IS : 712 - 1984

(Reaffirmed 2000)
Edition 4.1
(1989-01)
Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR
BUILDING LIMES
( Third Revision )
(Incorporating Amendment No. 1)

UDC 691.51

© BIS 2002

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

MANAK BHAVAN , 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG
NEW DELHI 110002

Price Group 3
 IS : 712 - 1984

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR
BUILDING LIMES
( Third Revision )
Building Limes Sectional Committee, BDC 4
Chairman Representing
SHRI C. D. THATTE Gujarat Engineering Research Institute, Vadodara
Members
RESEARCH OFFICER (GERI) ( Alternate to
Shri C. D. Thatte )
DR S. C. AHLUWALIA Cement Research Institute of India, New Delhi
SHRI S. P. S. AHUJA Engineer-in-Chief’s Branch (Ministry of Defence),
New Delhi
MAJ S. P. SHARMA ( Alternate )
SHRI S. K. BANERJEE National Test House, Calcutta
SHRI D. K. KANUGO ( Alternate )
SHRI B. K. CHAKRABORTY Housing & Urban Development Corporation,
New Delhi
SHRI P. S. SRIVASTAVA ( Alternate )
SHRI S. K. CHAUDHARY Lime Manufacturers Association of India, Delhi
DIRECTOR A. P. Engineering Research Laboratories, Hyderabad
JOINT DIRECTOR ( Alternate )
HOUSING COMMISSIONER Rajasthan Housing Board, Jaipur
RESIDENCE ENGINEER (HQ) ( Alternate )
SHRI K. S. INAMDAR Public Works Department, Government of Madhya
Pradesh, Bhopal
SHRI M. V. NAGRAJ RAO ( Alternate )
JOINT DIRECTOR, RESEARCH Ministry of Railways
(B & S)
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, RESEARCH
(B & S) ( Alternate )
SHRI V. LAKSHMIKANTHAN Khadi & Village Industries Commission, Bombay
SHRI E. RAMACHANDRAN ( Alternate )
SHRI N. MACEDO Dyer’s Stone Lime Co Pvt Ltd, Delhi
SHRI H. L. MARWAH Builder’s Association of India, Bombay
SHRI HARISH C. KOHLI ( Alternate )
DR IRSHAD MASOOD Central Building Research Institute (CSIR), Roorkee
SHRI S. P. GARG ( Alternate )
( Continued on page 2 )

© BIS 2002
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS
This publication is protected under the Indian Copyright Act (XIV of 1957) and
reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the
publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.
IS : 712 - 1984
( Continued from page 1 )
Members Representing
DR S. C. MAUDGAL Department of Science & Technology, New Delhi
SHRI Y. R. PHULL, Central Roard Research Institute (CSIR), New Delhi
SHRI M. L. BHATIA ( Alternate )
DR A. V. R. RAO National Buildings Organization, New Delhi
SHRI J. SEN GUPTA ( Alternate )
SHRI K. V. SINGH Department of Mines & Geology, Government of
Rajasthan, Udaipur
SHRI J. N. KAKAR ( Alternate )
SHRI C. SUDHINDRA Central Soil & Materials Research Station, New
Delhi
SHRI S. B. SURI ( Alternate )
SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER Public Works Department, Government of
(PLANNING & DESING) Tamilnadu, Madras
EXECUTIVE ENGINEER
(BUILDING CENTRE DIVISION) ( Alternate )
SUPERINTENDING SURVEYOR OF Central Public Works Department, New Delhi
WORKS (NDZ)
SURVEYOR OF WORKS-I
(NDZ) ( Alternate )
SHRI G. RAMAN, Director General, ISI ( Ex-officio Member )
Director (Civ Engg)
Secretary
SHRI N. C. BANDYOPADHYAY
Deputy Director (Civ Engg), ISI

2
 IS : 712 - 1984

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR
BUILDING LIMES
( Third Revision )

