BS EN 12390-2:2019 is a crucial standard within the construction materials industry. It specifies the methods for making and curing concrete test specimens (cubes and cylinders) in a laboratory setting. The primary objective is to ensure that the specimens produced are representative of the concrete quality, allowing for accurate determination of compressive strength. It replaced the 2009 version and introduces stricter controls on curing conditions, temperature monitoring, and surface preparation of specimens.
Note: Any deviation from these temperature ranges can drastically alter the rate of strength gain, rendering the final compression test inaccurate. 5. Key Updates in the 2019 Version
BS EN 12390-2:2019 has profound practical implications. For a concrete supplier, compliance means that test cubes taken from a truck load, if cured by the standard, will provide a true measure of that concrete’s potential strength. Disputes often arise when a contractor’s onsite-cured specimens (representing the structure) differ from the supplier’s standard-cured specimens (representing the mix design). The standard explicitly clarifies that standard-cured specimens are for (verifying the mix), while optionally, parallel specimens may be cured under site conditions for acceptance testing.
As soon as the concrete blocks are carefully stripped from their molds, mark them with a permanent, waterproof identifier (e.g., sample ID and date). They must then immediately be placed into their final curing environment until the exact moment of testing (usually at 7 or 28 days). 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). |
Protect the specimens from shock, vibration, and dehydration. Keep them in an environment with an air temperature of 20°C ± 5°C (or 25°C ± 5°C in hot climates). Cover the top of the moulds with a plastic sheet or steel plate to trap moisture. Phase 2: Permanent Curing (After Demoulding)
The concrete must be fully compacted to expel entrapped air without causing segregation (where aggregate settles to the bottom and paste rises to the top). BS EN 12390-2:2019 is a crucial standard within
The BS EN 12390-2:2019 standard specifies the testing procedure for determining the compressive strength of hardened concrete. The test involves the following steps:
For quality control laboratories, accredited testing firms, and construction contractors, adherence to this standard is often a condition of certification under ISO/IEC 17025. It enables repeatable, comparable, and legally defensible test data. Disputes over concrete strength are frequently traced back to non-compliance with specimen preparation and curing protocols, making this standard a cornerstone of forensic structural analysis.
: Specimens must remain in their molds for at least 16 hours but no more than three days at a temperature of It replaced the 2009 version and introduces stricter
To comply with the standard, laboratories and site technicians must use calibrated, high-quality apparatus.
BS EN 12390-2:2019!
If "solid paper" refers to a specific academic paper or technical document investigating this standard, several studies use it as a reference for their methodology, such as those exploring bauxite tailing admixtures pozzolanic performance in structural concrete Quick questions if you have time: Was this "solid paper" a product? Need help finding the standard? BS EN 12390-2:2019 - TC | 31 Jul 2019 | BSI Knowledge 31 July 2019 —
BS EN 12390-2:2019 is more than a procedural checklist; it is a scientific framework that transforms a heterogeneous, wet material into reliable, testable specimens whose results can be trusted. By rigorously defining moulds, compaction, finishing, and—most critically—curing regimes, the standard ensures that the measured strength of a concrete cylinder or cube faithfully represents the structural material’s potential. For engineers, technicians, and quality managers, mastering and adhering to this standard is not merely a bureaucratic requirement but a fundamental duty to ensure safety, durability, and economic efficiency in concrete construction. As concrete technology evolves with new admixtures and sustainability targets, standards like BS EN 12390-2:2019 provide the essential stability and reproducibility needed to benchmark progress and guarantee performance.