What is BS 1924‑2- Testing of hydraulically bound and stabilized materials about?
BS 1924 contains the full range of tests required before and after treatment, whether improvement, modification or stabilization. This standard is also suitable for the testing of hydraulically bound granular mixtures detailed in BS EN 14227‑1 to BS EN 14227‑5, and hydraulically stabilized soils in BS EN 14227‑15.
BS 1924‑2 is the second part of a two-part British Standard that deals with general requirements, sample preparation and preliminary testing of stabilization materials used in the construction sector.
BS 1924‑2 describes methods of testing materials treated solely or in combination with treating agents, including cement, granulated blast-furnace slag (gbs), ground granulated blast-furnace slag (ggbs), (coal) fly ash and lime.
BS 1924‑2 is applicable to hydraulically bound and stabilized materials for civil engineering purposes.
Who is BS 1924‑2- Hydraulically bound and stabilized materials for?
BS 1924‑2 on hydraulically bound and stabilized materials is relevant to:
- Civil engineering contractors and consultants
- Local authority engineers
- Port authority designers
- The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
- Airfield owner/operators
- Environment Agency operatives
- Dam engineers
- Industrial developers
- Higher education establishments
- Test houses
- Erosion control and sea protection organizations
Why should you use BS 1924‑2- Hydraulically bound and stabilized materials?
Hydraulically bound materials (HBMs) are soils or aggregates that have a binder added to them, such as cement, lime-based binders, gypsum or fly ash, which hardens through a chemical/hydraulic reaction with water.
Lime, and to a lesser extent other treating agents, can also be used to improve rather than to stabilize a material. “Improvement” refers to measures taken to improve the handling and compactability of a soil rather than its structural properties and durability characteristics. This can mean that the material retains many of the properties of soil. The process can be used, for example, to render an unsuitable material suitable for use by reducing moisture content or modifying the plasticity characteristics. The tests in BS 1924‑2 are applicable for the determination of such changes in material properties.
BS 1924-2 walks you through compaction-related tests and density tests.
Sampling, sample preparation, and testing of materials in compliance with BS 1924-2 can thus help improve the long-term durability of the treated materials or soils.
What’s changed since the last update?
BS 1924‑2:2018 supersedes BS 1924‑2:1990, which is withdrawn. This is a full revision of the standard, and introduces the following principal changes:
- Rewording of the title and the addition of the term hydraulically bound materials
- Removal or replacement of withdrawn or superseded British Standards
- Alignment of sampling with BS EN 932‑1
- Introduction of new terminology, including treated material, untreated material, and treating agents
- Change of title to reflect the wider scope of this revision, which is intended to cover, in addition to cement and lime, the use of other treating agents