0. FOREWORD
0.1 This Indian Standard (Third Revision) was adopted by the Indian
Standards Institution on 21 December 1984, after the draft finalized
by the Building Limes Sectional Committee had been approved by the
Civil Engineering Division Council.
0.2 Lime has been used in India as a material of construction from
very ancient days. The manner in which lime structures about 2 000
years old have withstood the ravages of time bear irrefutable evidence
to the durability of lime mortars.
0.3 The vastness of the country and its varied geological character has
made available several types of limestones suitable for burning to
obtain building limes. Due to the variability of limestone from place to
place the resulting lime may be expected to vary in quality. While it
has not been found possible to make strict comparison of
characteristics of the many types of limes obtained, this aspect has
been given full consideration in the preparation of this standard.
0.4 The method of manufacturing building limes and the manner in
which they are used in construction work differ from one part of the
country to another. For instance, in the south, lime mortar is
generally prepared by grinding a mixture of slaked lime and sand in
suitable proportions in a bullock mill while in Punjab, lime putty is
mixed with sand and the mix used as mortar directly. Besides, defects
caused by adulteration with undesirable admixtures, differences in
the method of burning, slaking, storing and using have appreciably
affected the quality of lime and in the absence of suitable standards
for checking the quality, the use of lime in building construction has
come to be discouraged to a large extent. At a time when necessity has
been felt to make full use of our construction material resources, the
formulation of a specification for building limes and its adoption are
expected to bring about a more judicious use of limes for construction
purposes.

3
IS : 712 - 1984
0.5 This standard was first published in 1956 to bring out a long felt
need for uniformity in the variety of practices being followed towards
manufacture and use of lime in construction work. The standard was
subsequently revised in 1964 and in 1973. This revision has been
taken up to keep abreast with the developments and modifications
found necessary with the usage of this standard. In this revision,
requirements for dolomitic limes which are manufactured and used in
large quantity in some parts of the country have been added, and the
existing chemical requirements and fineness have been modified to
recognise and utilize certain type of lime, which otherwise was not
covered. The requirement for cementation value has been deleted as it
is not directly relevant in case of lime.
0.6 This edition 4.1 incorporates Amendment No. 1 (January 1989).
Side bar indicates modification of the text as the result of
incorporation of the amendment.
0.7 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of
this standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated,
expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in
accordance with IS : 2-1960*. The number of significant places
retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of the
specified value in this standard.
1. SCOPE
1.1 This standard covers the requirements for building limes used for
construction purpose.
2. TERMINOLOGY
2.1 For the purpose of this standard, the definitions given in
IS : 6508-1972† shall apply.
3. CLASSIFICATION
3.1 Building limes shall be classified as follows:
Class A — Eminently hydraulic lime used for structural purposes.
Class B — Semi-hydraulic lime used for masonry mortars, lime
concrete and plaster undercoat.
Class C — Fatlime used for finishing coat in plastering,
whitewashing, composite mortars, etc, and with
addition of pozzolanic materials for masonry mortar.
Class D — Magnesium/dolomitic lime used for finishing coat in
plastering, white washing, etc.

*Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised ).

†Glossary of terms relating to building lime.

4
 IS : 712 - 1984

Class E — Kankar lime used for masonry mortars.

Class F — Siliceous dolomitic lime used for undercoat and
finishing coat of plaster.
NOTE 1 — Lime shall be available either in hydrated or quick form, except that of
Classes A and E which shall be supplied in hydrated form.
NOTE 2 — Applications indicated are only suggestive.

4. CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
4.1 Building limes shall conform to the requirements given in Table 1.
5. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Building limes shall conform to the requirements given in Table 2.
6. PACKING
6.1 The hydrated lime shall be supplied, in suitable containers, such
as jute bags lined with polythene or high density polythene woven
bags lined with polythene or craft paper bags, preferably containing
50 kg of lime.
NOTE — If the hydrated lime can be used within 30 days, use of liner may be
dispensed with.

