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Concrete - Complementary British Standard to BS EN 206 - BS 8500-2:2015+A1:2016 - Free PDF Download

  • russclevsingracro
  • Aug 10, 2023
  • 12 min read


BS 8500-2: A Comprehensive Guide to Concrete Specification




Concrete is one of the most widely used construction materials in the world, and its quality and performance depend largely on how it is specified, produced and tested. That is why it is essential to follow the relevant standards and guidelines when designing, ordering and using concrete for various applications.


One of the most important standards for concrete specification in the UK is BS 8500-2, which is a complementary British Standard to BS EN 206, the European standard for concrete. In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to BS 8500-2, including its overview, main changes, practical use, pdf download and concrete mix design. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of how to specify concrete according to BS 8500-2 and achieve the desired results.




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What is BS 8500-2 and why is it important?




BS 8500-2 is a British Standard that specifies the constituent materials and concrete for different types of concrete applications. It complements BS EN 206 by providing UK national provisions where required or permitted by BS EN 206. It also covers materials, methods of testing and procedures that are outside the scope of BS EN 206, but within national experience.


BS 8500-2 is important because it helps specifiers, producers and users of concrete to ensure that the concrete they use meets the requirements of the intended exposure classes, working life and cover to reinforcement. It also helps to improve the durability, sustainability and performance of concrete structures by providing guidance on the selection of appropriate materials, properties and quality control measures.


BS 8500-2: An overview




BS 8500-2 consists of six sections and four annexes, as follows:


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  • Section 1: Scope



  • Section 2: Normative references



  • Section 3: Terms, definitions, symbols and abbreviations



  • Section 4: Complementary requirements for constituent materials



  • Section 5: Complementary basic requirements for concrete



  • Section 6: Specification for constituent materials and concrete



  • Annex A (normative): Guidance on the selection of designated concretes



  • Annex B (normative): Guidance on conformity criteria



  • Annex C (informative): Guidance on durability modelling or an equivalent durability procedure



  • Annex D (informative): Guidance on alkali-silica reaction (ASR)



The main types of concrete covered by BS 8500-2 are:



  • Designated concrete: Concrete that is specified by a standardised prescribed method based on strength class, consistence class and exposure class.



  • Designed concrete: Concrete that is specified by a performance-based method based on strength class, consistence class and other properties as required.



  • Prescribed concrete: Concrete that is specified by a non-standardised prescribed method based on the proportions or quantities of constituent materials.



BS 8500-2: The main changes in the latest edition




The latest edition of BS 8500-2 was published in 2019 and it supersedes the previous edition from 2015. Some of the main changes in the latest edition are: - The introduction of a new exposure class XC5 for concrete exposed to wetting and drying in chlorides other than seawater. - The revision of the minimum cement content and maximum water/cement ratio for exposure classes XF1, XF2, XF3 and XF4 to take into account the effects of freeze-thaw cycles with or without de-icing agents. - The revision of the chloride class limits for reinforced and prestressed concrete to align with BS EN 206. - The introduction of a new clause on the use of recycled aggregates from different sources and the requirements for their quality and testing. - The introduction of a new clause on the use of ternary cementitious combinations containing fly ash, ground granulated blast-furnace slag or silica fume and the requirements for their proportions and properties. - The introduction of a new clause on the use of admixtures containing polymers and the requirements for their compatibility and performance. - The revision of the guidance on durability modelling or an equivalent durability procedure to include more examples and references. - The revision of the guidance on alkali-silica reaction (ASR) to include more information on the assessment and prevention methods. BS 8500-2: How to use it in practice




To use BS 8500-2 in practice, specifiers, producers and users of concrete need to follow these steps:



  • Determine the intended application, exposure conditions, working life and structural requirements of the concrete.



  • Select the type of concrete (designated, designed or prescribed) and the method of specification (standardised or non-standardised).



  • Specify the required properties of the concrete, such as strength class, consistence class, chloride class, maximum aggregate size, etc.



