What is BS EN 1015-4 - plunger penetration test for mortar about?
Mortar is a mixture of natural sand or other fine aggregate and some binding agent, used as jointing or a surface plastering and rendering material.
BS EN 1015 is a European Standard on methods of test for mortar for masonry. The BS EN 1015 series provides you with best industry practices to ensure construction materials contribute to the structural integrity of your civil engineering works.
BS EN 1015-4 is a fourth part of the multi-series, and specifies a method for determining the consistency of freshly mixed mortars including those containing mineral binders and both dense and lightweight aggregates, which is by means of the plunger penetration value.
Who is BS EN 1015-4 - plunger penetration test for mortar for?
BS EN 1015-4 on the plunger penetration test for mortar is useful for:
- Manufacturers of construction materials and products
- Mortar and masonry materials manufacturers
- The cement and concrete industry
- The construction industry
- Manufacturers of binders and aggregates
- Builders / real estate developers / architects
- Contractors
- Civil engineers
Why should you use BS EN 1015-4 - plunger penetration test for mortar?
Consistency is a measure of the fluidity and/or wetness of the fresh mortar and gives a measure of the deformability of the fresh mortar when subjected to a certain type of stress.
BS EN 1015-4 discusses the test procedure that involves fresh mortar being brought to a defined level of consistency as measured using the flow table prior to the assessment of those properties which are used to characterize it.
Normally there will be a linear correlation between the plunger penetration value, measured according to this test method, and the flow value measured in accordance with BS EN 1015-3, for the same type of mortar with increasing water content, but the slope will differ with different types of mortars.
The plunger penetration value of a defined sample of fresh mortar is measured by the vertical penetration of a defined plunger rod which has been allowed to fall freely through a given height into the fresh mortar sample.
BS EN 1015-4 walks you through the test procedure by providing you with details such as apparatus, sampling, preparation, and storage of test samples, procedure, calculation, and expression of results.
BS EN 1015-4 helps you to evaluate concrete performance and demonstrate the ability of materials to contribute to the stability and structural integrity of your construction works. Compliance with BS EN 1015-4 can also play a positive role in the concrete design mix for your construction projects.