EN 15304:2010

Determination of the freeze-thaw resistance of autoclaved aerated concrete

This document specifies a method of determining the freeze-thaw resistance of autoclaved aerated concrete manufactured according to EN 12602 or EN 771-4.

Bestimmung des Frost-Tau-Widerstandes von dampfgehärtetem Porenbeton

Dieses Dokument legt ein Verfahren zur Bestimmung des Frost-Tau-Widerstandes von dampfgehärtetem Porenbeton, der nach EN 12602 oder EN 771-4 hergestellt wird, fest.

Détermination de la résistance au gel/dégel du béton cellulaire autoclavé

Le présent document spécifie une méthode de détermination de la résistance au gel/dégel du béton cellulaire autoclavé (AAC) fabriqué conformément à l'EN 12602 ou à l’EN 771-4.

Določanje obstojnosti avtoklaviranega celičastega betona proti zamrzovanju-tajanju

Ta dokument določa metodo določevanja obstojnosti avtoklaviranega celičastega betona (AAC) proti zamrzovanju-tajanju, proizvedenega v skladu z EN 12602 ali EN 771-4.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 02-Mar-2010
• Withdrawal Date: 29-Sep-2010
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 177 - Prefabricated reinforced components of autoclaved aerated concrete or light-weight aggregate concret
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 177/WG 3 - Test methods
• Current Stage: 9060 - Closure of 2 Year Review Enquiry - Review Enquiry
• Start Date: 02-Sep-2025
• Completion Date: 02-Sep-2025
• Directive: 305/2011 - Regulation (eu) No 305/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 march 2011 laying down harmonised conditions for the marketing of construction products and repealing council directive 89/106/eec
• Directive: 89/106/EEC - Construction products
• Ref Project: SIST EN 15304:2010 - Determination of the freeze-thaw resistance of autoclaved aerated concrete

Relations

• Replaces: EN 15304:2007 - Determination of the freeze-thaw resistance of autoclaved aerated concrete
• Effective Date: 22-Dec-2008

Overview

EN 15304:2010 - Determination of the freeze‑thaw resistance of autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) - is a CEN test method that specifies how to assess the durability of AAC against repeated freezing and thawing. It applies to AAC manufactured in accordance with EN 12602 or EN 771‑4 and defines specimen preparation, test cycles, measurements and reporting required to quantify mass loss, density and moisture content after freeze‑thaw exposure. Annex A gives an optional procedure to determine loss of compressive strength.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Test specimens: Cubes of (100 ± 2) mm edge, cut to represent upper/middle/lower thirds of a production sample. A test set = 12 cubes (6 main + 6 reference).
• Saturation and conditioning: Specimens saturated in water for (48 ± 1) h, then protected from drying in polythene for (24 ± 1) h prior to testing.
• Freeze‑thaw regime: Freezing at (–15 ± 2) °C for ≥ 8 h, followed by thawing at (20 ± 2) °C and >95% relative humidity for ≥ 8 h. Minimum number of cycles: 15 (unless national provisions specify otherwise).
• Measurements and results:
  • Mass loss of main specimens after cycles.
  • Dry density and moisture content determined on reference specimens.
  • Calculation methods for dry density, moisture content and mass loss are specified.
  • Optional Annex A: determine compressive strength loss (compression testing per EN 12390‑4), with procedures for conditioning, fragmentation and calculation of strength reduction.
• Apparatus and tolerances: Includes diamond/carborundum saw, balance (0.1% accuracy), calipers (0.1 mm), freezing chamber, high‑humidity thawing room or controlled alternative (brief water immersion before thaw end), ventilated oven (105 ± 5 °C), and compression machine meeting EN 12390‑4.
• Documentation: Expanded test report requirements and clarified calculation procedures (2010 revision updates tolerances and reporting compared with the 2007 version).

Applications and users

• Manufacturers of AAC: product development, quality control, and conformity demonstration to durability requirements.
• Testing laboratories and third‑party certifiers: routine and type testing for mass loss, density and strength after freeze‑thaw exposure.
• Specifiers, engineers and contractors: assessing suitability of AAC products for climates with freeze‑thaw cycles and establishing performance criteria.
• Regulators and standards bodies: integrate method into national provisions and durability requirements.

Related standards

• EN 12602, EN 771‑4 - manufacturing/product standards for AAC
• EN 678 - Determination of the dry density of AAC
• EN 1353 - Determination of moisture content of AAC
• EN 12390‑4 - Testing hardened concrete: compressive strength (referenced for compression testing)

Keywords: EN 15304:2010, freeze‑thaw resistance, autoclaved aerated concrete, AAC, freeze‑thaw cycles, mass loss, dry density, moisture content, compressive strength.

