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 BRITISH STANDARD BS 915-2:1972
Incorporating
Amendment Nos. 1, 2,
3 and 4

Specification for

High alumina cement —

Part 2: Metric units
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI

UDC 666.948:691.544
BS 915-2:1972

Co-operating organizations

The Cement, Lime and Gypsum Products Industry Standards Committee,

under whose supervision this British Standard was prepared, consists of
representatives of the following Government departments and scientific and
industrial organizations:

Association of Consulting Engineers* Greater London Council*

British Precast Concrete Federation* Gypsum Products Development
British Quarrying and Slag Association
Federation* Institution of Civil Engineers*

Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI

British Railways Board
British Ready Mixed Concrete
Association*
British Steel Industry*
Cement and Concrete Association*
Cement Makers’ Federation*
Chemical Industries Association
Concrete Society Limited*
Department of the Environment
Department of the Environment —
Building Research Establishment*
Federation of Civil Engineering
Contractors*
Institution of Municipal Engineers*
Institution of Structural Engineers*
Institution of Water Engineers
National Federation of Building
Trades Employers*
Royal Institution of Chartered
Surveyors*
Sand and Gravel Association Limited
Society of Chemical Industry*
Welwyn Hall Research Association

The Government department and scientific and industrial organizations

marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the following were
directly represented on the committee entrusted with the preparation of this
British Standard:

Crown Agents for Oversea British Transport Docks Board

Governments and Administrations Royal Institute of British Architects
Department of the Environment, Royal Institute of Chemistry
Transport and Road Research
Laboratory

This British Standard, having

been approved by the Cement,
Lime and Gypsum Products
Industry Standards Committee,
was published under the
authority of the Executive
Board on
12 September 1972
Amendments issued since publication
© BSI 07-1999
First published July 1940
Amd. No. Date Comments
First revision November 1947
Part 2: Metric units, 2618 June 1978
September 1972
3411 November
The following reference relates
1980
to the work on this standard:
Committee reference CEB/1 4287 June 1983

8341 January 1995 Indicated by a sideline in the margin

ISBN 0 580 07267 3
 BS 915-2:1972

Contents

Page
Co-operating organizations Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Composition and manufacture of cement 1
2 Tests 1
3 Fineness 1
4 Chemical composition 1
5 Strength 1
6 Setting time 1
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI

7 Soundness 1
8 Sampling 1
9 Text deleted 1
10 Tests and manufacturer’s certificates 2
11 Delivery 2
Appendix A Determination of fineness by sieving 3
Appendix B Text deleted
Appendix C Text deleted
Appendix D Text deleted
Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 07-1999 i
BS 915-2:1972

Foreword

This Part of this standard has been prepared as a metric version of the 1947
imperial edition which was withdrawn in 1977. It includes all the amendments
made up to the date of publication of this Part 2, as indicated by marginal notes
in the text.
This Part of the standard has been prepared in accordance with the change to the
metric system in the construction industry, giving values in terms of SI units. For
further information on SI units, reference should be made to BS 3763, “The
International System of units (SI)”.
The values in Part 2 represent the equivalent of the values in imperial units in
BS 915:1947, rounded to convenient numbers. Although the values are not exact

Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI

equivalents of the imperial ones, this Part is not a technical revision of the
standard.
It is intended to produce a technical revision of this standard in the near future
but it was considered desirable that the foreword to the 1947 edition should be
retained in this edition to illustrate the historical background and it is therefore
reproduced below.
“This revision of this British Standard, which was first published in 1940,
introduces modifications which were recently incorporated in the revision of
BS 12, “Portland Cement”.
The compressive strength test has been improved. During the war years some of
the vibration machines needed to compact the cubes for this test proved to be
unsatisfactory. The causes of this trouble have been carefully investigated and a
detailed specification and drawings have been prepared describing a reliable
machine.
An alternative test for fineness has been introduced. The sieve test is retained,
but as this test only measures the proportion of coarse material in the cement,
and as it is sometimes important to know the fineness of the finer material the
new test is recommended. It measures the surface area of the particles of cement
per unit weight (known as the “specific surface”). Either test may be used.
The clauses have been re-arranged and in some cases shortened by relegating to
appendices descriptions of how tests are carried out.”
CAUTION. Hydrated high alumina cement undergoes chemical changes, which include a process
known as conversion. This leads to loss of concrete strength and reduced chemical resistance. The
precise way in which conversion occurs and the effect upon strength and chemical resistance depend
on the water: cement ratio, temperature and/or humidity of the concrete during curing and
throughout its subsequent life. Guidance on the correct use of high alumina cement should be sought
from the manufacturers and current specialized publication.
NOTE The title of the British Standard referred to in this standard appears on the inside back cover.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity

from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 4, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on the
inside front cover.

