© SABS.

This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

ISBN 978-0-626-27110-7
SANS 6251:2006
Edition 1.1

Any reference to SABS SM 1251 is deemed

to be a reference to this standard
(Government Notice No. 1373 of 8 November 2002)

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Concrete tests — Density of hardened

concrete

Published by SABS Standards Division

1 Dr Lategan Road Groenkloof Private Bag X191 Pretoria 0001
Tel: +27 12 428 7911 Fax: +27 12 344 1568
www.sabs.co.za
© SABS

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6251:2006
Edition 1.1

Table of changes
Change No. Date Scope
Amdt 1 2006 Amended to change the designation of SABS standards to SANS
standards, with no technical changes.

Acknowledgement
The SABS Standards Division wishes to acknowledge the valuable assistance derived from publications
of the International Organization for Standardization.

Foreword
This South African standard was approved by National Committee SABS SC 59A, Construction
standards – Cement, lime and concrete, in accordance with procedures of the SABS Standards
Division, in compliance with annex 3 of the WTO/TBT agreement.

This standard was published in November 2006. This edition is technically identical to the first edition
(SABS SM 1251:1994).

Reaffirmed and reprinted in March 2012.

This standard will be reviewed every five years
and be reaffirmed, amended, revised or withdrawn.

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6251:2006
Edition 1.1

Concrete tests — Density of hardened concrete

1 Scope
This standard specifies a method of determining the density of hardened concrete. The method is
applicable to all types of as-received, saturated and oven-dried concrete.

2 Definition
For the purposes of this standard, the following definition applies:

density of hardened concrete

ratio of the mass of a given quantity of hardened concrete to its volume, in kilograms per cubic metre

3 Apparatus
3.1 Balance, equipped with a specimen-supporting stirrup, to determine the apparent mass of the
sample in water to an accuracy of 0,10 %.

3.2 Ventilated oven, that is capable of being controlled at 105 °C ± 5 °C (if the determination is to be
made on oven-dried concrete).

3.3 Water tank, of adequate dimensions for immersing and handling the sample, and fitted with a
device that maintains the water at a constant level (if the determination is to be made on a specimen of
irregular shape).

4 Sampling
A sample of volume at least 0,001 m³ is needed.

Normally, the entire as-received sample is used in the test. However, if the shape or size of a sample is
such that it is not possible to use all of it, a smaller sample may be sawn from the original.

5 Test procedure
5.1 Determination of mass of sample

5.1.1 Mass of as-received sample

Determine and record the mass of the as-received sample mo.

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6251:2006
Edition 1.1

5.1.2 Mass of saturated sample

Immerse the sample in water maintained at 22 °C to 25 °C, until no further increase in mass is
observed.

This is considered to have been achieved when two determinations, 24 h apart, show a difference of
less than 0,2 % in the mass of the wet sample. Before determining the mass, use a damp cloth to
remove the surface water from the sample. Record the mass of the saturated sample m1.

5.1.3 Mass of oven-dried and cooled sample

Dry the sample in the ventilated oven (see 3.2) at 105 °C ± 5 °C, until no further decrease in mass is
observed.

This is considered to have been achieved when two determinations, 24 h apart, show a difference of
less than 0,2 % in the mass of the dried or cooled sample. Record the mass of the oven-dried sample
m2.

5.2 Determination of the volume of the sample

5.2.1 Determination by displacement

If the sample is of irregular shape, determine its volume after saturation (see 5.1.2) by determining its
apparent mass in water maintained at 22 °C to 25 °C.

Allow the hydrostatic device of the balance (see 3.1) to reach equilibrium, ensuring that the empty
stirrup is completely immersed in the water tank (see 3.3). Immerse the stirrup to the same depth,
whether or not it supports a sample. Place the saturated sample on the stirrup and avoid trapping air
bubbles on the sides of the sample. Record the apparent mass of the sample m3, when oscillation of the
hydrostatic balance has ceased.

Calculate the volume V of the sample, in cubic metres, using the formula

m1 − m 3
V=
Dw

where

Dw is the density of water, in kilograms per cubic metre (temperature and pressure correction can
be ignored);

m1 is the mass of the surface dry saturated sample, in kilograms (see 5.1.2);

m3 is the apparent mass of the saturated sample immersed in water, in kilograms.

NOTE Honeycombed or irregular samples of concrete may be covered with wax, in which case the volume of the
wax has to be subtracted from the total volume.

5.2.2 Determination by calculation

If the as-received sample or the prepared sample is sufficiently large and of such simple and regular
shape that its dimensions can be determined to an accuracy of 0,2 %, the volume may be calculated
direct from these dimensions.

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6251:2006
Edition 1.1

6 Calculation and expression of results

6.1 Density of the as-received sample
Calculate the density D6 of the as-received sample, in kilograms per cubic metre, using the formula

mo
D6 =
V

where

mo is the mass of the as-received sample, in kilograms;

V is the volume of the as-received sample, in cubic metres.

6.2 Density of the saturated sample

Calculate the density D1 of the saturated sample, in kilograms per cubic metre, using the formula

m1
D1 =
V

where

m1 is the mass of the saturated sample, in kilograms;

V is the volume of the saturated sample, in cubic metres.

6.3 Density of the oven-dried sample

Calculate the density D2 of the oven-dried sample, in kilograms per cubic metre, using the formula

m2
D2 =
V

where

m2 is the mass of the oven-dried sample, in kilograms; and

V is the volume of the oven-dried sample, in cubic metres.

6.4 Expression of results

Report the density of each sample to the nearest 10 kg/m³.

7 Test report
Refer to this test method in the report and include the following information:

a) identification of the sample;

b) the date of the test;

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

SANS 6251:2006
Edition 1.1

c) the density of the hardened concrete;

d) the shape of the sample (dimensions etc.);

e) whether the sample was tested as-received or after it was sawn;

f) whether the volume was determined by displacement or by calculation; and

g) the condition of the sample at the time of testing (as-received, saturated or oven-dried).

© SABS

© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
© SABS. This non-printable standard is exclusively for approved users of the SABS’ Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.
The standard must reside on an internal network or intranet and may only be used for reference purposes in compliance with SABS
copyright rules. The standard or parts thereof may not be distributed in any form without permission from the SABS.

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