BS EN 12390‑2:2019

BSI Standards Publication

Testing hardened concrete

Part 2: Making and curing specimens for strength tests
BS EN 12390‑2:2019 BRITISH STANDARD

National foreword
This British Standard is the UK implementation of EN 12390‑2:2019. It
supersedes BS EN 12390‑2:2009, which is withdrawn.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 2019
Published by BSI Standards Limited 2019
ISBN 978 0 580 98437 2
ICS 91.100.30
Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from
legal obligations.
This British Standard was published under the authority of the
Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 31 July 2019.

Amendments/corrigenda issued since publication

Date Text affected
EUROPEAN STANDARD EN 12390‑2
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM June 2019

I CS 9 1 .1 0 0 .3 0 Supersedes EN 1 2 3 90‑2 : 2 009

English Version

Testing hardened concrete ‑ Part 2: Making and curing

specimens for strength tests
Essais pour béton durci ‑ Partie 2 : Prüfung von Festbeton ‑ Teil 2: Herstellung
Confection et conservation des éprouvettes und Lagerung von Probekörpern
pour essais de résistance für Festigkeitsprüfungen

This European Standard was approved by CEN on 29 April 2019.

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 noti fied 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, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION

COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN‑ CENELEC Management Centre: Avenue Marnix 17, B‑1000 Brussels

© 2 01 9 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 1 2 3 90‑2 : 2 01 9: E
worldwide for CEN national Members
BS EN 12390‑2:2019
EN 12390‑2:2019 (E)

Contents Page

European foreword ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ iii

1 Scope ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5
2 Normative references ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
3 Terms and definitions ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
4 Apparatus ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 5
4.1 Common apparatus ............................................................................................................................................................................. 5
5 Sampling........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 6
6 Procedures .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6
6.1 Preparation and filling of the moulds .................................................................................................................................. 6
6.2 Compaction of the concrete ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
6.2.1 General ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 6
6.2.2 Mechanical vibration .................................................................................................................................................... 6
6.2.3 Compacting by hand with compacting rod or bar .............................................................................. 7
6.3 Surface levelling ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
6.4 Marking ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7
6.5 Curing of test specimens ................................................................................................................................................................. 7
6.6 Transport of test specimens ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
7 Report .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8

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 BS EN 12390‑2:2019
EN 12390‑2:2019 (E)

European foreword
This document (EN 12390-2:2019) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 104 “Concrete
and related products”, the secretariat of which is held by SN.

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 December 2019, and con flicting national standards
shall be withdrawn at the latest by December 2019.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

This document supersedes EN 12390‑2:2009.

The compaction of specimens in the moulds using hand tamping, vibrating table, or internal (poker)
vibrator are accepted as equivalent. However, it was found that the use of an internal vibrator to
compact specimens of air entrained fresh concrete should only be done with caution, if loss of entrained
air is to be avoided.

Curing specimens in a closely regulated humidity chamber is recognized as being equivalent to

curing in water.

This standard is one of a series on testing concrete.

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

— Part 1: Shape, dimensions and other requirements of 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 11: Determination of the chloride resistance of concrete, unidirectional diffusion;
— Part 12: Determination of the potential carbonation resistance of concrete: Accelerated carbonation
method (in preparation);
— Part 13: Determination of secant modulus of elasticity in compression;
— Part 14: Semi-adiabatic method for the determination of heat released by concrete during its
hardening process;
— Part 15: Adiabatic method for the determination ofheat released by concrete during its hardening process;
— Part 16: Determination of the shrinkage of concrete (in preparation);
— Part 17: Determination of creep of concrete in compression (in preparation);
— Part  18:  Determination  o f  the  chloride  migration  coefficient  (in  preparation).
This edition includes the following signi ficant technical changes with respect to EN 12390‑2:2009:
a) editorial revision;

iii
BS EN 12390‑2:2019
EN 12390‑2:2019 (E)

b) reference to com mon app aratu s and s p e c i fication given in EN 12350‑1.

According to the CEN‑CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations 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, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
the United Kingdom.

iv
 BS EN 12390‑2:2019
EN 12390‑2:2019 (E)

1 Scope
This document speci fies methods for making and curing test specimens for strength tests. It covers
the preparation and filling of moulds, compaction of the concrete, levelling the surface, curing of test
specimens and transporting test specimens.

NOTE This document can be used for the making and curing of specimens for other test methods.

2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 12350‑1, Testing fresh concrete — Part 1: Sampling
EN 12390‑1, Testing hardened concrete — Part 1: Shape, dimensions and other requirements for
specimens and moulds
EN 206, Concrete  —  Specification,  performance,  production  and  con formity 

3 Terms and definitions

No terms and de finitions are listed in this document.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:

— IEC Electropedia: available at http://www.electropedia.org/

— ISO Online browsing platform: available at http://www.iso.org/obp

4 Apparatus
4.1 Common apparatus
The apparatus listed below for the execution of this test method shall be in accordance with the
speci fication given EN 12350‑1 and EN 12390‑1 as speci fied below;

4.1.1 Moulds , conforming to EN 12390‑1.

4.1.2 Filling frame (optional).

Filling of the moulds may be simpli fied by using a filling frame fitted tightly to the mould.

4.1.3 Means of compacting the concrete (one of the following):

a) internal (poker) vibrator;
b) vibrating table;
c) compacting rod;
d) compacting bar.

4.1.4 Scoop .

4.1.5 Trowel or float.

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BS EN 12390‑2:2019
EN 12390‑2:2019 (E)

4.1.6 Remixing container or tray.

4.1.7 Shovel .

4.1.8 Non‑reactive mould release material .

4.1.9 Mallet.

5 Sampling
The sample shall be taken in accordance with EN 12350‑1.

The sample shall be re-mixed, using the remixing container or tray and shovel, before filling the moulds.
NOTE Where specimens are to be manufactured away from the sampling location, they may be transported
to the place of manufacture provided the sample is protected from dehydration and remains capable of
being re‑mixed.

