CONSULTING ENGINEERING GROUP

PROJECT NAME

SPECIFICATION
PROJECT NO.

Sampling of the aggregates shall be carried out in accordance with the requirements of
BS 812 and BS EN 12620.

Fine aggregates shall be natural sand or manufactured crushed rock sand. Crushed rock
sand shall be the direct product of a manufacturing process, not the by-product of coarse
aggregate production.

Beach sand shall not be permitted for use in concrete mixes.

The use of clean Dune Sand, blended with coarser sand, may be permitted providing it
can be shown that the sand if free from contaminants.

Aggregates shall meet the requirements of Table 2.1

10 Frequency of routine testing shall meet the requirements of Table 2.2.

11 Mineralogical tests are to be carried out as instructed by the Engineer.
12 No aggregate deliveries shall be made to the Site until the Engineer has approved the
samples as complying with this specification.
13 Samples of aggregates shall be tested in accordance with the requirements of table 2.2.
2.3.

STORAGE
1

The Contractor shall provide a means of storing aggregate at each point where concrete
is made such that
a) Each nominal size of coarse aggregate and the fine aggregate shall be kept
separated at all times
b) Contamination of the aggregates by the ground or other foreign matter shall be
effectively prevented at all times
c) Each heap of aggregate shall be capable of draining freely
d) Storage shall be such as to prevent segregation
e) Stockpiles shall be on hard and clean surfaces with not more than 5 % slope
f)

Stockpiles shall be protected from direct sunlight

The Contractor shall maintain the stockpiles of coarse aggregate in separate gradings.

The preparation, location and size of any stockpiles and the methods of segregation shall
be to the approval of the Engineer.
Table 2.1

Limits for Physical, Chemical and Mechanical Properties of Aggregates for Concrete
Item

Test Methods

No.

Requirement

BS 812

1.

Grading

Part 103
(dry)

2.

Material finer than 0.075

mm.

Part 103

Natural,
Crushed

uncrushed/

ASTM

Fines

Coarse

Standard

Standard

Max. 3%

Max.2%

Max. 5%

Max. 2%

C142

Max. 3%

Max. 2%
Max. 0.5%

(wet)

Crushed rock
and

GS

3.

Clay lumps
particles

4.

Lightweight pieces

C123

Max. 0.5%

5.

Organic impurities

C40

Colour
standard
not
darker than Plate No. 3

SECTION 05 CONCRETE

friable

Permissible Limits

PAGE NO. 4

CONSULTING ENGINEERING GROUP

PROJECT NAME
Item

SPECIFICATION
PROJECT NO.
Test Methods

Permissible Limits

No.

Requirement

BS 812

ASTM

GS

Fines

Coarse

6.

Water absorption (saturated

Surface dried)

Part 2

C128/C127

1458/

Max. 2.3%

Max. 2%

7.

Specific gravity (apparent)

Part 2

Min. 2.6

Min. 2.6

8.

Shell content:

Part 106

9.

Particle shape:

10.

1459
C128/C127

Max. 3 %

Max. 3 %

Flakiness index

Part
105.1

1456

Max. 30 %

Elongation index

Part
105.2

1457

Max. 35 %

Acid soluble chlorides :

Part 117

A. Reinforced concrete with

SRPC

Max.0.06%

Max. 0.03%

OPC and MSRPC

Max.0.06 %

Max. 0.03%

SRPC

Max.0.06 %

Max. 0.03%

OPC/MSRPC

Max.0.06 %

Max. 0.03%

Max.0.01 %

Max. 0.01%

Max. 0.4 %

Max. 0.3%

Max. 15 %

Max. 15 %

B. Mass Concrete with

C. Prestressed
and

Concrete

Steam cured structural

Concrete
11.

Acid soluble sulphate

12.

Loss
by
sulphate

Part 118

magnesium

C88

Soundness (5 cycles)
13.

Mechanical strength : 10 %
fines value (dry condition)
Aggregate Impact value
Loss by Los Angeles
abrasion

14.

Drying shrinkage

15.

Potential reactivity :
Of aggregates
Alkali-silica reaction
Alkali-carbonation reaction
Of cement-aggregate
combination

SECTION 05 CONCRETE

Part 111
Part 112
C131/C535
Part 120

Min.150 kN
Max. 25 %
Max. 30 %
Max.
%

0.05

Not reactive
C289
C586
C227

6 month expansion 0.1 %

Max.

PAGE NO. 5

CONSULTING ENGINEERING GROUP

PROJECT NAME

SPECIFICATION
PROJECT NO.
Table 2.2

Frequency Of Tests On Aggregates

Item

Requirement

Test Method

1.

Grading

BS 812: Part 103

2.

Material finer than 0.075 mm

BS 812 : Part 103

3.

Clay lumps and friable particles

ASTM C142

4.

Organic impurities

ASTM C40

5.

Water absorption

ASTM C128/C127

6.

Specific gravity

ASTM C128/C127

7.

Shell content

BS 812 : Part 106

8.

Particle shape

BS 812 : Part 105

9.

Acid soluble chlorides

BS EN 1744-1:1998

10.

Acid soluble sulphates

BS EN 1744-1:1998

11.
12.

13.
14.

15.

Loss by magnesium sulphate

soundness
Mechanical strength
10% fines or aggregate impact
value
Los Angeles abrasion
Moisture variation in sand
(moisture meter)
Drying shrinkage

Potential reactivity :
Of aggregates
Alkali-silica reaction
Alkali-carbonation reaction
Of cement-aggregate
combination

ASTM C88
BS 812 :
Parts 111/112
ASTM C131/C535

BS EN 1367-4

ASTM C289
ASTM C586

Test Frequency
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Each month or per 200 m3 ,
whichever is more frequent
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Each month or per 100 m3 ,
whichever is more frequent
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Each month
Every 2 weeks or per 100m3
which ever is more frequent
Each month
Twice daily
At the start of the project and
whenever there is a change in
the source of supply

As directed by the Engineer

ASTM C227

Note : Frequency ; m means per volume of concrete produced.

2.4.

FINE AGGREGATE FOR CONCRETE AND MORTAR

1 Fine aggregate shall consist of natural clean sand, stone screenings or artificial sand or a
combination thereof, conforming to the requirements of grading and physical properties
complying with QS 997, QS 25/2007 and subject to Engineer's acceptance.
2 The gradation of fine aggregate for concrete and mortar shall be in accordance with the
gradation designations in QS 997 and as shown in Table 2.3.
3

For mortar where joints thicker than 12.5 mm are employed, the grading of aggregate
shall comply with that of zone 2 or zone 3 of table 2.3. In the case where joints up to a
maximum of 12.5 mm are employed the grading of aggregate shall comply with table
2.3A.

SECTION 05 CONCRETE

PAGE NO. 6