Standards Content (Sample)

2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.PU]RYDQMXWDMDQMXBestimmung des Frost-Tau-Widerstandes von dampfgehärtetem PorenbetonDétermination de la résistance au gel/dégel du béton cellulaire autoclavéDetermination of the freeze-thaw resistance of autoclaved aerated concrete91.100.30Beton in betonski izdelkiConcrete and concrete productsICS:Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z:EN 15304:2010SIST EN 15304:2010en,fr01-september-2010SIST EN 15304:2010SLOVENSKI
STANDARDSIST EN 15304:20081DGRPHãþD

EUROPEAN STANDARD NORME EUROPÉENNE EUROPÄISCHE NORM
EN 15304
March 2010 ICS 91.100.30 Supersedes EN 15304:2007English Version
Determination of the freeze-thaw resistance of autoclaved aerated concrete
Détermination de la résistance au gel/dégel du béton cellulaire autoclavé
Bestimmung des Frost-Tau-Widerstandes von dampfgehärtetem Porenbeton This European Standard was approved by CEN on 23 January 2010.
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 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 notified to the CEN 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, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre:
Avenue Marnix 17,
B-1000 Brussels © 2010 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved worldwide for CEN national Members. Ref. No. EN 15304:2010: ESIST EN 15304:2010

Determination of the loss in compressive strength in addition to the loss in mass . 13A.1General . 13A.2Test specimens . 13A.2.1Number of test specimens . 13A.2.2Preparation of test specimens . 13A.3Testing procedure. 13A.3.1Freeze-thaw tests . 13A.3.2Conditioning of the test specimens for compression test after the freeze-thaw cycles. 13A.3.3Compression test. 14A.4Test results . 14A.4.1Calculation of loss of compressive strength of main test specimens . 14A.4.2Determination of mass loss . 15A.4.3Calculation of dry density . 16A.4.4Calculation of moisture content . 16Annex B (informative)
Flow chart of freeze-thaw test . 17Bibliography . 19 Figures Figure 1 – Cutting scheme .8Figure B.1– Cutting scheme . 17 SIST EN 15304:2010

measured initial moist mass of the reference test specimen i immediately after removal from polythene bag (or similar) rni,m
measured moist mass of the reference test specimen i representing the state immediately after completion of n freeze-thaw cycles (should be equal to ri,0m) rnid,m measured oven-dry mass of the reference test specimen i immediately after completion of n freeze-thaw cycles of the main test specimens mi,0m
measured initial moist mass of the main test specimen i immediately after removal from polythene bag (or similar) prior to commencing the freeze-thaw cycles mni,m
moist mass of the main test specimen i immediately after completion of n freeze-thaw cycles mid,0m equivalent oven-dry mass of the main test specimen i immediately after removal from the polythene bag (or similar) mnid,m measured oven-dry mass of the main test specimen i immediately after completion of n freeze-thaw cycles SIST EN 15304:2010

moisture content of the main test specimen i immediately after removal from polythene bag or similar (assumed to be equal tori,0µ) mni,µ
moisture content of the main test specimen i immediately after completion of n freeze-thaw cycles (at the end of the freeze-thaw test) miL
loss in oven-dry mass of the main test specimen i after completion of n freeze-thaw cycles 3.2.2 Symbols specific to Annex A rfai,m
measured moist mass of the fragments of the saturated (see A.3.2.2) reference test specimen i immediately after the compression test rfdi,m measured oven-dry mass of the fragments of the saturated (see A.3.2.2) reference test specimen i tested on compression mn2i,m
measured moist mass of the saturated (see A.3.2.2) main test specimen i after finalisation of the n freeze-thaw cycles and after water immersion, immediately before testing of compressive strength (if grinding is needed, before that) mfai,m measured moist mass of the fragments of the saturated (see A.3.2.2) main test specimen i immediately after the compression test mfdi,m measured oven-dry mass of the fragments of the saturated (see A.3.2.2) main test specimen i tested on compression rnai,µ
calculated moisture content of the saturated (see A.3.2.2) reference test specimen i immediately after compression test (assumed to be equal to the moisture content directly before compression test) mnai,µ
calculated moisture content of the saturated (see A.3.2.2) main test specimen i after finalisation of the n freeze-thaw cycles, immediately after compression test mnci,f
individual value of the compressive strength of the main test specimen i after the specified number of cycles (n) and subsequent conditioning according to A.3.2.1 or A.3.2.2, in megapascals rnci,f
individual value of the compressive strength of the appropriate reference test specimen i , conditioned in the same manner (according to A.3.2.1 or A.3.2.2) and tested at the same time as the corresponding main test specimen, in megapascals relci,f relative decrease of compressive strength of the main test specimen i as a percentage of the initial compressive strength SIST EN 15304:2010