6.2 The quicklime shall be supplied in containers like metal container

or similar suitable containers preferably containing 50 kg of lime.
7. MARKING
7.1 The lime packages shall bear the type and class of lime, the brand
name of manufacturer, date of manufacture and the net weight; in
case of quicklime the slaking temperature shall be indicated.
7.1.1 Lime packages may also be marked with the ISI Certification
Mark.
NOTE — The use of the ISI Certification Mark is governed by the provisions of the
Indian Standards Institution (Certification Marks) Act and the Rules and
Regulations made thereunder. The ISI Mark on products covered by an Indian
Standard conveys the assurance that they have bean produced to comply with the
requirements of that standard under a well-defined system of inspection, testing
and quality control which is devised and supervised by ISI and operated by the
producer. ISI marked products are also continuously checked by ISI for conformity
to that standard as a further safeguard. Details of conditions under which a licence
for the use of the ISI Certification Mark may be granted to manufacturers or
processors, may be obtained from the Indian Standards Institution.

5
 IS : 712 - 1984
TABLE 1 CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
( Clause 4.1 )
SL CHARACTERISTICS CLASS METHOD OF
NO . TEST, REF


































A B C D E F TO






























Hydra- Quick Hyd Quick Hyd Quick Hyd Hydra- Quick Hyd
ted ted
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
i) Calcium and 60 70 70 85 85 85 85 50 70 70 IS : 6932
magnesium oxides, (Part 1)-
percent, Min (on 1973*
ignited basis)
ii) Magnesium oxides,
percent (on ignited
basis), Max 6 6 6 6 6 — — 6 — — IS : 6932
(Part 1)-
6

1973*
Min — — — — 6 6 — 6 6
iii) Silica, alumina and 20 10 10 — — — — 20 10 10 IS : 6932
ferric oxide, percent, (Part 1)-
Min (on ignited 1973*
basis)
iv) Unhydrated magnesium — — — — — 8 8 — 8 8 IS : 6932
oxide, percent, Max (Part 5)-
(on ignited basis) 1973†
v) Insoluble residue in 15 10 10 2 2 2 2 25 10 10 IS : 6932
dilute acid and (Part 1)-
alkali, percent, Max 1973*
(on ignited basis)
vi) Carbondioxide, percent, 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 IS : 6932
Max (on oven dry (Part 2)-
basis) 1973‡

( Continued )
 vii) Free moisture content, 2 — 2 — 2 — 2 2 — 2 IS : 1514-
percent, Max 1959§
viii) Available lime as CaO, — — — 75 (on 75 (on — — — — — IS : 1514-
percent, minimum dry ignited 1959§
basis) basis)
NOTE — Requirements for insoluble residue including soluble silica are under investigation and this requirement is likely
to be included at a later stage.
*Methods of tests for building limes: Part 1 Determination of insoluble residue, loss on ignition, insoluble matter, silicon
dioxide, ferric and aluminium oxide, calcium oxide and magnesium oxide.
†Methods of tests for building limes: Part 5 Determination of unhydrated oxide.
‡Methods of tests for building limes: Part 2 Determination of carbon dioxide content.
§Methods of sampling and test for quick lime and hydrated lime ( Reaffirmed 1978 ).
7

IS : 712 - 1984
 IS : 712 - 1984
TABLE 2 PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
( Clause 5.1 )
SL CHARACTERISTICS CLASS METHOD OF
NO . TEST, REF


































A B C D E F TO






























Hydera- Quick Hyd Quick Hyd Quick Hyd Hydra- Quick Hyd
ted ted
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) (13)
i) Fineness:
a) Residue on 2.36 mm Nil — Nil — Nil — Nil Nil — Nil IS : 6932
IS Sieve, percent, (Part 4)-
Max 1973*
b) Residue on 5 — 5 — Nil — Nil 5 — 5
300 micron IS Sieve,
percent, Max
8

