Beton Testleri — EN 12390 / EN 12350 / EN 206

What Is Concrete?

Concrete tests are carried out in two groups. FRESH CONCRETE tests (EN 12350) measure consistency, air content, density and temperature; It is done before casting. HARDENED CONCRETE tests (EN 12390) determine the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, water penetration depth, elasticity modulus and durability properties.

Purpose of Concrete

The purpose is to verify that the poured concrete meets the strength class and durability properties specified in the specification. Concrete is the direct determinant of the structural safety of the structure.

Which Products Is Concrete Applied To?

ready mixed concrete
Concrete produced on site
Precast concrete elements
shotcrete
Special concretes (self-compacting, fibrous)

In Which Sectors Is Concrete Used?

ConstructionConstructionPublic Sector

Standards Related to Concrete

TS EN 206 (concrete — property, performance, manufacturing and suitability)
TS EN 12350-1…-8 (taze beton deneyleri)
TS EN 12390-1…-8 (hardened concrete tests)
TS EN 12504-1/-2/-4 (coring from structure and non-destructive tests)
TS EN 13791 (evaluation of concrete compressive strength in the structure)

Concrete Conditions

Sample age: Compressive strength in the standard 28-day sample; Early age results are evaluated separately
Cure: Samples are cured at the temperature and humidity defined in the standard; cure error reduces the result
Specimen type: Cube or cylinder; The results for the two sample types are different and reported
Loading speed: Constant speed defined in the standard

Equipment for Concrete

concrete pressure press
Curing pool and cure room
Slump hopper and spreading table
Air content measuring device
Core drilling machine and water processing experimental setup

Sample Requirements for Concrete

Conditioning in building materials directly determines the result: concrete with incomplete curing time, damp wood or insulation material that is not balanced will not show its true performance. Sample age and conditioning conditions are always stated in the report.
Samples must be taken from the casting according to EN 12350-1
Cube or cylinder mold size should be declared
Casting date, time and place should be marked on the sample.
Curing conditions must be maintained until the sample arrives at the laboratory.

Duration of Concrete

Fresh concrete tests yield immediate results in the field. The standard evaluation for compressive strength is made on a 28-day sample; This period is part of the description of the method and cannot be shortened. Early age (7 days) results are for predictive purposes.

Concrete Procedure

1Samples are taken from fresh concrete in accordance with the standard.
2Consistency, air content and temperature are measured.
3The sample is poured into the molds and compressed.
4Samples removed from the mold are cured under standard conditions.
5The sample at the specified age is broken in the press.
6Compressive strength is calculated and compared with the grade.

Concrete Acceptance Criteria

TS EN 206 defines strength classes and conformity criteria; Eligibility is determined not by a single sample but by statistical evaluation of a defined number of results. Within the scope of (EU) 305/2011, the test result is not a pass/fail decision, but the performance value to be announced in the Declaration of Performance (DoP). The national regulations and project specifications of the country where the structure where the product will be used determine which performance level is sufficient.

Evaluation of Results

A single low result does not directly mean non-conformity: EN 206 defines conformity assessment through a series of results. However, if there is a sampling or curing error, the result shows the error, not the concrete. If the actual strength of the structure is questioned, the core is taken and evaluated according to EN 13791.

Concrete Report

Concrete class, pouring location and date
Fresh concrete test results
Sample type, size and age
Curing conditions
Compressive strength and average for each sample
Compliance assessment

Accreditation

EUROLAB holds internationally recognised accreditation obtained from accreditation bodies party to the IAF and ILAC multilateral recognition arrangements, under ISO/IEC 17025 for laboratory testing, ISO/IEC 17020 for inspection and surveillance, and ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 17065 for system and product certification. This chain ensures the reports and certificates issued are accepted worldwide.

Whether this test can be offered within accredited scope depends on your product and the standard applied; since accreditation is method-based, the scope is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Scope and authorisations

Related Regulations

Construction Products Regulation (EU) 305/2011

Construction Materials Testing — What Does This Testing Field Cover?

The section below describes the field that the Concrete test belongs to; the conditions and acceptance criteria of this particular test are given in the sections above. The scope specific to your product is confirmed in writing at the quotation stage.

