BRITISH STANDARD BS 1881-122:

1983
Incorporating
amendment No. 1

Testing concrete —
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Part 122: Method for determination of

water absorption

UDC 666.972.017:691.32:620.1
 BS 1881-122:1983

Cooperating organizations

The Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards

Committee, under whose direction this British Standard was prepared,
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consists of representatives from the following:

Association of Consulting Engineers Department of Transport*

Association of County Councils Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
Association of District Councils Gypsum Products Development Association
Association of Metropolitan Authorities Institute of Quarrying*
Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products Institution of Civil Engineers*
Association Institution of Highway Engineers*
British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.* Institution of Municipal Engineers*
British Quarrying and Slag Federation* Institution of Public Health Engineers
British Railways Board Institution of Structural Engineers*
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association* Institution of Water Engineers and Scientists*
British Steel Industry National Federation of Building Trades
Cement Admixtures Association Employers*
Cement and Concrete Association* Natural Environment Research Council
Cement Makers’ Federation* (Institute of Geological Science)
Chemical Industries Association Royal Institute of British Architects*
Concrete Society Limited* Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors*
County Surveyors’ Society* Sand and Ballast Hauliers and Allied Trades
Department of the Environment (Building Alliance
Research Establishment)* Sand and Gravel Association Limited*
Department of the Environment (PSA)* Society of Chemical Industry*
Department of the Environment (Transport Stone Federation
and Road Research Laboratory)*

The organizations marked with an asterisk in the above list, together with the
following, were directly represented on the Technical Committee entrusted
with the preparation of this British Standard:

British Civil Engineering Test Equipment Greater London Council

Manufacturers’ Association Institute of Concrete Technology
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Coopted member
Wales

This British Standard, having

been prepared under the
direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and
Quarry Products Standards
Committee, was published
under the authority of the
Board of BSI and comes into
effect on Amendments issued since publication
31 January 1983.

© BSI 12-1998 Amd. No. Date Comments

6180 July 1989 Indicated by a sideline in the margin

The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CAB/4
Draft for comment 80/14205 DC

ISBN 0 580 12959 4

 BS 1881-122:1983

Contents

Page
Cooperating organizations Inside front cover
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Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Apparatus 1
4 Test specimens 1
5 Procedure 1
6 Calculation and expression of results 1
7 Test report 2
Figure 1 — Correction factor 3
Publications referred to Inside back cover

© BSI 12-1998 i
 BS 1881-122:1983

Foreword

This Part of this standard prepared under the direction of the Cement, Gypsum,
Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Committee, is a revision of clause 7
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of BS 1881-5:1970, which has been deleted by Amendment No. 1 to that standard.

The water absorption test in this Part is basically unchanged from that in
the 1970 edition. No estimate of repeatability or reproducibility is given in this
Part of this British Standard. Reference should be made to BS 5497-1 for further
information on the determination of repeatability and reproducibility.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 4, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

ii © BSI 12-1998
 BS 1881-122:1983

1 Scope NOTE One end of each specimen should preferably be from one
of the faces which would normally be exposed when the unit is in
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This Part of this British Standard specifies a use.

method for the determination of water absorption of 4.2 Measurement of density. Measure the density
concrete specimens cored from a structure or of the specimens in accordance with BS 1881-114.
precast component.
4.3 Measurement of dimensions. Measure the
NOTE The titles of the publications referred to in this standard dimensions of the specimen in accordance with
are listed on the inside back cover.
BS 1881-114.
2 Definitions 4.4 Age of specimens at test. The test for
absorption shall be made when the age of the
For the purposes of this Part of this standard the
concrete is 28 days to 32 days, which means that
definitions given in BS 5328 apply.
drying of the specimens shall begin at an age
3 Apparatus of 24 days to 28 days.
NOTE If the absorption test is carried out on concrete less
3.1 A balance, capable of weighing the specimen up than 28 days old an appreciably higher value may be obtained.
to 5 kg to an accuracy of 0.1 %. Conversely, the absorption at ages greater than 28 days might be
appreciably less. These variations are dependent, amongst other
The balance shall be calibrated on initial factors, on the rate of hydration of the cement.
commissioning and at least annually thereafter
using weights of which the accuracy can be traced to 5 Procedure
the national standard of mass. The balance shall be
5.1 Place the three specimens in the drying
checked after relocation or disturbance. A certificate
oven (3.3) so that each one is not less than 25 mm
stating the accuracy shall be obtained from the
from any heating surface or from each other. Dry the
organization carrying out the check.
three specimens in the oven for 72 ± 2 h.
3.2 A suitable coring machine, with a cylindrical bit
5.2 Further specimens shall not be placed in the
having an impregnated or set diamond cutting edge
same oven during the drying process and there shall
for cutting a 75 ± 3 mm diameter core.
be free access of air to all surfaces of the specimens.
NOTE A pillar drill or portable electric drill of about 12 mm On removal from the oven, cool each specimen
nominal size with reduction gearing can generally be adapted for
this purpose. for 24 ± 0.5 h in the dry airtight vessel (3.5). Weigh
each specimen and immediately completely
3.3 A well ventilated drying oven, complying with
immerse in the tank (3.4) with its longitudinal axis
BS 2648, except that the internal space may
horizontal and at a depth such that there
exceed 0.085 m3, in which the temperature is
is 25 ± 5 mm of water over the top of the specimen.
controlled at 105 ± 5 °C, and such that the
specimens can be placed in the oven as described 5.3 Leave the specimens immersed in the water
in 5.1. for 30 ± 0.5 min, unless otherwise specified. Remove
each specimen, shake it to remove the bulk of the
3.4 A tank, at least 125 mm deep, containing clean water and dry it with a cloth as rapidly as possible
water maintained at a temperature of 20 ± 1 °C. until all free water is removed from the surface.
3.5 A dry airtight vessel, e.g. desiccator, of sufficient Weigh each specimen.
size to take the set of three specimens to be tested.
6 Calculation and expression of results
4 Test specimens
The measured absorption of each specimen shall be
4.1 Preparation. For a representative sample, calculated as the increase in mass resulting from
obtain a set of three specimens by coring from the immersion expressed as a percentage of the mass of
full thickness of the concrete when this is the dry specimen. A correction factor according to
between 32 mm and 150 mm, or by obtaining a the length of the specimen shall be obtained from
core 75 mm long when the thickness of the specimen the curve shown in Figure 1. The product of this
is greater than 150 mm. The diameter of each core correction factor and the measured absorption shall
shall be 75 ± 3 mm. Cores shall be drilled, as far as be known as the corrected absorption, this being the
possible, perpendicular to the surface and in such a equivalent absorption of a core having a length
manner as not to damage the core. Mark each core of 75 mm. The results shall be expressed to the
clearly with its identification mark immediately nearest 0.1 %.
after cutting, and record the orientation of the core.
Cores that have been broken out of larger samples
shall have the broken ends trimmed approximately
square with the axis.

