BS 1881 Part 124 is a British Standard that describes the sampling procedures, treatment of samples, and analytical methods to be used on a sample of concrete to determine the cement content, aggregate content, aggregate grading, original water content, chloride, alkali and sulphate contents. It is intended for use by analysts who need to assess the properties and composition of hardened concrete for various purposes, such as quality control, forensic investigation, or research. The standard was first published in 1988 and revised in 2015.
The standard covers the following aspects of analysis of hardened concrete:
The standard applies to concrete made with Portland cement or blended cements containing ground granulated blastfurnace slag or fly ash as reactive additions. It does not apply to concrete made with high alumina cement or other types of cement that are not based on calcium silicates. The standard also does not cover the analysis of hardened mortars and screeds, which are covered by BS 4551.
The standard provides a comprehensive and consistent framework for analysing hardened concrete using chemical methods. It enables analysts to obtain reliable and comparable data on the properties and composition of concrete samples. The standard also helps analysts to interpret the results and draw conclusions about the quality and performance of concrete.
However, the standard also has some limitations that need to be considered. The methods described in the standard are destructive and require a sufficient amount of sample material. The methods are also time-consuming and require specialized equipment and skills. The accuracy of the results depends on several factors, such as the representativeness of the sample, the homogeneity of the concrete, the degree of carbonation, the type and amount of additives or contaminants in the concrete, and the precision of the analytical procedures . Therefore, the results should be used with caution and supplemented by other methods when possible.
The standard can be accessed online or downloaded as a PDF file from various sources. One of them is [the official website] of the British Standards Institution (BSI), which is the UK's national standards body. The standard can also be found on [the website] of Azmanco Company (anco.co), which is a provider of engineering standards. Another source is [the website] of CivilNode.com (civilnode.com), which is a platform for civil engineering documents. Alternatively, [the website] of Documents and E-books (idoc.pub) also offers a PDF download option for the standard.
The standard is available for purchase or subscription from BSI or other authorized distributors. The price may vary depending on the format and delivery method. The current price for a PDF download from BSI is 214.00. The standard may also be available for free or at a lower cost from other sources, such as libraries or academic institutions.
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