Construction materials testing shows whether a product performs the function it takes on within the structure. A wide field is gathered in this family, from the compressive strength of concrete to the thermal transmittance of glass, from sieve analysis of aggregate to the watertightness of windows.

What sets this family apart from the others is that the result turns directly into a REGULATORY DECLARATION. For products covered by construction products legislation a declaration of performance (DoP) is mandatory, and every essential characteristic in the declaration rests on a test result. Reaction-to-fire class, thermal conductivity, compressive strength, water permeability and release of dangerous substances are declared in this way. The declaration is a legal text carrying the manufacturer's signature; the test record behind it is the first document requested in an inspection.

The second distinguishing feature is that the product is assessed over its SERVICE LIFE. An electronic device runs for five years; a building component stays in place for fifty and is exposed throughout that time to freeze-thaw cycles, UV, moisture, chemical attack and load. Durability tests (freeze-thaw, carbonation, alkali-silica reaction, ageing) therefore carry as much weight in this field as classical strength tests.

Tests are separated by material type and each group has its own set of standards: cement and concrete, aggregate, masonry units, wood-based panels, thermal insulation, glass and glazing units, ceramic tiles, floor coverings, screeds, joint fillers and coating systems. Where the product will be installed determines which set applies — the same panel is assessed against different standards on a wall and on a floor.

Factory production control (FPC) is a continuous component of the field. CE marking on a construction product is not obtained with a single test and then left; the manufacturer must set up a system showing that it monitors production consistency, takes samples regularly and intervenes when there is a deviation. Depending on the product group, this system may have to be audited by a notified body.

Site testing is a separate body of work. In the laboratory the product is approved; on site it is checked that the product really is of the declared class and that it has been applied correctly. Fresh concrete slump, cylinder sampling, aggregate sieve analysis and in-situ watertightness tests fall within this scope.

Method groups in this field

Concrete and cement
Slump, air content and unit weight in fresh concrete; compressive and flexural strength, water permeability and freeze-thaw resistance in hardened concrete. For cement, compressive strength, setting time and composition analysis.
Aggregate
Sieve analysis, particle shape, Los Angeles abrasion resistance, freeze-thaw, alkali reactivity and density/water absorption.
Thermal and energy performance
Thermal conductivity and thermal resistance, calculation of thermal transmittance (U value) in glazing units, solar energy transmittance.
Facade and joinery
Air permeability, watertightness and wind load resistance in windows and doors; fire performance in facade systems.
Fire performance
Reaction-to-fire classification and fire resistance tests; these are two separate concepts and are addressed by separate standards.
Masonry, tile and flooring
Compressive strength, water absorption, abrasion resistance, slip resistance, stain and chemical resistance.
Emissions and dangerous substances
Formaldehyde release from wood-based panels, VOC emissions from construction products, leaching behaviour of aggregates and waste.

Commonly confused in this field

REACTION to fire and RESISTANCE to fire are different concepts: one describes the material's contribution to a fire, the other how long a component holds the fire back.
A declaration of performance is not a certificate; it is the manufacturer's declaration. Notified body involvement varies with the product group and the assessment system.
A test result is valid for the mounting arrangement in which the product was tested. A different substrate, a different thickness or a different joint detail may require reassessment.
A site sample and a laboratory sample are not the same thing. A concrete cylinder taken on site also reflects application and curing conditions; it does not replace product approval.
ASTM and EN construction standards measure similar quantities with different specimens and scales; the results cannot be converted one-to-one.

Which decisions these results support

Declaration of performance (DoP) and CE marking
Establishing and maintaining the factory production control system
On-site conformity control of concrete, aggregate and workmanship
Meeting fire and energy performance requirements
Verifying the technical items in the project and tender specification

Related Tests

Frequently Asked Questions About Concrete

The 7-day result was low, should we be worried?

The early age result is for predictive purposes; Concrete continues to gain its strength for up to 28 days. Recovery rate varies depending on cement type. The decision is made based on the 28-day result.

Should we use cube or cylinder?

The specification determines. The two sample types give different numerical values for the same concrete and are both included in the EN 206 class notation. The same sample type must be used when making comparisons.

We kept the samples at the construction site, is there a problem?

It is possible. Curing conditions directly affect the result; The sample left in the sun or under the risk of freezing gives results below the actual strength. In this case, the result reflects sample maintenance, not the concrete.