What is BS EN 196-1 - Strength of cement about?
BS EN 196 is a series of the European standards on methods of testing cement that is essential to ensure compliance with specification and application-specific requirements.
BS EN 196-1 is the first part of the BS EN 196 series of documents that describes the method for the determination of the compressive and, optionally, the flexural strength of cement mortar. The method applies to common cement and to other cement and materials, the standards for which call up this method.
The method is used for assessing whether the compressive strength of cement is in conformity with its specification and for validation testing of a CEN Standard sand, EN 196-1, or alternative compaction equipment.
BS EN 196-1 describes the reference equipment and procedure and allows alternative compaction equipment and procedures to be used provided that they have been validated in
accordance with the appropriate provisions. In the event of a dispute, only the reference equipment and procedure are used.
Note: BS EN 196-1 may not apply to other cement types that have, for example, a very short initial setting time.
Who is BS EN 196-1 - Strength of cement for?
BS EN 196-1 on testing cement is relevant to:
- Infrastructure contractors
- Civil engineers
- Manufacturers and suppliers of cement and cement mortar
- Quality control inspectors
Why should you use BS EN 196-1 - Strength of cement?
Cement performs a vital role in the construction industry as it is a manufactured material created by a complex process that involves multiple ingredients that set, harden, and adheres to other materials to bind them together.
BS EN 196-1 gives details on the laboratory and equipment requirements for the testing procedure where preparation of specimens takes place in accordance with temperature and relative humidity.
BS EN 196-1 specifies the flexural strength testing apparatus and the arrangement of loading for the determination of flexural strength as well as the compressive strength testing machine. It provides details on the mortar constituents and preparation of mortar that includes composition and mixing.
Preparation and conditioning of test specimens are outlined in BS EN 196-1 along with the testing procedures to evaluate flexural strength and compressive strength of each test specimen.
Calculation and expression of test results for flexural and compressive strength by estimating the precision are set out in BS EN 196-1.
Validation testing of CEN Standard sand and of alternative compaction equipment can be determined by BS EN 196-1.
Overall, BS EN 196-1 assists you in manufacturing cement for building use evaluating the strength of the binder (cement) against crushing due to direct compressive load, and ensuring the overall quality of the finished product.
In this way, you can utilize cement which is an extremely important construction material used in the production of many structures in the desire for improved living standards across the globe and ongoing development.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS EN 196-1:2016 supersedes BS EN 196-1:2005. BS EN 196-1:2016 includes some technical changes with respect to BS EN 196-1:2005. These include:
- The normative references have been updated
- Estimates of the precisions for compressive strength testing have been revised with an indication of repeatability and reproducibility at 2 d and 7 d
- The mixing procedure has been revised with an indication of a maximum timing for the addition in the bowl
- The standard has been editorially revised
