is the British adopted European standard titled: "Testing hardened concrete – Part 2: Making and curing specimens for strength tests." This standard superseded the previous 2009 version and provides the mandatory, legally referenced procedures for producing representative concrete test specimens (cubes, cylinders, and prisms) and curing them under controlled conditions before they are crushed or tested.
: Guidelines for safely moving specimens from the site to the laboratory without causing internal damage. Why It’s Important
This standard is an adoption of the European Standard , which was approved by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) on 29 April 2019. It officially replaced and withdrew the older BS EN 12390-2:2009 , bringing with it crucial updates to reflect current best practices and technological advancements in concrete testing. bs en 12390-2:2019
: Prescribing specific mechanical (vibrating tables, internal vibrators) or hand methods (compacting rods).
standard is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental practice for building durable and safe infrastructure. comparative breakdown of the specific changes between the 2009 and 2019 versions? is the British adopted European standard titled: "Testing
To ensure consistency, the standard specifies the use of equipment conforming to BS EN 12390-1. Key tools include:
To avoid voids and honeycombing, the concrete must be properly compacted within the mould. The standard describes two primary methods: internal vibration (needle vibrator) and manual compaction (tamping rod). Crucially, it specifies the size of the vibrator head, the duration of vibration, and the number of rod strokes for manual compaction, depending on the specimen size and concrete slump. This removes operator guesswork. It officially replaced and withdrew the older BS
| Aspect | BS EN 12390-2:2009 | BS EN 12390-2:2019 | |--------|--------------------|--------------------| | | Specified materials (metal, rigid plastic) | More detailed requirements for mould rigidity, dimensional tolerance, and re-use limits. | | Compaction methods | Vague guidance on rodding, vibration, etc. | Clarified compaction energy and process, especially for different consistence classes (slump classes S1 to S5). | | Surface finish | Minimal guidance. | Added requirement to record surface flatness deviation. | | Curing temperature | 20°C ± 2°C for water tanks. | Tightened to 20°C ± 1°C for sensitive applications (e.g., high-strength concrete >80 MPa). | | Transport of fresh specimens | Not detailed. | New clause on minimizing disturbance, vibration, and temperature change during transport from batching to lab. | | Demoulding time | 24 hours ± 4 hours typical. | More prescriptive: 24 hours ± 2 hours unless otherwise agreed, with justification for early demoulding. | | Curing records | Basic temperature checks. | Mandatory logging of temperature and relative humidity at defined intervals (every 4 hours if automated, or at least twice daily if manual). |
Specimens are commonly immersed in a water tank (kept at 20± 2°C or 27± 2°C depending on local requirements) until the day of testing.
Curing is perhaps the most critical stage. The standard outlines strict requirements to ensure the concrete hydrates properly. Initial Curing