🏗️ Laboratory determination of the bulk density of soil (mass of soil including water and gas per unit volume) by three methods: linear measurement of the dimensions of a regularly shaped specimen (rectangular prism or cylinder), immersion in fluid (mass in air and apparent mass in fluid) or fluid displacement (mass of displaced fluid); specimen at least 50 cm³, balance 0,01 g or 0,1 %, dimensions 0,1 mm or 0,1 %; dry density from water content according to ISO 17892-1, PN-EN ISO 17892-2

Construction PN-EN ISO 17892-2

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN ISO 17892-2:2015-02 (English version; scope in Polish on the card), in full (our translation): “This standard describes three test methods for determining the bulk density of soils a) the direct measurement method; b) the method of immersion in water; c) the fluid displacement method. Knowledge of the bulk density of soils is useful in determining geostatic stresses at various depths. In addition, both bulk density and dry density allow a qualitative description of the mechanical properties of soils through empirical correlations, which can be found in the technical literature. Such correlations should only be used as general guidance and should be supplemented by direct measurements of the relevant mechanical parameters. The direct measurement method is suitable for determining the bulk density of soil specimens of regular shape, including specimens prepared for other tests. The specimens used are usually rectangular prisms or cylinders. The method of immersion in water makes it possible to determine the bulk density of a specimen of natural or fill soil by measuring the mass of soil in air and its apparent mass when immersed in water. This method can be used when a lump of material of suitable size can be obtained. NOTE This document fulfils the requirements for the determination of the bulk density of soils for geotechnical investigation and testing established within EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2.” (The sentences on empirical correlations are not in the ISO 17892-2:2014 preview we read — the ISO text says “immersion in fluid”, not only in water.) We read the text of the standard in the preview of ISO 17892-2:2014 from the cover to 5.2.2.3 (page 5); we do not have the rest of the immersion method, the displacement method (5.3), the formulae (Clause 6), the test report (7) or Annexes A and B.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF ISO 17892-2:2014 (foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–5.2.2.3). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 341 together with ISO/TC 182 (Vienna Agreement); the first edition replaces ISO/TS 17892-2:2004 after technical revision and incorporates Cor 1:2006. The ISO 17892 series has 12 parts (from water content to Atterberg limits). Scope (1): three methods — a) linear measurement, b) immersion in fluid, c) fluid displacement; laboratory determination in geotechnical investigations; linear measurement — regularly shaped specimens, including those prepared for other tests (rectangular prisms or cylinders of circular cross-section); immersion — mass in air and apparent mass of a lump of natural or compacted soil suspended in fluid; displacement — mass in air and mass of fluid displaced on immersion; if the fluid is likely to penetrate the specimen (e.g. water), the specimen is coated before testing; bulk density is useful for determining overburden stress as a function of depth; dry density can be calculated from bulk density and known water content; the standard fulfils EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2. References (2): ISO 17892-1, ISO 14688-1. Definitions (3): bulk density ρ — mass of soil per unit volume including water and gas; dry density ρd — mass of oven-dried soil per unit volume. Equipment (4): for linear measurement — cutting tools (knife, wire saw, spatula, cutting ring, soil lathe), steel straight edge with deviation from straightness up to 0,1 % of its length, try-square or jig ensuring flatness within 0,5 % of each dimension and right angles within 0,5°, callipers 0,1 mm or 0,1 % of the measured length (greater value), balance 0,01 g or 0,1 % of the mass (greater value); for immersion — container, balance 0,01 g or 0,1 % of the mass, thermometer 1 °C, cradle and frame suspended below the balance, modelling clay or putty and a coating (e.g. paraffin wax), electrically heated thermostatic wax melter; for displacement — rigid container with siphon, container for the overflow, balance, thermometer, modelling clay or putty and a coating (the immersion equipment can also be used, allowing for the uplift of the cradle in the calculation). Procedure (5): specimen volume at least 50 cm³, preferably significantly larger (smaller ones may be less representative and give a result less accurate than the reported value suggests). Linear measurement (5.1): weigh a specimen of known volume; from a block — cut away at least 10 mm of the outer face and form a prism (faces plane, parallel and perpendicular) or a cylinder on a lathe (vertical cuts in thin layers, not trimmed while rotating, ends plane and perpendicular to the axis); from a tube — trim the extruded specimen and measure immediately, and if it may deform on removal — volume from the inside diameter and length of the tube, mass by difference (tube with specimen and empty); smaller-diameter cylinder — cutter pushed at constant speed. Measurements (5.1.5): mass 0,01 g or 0,1 %; prism — each dimension at least at three positions, to 0,1 mm or 0,1 %; cylinder — diameter in two perpendicular directions at each end and near the middle, length along three lines at about 120°; for dry density — water content of a representative portion according to ISO 17892-1. Immersion (5.2): balance above the container, cradle suspended in the fluid without touching bottom or sides, specimen fully submerged, balance zeroed; the specimen is weighed (m), surface voids are filled with material insoluble in the fluid and it is weighed again (mf) — only natural air voids present before sampling are filled, not cavities left by loss of coarse particles during sampling.

