En 12390-2:2019 — Bs

Before a single specimen is made, the laboratory or site technician must ensure that all equipment conforms to the tolerances defined in BS EN 12390-2:2019 and its companion standard BS EN 12390-1 (shape and dimensions of moulds).

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. bs en 12390-2:2019

This is sometimes used for conformity testing of concrete that will be in thick sections – initial slow heat development followed by standard curing. The standard allows this, but the precise regime must be agreed between the specifier and the tester. Before a single specimen is made, the laboratory

  • Surface finishing: level and finish specimen surface according to specified method (e.g., strike-off) to avoid entrapment or segregation.
  • Marking: specimens must be marked to identify batch, date, position in mould and orientation where required.
  • Curing:
  • Transportation and handling: prescribe care to avoid damage, restraint of specimens during movement, and maximum permitted times/conditions between casting and testing when relevant.
  • Reporting: specimen details (mould type/dimensions, compaction method, curing regime, dates/times, batch ID) must be recorded and reported with test results.

    • The 2019 revision superseded the 2009 version. While the core principles remained consistent, the update introduced several refinements to align with modern practices and improve quality assurance: Transportation and handling: prescribe care to avoid damage,

    The standard is rigorous in its details. Deviations from these specifications can render a test result invalid.