SABS.

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ISBN 978-0-626-27471-9

SANS 5862-1:2006
Edition 2.1
Any reference to SABS SM 862-1 is deemed
to be a reference to this standard
(Government Notice No. 1373 of 8 November 2002)

SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL STANDARD

Concrete tests Consistence of freshly

mixed concrete Slump test

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 standard may only be used and printed by subscribers to the SABS Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.

 SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to subscribers to the SABS Complete Collection
of Standards and Related Documents in accordance with a formal copyright exploitation agreement to be renewed annually. Only staff members
employed by the Subscriber may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 5862-1:2006
Edition 2.1
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 following organizations:
The British Standards Institution
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 edition is technically identical to the first revision (SABS SM 862-1:1994).
SANS 5862 consists of the following parts under the general title Concrete tests Consistence of
freshly mixed concrete:
Part 1: Slump test.
Part 2: Flow test.
Part 3: Vebe test.
Part 4: Compacting factor and compaction index.

Reaffirmed and reprinted in July 2012.

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and be reaffirmed, amended, revised or withdrawn.

SABS. This standard may only be used and printed by subscribers to the SABS Complete Collection of Standards and Related Documents.

 SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to subscribers to the SABS Complete Collection
of Standards and Related Documents in accordance with a formal copyright exploitation agreement to be renewed annually. Only staff members
employed by the Subscriber may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 5862-1:2006
Edition 2.1

Concrete tests Consistence of freshly mixed concrete Slump test

1 Scope
This part of SANS 5862 specifies a method of determining the slump of freshly mixed concrete,
mixed both in the laboratory (see SANS 5861-1) and on site.
NOTES
1 The test method applies to plastic and cohesive concrete that has a measured slump of not less than 5 mm
and not more than 175 mm.
2 The test method applies to plain and air-entrained concrete, made with aggregates of low, normal or high
density and of maximum nominal size 40 mm.
3 The test method is not applicable to superplasticized concrete, since it is very difficult to measure aerated
concrete and no-fines concrete.

2 Normative references
The following standards contain provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute
provisions of this part of SANS 5862. All standards are subject to revision and, since any reference
to a standard is deemed to be a reference to the latest edition of that standard, parties to
agreements based on this part of SANS 5862 are encouraged to take steps to ensure the use of the
most recent editions of the standards indicated below. Information on currently valid national and
international standards can be obtained from the SABS Standards Division.
SANS 5861-1, Concrete tests Part 1: Mixing fresh concrete in the laboratory.
SANS 5861-2, Concrete tests Part 2: Sampling of freshly mixed concrete.

3 Definitions
For the purposes of this part of SANS 5862, the following definitions apply:
3.1
aerated concrete
concrete made light and cellular by the addition of a prepared foam or by the generation of gas
within the unhardened mixture

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employed by the Subscriber may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 5862-1:2006
Edition 2.1
3.2
aggregate of high density
aggregate that contains materials such as barytes, magnetite, hematite, limonite, ilmenite, iron or
steel, and that has a particle density that exceeds 3 200 kg/m3
3.3
aggregate of low density
aggregate with a particle density of less than 2 200 kg/m3 and that contains materials such as:
a) expanded or sintered clay, shale, diatomaceous shale, perlite, vermiculite, or slag;
b) natural pumice, scoria, volcanic cinders, tuff, or diatomite; and
c) sintered fly ash or industrial cinders
3.4
aggregate of normal density
aggregate that is neither of high density nor of low density
3.5
air-entrained concrete
concrete that has microscopic air bubbles intentionally incorporated during mixing, usually by the
use of a surface-active agent
3.6
no-fines concrete
a concrete mixture that contains little or no fine aggregate

4 Apparatus
4.1 Mould, that is made of a metal that is not readily attacked by cement paste, is of thickness at
least 1,6 mm, and has a smooth internal surface. The mould (see figure 1) is in a form of a frustum
of a cone, with the following nominal internal dimensions:
a) diameter of base: 200 mm 2 mm;
b) diameter of top : 100 mm 2 mm; and
c) height: 300 mm 2 mm.
The base and the top are open and parallel to each other and at right angles to the axis of the cone.
The mould has two suitable hold-down footpieces at the bottom, to permit it to be held steady, and
handles at two-thirds of its height, to facilitate lifting it up vertically from the test specimen.
Alternatively, use a mould that can be clamped to a baseplate, if the clamping arrangement can be
removed without movement of the mould.