STATUS (PKN catalogue cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN ISO 17892-2:2015-02 (English version, published 27-02-2015, 28 pages, price group N) has no “Withdrawn” header: Building and Construction Sector, KT 254 Geotechnics, ICS 13.080.20 and 93.020, “Introduces: EN ISO 17892-2:2014 [IDT], ISO 17892-2:2014 [IDT]”. The PKN search for “PN-EN ISO 17892-2” (02.10.2026) shows only this standard. The EVS catalogue (read 02.10.2026) lists ISO 17892-2:2014 as valid from 28.11.2014.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read 02.10.2026). The number 17892-2 appears in 7 records at 6 laboratories: AB 283, AB 962, AB 1416, AB 1770, AB 1778, AB 1905. In the current scopes on the PCA website (read 02.10.2026, issues from 24.09.2024 to 22.06.2026) all give “PN-EN ISO 17892-2:2015-02”; AB 1416 and AB 1770 add “p. 5.1”, AB 283 and AB 1416 list PN-B-04481:1988 p. 5.2.6 next to it, and AB 283 also PKN-CEN ISO/TS 17892-2:2009. The “Laboratories” tab searches for entries STARTING WITH “PN-EN ISO 17892-2” and shows 5 laboratories; at AB 1416 the database entry starts with “PN-88/B-04481”, so it does not appear in this tab — checked with the tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (PCA entries). Soils — “Bulk density” (AB 1416 and AB 1770 with “p. 5.1”, AB 1778 from 0,5 to 4,0 Mg/m³ with volume “determined from dimension measurement”), “Bulk density of fine-grained soils, direct measurement method” (AB 962), “Bulk density, direct measurement method” (AB 1905), “Bulk density of soil, weight–volume method” (AB 283). All laboratories that indicate a method use linear measurement (5.1); none explicitly indicates the immersion or fluid displacement method.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Specimen: volume at least 50 cm³ — a smaller specimen gives a less representative and less accurate result than the reported figure suggests; at least 10 mm of the outer face of a block must be cut away. Measuring dimensions: each dimension at several positions (three for a prism; diameter at both ends and in the middle, length along three lines for a cylinder) — a single measurement on uneven faces gives a wrong volume; a specimen that deforms on removal from the tube is measured in the tube. Immersion and displacement: a specimen into which the fluid may penetrate must be coated, and only natural voids are filled, not cavities caused by sampling; when the immersion equipment is used for the displacement method, the uplift of the cradle must be allowed for. Dry density: the water content of a representative portion according to ISO 17892-1 is needed, not only mass and volume. Edition: AB 283 also lists the technical specification PKN-CEN ISO/TS 17892-2:2009, which the standard replaced.

WHAT WE DO NOT STATE. We do not have the rest of 5.2 or 5.3 (fluid displacement), 6 (formulae for volume, bulk density and dry density), 7 (test report) or Annexes A (calibration, maintenance and checks) and B (explanations) — we therefore give no formulae, no way of accounting for the mass of the coating and no fluid density.

Method principle

Bulk density is determined as the mass of a soil specimen (with water and gas) divided by its volume — measured from the dimensions of a regularly shaped specimen, from the difference between mass in air and apparent mass in fluid, or from the mass of fluid displaced by the specimen (coated if the fluid may penetrate).

Applications

• Soils in geotechnical investigation — bulk density and dry density; 6 laboratories in PCA scopes
• Overburden stress as a function of depth (design according to EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2)
• Specimens prepared for other tests (oedometer, triaxial, shear) — density before testing

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN ISO 17892-2:2015-02 (wersja angielska; EN ISO 17892-2:2014 IDT, ISO 17892-2:2014 IDT)

Title (PL)

Rozpoznanie i badania geotechniczne — Badania laboratoryjne gruntów — Część 2: Oznaczanie gęstości objętościowej

Title (EN)

Geotechnical investigation and testing — Laboratory testing of soil — Part 2: Determination of bulk density

Step-by-step procedure

1. Choice of method and specimen

   Linear measurement for regular specimens, immersion or displacement for lumps; volume ≥ 50 cm³. PN-EN ISO 17892-2:2015-02 current (PKN cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Preparation (linear measurement)

   From a block cut away ≥ 10 mm of the face, form a prism or cylinder; from a tube — extrude and trim the ends perpendicular to the axis; measure immediately.

3. Measurements

   Mass 0,01 g or 0,1 %; dimensions 0,1 mm or 0,1 % at several positions (prism — three each, cylinder — diameter at both ends and in the middle, length along three lines at about 120°).

4. Immersion / displacement

   Mass in air (m), filling of natural surface voids (mf), coating if needed; apparent mass in fluid or mass of displaced fluid; further steps in 5.2–5.3.

5. Result

   Bulk density according to Clause 6 (we do not have the formulae); dry density with water content according to ISO 17892-1.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard contains no safety warnings in the part we read; for melting paraffin wax it recommends an electrically heated thermostatic melter (4.2.6)
• TECHNICAL NOTE: specimen at least 50 cm³; for immersion and displacement coat specimens into which the fluid may penetrate

Frequently asked questions