🏗️ Determination of the particle density of soil (density of solid particles ρs = dry mass of the particles / their volume) — fluid pycnometer method (difference in the volume of control liquid in the pycnometer with and without the specimen, temperature constant within ± 0,5 °C, removal of air by vacuum, heating or agitation; oven-dried specimen — method A — or moist specimen — method B) or gas pycnometer method (gas displacement, helium preferred), PN-EN ISO 17892-3

Construction PN-EN ISO 17892-3

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in two iTeh samples: SIST EN ISO 17892-3:2016 (title page, European foreword, title page, contents and foreword of ISO 17892-3:2015 with the list of corrections of the corrected version) and ISO 17892-3:2015 (English; from the introduction through Clauses 1–4 up to and including 5.1.4.2.5). Outside the samples remain the rest of method B, the gas pycnometer method (5.2), calculation (6), test report (7), Annex A (calibration, maintenance and checks) and the bibliography.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN ISO 17892-3:2015 AND ISO 17892-3:2015 (forewords, introduction, Clauses 1–4, 5.1–5.1.4.2.5). EN ISO 17892-3 was prepared by CEN/TC 341 “Geotechnical investigation and testing” (secretariat BSI) in collaboration with ISO/TC 182 “Geotechnics”; CEN approved it on 05.12.2015, and it superseded CEN ISO/TS 17892-3:2004. ISO 17892-3:2015 (first edition, corrected version 2015-12-15) replaced ISO/TS 17892-3:2004 with corrigendum Cor.1:2006; the corrected version added, among others, the word “dry” in definition 3.1, a temperature range in 4.3.2, a temperature for ρL in 6.1.2, an alternative way of determining the volume in 5.2.4.3, and changed the factor in Formula (7) to 10⁻⁶ instead of 10⁶. Scope (1): determination of the particle density of soils in geotechnical investigations by two methods — a pycnometer with fluid displacement and a pycnometer with gas displacement; the fluid method for soils with particles smaller than about 4 mm (or crushed to that size), larger pycnometers for coarser material; in the gas method the particle size is limited by the instrument’s container; the standard fulfils the requirements of EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2; dissolved salts in the pore water can affect the result, and compensating for them is beyond the standard. References (2): ISO 17892-1, ISO 14688-1. Definition (3.1): density of solid particles ρs — dry mass of the particles divided by their volume. Apparatus (4): balance accurate to 0,01 g or 0,1 % of the weighed soil mass (whichever is greater); desiccator with self-indicating desiccant; riffle box (or quartering); forced-draught oven without transport of particles; mortar with a soft-ended pestle; fluid pycnometer of at least 50 ml with a ground-glass stopper and capillary; water bath or temperature-controlled room in the range (10–30) °C with a variation of at most ± 0,5 °C; temperature measurement accurate to 0,1 °C (preferably in the pycnometer stopper); vacuum pump or water aspirator; control liquid of known density — usually distilled, demineralised or deionised water, alternatively hexane or kerosene; gas pycnometer with sample and expansion chambers, valves and a pressure gauge accurate to 0,1 kPa or 0,1 % of the working pressure; helium of > 99,5 % purity preferred, another gas — stated in the report. Reference measurements (5.1.2): mass of the empty dry pycnometer m0; pycnometer filled with liquid without bubbles, in the bath for at least 1 h (in a temperature-controlled room at least 16 h); level adjusted to the top of the capillary; dried outside and weighed immediately m1 — a delay risks loss of liquid through thermal expansion. Specimen (5.1.3): dried according to ISO 17892-1 or moist; representative, dry mass at least 10 g, passing a 4 mm sieve with a 50 ml pycnometer (crush coarser particles or use a larger pycnometer); break up aggregations of fine soils with the mortar; with enclosed voids the result may be underestimated — for the true density of the minerals crush the sample; predominantly organic material — pycnometer of at least 100 ml filled with sample to at least 75 % of its volume (note: the organic component often has a density below 1 Mg/m3). Test execution (5.1.4): at least two determinations; if they differ by more than 0,03 Mg/m3 — repeat; method A (dried specimen): mass of pycnometer with specimen m2, cover with liquid by 10–20 mm, remove air by agitation, gentle heating or vacuum (heat or vacuum recommended for fine soils), top up and proceed as in 5.1.2.2–5.1.2.5, weigh m3; method B (moist specimen): the same steps from covering with liquid to weighing m3, and after weighing m3 the specimen is removed and dried to constant mass according to ISO 17892-1 (m4).