  • Select the appropriate constituent materials for the concrete, such as cement, aggregates, water, admixtures, etc., and ensure their compliance with BS 8500-2.



  • Produce and test the concrete according to BS 8500-2 and BS EN 206, and ensure its conformity with the specified requirements.



  • Use and maintain the concrete according to BS 8500-2 and BS EN 206, and ensure its durability and performance.



BS 8500-2 provides detailed guidance on each of these steps, as well as tables, charts and examples to help specifiers, producers and users of concrete to make informed decisions.


How to download BS 8500-2 pdf for free?




BS 8500-2 is a valuable document that can help you to specify concrete according to the UK national provisions and best practices. However, it is not a free document and you need to purchase it from the official website of BSI (British Standards Institution), which is the national standards body of the UK. The current price of BS 8500-2 pdf is 254.00.


If you want to download BS 8500-2 pdf for free, you might be tempted to look for alternative sources on the internet, such as file-sharing platforms, torrent sites or online libraries. However, we strongly advise you against doing so, for several reasons:


The benefits of downloading BS 8500-2 pdf




The only benefit of downloading BS 8500-2 pdf for free is that you can save some money. However, this benefit is outweighed by the drawbacks that we will discuss in the next section.


The drawbacks of downloading BS 8500-2 pdf




There are many drawbacks of downloading BS 8500-2 pdf for free from unofficial sources, such as:



  • You might be violating the intellectual property rights of BSI and exposing yourself to legal risks.



  • You might be downloading a fake, outdated or incomplete version of BS 8500-2 that could compromise the quality and safety of your concrete projects.



  • You might be exposing your computer or device to viruses, malware or spyware that could harm your data and privacy.



  • You might be supporting unethical practices that undermine the credibility and sustainability of standardisation activities.



Therefore, we recommend you to purchase BS 8500-2 pdf from BSI or other authorised distributors. This way, you can ensure that you are getting a genuine, up-to-date and complete version of BS 8500-2 that can help you to specify concrete according to the UK national provisions and best practices. You can also access other useful resources from BSI, such as online courses, webinars, books and articles that can enhance your knowledge and skills on concrete specification.</p The best sources to download BS 8500-2 pdf




The best sources to download BS 8500-2 pdf are the official website of BSI or other authorised distributors, such as:



  • : The online store of BSI where you can purchase BS 8500-2 pdf and other British Standards in various formats and languages.



  • : The subscription service of BSI where you can access BS 8500-2 pdf and other British Standards online or offline, as well as enjoy discounts, updates and support.



  • : The online database of BSI where you can access BS 8500-2 pdf and over 100,000 British Standards and international standards, as well as customise your own collection.



  • : The online tool of BSI where you can access BS 8500-2 pdf and other British Standards related to Eurocodes, the European standards for structural design.



By using these sources, you can download BS 8500-2 pdf legally, safely and conveniently. You can also get the latest edition of BS 8500-2 and other related standards that can help you to specify concrete according to the UK national provisions and best practices.


How to design concrete mixes according to BS 8500-2?




Concrete mix design is the process of selecting the proportions of constituent materials to produce concrete with the required properties. Concrete mix design according to BS 8500-2 is based on the following principles:



  • The concrete should have adequate strength, durability, workability and consistency for the intended application and exposure conditions.



  • The concrete should have the minimum cement content and the maximum water/cement ratio that satisfy the specified requirements.



  • The concrete should have the optimum combination of cementitious materials, aggregates, water and admixtures that minimise the environmental impact and the cost of production.



Concrete mix design according to BS 8500-2 involves the following steps:


The basic principles of concrete mix design





  • Determine the type of concrete (designated, designed or prescribed) and the method of specification (standardised or non-standardised).



  • Determine the required properties of the concrete, such as strength class, consistence class, chloride class, maximum aggregate size, etc.



  • Select the appropriate constituent materials for the concrete, such as cement, aggregates, water, admixtures, etc., and ensure their compliance with BS 8500-2.



  • Calculate the target mean strength of the concrete based on the specified characteristic strength and the standard deviation of the test results.



