The role of sea salts in the occurrence of differrent damage mechanisms and decay patterns on brick masonry

Sea salt damage to porous building materials is a well-known problem not only in regions located near the sea, but also in continental areas. In walls sea salts may stem from different sources: they may penetrate from the ground by rising damp, may be carried by the wind in the form of salt spray, may be due to flooding, occasional or recurrent, or may also be caused by the use of sea water in the preparation of the mortar.