6 Procedures

6 . 1 P re p a ra ti o n a n d fi l l i n g o f
th e m o u l d s

6.1.1 Where necessary, before filling the mould, the inner surface of the mould should be covered with
a thin film non-reactive release material to prevent the concrete from adhering to the mould

6.1.2 Depending on the consistence of the concrete, the height of the mould and the method of
compaction, moulds shall be filled in as many layers as necessary to achieve full compaction. In the case
of self-compacting concrete, the mould shall be filled in one operation and no compaction shall be applied
during filling or after the mould is filled.

6.1.3 If a filling frame is used, the amount of concrete used to fill the mould shall be such that a layer of
concrete remains in the filling frame after compaction. The thickness of this layer shall be 10 % to 20 %
of the height of the test specimen.

6.2 Compaction of the concrete

6.2.1 General

The concrete shall be compacted immediately after placing in the moulds in such a way as to produce
full compaction of the concrete with neither excessive segregation nor laitance. Each layer shall be
compacted by using one of the methods described in 6.2 .2 and 6.2 .3.

NOTE Full compaction is achieved using mechanical vibration, when there is no further appearance of large
air bubbles on the surface of the concrete and the surface becomes relatively smooth with a glazed appearance,
without excessive segregation.

Further guidance on methods of compaction for concretes having different consistencies or cast in
different sizes or types of moulds, may be given in provisions valid in the place of use of the concrete.

6.2.2 Mechanical vibration

6.2.2.1 Compacting with internal vibrator

Apply the vibration for the minimum duration necessary to achieve full compaction of the concrete.
Avoid over‑vibration, which may cause loss of entrained air.

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 BS EN 12390‑2:2019
EN 12390‑2:2019 (E)

Care should be taken not to damage the mould. The vibrator should be vertical and not allowed to touch
the bottom or sides of the mould. The use of a filling frame is recommended.
NOTE 1 Laboratory tests have shown that great care is needed if loss of entrained air is to be avoided when
using an internal vibrator.

NOTE 2 When compacting prismatic specimens, the internal vibrator is inserted in at least three positions
evenly distributed over the length of the specimen.

6.2.2.2 Compacting with vibrating table

Apply the vibration for the minimum duration necessary to achieve full compaction of the concrete. The
mould should preferably be attached to, or firmly held against the table. Avoid over-vibration, which
may cause loss of entrained air.

6.2.3 Compacting by hand with compacting rod or bar

Distribute the strokes of the compacting rod, or bar, in a uniform manner over the cross‑section of
the mould. Ensure that the compacting rod, or bar, does not forcibly strike the bottom of the mould
when compacting the first layer, nor penetrate signi ficantly any previous layer. Subject the concrete to
a sufficient number of strokes per layer, typically 25 for concretes having a consistence equivalent to
slump classes S1 and S2 according to EN 206, in order to remove pockets of entrapped air but not the
entrained air. After compaction of each layer, tap the sides of the mould smartly with the mallet until
large bubbles of air cease to appear on the surface and depressions left by the compacting rod or bar,
are removed.

6.3 Surface levelling

6.3.1 If a filling frame is used, remove it immediately after compaction is completed.

6.3.2 Remove the excess concrete above the upper edge of the mould using the trowel and carefully
level the surface.

6.4 Marking

6.4.1 The test specimens shall be marked clearly and indelibly, without damaging the specimen.

6.4.2 Records shall be kept to ensure the traceability of the specimen from sampling to testing.

6.5 Curing of test specimens

6.5.1 At the place of storage, leave the test specimens in the mould for at least 16 h, but not longer than
3 days, at a temperature of (20 ± 5) °C (or (25 ± 5) °C in hot climates), protected against shock, vibration
and dehydration.

NOTE As long as the concrete remains capable of being remixed, test specimens can be transported from the
place of manufacture to the place of storage provided they are protected against dehydration.

If necessary, removal from the mould may be done before 16 h in special cases e.g. rapid hardening
concrete, early testing.

6.5.2 After removal from the mould, cure the test specimens until tested in accordance with the
procedure given in the relevant standard, in water at a temperature of (20 ± 2) °C, or in chamber at
(20 ± 2) °C and relative humidity ≥ 95 %.

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BS EN 12390‑2:2019
EN 12390‑2:2019 (E)

6.5.3 Forms of curing differing from those in 6.5.2 may be factorized to the methods described in 6.5.2.

In case of dispute, curing in water shall be the reference method.

Maintenance and measurement of high relative humidity ≥ 95 % at (20 ± 2) °C is not simple. Regular
checks should be made that surfaces of specimens in the chamber are continuously wet.

Other forms of curing may be given in provisions valid in the place of use of the concrete.

6.6 Transport of test specimens

Avoid loss of moisture and deviations from the required temperature at all stages of transport, by, for
example, packing the hardened test specimens in wet sand, wet sawdust or wet cloths, or sealed in
plastic bags containing water.

7 Report
The report shall include:

a) reference to this standard;

b) identi fication of the test sample;
c) date and time of making the specimen(s);
d) method of compacting the concrete in the moulds;
e) details of storage of specimens prior to de-moulding, including duration and conditions;
f) method of curing specimens after de-moulding, during transportation, (if appropriate), giving
temperature range and duration of curing;
g) condition of specimen(s) on receipt, for curing (if relevant);
h) any deviation from the standard method of making and curing the specimen(s);
i) declaration by the person technically responsible that the specimens were prepared in accordance
with this document, except as noted in item h).
The report may include:

j) temperature of the re-mixed concrete.

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