-1957, and IS 1597 (Part I)-1967 for detailed terminology. Important terms include blast hole, charge, bench, spalling, drill diameter, burden, and spacing, with basic formulas for burden and spacing given to optimize blasting efficiency.
This section compiles definitions related to stone quarrying, dressing, and tools used in construction stonework. It targets construction-use stones and cross-references other IS codes for geology, blasting, rock classification, and masonry terms. Common terms include bench, face, pitching, and plug and feathers. The glossary facilitates consistent communication among engineers, masons, and other stakeholders involved in stonework projects.
Frequently Asked
IS 1805 outlines stone dressing finishes as specific surface treatments applied to stones to enhance appearance and fitment in construction. Typical finishes include rough dress (roughly shaped with uneven texture), hammer dress (textured by hammer impacts), chisel dress (smoothed with chisels), fine dress (very smooth, often polished), pitch face (rough surface with raised edges), and polished finish (highly glossy and smooth). These finishes influence aesthetic appeal and mortar bonding. For complementary masonry terminology, IS 1597 (Part I) is referenced.
IS 1805 identifies key tools such as the quarryman's axe—a double-edged steel axe weighing about 6 kg used for rough shaping of blockstone—and the bull set, a shaft-mounted tool predominantly used in granite dressing to remove unwanted stone material. For further details on geology and blasting tools, IS 5940-1970 and IS 4863-1968 are referenced, while rock classification and masonry terms are covered in IS 1123-1957 and IS 1597 (Part I)-1967 respectively.
IS 1805 provides terminology related to common stone defects encountered during quarrying and dressing, such as fissures (narrow cracks), inclusions (embedded foreign materials), weathering (surface degradation), and veins (mineral deposits within stone). The glossary standardizes these terms to ensure clear communication of stone quality and defects. For more detailed geological and mining defect definitions, IS 5940 and IS 4863 are recommended, with rock classification and masonry terminology found in IS 1123 and IS 1597 (Part I).
IS 1805 defines quarrying and blasting terms including blasting as the process of breaking rock by drilling holes, charging them with explosives, and detonating. It also covers quarrying and dressing terminology related to stone extraction and preparation. Detailed terminology is available in IS 4863 (blasting terms), IS 5940 (mining and geology), IS 1123 (rock classification), and IS 1597 (masonry construction). These references provide comprehensive vocabulary for quarrying and blasting activities.
The IS 1805 glossary fosters standardized communication by offering clear and uniform definitions for terms related to stones, quarrying, dressing, and associated tools. This common terminology minimizes misunderstandings among engineers, architects, quarry workers, and contractors, promoting consistency in specifications, quality control, and documentation. Aligning with related IS codes further enhances interdisciplinary clarity, thereby improving coordination and reducing errors throughout stonework project execution.
Ask AI about any clause, requirement, or provision in IS 1805. Get instant, clause-cited responses powered by our indexed library.
Free tier includes 150 queries (50 AI + 100 Reference) · No credit card required