EN 12390-20:2026

• Abstract:

  This document describes the method for the determination of the open porosity (open pores) of hardened concrete on test specimens manufactured from moulded or cored specimens.; The test is suitable for specimens having a declared value of D of the coarsest fraction of aggregates used in concrete (Dmax) not greater than 40 mm.; The test method is not applicable for concrete containing lightweight aggregate.

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 15-Sep-2026
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: CEN/TC 104 - Concrete ( performance, production, placing and compliance criteria )
• Drafting Committee: CEN/TC 104/SC 1 - Revision of ENV 206
• Current Stage: 6060 - Definitive text made available (DAV) - Publishing
• Start Date: 16-Sep-2026
• Due Date: 02-Mar-2026
• Completion Date: 16-Sep-2026
• Ref Project: kSIST FprEN 12390-20:2026 - Testing hardened concrete - Part 20: Determination of porosity

• Referred By: EN 1926:2006 - Natural stone test methods - Determination of uniaxial compressive strength
• Effective Date: 17-Sep-2026

Overview

EN 12390-20:2026 - Testing Hardened Concrete - Part 20: Determination of Open Porosity is a European standard developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). This document specifies a reliable and systematic laboratory procedure to determine the open porosity (open pores accessible to water) of hardened concrete. The method is applicable to concrete specimens manufactured from moulded, cored, or sawn samples, provided the coarsest aggregate fraction (Dmax) does not exceed 40 mm. Importantly, the method excludes concrete containing lightweight aggregate.

Open porosity is a critical property of concrete as it directly affects the material's durability, permeability, and resistance to various environmental exposures. By establishing a standardized measurement method, EN 12390-20 enhances the quality assessment and service performance prediction of concrete products.

Key Topics

• Test scope: Focus on open porosity in hardened concrete samples with Dmax ≤ 40 mm.
• Exclusions: Not applicable for concrete with lightweight aggregate.
• Terminology: Standardized definitions for open pores (water-accessible), closed pores (not accessible to water), and porosity (volume ratio, as percentage).
• Specimens: Can be moulded, sawn, or cored, conforming to related requirements.
• Testing apparatus: Includes a ventilated oven, precision balances, vacuum system, water tank, thermometer, desiccator, timer, and calipers complying with EN 12350-1.
• Procedure highlights:
  • Saturating dried samples under vacuum.
  • Measuring specimen mass in water, in air (saturated state), and after oven drying.
  • Ensuring consistent temperature and humidity during testing phases.
• Results expression: Porosity calculated as a percentage using specified mass measurements, with the mean porosity reported from at least three specimens.

Applications

EN 12390-20 is essential for laboratories, construction material producers, and quality control agencies involved in:

• Concrete quality control: Routine assessment of open porosity in concrete, supporting compliance with durability and performance specifications.
• Construction projects: Verifying that concrete used in buildings, bridges, tunnels, and infrastructure meets open porosity requirements for durability and permeability.
• Research and development: Comparative studies of concrete mixes, curing methods, and additives to optimize porosity and performance.
• Compliance and certification: Fulfilling regulatory and contractual obligations for concrete standards testing across the European market.

The method supports risk reduction by providing evidence of concrete’s resistance to aggressive environments and aids in lifecycle analysis for asset management.

Related Standards

EN 12390-20 is part of the broader EN 12390 series, which sets the foundation for concrete testing in Europe. Closely associated standards include:

• EN 12390-1: Shape, dimensions, and requirements for specimens and moulds.
• EN 12390-2: Procedures for making and curing specimens for strength tests.
• EN 12390-7: Determination of density of hardened concrete.
• EN 12504-1: Procedures for cored specimens and compression testing.
• Additional related topics in the EN 12390 series include compressive and flexural strength, depth of water penetration, chloride resistance, carbonation, and others.

By standardizing the determination of open porosity, EN 12390-20:2026 supports consistent quality assessment and enhances the durability of concrete structures in Europe and internationally.

