Plasters and renders for salt laden substrates

The EU project COMPASS, Compatibility of Plasters and renders with Salt loaded Substrates in historic buildings, aimed at improving the maintenance of monuments by means of a better understanding of the working principles of the plasters and the damage mechanisms induced by salt crystallisation. Salt damage was effectively studied modelling the moisture and salt transport and degradation (irreversible dilation) and a fast and efficacious salt crystallisation test developed. Practical results were the assessment of the requirements for plasters to be used on salt loaded substrates and guidelines for selecting plasters suitable for different situations. The dissemination of the results was also entrusted to the expert system MDDS.