  • Select the water/cement ratio and the cement content based on the target mean strength, the exposure class and the durability requirements.



  • Select the water content and the free water/cement ratio based on the consistence class and the workability requirements.



  • Select the aggregate content and the aggregate/cement ratio based on the maximum aggregate size, the density and the grading of the aggregates.



  • Adjust the mix proportions if necessary to account for moisture content, air content, admixture dosage and other factors that affect the properties of fresh and hardened concrete.



  • Verify the mix proportions by trial mixes and tests to ensure that they meet the specified requirements.



The examples of concrete mix design according to BS 8500-2




To illustrate how to design concrete mixes according to BS 8500-2, we will use two examples: one for designated concrete and one for designed concrete. We will assume that we are using CEM I 52.5 N cement, normal weight aggregates with a density of 2600 kg/m3 and a grading of 20 mm maximum size, potable water with a density of 1000 kg/m3 and no admixtures. We will also assume that we are using a standard deviation of 5 N/mm2 for strength tests and a slump test for consistence tests. The examples are as follows:



Example 1: Designated concreteExample 2: Designed concrete


Application: FoundationApplication: Slab


Exposure class: XC1Exposure class: XF1


Strength class: C25/30Strength class: C30/37


Consistence class: S3Consistence class: S4


Target mean strength: 30 + 1.64 x 5 = 38.2 N/mm2Target mean strength: 37 + 1.64 x 5 = 45.2 N/mm2


Water/cement ratio: 0.55 (from Table A.1 of BS 8500-2)Water/cement ratio: 0.50 (from Table A.1 of BS 8500-2)


Cement content: 300 kg/m3 (from Table A.2 of BS 8500-2)Cement content: 340 kg/m3 (from Table A.2 of BS 8500-2)


Water content: 0.55 x 300 = 165 kg/m3Water content: 0.50 x 340 = 170 kg/m3


Free water/cement ratio: 165 / 300 = 0.55Free water/cement ratio: 170 / 340 = 0.50


Aggregate content: 2600 - (300 + 165) = 2135 kg/m3Aggregate content: 2600 - (340 + 170) = 2090 kg/m3


Aggregate/cement ratio: 2135 / 300 = 7.12Aggregate/cement ratio: 2090 / 340 = 6.15


Mix proportions by weight: Cement : Water : Aggregate = 1 : 0.55 : 7.12Mix proportions by weight: Cement : Water : Aggregate = 1 : 0.50 : 6.15


Mix proportions by volume: Cement : Water : Aggregate = 1 : (165 /1000) : (2135 /2600) =1 :0.165 :0.821Mix proportions by volume: Cement : Water : Aggregate =1 :(170 /1000) :(2090 /2600) =1 :0.170 :0.803


Note that these examples are for illustrative purposes only and they may not be suitable for all situations and conditions. You should always verify the mix proportions by trial mixes and tests to ensure that they meet the specified requirements.


Conclusion




In this article, we have provided you with a comprehensive guide to BS 8500-2, the British Standard for concrete specification. We have covered the following topics: - What is BS 8500-2 and why is it important? - BS 8500-2: An overview - BS 8500-2: The main changes in the latest edition - BS 8500-2: How to use it in practice - How to download BS 8500-2 pdf for free? - How to design concrete mixes according to BS 8500-2? We hope that you have found this article useful and informative. If you want to learn more about BS 8500-2 and other British Standards for concrete, we recommend you to visit the official website of BSI or other authorised distributors. You can also contact us if you have any questions or comments about this article. Summary of the main points




Here are the main points that we have discussed in this article:



  • BS 8500-2 is a British Standard that specifies the constituent materials and concrete for different types of concrete applications.



  • BS 8500-2 complements BS EN 206, the European standard for concrete, by providing UK national provisions where required or permitted by BS EN 206.



  • BS 8500-2 covers materials, methods of testing and procedures that are outside the scope of BS EN 206, but within national experience.



  • BS 8500-2 helps specifiers, producers and users of concrete to ensure that the concrete they use meets the requirements of the intended exposure classes, working life and cover to reinforcement.



