BS EN 12390-1:2012

BSI Standards Publication

Testing hardened concrete

Licensed copy:Coventry University, 10/11/2019, Uncontrolled Copy, © BSI

Part 1: Shape, dimensions and other

requirements for specimens and moulds

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 12390-1:2012.
It supersedes BS EN 12390-1:2000 which is withdrawn.
The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical
Committee B/517/1, Concrete production and testing.
A list of organizations represented on this committee can be
obtained on request to its secretary.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary
provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct
application.
© The British Standards Institution 2012.
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2012
ISBN 978 0 580 76920 7
ICS 91.100.30
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
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legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 30 November 2012.
Amendments issued since publication
Date Text affected
 BS EN 12390-1:2012

EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 12390-1

NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM September 2012

ICS 91.100.30 Supersedes EN 12390-1:2000

English Version

Testing hardened concrete - Part 1: Shape, dimensions and

other requirements for specimens and moulds

Essai pour béton durci - Partie 1 : Forme, dimensions et Prüfung von Festbeton - Teil 1: Form, Maße und andere
autres exigences aux éprouvettes et aux moules Anforderungen für Probekörper und Formen

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 13 July 2012.

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CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN member.

This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre has the same
status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United
Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B-1000 Brussels

© 2012 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 12390-1:2012: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.
 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

Contents Page

Foreword ..............................................................................................................................................................3
1 Scope ......................................................................................................................................................5
2 Normative references ............................................................................................................................5
3 Terms and definitions ...........................................................................................................................5
4 Shape, dimensions and tolerances of specimens .............................................................................5
4.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................5
4.2 Cubes ......................................................................................................................................................6
4.2.1 Nominal sizes .........................................................................................................................................6
4.2.2 Designated sizes ....................................................................................................................................6
4.2.3 Tolerances ..............................................................................................................................................6
4.3 Cylinders .................................................................................................................................................7
4.3.1 Nominal sizes .........................................................................................................................................7
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4.3.2 Designated sizes ....................................................................................................................................7

4.3.3 Tolerances ..............................................................................................................................................7
4.3.4 Applicability of tolerances ....................................................................................................................7
4.4 Prisms .....................................................................................................................................................8
4.4.1 Nominal sizes .........................................................................................................................................8
4.4.2 Designated sizes ....................................................................................................................................8
4.4.3 Tolerances ..............................................................................................................................................8
4.5 Measurement of dimensions and shape of specimens .....................................................................8
5 Moulds ....................................................................................................................................................9
5.1 General ....................................................................................................................................................9
5.2 Calibrated moulds..................................................................................................................................9
Annex A (normative) Application of EN ISO 1101 to concrete test specimens and moulds.................... 11
A.1 General ................................................................................................................................................. 11
A.2 Flatness ............................................................................................................................................... 11
A.3 Perpendicularity .................................................................................................................................. 11
A.4 Straightness ........................................................................................................................................ 12
Annex B (normative) Assessment of flatness of specimens and moulds ................................................. 13

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

Foreword
This document (EN 12390-1:2012) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 104 “Concrete and
related products”, the secretariat of which is held by DIN.

This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by March 2013, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by March 2013.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights other than those identified above. CEN [and/or] CENELEC shall not be held responsible for identifying
any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 12390-1:2000.

This standard is one of a series on testing concrete.

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EN 12390, Testing hardened concrete, consists of the following parts:

 Part 1: Shape, dimensions and other requirements for specimens and moulds;

 Part 2: Making and curing specimens for strength tests;

 Part 3: Compressive strength of test specimens;

 Part 4: Compressive strength  Specification for testing machines;

 Part 5: Flexural strength of test specimens;

 Part 6: Tensile splitting strength of test specimens;

 Part 7: Density of hardened concrete;

 Part 8: Depth of penetration of water under pressure;

 Part 9: Freeze-thaw resistance  Scaling (technical specification);

 Part 10: Determination of the relative carbonation resistance of concrete (technical specification);

 Part 11: Determination of the chloride resistance of concrete, unidirectional diffusion (technical
specification).

The following amendments have been made to the former edition:

 editorial revision;

 increases in the allowable tolerances for the dimensions of the specimens which reflect current industry
practice.

This standard recognises alternative approaches towards obtaining test specimens of the correct sizes and
shapes. The first is to use moulds whose life is limited and to measure the specimens to ensure conformity.
The second is to cast specimens in calibrated metal moulds which meet tighter tolerances than for specimens.
The use of calibrated moulds allows relaxation on the requirement for measuring the specimens.

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

Annex A gives the application of EN ISO 1101 to measuring the shapes of concrete test specimens and
moulds.

Annex B gives a method to measure the flatness of specimens and moulds.

