The particular geological process that created Fiorditufo has produced us to maintain a rather high quantity of vacious spots and air bubbles, that communicate scarcely among them and with the external space with a percentage of 46% of its volume. This fact explains the physical and mechanical characteristics that make it a highly valuable and appreciated construction material, maybe the best one. The numerous tests that have been made by the University of Rome ÒLa SapienzaÓ about the Fiorditufo blocks allow us to define the physical and mechanical characteristics, that resulted enclosed by range of remarkably uniform values.
Between the examined characteristics those ones that earn special attention are above all its reduced volume weight, that can vary at about 1,30 g/cm3 to 1,60 g/cm3, which facilitates its transport, its moving in the yard and its use at work. The happy connection between its reduced weight and its resistance to compression, more than 75 kg/cm2, allow the realisation of buildings with Fiorditufo blocks also in seismic zones, up to the maximum of consented height, without having to use particularly binding sections of load-bearing walls. Really important is its phono-absorbing power, especially if linked to the dispositions of the law about acoustical pollution 447/95 and the relative D.P.M. 05.12.97 about the individuation of passive acoustic requisitions of those buildings that need to have a phone-absorbing power currently inferior to 50 dB for buildings used as hotels and similar activities. The resistance to fire REI 180 guarantees to the walls made of Fiorditufo blocks (only the thickness of 11 cm would be enough) to be the right material for the separation of offices at risk of fire and for structures like garages and auto-silos.