The main test specimens are subjected to repeated freezing at (–15 ± 2) °C for at least 8 h followed by thawing in an environment of > 95 % relative humidity and (20 ± 2) °C for at least 8 h. The reference test specimens are stored in a climatic chamber at (20 ± 5) °C in conditions that prevent drying of the AAC during storage. After the specified number of freeze-thaw cycles (not less than 15), the mass loss of the main test specimens is determined. The dry density and moisture content is also determined on the reference test specimens. If the loss in compressive strength is also required to be determined, then Annex A should be followed. NOTE Depending on the conditions at the place of use, the number of freeze-thaw cycles and requirements for limit values of loss in mass and compressive strength can be specified by national provisions.
5 Apparatus 5.1
Saw with rotating carborundum or diamond blade or similar equipment for cutting test specimens.
5.2
Balance, capable of determining the mass of the test specimens to an accuracy of 0,1 %. 5.3
Callipers, capable of reading the dimensions of the test specimens to an accuracy of 0,1 mm. 5.4
Container, to store the test specimens under water at (20 ± 2) °C. 5.5
Feeler gauge, capable of measuring 0,1 mm, (if required) 0,5 mm and 1 mm. 5.6
Room or cabinet for thawing of the main test specimens able to maintain a relative humidity > 95 % at (20 ± 2) °C. 5.7
Storage room for reference test specimens able to maintain a relative humidity > 95 % at (20 ± 5) °C. 5.8
Freezing chamber with internal air circulation capable of maintaining a uniformly distributed temperature of (–15 ± 2) °C. 5.9
Ventilated drying oven, capable of maintaining a temperature of (105 ± 5) °C.
5.10
Straight edge, at least 200 mm long, and a square. 5.11
Compression testing machine, preferably hydraulically operated, which meets the requirements of
EN 12390-4. NOTE The room according to 5.6 needs not necessarily be humidity-controlled. Alternatively it is possible to substitute moisture losses by 2 h prior to the end of the thawing period placing the main test specimens in underwater storage for 1 h at (20 ± 5) °C and subsequently leaving the test specimens to equilibrate in air for 1 h at (20 ± 5) °C before freezing. This procedure is especially appropriate in combination with automatic systems. It should be ensured that the starting moisture content is not exceeded. 6 Test specimens 6.1 Sample The sample for the preparation of the test specimens shall be taken in such a manner that it is representative of the product to be investigated, and the test specimens shall be cut from the sample as illustrated in Figure 1. SIST EN 15304:2010

6.4 Preparation of test specimens The test specimens shall be cut by means of a rotating diamond or carborundum blade or similar equipment. Their surfaces shall not deviate from planeness by more than 0,5 mm. Planeness shall be checked across the two diagonals using a straight edge and, if necessary, a 0,5 mm feeler gauge. Where test specimens are used for the determination of the compressive strength, their loadbearing surfaces shall not deviate from planeness by more than 0,1 mm and the angle between the loadbearing surfaces and adjacent surfaces shall not deviate from a right angle by more than 1 mm/100 mm. If necessary, the latter shall be checked along both orthogonal middle axes of the loadbearing surfaces by means of a square and a 1 mm feeler gauge or similar instrument. NOTE If the loadbearing surfaces of the main test specimens determined for the compression test are pitted after completion of freeze-thaw cycles, they should be ground to a flatness of 0,1 mm. The position of the test specimens in the material relative to the rise of the mass shall be shown by the numbering, and the direction of rise shall be marked on the test specimens. Equal numbers of test specimens shall be prepared from the upper third of the sample, from the middle and from the lower third in the direction of rise of the mass during manufacture (see Figure 1). The test specimens shall be cut in pairs (main test specimens and reference test specimens) from adjacent areas of the sample to ensure a good comparison. Test specimens shall be suitably referenced and indicated either as main (m) or reference (r). In addition, the position of the test specimens in the unit and the number of the unit shall be marked. SIST EN 15304:2010

Key 1 Direction of rise m Main test specimen r Reference test specimen Figure 1 – Cutting scheme 6.5 Measurement of test specimens and determination of their volume The dimensions of the test specimens shall be measured to an accuracy of 0,1 mm, using callipers. Length, height and width shall be measured in mid height at two opposite sides, and the volume V of the test specimens shall be calculated by multiplying the mean values. 6.6 Conditioning of test specimens After their preparation, the main test specimens and the refer
...