ABSTRACT
The use of the flat jack technique to test masonry properties in existing buildings demonstrates to be a valid option in terms of time, cost execution and minor destructiveness. The test allows to measure with few operations both the local actual stress and the strain-stress behaviour of masonry. The limitations of the flat jack test are mainly related to the difficult application of the technique in case of low stress acting, or in presence of very irregular masonry. An increased number of technical standards related to the assessment of existing building require different knowledge levels strictly connected with the number and type of tests. The Italian Technical Standard for constructions represents a strongly relevant tool for practitioners involved in the assessment of existing masonry structures, and can be considered "innovative" with respect to other international guidelines. The qualification of historic masonry is an open issue due to the testing techniques and to the intrinsic variability of mechanical properties.
