For anyone working in concrete testing, keeping the entire on hand is essential. 8. Quality Management and Documentation Under ISO/IEC 17025 (laboratory accreditation), simply following the standard is not enough – you must prove you followed it.
By following BS EN 12390-2:2019 meticulously, you ensure that the compressive strength result reflects the concrete – not the mistakes of the technician. That is the essence of standardized testing. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal or professional advice. Always refer to the full text of BS EN 12390-2:2019, available from BSI Group (British Standards Institution), for complete and legally binding requirements. bs en 12390-2:2019
| 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). | For anyone working in concrete testing, keeping the
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 This standard superseded the previous 2009 version and provides the mandatory, legally referenced procedures for producing representative concrete test specimens (cubes, cylinders, and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. By following BS EN 12390-2:2019 meticulously, you ensure
| Standard | Title | Role | |----------|-------|------| | | Shape, dimensions, and tolerances of moulds | Specifies the moulds used in Part 2. | | BS EN 12390-3 | Compressive strength of test specimens | The test method after curing per Part 2. | | BS EN 12390-4 | Determination of compressive strength – non-destructive (rebound hammer) | Optional supplementary. | | BS EN 12350-4 | Fresh concrete – Degree of compactability | Helps determine compaction method for Part 2. | | BS 1881-108 | (Partly superseded) | Old UK standard – still referenced but not current. |
Introduction: The Foundation of Reliable Concrete Testing In the construction and civil engineering industries, concrete is the most widely used man-made material on the planet. However, the quality of concrete can vary significantly depending on its constituent materials, mixing, placement, and curing conditions. To ensure that a structure is safe, durable, and fit for purpose, engineers rely on standardized tests—most notably compressive strength tests. But a test result is only as reliable as the specimen that was tested. This is where BS EN 12390-2:2019 becomes indispensable.