ii © BSI 07-1999

1 Composition and manufacture of
cement
The cement shall be manufactured by fusing
aluminous and calcareous materials to a completely
molten state and grinding the resulting clinker so as
to produce a cement capable of complying with the
requirements of this standard. No materials, other
than water, shall be added after fusing1).
2 Tests
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI
The sample or samples taken, as described in
Clause 8 shall be tested in the manner specified for:
1) fineness,
2) chemical composition,
3) strength
4) setting time,
5) soundness.
3 Fineness
The cement shall be tested for fineness either by the
method described in Appendix A, or by the method
described in BS EN 196-6, and shall give the
following results.
Method 1. After sieving, the residue by weight on
a 90 4m BS 410 test sieve shall not exceed 8 %.
Method 2. The cement shall have a specific
surface of not less than 225 m2/kg.
4 Chemical composition
The cement shall comply with the following
conditions as to its chemical composition.
1) The total alumina content shall be not less
than 32 % by weight of the whole.
2) The ratio of the percentage by weight of
alumina (Al2O3) to the percentage by weight of
lime (CaO) shall be not less than 0.85 not more
than 1.3.
1)
Traces of metallic iron from the grinding process are not to be regarded as an addition.
2)
For the purposes of this standard, the term “vendor” means the seller of the cement whether he be the manufacturer of the
cement or not.
© BSI 07-1999
BS 915-2:1972
5 Strength
The average compressive strength of three cubes,
prepared, stored and tested in the manner described
in Clause 2 of section 3.4 of BS 4550-3:1978 shall be
as follows.
One day (24 ± " h): not less than 42.0 MN/m2.
Three days (72 ± 1 h): shall show an increase on the
compressive strength at one day and be not less
than 49.0 MN/m2.
6 Setting time
6.1 Initial setting time
The initial setting time, determined in accordance
with BS EN 196-3, shall be not less than 2 h.
6.2 Final setting time
The final setting time, determined in accordance
with BS EN 196-3, shall be not more than 8 h.
7 Soundness
The cement, when tested for soundness by the
method described in BS EN 196-3, shall not have an
expansion of more than 1 mm.
8 Sampling
If a sample is required for independent tests, it shall
be taken, at the option of the purchaser or his
representative, before or within one week after
delivery of the cement by the method described in
BS EN 196-7. The tests shall be commenced within
four weeks of delivery. If the vendor2) so desires, he
or his representative shall be present at the
sampling.
9 Facilities for sampling and
identifying
Text deleted
1
BS 915-2:1972

10 Tests and manufacturer’s 11 Delivery

certificates
The manufacturer shall satisfy himself that the
cement conforms to the requirements of this
British Standard and, if requested, shall forward a
certificate to this effect to the purchaser or his
representative. Any cement which does not comply
with the whole of the tests and analyses specified
above, may be rejected as not complying with the
Unless otherwise agreed between the purchaser and
the vendor the cement shall be packed in bags or
steel drums, twenty to the tonne, or in steel drums,
six to the tonne bearing the manufacturer’s name or
registered mark. These weights shall be legibly
marked upon the packages.

Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI

requirements of this British Standard.
If the purchaser or his representative requires
independent tests the samples shall be taken before
or within one week of delivery at the option of the
purchaser or his representative, and the tests shall
be carried out in accordance with the requirements
of this British Standard on the written instructions
of the purchaser or his representative. The
manufacturer shall supply, free of charge, the
cement required for testing. Unless otherwise
specified in the enquiry and order, the cost of the
tests shall be borne as follows:
1) by the manufacturer in the event of the results
showing that the cement does not comply with
the requirements of this British Standard,
2) by the purchaser in the event of the results
showing that the cement complies with the
requirements of this British Standard.

2 © BSI 07-1999
 BS 915-2:1972

Appendix A Determination of fineness

by sieving
A.1 Scope
This method covers the procedure for determining
the fineness of cement as represented by the residue
on a 90 4m full tolerance BS 410 sieve.
A.2 Procedure
100 g of cement shall be sieved continuously for a
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI

period of 15 min on a 90 4m BS 410 test sieve. The

residue shall be weighed and shall not exceed the
values in Clause 3.
Air-set lumps in the samples may be broken down
with the fingers but nothing shall be rubbed on the
sieve.
Appendix B Text deleted
Appendix C Text deleted
Appendix D Text deleted

© BSI 07-1999 3
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI

blank
4
 BS 915-2:1972

Publications referred to

This standard makes reference to the following British Standards:

BS 410, Test sieves.
BS 4550, Methods of testing cement.
BS 4550-1, Sampling.
BS 4550-3, Physical tests.
BS EN 196, Methods of testing cement.
BS EN 196-3, Determination of setting time and soundness.
BS EN 196-6, Determination of fineness.
Licensed Copy: Giorgio Cavalieri, ALSTOM, 9-Mar-01, Uncontrolled Copy. © BSI

BS EN 196-7, Methods of taking and preparing samples of cement.

© BSI 07-1999
BS 915-2:1972

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