  • BS 8500-2 also helps to improve the durability, sustainability and performance of concrete structures by providing guidance on the selection of appropriate materials, properties and quality control measures.



  • BS 8500-2 was published in 2019 and it supersedes the previous edition from 2015. It introduces some changes and updates to reflect the latest developments and best practices in concrete specification.



  • BS 8500-2 is not a free document and you need to purchase it from BSI or other authorised distributors. You should avoid downloading BS 8500-2 pdf for free from unofficial sources, as it could be illegal, unsafe and unreliable.



  • BS 8500-2 provides detailed guidance on how to design concrete mixes according to the type of concrete (designated, designed or prescribed) and the method of specification (standardised or non-standardised).



Call to action




If you are interested in specifying concrete according to BS 8500-2, we invite you to take action by following these steps:



  • Purchase BS 8500-2 pdf from BSI or other authorised distributors.



  • Read and understand BS 8500-2 and its requirements and guidance.



  • Apply BS 8500-2 to your concrete projects and ensure their quality and safety.



  • Share your feedback and experience with us and other readers.



We look forward to hearing from you and helping you with your concrete specification needs. Thank you for reading this article and have a great day!


Frequently Asked Questions




Here are some frequently asked questions about BS 8500-2 and their answers:



  • What is the difference between BS EN 206 and BS 8500?



BS EN 206 is the European standard for concrete that specifies the performance, production, conformity and marking of concrete. BS 8500 is a complementary British Standard that specifies the constituent materials and concrete for different types of concrete applications. BS 8500 provides UK national provisions where required or permitted by BS EN 206, as well as additional guidance on materials, methods and procedures that are outside the scope of BS EN 206.


  • What are the exposure classes in BS 8500-2?



The exposure classes in BS 8500-2 are the environmental conditions that the concrete is exposed to during its service life, such as carbonation, chlorides, sulphates, freezing and thawing, abrasion, etc. The exposure classes are divided into six categories: XC (carbonation induced corrosion), XD (chloride induced corrosion other than from seawater), XS (chloride induced corrosion from seawater), XF (freeze-thaw attack), XA (chemical attack) and XM (mechanical attack). Each category has different subclasses depending on the severity of the exposure. The exposure classes determine the minimum requirements for the concrete, such as strength class, cement content, water/cement ratio and cover to reinforcement.


  • What are the strength classes in BS 8500-2?



The strength classes in BS 8500-2 are the nominal values of the characteristic compressive strength of the concrete at 28 days, expressed in N/mm2. The strength classes are divided into two groups: normal strength concrete (N) and high strength concrete (H). The normal strength concrete ranges from C8/10 to C50/60, while the high strength concrete ranges from C55/67 to C90/105. The strength classes determine the target mean strength and the water/cement ratio of the concrete.


  • What are the consistence classes in BS 8500-2?



The consistence classes in BS 8500-2 are the nominal values of the workability of the fresh concrete, expressed in terms of slump, flow or Vebe time. The consistence classes are divided into four groups: slump class (S), flow class (F), Vebe class (V) and compacting factor class (C). The slump class ranges from S1 to S5, the flow class ranges from F1 to F6, the Vebe class ranges from V1 to V4 and the compacting factor class ranges from C0 to C3. The consistence classes determine the water content and the free water/cement ratio of the concrete.


  • How can I check the conformity of the concrete according to BS 8500-2?



You can check the conformity of the concrete according to BS 8500-2 by performing tests on samples of fresh and hardened concrete and comparing the results with the specified requirements. The tests include slump test, flow test, Vebe test, compacting factor test, air content test, density test, compressive strength test, chloride content test, etc. You can also use statistical methods to evaluate the conformity of the concrete based on a series of test results. BS 8500-2 provides guidance on conformity criteria and sampling and testing methods.


  • Where can I find more information about BS 8500-2?



You can find more information about BS 8500-2 by visiting the official website of BSI or other authorised distributors. You can also contact us if you have any questions or comments about this article.


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