ISO 1920-5:2018

Testing of concrete — Part 5: Density and water penetration depth

This document specifies methods for testing the density and depth of water penetration of hardened concrete.

Essais du béton — Partie 5: Titre manque

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 14-Jun-2018
• ICS: 91.100.30 - Concrete and concrete products
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 71/SC 1 - Test methods for concrete
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 71/SC 1 - Test methods for concrete
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 28-Nov-2023
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Relations

• Revises: ISO 1920-5:2004 - Testing of concrete — Part 5: Properties of hardened concrete other than strength
• Effective Date: 02-Jul-2016

Overview

ISO 1920-5:2018 - Testing of concrete - Part 5: Density and water penetration depth specifies internationally recognized methods to measure the density of hardened concrete and the depth of water penetration under pressure. The standard applies to lightweight, normal‑weight and heavy‑weight concrete and covers specimens in three conditions: as‑received, water‑saturated, and oven‑dried.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope: Methods for determining mass, volume and density of hardened concrete and for measuring water penetration depth under pressure.

• Specimen requirements: Minimum specimen volume of 1 L (larger minimums apply for mixes with big aggregate sizes - see the standard). Whole specimens or sawn specimens conforming to size rules may be used.

• Mass determination: Measurements permitted for as‑received, saturated and oven‑dried conditions. Oven drying at 105 °C ± 5 °C until mass change < 0.2 % in 24 h; saturation immersion normally at 20 °C ± 2 °C.

• Volume determination (three methods):

  • Water displacement (reference method) - hydrostatic weighing using a stirrup and a balance; suitable for irregular shapes (note exceptions such as floating lightweight aggregates or no‑fines concrete).
  • Calculation from actual measurements - for undamaged prismatic/cylindrical specimens.
  • Calculation from checked designated dimensions - for specimens cast in calibrated moulds and within ±0.5 % of designated size.

• Apparatus: Callipers/rules (±0.5 %), balance with hydrostatic stirrup (accuracy 0.1 %), water tank with constant level device, ventilated oven.

• Calculations and reporting: Density D = m / V (reported to nearest 10 kg/m3). Water density for calculations given as 998 kg/m3 at 20 °C (alternative 997 kg/m3 at 27 °C for hotter climates). Test report requirements and example reports are included; precision information provided in Annex A.

• Water penetration under pressure: Principle - apply water pressure to a concrete surface, split the specimen and measure the depth of water ingress. Applicable to laboratory-cast specimens and cores from sites in various moisture states.

Applications and who uses it

• Concrete testing laboratories - routine density and permeability assessments.
• Quality control and site engineers - verifying mix density targets, compaction and uniformity.
• Durability engineers and researchers - assessing susceptibility to water ingress, durability modeling and comparative studies.
• Specification writers and regulators - incorporating standardized test methods into contracts and compliance documents.
• Contractors and precast manufacturers - production control and acceptance testing.

Related standards

• ISO 1920 series (other Parts for concrete testing) - see ISO 1920-3 for making and curing test specimens. Annexes in ISO 1920-5 include precision data and example test reports useful for laboratory accreditation and validation.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 1920-5
Second edition
2018-06
Testing of concrete —
Part 5:
Density and water penetration depth
Essais du béton —
Partie 5: Caractéristiques du béton durci autres que la résistance
Reference number
©
ISO 2018
© ISO 2018
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, or required in the context of its implementation, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or utilized otherwise in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, or posting
on the internet or an intranet, without prior written permission. Permission can be requested from either ISO at the address
below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
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CH-1214 Vernier, Geneva
Phone: [phone]
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Website: www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