© BSI 12-1998 1
 BS 1881-122:1983

The correction factor related to size is based on the 7.3 Information to be provided by the test
formula laboratory for inclusion in the test report. The
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3 following information shall be provided by the test

volume ( mm )
correction factor = ------------------------------------------------------------------------ laboratory for inclusion in the test report:
2
surface area ( mm ) × 12.5
a) identification of the test specimen;
7 Test report b) condition of specimen when received (include
7.1 General. The report shall affirm that the tests poor compaction and honeycombing);
were carried out in accordance with this Part of this c) date of receipt of the specimen;
standard. The report shall also state whether or not d) dimensions of the specimen;
certificates of sampling, specimen preparation and
curing are available. If available, a copy of each e) conditions of storage and curing until test date;
certificate shall be provided. f) date of beginning of tests (placing in oven);
7.2 Information to be provided by the g) density of the specimen (as-received, saturated
producer of the test specimens for inclusion in or oven-dried and method of determining
the test report volume);
7.2.1 Mandatory information. The following h) measured absorption;
information shall be provided by the producer of the i) corrected absorption;
test specimens for inclusion in the test report: j) details of reinforcement (if any);
a) identification of the test specimen, which k) orientation of the specimen to the structure;
preferably should be marked with indelible
l) certificate that the test has been carried out in
waterproof ink; accordance with this Part of this standard;
b) date of production; m) other remarks.
c) conditions of storage and curing;
d) age of concrete;
e) date test required;
f) type of density to be measured.
7.2.2 Optional information. If requested the
following information shall be provided by the
producer of the test specimens for inclusion in the
test report:
a) building project;
b) part or component of the building;
c) details of concrete mix.

2 © BSI 12-1998
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© BSI 12-1998
Figure 1 — Correction factor

3
BS 1881-122:1983
 BS 1881-122:1983

Testing concrete
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Summary of published British Standards

Due to the present restructuring of BS 1881 Methods of testing concrete and BS 4408 Recommendations for non-destructive methods
of test for concrete, the following information has been published, to help keep readers up-to-date, with the situation so far.
(February 1983).

BS 1881-1:1970 Method of sampling fresh concrete on site

Method of mixing and sampling fresh concrete in the laboratory.
BS 1881-2:1970 Slump test
Compacting factor test
“V-B” consistometer test
Method for determination of weight per cubic metre of fresh concrete
Method for determination of air content of fresh concrete
Analysis of fresh concrete.
BS 1881-3:1970 Making and curing test cubes
Making and curing no-fines test cubes
Making and curing test beams
Making and curing test cylinders
Method for accelerating the curing of test specimens:
1) the 55 °C method
2) the 82 °C method.
BS 1881-5:1970 Method for determination of the dynamic modulus of elasticity by an
electrodynamic method
Method for determination of changes in length of concrete prisms (initial drying
shrinkage, drying shrinkage and wetting expansion)
Method for determination of initial surface absorption.
BS 1881-6:1971 Analysis of hardened concrete.
BS 1881-114:1983 Method for determination of density of hardened concrete.
BS 1881-115:1983 Specification for compression testing machines for concrete.
BS 1881-116:1983 Method for determination of compressive strength of concrete cubes.
BS 1881-117:1983 Method for determination of tensile splitting strength.
BS 1881-118:1983 Method for determination of flexural strength.
BS 1881-119:1983 Method for determination of compressive strength using portions of beams
broken in flexure (equivalent cube method).
BS 1881-120:1983 Method for determination of the compressive strength of concrete cones.
BS 1881-121:1983 Method for determination of static modulus of elasticity in compression.
BS 1881-122:1983 Method for determination of water absorption.
BS 4408-1:1969 Electromagnetic cover measuring devices.
BS 4408-2:1969 Strain gauges for concrete investigations.
BS 4408-3:1970 Gamma radiography of concrete.
BS 4408-4:1971 Surface hardness methods of testing concrete.
BS 4408-5:1974 Measurement of the velocity of ultrasonic pulses in concrete.

4 © BSI 12-1998
 BS 1881-122:1983

Publications referred to

BS 1881, Testing concrete.

BS 1881-114, Method for determination of density of hardened concrete.
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BS 2648, Performance requirements for electrically-heated laboratory drying ovens.

BS 5328, Methods for specifying concrete, including ready-mixed concrete.
BS 5497, Precision of test methods1).
BS 5497-1, Guide for the determination of repeatability and reproducibility for a standard test method.

1) Referred to in the foreword only.

© BSI 12-1998
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