c) Residue on — — — — 10 — 10 — — Nil
212 micron IS Sieve,
percent, Max
ii) Residue on slaking:
a) Residue on — 10 — 5 — 5 — — 10 — IS : 6932
850 micron IS Sieve, (Part 3)-
percent, Max 1973†
b) Residue on — — — 5 — 5 — — — —
300 micron IS Sieve,
percent, Max
iii) Setting time:
a) Initial set, Min, h 2 — — — — — — 2 — — IS : 6932
(Part 11)-
1984‡
b) Final set, Max, h 48 — — — — — — 48 — —
( Continued )
 iv) Compressive strength,
Min, N/mm2:
a) at 14 days 1.75 1.25 1.25 — — — — 1.0 1.25 1.25 IS : 6932
b) at 28 days 2.8 1.75 1.75 — — — — 1.75 1.75 1.75 (Part 7)-
1973§
v) Transverse strength at 1.0 0.7 0.7 — — — — 0.7 0.7 0.7 IS : 6932
28 days, N/mm2, Min (Part 7)-
1973§
vi) Workability bumps, — — — 12 10 12 10 — — — IS : 6932
Max (Part 8)-
1973||
vii) Volume yield ml/g, Min — — — 1.7 — 1.4 — — — — IS : 6932
(Part 6)-
1973¶
viii) Soundness, Le 5 — 5 — — — — 10 — 10 IS : 6932
Chaterlier expansion, (Part 9)-
mm, Max 1973**
9

ix) Popping & pitting Free — Free — Free — Free — — Free IS : 6932
from from from from from (Part 10)-
pop pop pop pop pop 1973††
and and and and and
pits pits pits pits pits
*Methods of tests for building limes: Part 4 Determination of fineness of hydrated lime.
†Methods of tests for building limes: Part 3 Determination of residue on slaking of quicklime.
‡Methods of tests for building limes: Part 11 Determination of setting time of hydrated lime.
§Methods of tests for building limes: Part 7 Determination of compressive and transverse strengths.

IS : 712 - 1984
||Methods of tests for building limes: Part 8 Determination of workability.
¶Methods of tests for building limes: Part 6 Determination of volume yield of quicklime.
**Methods of tests for building limes: Part 9 Determination of soundness.
††Methods of tests for building limes: Part 10 Determination of popping and pitting of hydrated lime.
IS : 712 - 1984
8. STORAGE
8.1 The lime shall be stored in such a manner as to permit easy access
for proper inspection and in a suitable building to protect the lime
from the dampness and to minimize warehouse deterioration.
NOTE — Quicklime deteriorates rapidly and, therefore, should be used as quickly as
possible.

9. SAMPLING AND CRITERION FOR CONFORMITY

9.1 The procedure of sampling and criterion for conformity shall be as
given in Appendix A.

APPENDIX A
( Clause 9.1 )

SAMPLING AND CRITERION FOR CONFORMITY

A-1. SAMPLES FOR TESTING

A-1.1 The samples for testing shall be taken by the purchaser or his
representative at the manufacturer’s works.

A-2. PROCEDURES FOR SAMPLING

A-2.1 General — Sampling shall be carried out as quickly as possible

so that the material does not deteriorate. The total time occupied in
mixing and quartering down the composite samples, and the
preparation of the final test samples from this shall not exceed two
hours. The final samples shall be three in number and shall be placed
immediately in clean, dry and air-tight containers. When testing is
not to be carried out at once, the samples shall be enclosed, marked
and sealed to the satisfaction of all concerned, paying special
attention to the air-tightness of the containers. Tools and containers
shall be of material free from rust and shall be alkali resistant.
A-2.2 Sampling — From each lot, three final test samples shall be
taken as provided under A-2.2.1 for quicklime and under A-2.2.2 for
hydrated lime.

10
 IS : 712 - 1984
A-2.2.1 Quicklime — The size of the gross sample for lump quicklime
and powdered quicklime from each lot depends on the size of the lot
and shall be as given in Table 3 and in A-2.2.1.1 and A-2.2.1.2.
TABLE 3 SAMPLE SIZE
LOT SIZE GROSS SAMPLE SIZE GROSS SAMPLE SIZE
FOR LUMP FOR POWDERED
QUICKLIME QUICKLIME
(1) (2) (3)
Tonnes kg kg
Up to 100 500 250
101 to 300 1 000 500
301 to 500 1 500 750
501 to 1 000 2 000 1 000