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). The PKN search (term “PN-EN ISO 17892-3”, 03.10.2026) shows 2 items: PN-EN ISO 17892-3:2016-03 (English version, “Introduces: EN ISO 17892-3:2015 [IDT], ISO 17892-3:2015 [IDT]”) without a withdrawal note and the withdrawn PKN-CEN ISO/TS 17892-3:2009 (Polish version, pycnometer method). In the iTeh catalogue (read on 03.10.2026) EN ISO 17892-3:2015 has the status “Published” (stage 60.60, 16.12.2015) and replaces CEN ISO/TS 17892-3:2004 with corrigendum AC:2005, and ISO 17892-3:2015 — status “Published”. The bulk density of soil is described in a separate entry on PN-EN ISO 17892-2, and particle size distribution in the entry on PN-EN ISO 17892-4.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, load up to 17.09.2026, read on 03.10.2026). The number 17892-3 appears in 8 records at 5 laboratories: AB 283, AB 962, AB 1770 (4 records — two items, each twice), AB 1778, AB 1905. In the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026, issues from 24.09.2024 to 22.06.2026) the number appears in 7 rows of 6 laboratories — five from the database copy (AB 1770 — 2, the others 1 each; the PDF file of the AB 1770 scope contains the same document twice — we count it once) and AB 023 (1 row, “PN-EN ISO 17892-3:2016-03”, soils, gas pycnometer method, no measuring range), whose item is neither in the database copy nor on the tab. The form “PN-EN ISO 17892-3:2016-03” (AB 023, AB 283, AB 962, AB 1778), with points “p. 5.1” and “p. 5.2” (AB 1770) and alongside PN-B-04481:1988 (AB 1905). None of these items is suspended. The “Laboratories” tab (“PN-EN ISO 17892-3”) shows the 5 laboratories from the database copy (without AB 023) — checked with the tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA). Soils — particle density (at AB 283 “particle density of the soil skeleton”): fluid pycnometer method (AB 1770 according to p. 5.1, AB 1778, AB 1905), gas pycnometer method (AB 023, AB 283, AB 1770 according to p. 5.2); AB 962 does not indicate the method. No measuring ranges are given. AB 283, AB 962 and AB 1770 have bilingual scopes (Polish and English).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. With temperature: equilibration for at least 1 h in the bath or 16 h in a room, variation up to ± 0,5 °C, weighing without delay after removal (5.1.2.3, 5.1.2.6). With air: remove air from the specimen — for fine soils heat or vacuum, not agitation alone (5.1.4.1.2). With the specimen: at least 10 g of dry mass, 4 mm sieve for a 50 ml pycnometer; organic soils — pycnometer ≥ 100 ml filled to ≥ 75 % (5.1.3). With enclosed voids: without crushing the result may be underestimated (5.1.3.3). With repeatability: two determinations agreeing to 0,03 Mg/m3 (5.1.4). With salt in the pore water: it can affect the result (1, note 2). With gas: a gas other than helium must be stated in the report (4.4.2).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not read the gas pycnometer procedure (5.2), the formulae for particle density (6), the content of the test report or the calibration requirements of Annex A. Nor do we give the content of PN-B-04481:1988.

Method principle

Particle density is the dry mass of soil particles divided by their volume. In the fluid pycnometer the particle volume is determined from the difference in mass of the pycnometer filled with control liquid without and with the specimen (after removing air and equalising the temperature within ± 0,5 °C); in the gas pycnometer — from gas pressures (helium preferred) in the sample and expansion chambers. At least two determinations are made, agreeing to 0,03 Mg/m3.

Applications

• Soils in geotechnical investigations — particle density in accordance with the requirements of EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2 (1)
• Soils with particles smaller than about 4 mm (50 ml fluid pycnometer) and organic soils (pycnometer ≥ 100 ml) (1, 5.1.3)
• Soils — particle density by the fluid or gas pycnometer method in the accreditation scopes of 6 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN ISO 17892-3:2016-03

Title (PL)

Rozpoznanie i badania geotechniczne — Badania laboratoryjne gruntów — Część 3: Badanie gęstości właściwej

Title (EN)

Geotechnical investigation and testing — Laboratory testing of soil — Part 3: Determination of particle density

Step-by-step procedure

1. Reference measurements

   Mass of the empty pycnometer m0; pycnometer with liquid temperature-equalised, dried and weighed m1. PN-EN ISO 17892-3:2016-03 without a withdrawal note (03.10.2026).

2. Specimen

   At least 10 g dry mass, through a 4 mm sieve; dried (method A) or moist (method B).

3. Removing air

   Cover with liquid by 10–20 mm, remove air by agitation, heating or vacuum.

4. Weighing

   Top up, equalise temperature, weigh m3; in method B dry the specimen and weigh m4.

5. Result

   At least two determinations agreeing to 0,03 Mg/m3; we do not give the formulae (Clause 6).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Control liquids other than water (hexane, kerosene) can cause health and safety hazards (4.3.5, note)
• Pressurised helium cylinders — rules for working with compressed gases

Frequently asked questions