Keywords: open porosity, hardened concrete testing, EN 12390-20, CEN standards, concrete durability, concrete permeability, laboratory test methods, construction quality control, concrete specimens

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
oSIST prEN 12390-20:2025
01-april-2025
Preskušanje strjenega betona - 20. del: - Določanje poroznosti
Testing hardened concrete - Part 20: Determination of porosity
Prüfung von Festbeton - Teil 20: Bestimmung der Porosität
Essais pour béton durci - Partie 20 : Détermination de la porosité
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: prEN 12390-20
ICS:
91.100.30 Beton in betonski izdelki Concrete and concrete
products
oSIST prEN 12390-20:2025 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

oSIST prEN 12390-20:2025
oSIST prEN 12390-20:2025
DRAFT
EUROPEAN STANDARD
prEN 12390-20
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
February 2025
ICS 91.100.30
English Version
Testing hardened concrete - Part 20: Determination of
porosity
Essais pour béton durci - Partie 20 : Détermination de Prüfung von Festbeton - Teil 20: Bestimmung der
la porosité Porosität
This draft European Standard is submitted to CEN members for enquiry. It has been drawn up by the Technical Committee
CEN/TC 104.
If this draft becomes a European Standard, 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.

This draft European Standard was established by CEN 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-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, Türkiye and
United Kingdom.
Recipients of this draft are invited to submit, with their comments, notification of any relevant patent rights of which they are
aware and to provide supporting documentation.

Warning : This document is not a European Standard. It is distributed for review and comments. It is subject to change without
notice and shall not be referred to as a European Standard.

EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2025 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. prEN 12390-20:2025 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

oSIST prEN 12390-20:2025
prEN 12390-20:2025 (E)
Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 4
2 Normative references . 4
3 Terms and definitions . 4
4 Principle . 5
5 Apparatus . 5
5.1 Common apparatus . 5
5.2 Ventilated oven . 5
5.3 Balance . 5
5.4 Water tank . 5
5.5 Vacuum system . 5
5.6 Thermometer . 5
5.7 Dessicator . 5
5.8 Timer or clock . 5
5.9 Calliper and rules: Capable of determining the dimensions of a specimen to within
0,5 % . 5
6 Test specimens . 5
6.1 General . 5
6.2 Number of test specimens . 6
6.3 Dimension/volume of test specimens . 6
6.4 Storage of test specimens . 6
7 Procedures. 7
7.1 General . 7
7.2 Immersion of test specimens . 7
7.3 Determination of the mass in water of the test specimen - M . 7
w
7.4 Determination of the mass in air of the saturated test specimen - M . 7
air
7.5 Determination of the mass of the dry test specimen - M . 7
dry
8 Expression of results . 7
9 Test report . 8
10 Precision . 8
Bibliography . 10
oSIST prEN 12390-20:2025
prEN 12390-20:2025 (E)
European foreword
This document (prEN 12390-20:2025) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 104
“Concrete and related products”, the secretariat of which is held by SN.
This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.
It is based on the French Standard NF P 18-459 “Concrete — Testing hardened concrete — Testing
porosity and density”.
This document 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 for 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 10: Determination of the carbonation resistance of concrete at atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide
— Part 11: Determination of the chloride resistance of concrete, unidirectional diffusion
— Part 12: Determination of the potential carbonation resistance of concrete: Accelerated carbonation
method;
— 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 of heat released by concrete during its hardening
process;
— Part 16: Determination of shrinkage of concrete;
— Part 17: Determination of creep of concrete in compression;
— Part 18: Determination of the chloride migration coefficient;
— Part19: Determination of resistivity;
oSIST prEN 12390-20:2025
prEN 12390-20:2025 (E)
1 Scope
This document describes the method for the determination of the porosity (open pores) of hardened
concrete on test specimens of any type (moulded, sawn, cored) or any shape.
The test is suitable for specimens having a declared value of D of the coarsest fraction of aggregates
actually used in the concrete (D ) not greater than 40
...