A-2.2.1.1 When the lump quicklime or powdered quicklime is

available in bulk, the gross sample shall be made up of at least 50
equal portions taken from the lot at equal intervals of loading or
unloading to make up the prescribed gross sample size. For stationary
lots, the gross sample shall be collected from different parts of the
stock pile in not less than 50 equal portions. The gross sample
collected in the above manner shall be thoroughly mixed on a clean
dry surface to about 20 kg for lump quicklime and 10 kg for powdered
quicklime by coning and quartering method.
A-2.2.1.2 When the lump quicklime or powdered quicklime is
presented for sampling in packages, at least 25 percent of the
packages shall be opened and equal portions of the material shall be
collected from different parts of the packages to make up the
prescribed gross sample size. The gross sample collected in the above
manner shall be thoroughly mixed on a clean dry surface to about
20 kg for lump quicklime and 10 kg for powdered quicklime by coning
and quartering method.
A-2.2.2 Hydrated Lime — The final samples, each of not less than
5 kg, shall be taken direct in the same manner as described under
A-2.2.1.1 and A-2.2.1.2 for powdered quicklime.
A-2.3 Material for Physical and Chemical Tests — Subsequently, at
the time and place at which the tests and chemical analysis are to be
carried out, the sample taken as described under A-2.2.1 and A-2.2.2
shall be crushed to pass through 2.36 mm IS Sieve and thoroughly mixed.
Slightly more quantity of lime than is sufficient for conducting the tests
shall be taken. For chemical tests only, from the material finally chosen, a
small quantity from the sample shall be ground and rejected in order to
ensure absence of contamination in the grinding equipment; and then
11
IS : 712 - 1984
about 100 g of the sample shall be rapidly ground with as little exposure
to the air and water vapour as possible to pass through 300 micron IS
Sieve and placed in a small air-tight container. The remaining quantity
shall be used for physical tests.
A-3. CRITERION FOR CONFORMITY
A-3.1 The test sample prepared for each lot shall be subjected to
various physical and chemical tests. The lot shall be declared
conforming to this specification only if the sample passes all the
prescribed tests.

12
Bureau of Indian Standards
BIS is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 to
promote harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality
certification of goods and attending to connected matters in the country.
Copyright
BIS has the copyright of all its publications. No part of these publications may be reproduced in any
form without the prior permission in writing of BIS. This does not preclude the free use, in the
course of implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type or grade
designations. Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director (Publications), BIS.
Review of Indian Standards
Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards are
also reviewed periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review
indicates that no changes are needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken up
for revision. Users of Indian Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest
amendments or edition by referring to the latest issue of ‘BIS Catalogue’ and ‘Standards : Monthly
Additions’.
This Indian Standard has been developed by Technical Committee : BDC 4

Amendments Issued Since Publication

Amend No. Date of Issue
Amd. No. 1 January 1989

BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS

Headquarters:
Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, New Delhi 110002. Telegrams: Manaksanstha
Telephones: 323 01 31, 323 33 75, 323 94 02 (Common to all offices)
Regional Offices: Telephone
Central : Manak Bhavan, 9 Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg  323 76 17

NEW DELHI 110002  323 38 41

Eastern : 1/14 C. I. T. Scheme VII M, V. I. P. Road, Kankurgachi  337 84 99, 337 85 61


KOLKATA 700054  337 86 26, 337 91 20
Northern : SCO 335-336, Sector 34-A, CHANDIGARH 160022  60 38 43

 60 20 25
Southern : C. I. T. Campus, IV Cross Road, CHENNAI 600113  235 02 16, 235 04 42

 235 15 19, 235 23 15
Western : Manakalaya, E9 MIDC, Marol, Andheri (East)  832 92 95, 832 78 58

MUMBAI 400093  832 78 91, 832 78 92
Branches : AHMEDABAD. BANGALORE. BHOPAL. BHUBANESHWAR. COIMBATORE.
FARIDABAD. GHAZIABAD. GUWAHATI. HYDERABAD. JAIPUR. KANPUR. LUCKNOW.
NAGPUR. NALAGARH. PATNA. PUNE. RAJKOT. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.
VISHAKHAPATNAM