According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the United Kingdom.
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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

1 Scope
This European Standard specifies the shape, dimensions and tolerances of cast concrete test specimens in
the form of cubes, cylinders and prisms, and of the moulds required to produce them.

NOTE The tolerances specified in this European Standard are based on the needs of strength testing, but they can
be applicable to tests for other properties.

2 Normative references
The following documents, in whole or in part, are normatively referenced in this document and are
indispensable for its application. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references,
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.

EN ISO 1101:2005, Geometrical Product Specifications (GPS) — Geometrical tolerancing — Tolerances of

form, orientation, location and run-out (ISO 1101:2004)

3 Terms and definitions

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For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN ISO 1101:2005 and the following
apply.

3.1
nominal size
commonly used description of specimen size

3.2
designated size
specimen size in millimetres, selected and declared by the user of this standard from amongst the allowed
range of nominal sizes

4 Shape, dimensions and tolerances of specimens

4.1 General

For application of EN ISO 1101 to the measurement of concrete test specimens and moulds in respect to
flatness, perpendicularity and straightness, see Annex A.

For each shape of test specimen, cube, cylinder and prism, the nominal size d (Figures 1, 2 and 3) should be
chosen to be at least three and a half times the maximum aggregate size (Dmax according to EN 206-1) in the
concrete.

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

4.2 Cubes

4.2.1 Nominal sizes

d, mm 100 150 200 250 300

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Figure 1 — Cube – nominal sizes

4.2.2 Designated sizes

Designated sizes may be selected within ± 10 % of the nominal size

4.2.3 Tolerances

[Link] Between moulded surfaces the tolerance on the designated size (d) is 1,0 %.

[Link] Between the top trowelled face and the moulded bottom face the tolerance on the designated size
is 1,5 %.

[Link] The tolerance on the flatness of the potential load bearing surfaces is 0,0006d mm (see Annex B).

[Link] The tolerance on the perpendicularity of the sides of the cube, with reference to the base, as cast,
is 0,5 mm.

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

4.3 Cylinders

4.3.1 Nominal sizes

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d, mm 100 113 a 150 200 250 300

a This has a load-bearing area of 10 000 mm2.

Figure 2 — Cylinder – nominal size

4.3.2 Designated sizes

Designated sizes may be selected within ± 10 % of the nominal size.

4.3.3 Tolerances

[Link] The tolerance on the designated diameter (d) is 1,0 %.

[Link] The tolerance on the flatness of the load-bearing surface is 0,0006d mm (see Annex B).

[Link] The tolerance on the perpendicularity of the side, with reference to the end faces, is 0,007d mm.

[Link] The tolerance on the height (2d) is 5 %.

[Link] For specimens to be used for the tensile splitting strength test, the straightness tolerance on the
generating line of the cylinder is 0,2 mm.

4.3.4 Applicability of tolerances

[Link] Specimens with moulded end faces, or with end faces adjusted by grinding, shall conform to
4.3.3.

[Link] Specimens with end faces adjusted using sulfur capping, high alumina cement capping, or similar
capping shall conform to [Link] before capping and to [Link], [Link] and [Link] after capping.

[Link] Specimens with end faces adjusted using the sandbox method or similar methods shall conform
to [Link] and [Link] before capping and to [Link] after fixing the box(es).

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

4.4 Prisms

4.4.1 Nominal sizes

d, mm 100 150 200 250 300

L ≥ 3,5 d
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Figure 3 — Prism – nominal sizes

4.4.2 Designated sizes

Designated sizes (d) may be selected within ± 10 % of the nominal sizes.

4.4.3 Tolerances

[Link] Between moulded surfaces, the tolerance on the designated size (d) is 1,0 %.

[Link] Between the top trowelled face and the bottom moulded face, the tolerance on the designated
size is 1,5 %.

[Link] The tolerance on the perpendicularity of the sides of the prism with reference to the base, as cast,
is 0,5 mm.

[Link] The tolerances on the straightness of the surface to be in contact with the rollers in the flexural
strength test is 0,2 mm.

[Link] For specimens to be used for the tensile splitting strength test the straightness tolerance on the
load bearing surface is 0,2 mm.

4.5 Measurement of dimensions and shape of specimens

4.5.1 Unless specimens have documentation to show that they had been made in calibrated moulds, they
shall be measured or checked for conformity to 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 as appropriate.

NOTE Go/no-go gauges or other suitable method can be used to check dimensions.

4.5.2 If specimens have documentation to show that they have been made in calibrated moulds, only the
requirements of [Link] and [Link] or [Link], [Link] and [Link] or [Link], [Link], for cubes, cylinder or
prisms, respectively, shall be checked.

NOTE 1 Go/no-go gauges or other suitable method can be used to check dimensions.

NOTE 2 If a surface, calibrated with respect to flatness, is used to form the load bearing surface of cylinders, [Link].
need not be performed.

