British Standard

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11 December 2002

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Licensed Copy: Sheffield University, University of Sheffield, 11 December 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

UDC 666.94.01
cement —
BRITISH STANDARD

Part 0: General introduction

Methods of testing
1978
BS 4550-0:
 BS 4550-0:1978

Cooperating organizations

The Cement, Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards

Committee, under whose direction this British Standard was prepared,
consists of representatives from the following Government departments and
scientific and industrial organizations:

Association of Consulting Engineers*

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete Products Association
British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.*
British Quarrying and Slag Federation*
British Railways Board
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association*
British Steel Industry*
Cement Admixtures Association*
Cement and Concrete Association*
Cement Makers’ Federation*
Licensed Copy: Sheffield University, University of Sheffield, 11 December 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

Chemical Industries Association

Concrete Society Limited*
Department of the Environment (Building Research Station)*
Department of the Environment (Housing and Construction)
Department of the Environment (PSA)*
Department of the Environment (Transport and Road Research Laboratory)*
Department of Transport
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors*
Federation of Stone Industries
Greater London Council*
Gypsum Products Development Association
Institute of Quarrying
Institution of Civil Engineers*
Institution of Municipal Engineers
Institution of Structural Engineers*
Institution of Water Engineers and Scientists
National Federation of Building Trades Employers
Natural Environment Research Council — Institute of Geological Science
Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors*
Sand and Ballast Hauliers and Allied Trades Alliance
Sand and Gravel Association Limited
Society of Chemical Industry*

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

Brick Development Association

Department of the Environment
Electricity Supply Industry in England and 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
Executive Board on Amendments issued since publication
30 June 1978

© BSI 02-1999 Amd. No. Date of issue Comments

The following BSI references

relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CAB/1
Draft for approval 77/12979

ISBN 0 580 10151 7

Licensed Copy: Sheffield University, University of Sheffield, 11 December 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

© BSI 02-1999
Foreword
References
Contents

Cooperating organizations
Inside front cover
Page

1
ii

i
BS 4550-0:1978
 BS 4550-0:1978

Foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Committee.
This is a general foreword to the whole standard, individual forewords being
included in each of the Parts of BS 4550.
It should be appreciated that, whilst the main purpose of this standard is to
provide cross-references for cement specifications, it is also intended as a
complete British Standard for methods of testing cement and some of the tests
may not be referred to in other British Standards for cements.
Publication of BS 4550 “Methods of testing cement” enables the standards listed
below to be revised by the deletion of the appendices or cross-references relevant
to methods of testing cement, thus avoiding repetition in the expanding range of
cement standards:
Licensed Copy: Sheffield University, University of Sheffield, 11 December 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

This will ensure that, if changes are made in any of the test methods, the
standards remain in step.
BS 12-2:1971, Portland cement (ordinary and rapid-hardening).
BS 146-2:1973, Portland-blastfurnace cement.
BS 915-2:1972, High alumina cement.
BS 1370-2:1974, Low heat Portland cement.
BS 4027-2:1972, Sulphate-resisting Portland cement.
BS 4246-2:1974, Low heat Portland-blast-furnace cement.
BS 4248:1974, Supersulphated cement.
BS 5224:1976, Specification for masonry cement.
Part 0 of BS 4550 “Methods of testing cement” is a general introduction;
Part 1 lays down methods of sampling cement; Part 2 describes methods of
chemical testing of cement; Part 3 specifies methods of physical testing of cement;
Part 4 specifies the standard coarse aggregate for concrete cubes; Part 5 specifies
the standard sand for concrete cubes; and Part 6 specifies the standard sand for
mortar cubes.
Each of the Parts, and in the case of Part 3, each of the sections, of this standard,
is issued separately. It is intended that Part 2, now in one document, should be
reprinted in due course, in Sections. The Parts and Sections of this standard can
be purchased separately or together, except for Part 2, in a loose leaf binder.
The six Parts of BS 4550 “Methods of testing cement” consist of the following.
Part 1: Sampling
1. Scope
2. General
3. Size of samples
4. Representation
5. Sampling methods
6. Storage and delivery of samples
7. Certificate of sampling

ii © BSI 02-1999
 BS 4550-0:1978

Part 2: Chemical tests

1. General
2. A scheme for the analysis of Portland cements
3. Insoluble residue
4. Total silica
5. Ammonium hydroxide group (so-called R2 O3)
6. Total calcium oxide
7. Alumina
8. Iron oxide
Licensed Copy: Sheffield University, University of Sheffield, 11 December 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

9. Magnesia
10. Sulphuric anhydride
11. Sulphur present as sulphide
12. Total sulphur
13. Loss-on-ignition
14. Minor constituents and free lime
15. Pozzolanicity test for pozzolanic cements
16. Na2O and K2O by flame photometry
17. Chloride
Part 3: Physical tests
Section 3.1 Introduction
Section 3.2 Density test
Section 3.3 Fineness test
Section 3.4 Strength tests
Section 3.5 Determination of standard consistence
Section 3.6 Test for setting times
Section 3.7 Soundness test
Section 3.8 Test for heat of hydration
Part 4: Standard coarse aggregate for concrete cubes
1. Scope
2. References
3. Source
4. Sampling
5. Grading
Part 5: Standard sand for concrete cubes
1. Scope
2. References
3. Source
4. Sampling
5. Moisture content
6. Grading
7. Air-entraining characteristics
8. Marking

© BSI 02-1999 iii

 BS 4550-0:1978

Part 6: Standard sand for mortar cubes

1. Scope
2. References
3. Source
4. Sampling
5. Moisture content
6. Grading
7. Content of acid-soluble matter
8. Marking
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.
Licensed Copy: Sheffield University, University of Sheffield, 11 December 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

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 to iv,
page 1 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.

iv © BSI 02-1999
 BS 4550-0:1978

References
The titles of the standards publications referred to
in each Part of this standard are listed at the end of
each Part. In the case of Part 3, the titles of the
standards publications referred to in each Section
are listed at the end of each Section.
Licensed Copy: Sheffield University, University of Sheffield, 11 December 2002, Uncontrolled Copy, (c) BSI

© BSI 02-1999 1
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