4.2 Tamping rod, that is made of straight steel, is of nominal diameter 16 mm and of length
600 mm 2 mm, and that has at least one hemispherical end.

5 Sampling
Obtain a representative composite sample of the freshly mixed concrete in accordance with
SANS 5861-2. Determine slump as soon as possible after sampling and re-mixing.

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 SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to subscribers to the SABS Complete Collection
of Standards and Related Documents in accordance with a formal copyright exploitation agreement to be renewed annually. Only staff members
employed by the Subscriber may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 5862-1:2006
Edition 2.1

6 Procedure
6.1 Before starting with the test, ensure that the interior surface of the mould is clean and damp
but free from superfluous moisture. Place the mould on a clean, smooth, horizontal, rigid and nonabsorbent surface that is free from vibration and shock. While the mould is being filled, hold it firmly
in place by standing on the footpieces or by any other suitable means.
NOTE A levelled metal plate, of adequate size to support the slumped concrete, placed on a bed of sand, is a
suitable surface.

6.2 Fill the mould with a composite sample (see clause 5) in three layers, each approximately onethird of the height of the mould. Tamp each layer with 25 strokes applied with the hemispherical end
of the tamping rod, distributing the strokes uniformly over the cross-section of the layer. Tamp each
layer throughout its depth, ensuring that when the second and third layers are being tamped, the
strokes penetrate into the underlying layer. While tamping the third layer, ensure that excess
concrete is maintained above the top of the mould, if necessary by adding more concrete while
tamping.
6.3 After the top layer has been tamped, so strike off the excess concrete, using a sawing and
rolling motion of the tamping rod, that the mould is completely filled and level. Without disturbing the
concrete in the mould, clean off the concrete around the base of the mould, that may have leaked or
spilled during the tamping.
6.4 Demould the concrete by raising the mould vertically, slowly and carefully, in 5 s to 10 s, in
such a manner as to impart minimum lateral or torsional movement to the concrete. The entire
process, from moulding and demoulding, should be carried out within 150 s.
6.5 Immediately after demoulding, measure the slump of the concrete to the nearest 5 mm, by
determining the difference in the height of the mould and the highest point of the specimen under
test. If the specimen collapses or lateral shearing of concrete occurs, consider the test invalid and
repeat it on a fresh sample of concrete. If, during two consecutive tests, collapsing or lateral
shearing of the test specimen occurs (see figure 2), the concrete lacks the necessary plasticity and
cohesiveness for the slump test to be applicable.
NOTE
An indication of cohesiveness and workability of the mix can be obtained if, after the slump
measurement has been completed, the side of the concrete is tapped gently with the tamping rod; a wellproportioned concrete, which has an appreciable slump, will gradually slump further, while a badly
proportioned mix is likely to fall apart.

7 Expression and reporting of results

Calculate the slump of the test specimen during the test, using the formula
Slump =

hm hs

where
hm is the height of the mould, in millimetres; and
hs is the height of the slumped test specimen, in millimetres.
Report the slump of the concrete to the nearest 5 mm.

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 SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to subscribers to the SABS Complete Collection
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employed by the Subscriber may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 5862-1:2006
Edition 2.1

8 Test report
Refer to this test method in the report and include the following information:
a) identification of the sample;
b) date of the test;
c) the form of slump if not true, i.e. shear or collapse; and
d) the slump of the test specimen.

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 SABS. This standard may reside on a LAN, WAN, intranet, internet or ECM server and is exclusively available to subscribers to the SABS Complete Collection
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employed by the Subscriber may make paper copies of the standard. No paper copy may be photocopied or reproduced in any way.

SANS 5862-1:2006
Edition 2.1

Figure 1 Mould for slump test

Figure 2 Types of slump

SABS

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