NOTE 3 Guidance on the measurement of flatness of load-bearing surfaces is given in Annex B.

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

5 Moulds

5.1 General

5.1.1 Moulds shall be watertight and non-absorbent.

NOTE The joints of moulds can be coated with wax, oil or grease to achieve water-tightness.

5.1.2 Moulds, other than calibrated moulds in accordance with 5.2, may be made from any material which is
suitable for producing concrete specimens.

5.2 Calibrated moulds

5.2.1 Calibrated moulds shall be made of steel or cast-iron, which shall be the reference materials. If
moulds are manufactured from other materials, in-use performance test data shall be available which
demonstrates long-term equivalence with steel or cast-iron calibrated moulds.

5.2.2 All parts of calibrated moulds shall be sufficiently robust to prevent distortion on assembly and in use.
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5.2.3 The components of the mould, with the possible exception of the base plate, shall have identification
marks.

5.2.4 Calibrated moulds for cubical specimens

[Link] Moulds shall be suitable for producing specimens conforming to 4.2.

[Link] The tolerance on the designated size (d) of an assembled mould is 0,5 %.

[Link] The tolerance on the flatness of the four side faces of the mould is 0,0003d mm for new moulds
and 0,000 5d mm for moulds in use.

[Link] The tolerance on the flatness of the top surface of the baseplate of the moulds is 0,0006d mm for
new moulds and 0,001d mm for moulds in use.

[Link] The tolerance on the perpendicularity of the sides of a mould with respect to the adjacent sides
and of the sides in relation to the base is 0,5 mm.

NOTE If necessary, the flatness tolerance can be measured with the mould disassembled (see Annex B).

5.2.5 Calibrated moulds for cylindrical specimens

[Link] Moulds shall be suitable for producing specimens conforming to 4.3.

[Link] The tolerance on the designated diameter (d) and the designated height (2d) is 0,5 %.

[Link] The tolerance on the flatness of a base of a mould is 0,0003d mm for new moulds and
0,000 5d mm for moulds in use.

[Link] The tolerance on the perpendicularity of the side of a mould with respect to the base is 0,5 mm.

NOTE If necessary, the flatness tolerance can be measured with the mould disassembled (see Annex B).

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

5.2.6 Calibrated moulds for prismatic specimens

[Link] Moulds shall be suitable for producing specimens conforming to 4.4.

[Link] The tolerance on the designated depth and width (d) of an assembled mould is 0,5 %.

[Link] The tolerance on the flatness of the internal sides is 0,001d mm for new moulds and 0,002d mm
for moulds in use.

[Link] The tolerance on the flatness of the top surface of the baseplate of the mould is 0,002d mm for
new moulds and 0,004d mm for moulds in use.

[Link] For mould surfaces with dimensions exceeding 150 mm, the flatness tolerances in [Link] and
[Link] shall apply over any 150 mm length.

[Link] The tolerance on the perpendicularity of the sides of a mould with respect to the base is 0,5 mm.

NOTE If necessary, the flatness tolerance can be measured with the mould disassembled (see Annex B).
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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

Annex A
(normative)

Application of EN ISO 1101 to concrete test specimens and moulds

A.1 General

EN ISO 1101 describes the geometric tolerancing of drawings. Figures A.1, A.2 and A.3 show particular
applications of the standard to the measurement of concrete test specimens and moulds.

A.2 Flatness
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Key
1 flatness tolerance
2 surface to which flatness tolerance applies

Figure A.1 — Measurement of flatness

A.3 Perpendicularity

Key
1 perpendicularity tolerance
2 surfaces to which perpedicularity tolerance applies
3 adjacent surface as datum surface

Figure A.2 — Measurement of perpendicularity

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

A.4 Straightness

Key
1 straightness tolerance on the load-bearing surface
2 surface to which the straightness tolerance is applied
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Figure A.3 — Measurement of straightness

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 BS EN 12390-1:2012
EN 12390-1:2012 (E)

Annex B
(normative)

Assessment of flatness of specimens and moulds

For the purpose of this European Standard, flatness shall be assessed by the measurement of straightness in
four positions, as shown in Figure B.1, for circular or rectilinear surfaces. Other methods giving at least the
same degree of accuracy may be used:
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Figure B.1 — Measurement pattern for flatness of circular and rectilinear surfaces

The tolerance on straightness shall be equal to the tolerance on the flatness specified in 4.2, 4.3 or 4.4 as
appropriate, for specimens, and in 5.2.4, 5.2.5 and 5.2.6, as appropriate, for moulds.

NOTE A steel straight-edge of rectangular section, and feeler gauges, with blades 0,03 mm to 1,00 mm thick, are
considered suitable for this measurement, which characteristics might be defined on a national level.

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