Contents Page
Foreword .iv
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
4 Determination of density of hardened concrete . 1
4.1 General . 1
4.2 Apparatus . 2
4.3 Test specimens . 2
4.4 Procedures . 2
4.4.1 General. 2
4.4.2 Mass of as-received specimen . 2
4.4.3 Mass of water-saturated specimen . 3
4.4.4 Mass of oven-dried specimen . 3
4.4.5 Volume obtained by water displacement . 3
4.4.6 Volume, using actual measurements . 4
4.4.7 Volume, using checked designated dimensions . 4
4.4.8 Test result . . 4
5 Determination of water penetration under pressure . 6
5.1 Principle . 6
5.2 Apparatus . 6
5.3 Test specimen . 8
5.4 Procedure . 8
5.4.1 Preparation and conditioning of the test specimen . 8
5.4.2 Application of water pressure . 8
5.4.3 Examination of specimen . 8
5.5 Test result . 9
6 Test report . 9
6.1 General . 9
6.2 Test report for density . 9
6.3 Test report for water penetration depth.10
Annex A (informative) Precision for the method of determination of the density .11
Annex B (informative) Example of test reports .12
Bibliography .15
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
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ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
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on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www .iso .org/patents).
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expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to the
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URL: www .iso .org/iso/foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 71, Concrete, reinforced concrete and pre-
stressed concrete, Subcommittee SC 1, Test methods for concrete.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 1920-5:2004), which has been technically
revised. The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— density of irregular shape specimens can also be determined using this document;
— as-received, saturated or oven-dried specimens (cast in laboratory or cores extracted from sites)
can be tested for the determination of water penetration under pressure using this document.
A list of all parts in the ISO 1920 series can be found on the ISO website.
iv © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 1920-5:2018(E)
Testing of concrete —
Part 5:
Density and water penetration depth
1 Scope
This document specifies methods for testing the density and depth of water penetration of hardened
concrete.
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.
ISO 1920-3, Testing of concrete — Part 3: Making and curing test specimens
3 Terms and definitions
For the purpose of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https: //www .iso .org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http: //www .electropedia .org/
3.1
density
ratio of the mass of a given quantity of hardened concrete to its volume
Note 1 to entry: The density is expressed in kilograms per cubic metre.
4 Determination of density of hardened concrete
4.1 General
This test method is applicable to lightweight, normal-weight and heavy-weight concrete.
It differentiates between hardened concrete in the following states:
— as-received;
— saturated;
— oven-dried.
The mass and the volume of the specimen of hardened concrete are determined and the density
calculated.
4.2 Apparatus
4.2.1 Callipers and rules, capable of determining the dimensions of a specimen to within ±0,5 %.
4.2.2 Balance, equipped with a stirrup for weighing the specimen in both air and water to an accuracy
of 0,1 % of the mass (see Figure 1).
4.2.3 Water tank, fitted with a device to maintain the water at a constant level and of sufficient size to
allow the specimen on the stirrup to be fully immersed to constant depth (see Figure 1).
4.2.4 Ventilated oven, for which the temperature can be maintained at 105 °C ± 5 °C.
4.3 Test specimens
The minimum volume of a specimen shall be 1 l. If the nominal maximum aggregate size exceeds 25 mm,
the minimum volume of the specimen, in cubic millimetres, shall be not less than 50D , where D is the
nominal maximum size of the coarse aggregate.
Normally, the entire specimen as-received should be used for the determination of the density.
If the shape or size of a specimen is such that it is not possible to use all of it, a smaller specimen,
conforming to the requirements given above, may be sawn from the original.
4.4 Procedures
4.4.1 General
4.4.1.1 Calibration of the apparatus
The apparatus used shall be in calibration at time of use. The balance, the device for weighing specimens
in water and the oven should be calibrated at least once per year.
4.4.1.2 Determination of mass
This document permits three conditions under which the mass of a specimen can be determined:
a) as-received;
b) water-saturated;
c) oven-dried.
4.4.1.3 Determination of volume
This document permits three methods for determining the volume of the specimen:
a) by water displacement (reference method);
b) by calculation, using actual measurements;
c) for cubes, by calculation, using checked designated dimensions.
4.4.2 Mass of as-received specimen
Weigh the as-received specimen, to an accuracy of 0,1 % of the mass of the specimen.
Record the value, expressed in kilograms, as m .
r
2 © ISO 2018 – All rights reserved

4.4.3 Mass of water-saturated specimen
Immerse the specimen in water at 20 °C ± 2 °C until the mass changes by less than 0,2 % in 24 h. Before
each weighing, wipe the surplus water from the surface using a moist cloth.
Specimens of normal-weight concrete cured in water continuously for at least 72 h prior to testing may
be assumed to satisfy this requirement.
Record the value, expressed in kilograms, of saturated mass as m .
s
NOTE In hot climate locations, the conditions can be different. In this case, alternative temperature of 27 °C
± 2 °C can be included.
4.4.4 Mass of oven-dried specimen
Dry the specimen in a ventilated oven at 105 °C ± 5 °C until the mass changes by less than 0,2 % in 24 h.
Before each weighing, cool the specimen to near room temperature in a dry airtight vessel or desiccator.
Record the value, expressed in kilograms, of the oven-dried mass as m .
o
4.4.5 Volume obtained by water displacement
4.4.5.1 General
This method is suitable for specimens of all shapes and is the only method suitable for specimens of
irregular shape.
The specimen shall be in a saturated condition.
This method is not suitable for specimens of no-fines concrete, concrete made with lightweight
aggregate that floats in water, concrete with large pores, or specimens the moisture content of which is
not to be altered. However, if an impermeable layer is applied to the specimen, this method may be used.
4.4.5.2 Mass in water
Allow the hydrostatic device of the balance to reach equilibrium. Ensure that the empty stirrup hanging
from the balance is completely immersed in the water tank and that the stirrup is not touching
...