🏗️ Determination of the density of compacted fresh concrete in the laboratory and in the field — the concrete is compacted in a rigid, watertight container of known volume and mass (internal vibrator, vibrating table, compacting rod or bar; self-compacting concrete without compaction) and weighed to the nearest 0,01 kg, PN-EN 12350-6

Construction PN-EN 12350-6

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card of PN-EN 12350-6:2019-08 (Polish version), in full (our translation): “This document specifies a method for determining the density of compacted fresh concrete, both in the laboratory and in the field. The test may be unreliable for very stiff mixes that cannot be compacted by normal vibration”. We read the text in the sample of SIST EN 12350-6:2019 (the text of EN 12350-6:2019 without changes) from the cover to 7.6 (weighing the container with concrete); we do not have Clauses 8–10 (calculation of density, test report, precision) or normative Annex A (calibration of the container) — we know only their titles from the table of contents.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 12350-6:2019 (foreword, Clauses 1–7.6, table of contents). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 104 “Concrete and related products”; it supersedes EN 12350-6:2009. Foreword: hand tamping, vibrating table and internal (poker) vibrator are accepted as equivalent, but the internal vibrator should be used with caution for concrete containing entrained air; a normative Annex A with the procedure for calibrating the container has been added. Changes from the 2009 edition: a) editorial revision, b) reference to the common apparatus and its specification in EN 12350-1, c) option to give the specified consistence class or consistence target value in the report. The EN 12350 series has 12 parts: from sampling (1) through slump (2), Vebe (3), degree of compactability (4), flow table (5), density (6), air content (7) to four tests of self-compacting concrete (8–12). Scope (1): density of compacted fresh concrete in the laboratory and in the field; the method may not be applicable to very stiff concrete that cannot be compacted by normal vibration. References (2): EN 12350-1, EN 206. Terms (3): none. Principle (4): fresh concrete is compacted in a rigid, watertight container of known volume and mass and then weighed. Apparatus (5) — according to EN 12350-1: container with the specification and dimensions given in EN 12350-1, filling frame to simplify filling, means of compaction (internal vibrator, vibrating table, compacting rod, compacting bar), balance or scales, straight-edged scraper, scoop, trowel or float, remixing container, shovel, mallet, moist cloth. Sample (6): taken according to EN 12350-1 and remixed; other procedures may follow from provisions valid in the place of use of the concrete. Procedure (7): volume V of the container from calibration according to Annex A; container clean and dampened, mass m₁ to the nearest 0,01 kg; filling in as many layers as needed for full compaction, and self-compacting concrete — in one operation; with a filling frame, a layer 10–20 % of the container height remains in the frame after compaction; compaction immediately after placing, to full compaction without excessive segregation or laitance; self-compacting concrete is not compacted at all (NOTE: with vibration, full compaction means no large air bubbles and a smooth, glazed surface). Internal vibrator and vibrating table — the minimum time needed for full compaction, without over-vibration (loss of entrained air); vibrator kept vertical, not touching the bottom or sides, filling frame recommended. By hand — strokes distributed uniformly, without forcibly striking the bottom in the first layer and without penetrating the previous layer; a sufficient number of strokes, typically 25 for consistence classes S1 and S2 according to EN 206, to remove entrapped but not entrained air; after each layer, tapping the sides with the mallet until large air bubbles cease to appear and depressions disappear. The filling frame is removed immediately after compaction, the surface is levelled and skimmed with the straightedge, the container is wiped clean outside; mass m₂ to the nearest 0,01 kg.

STATUS (PKN catalogue cards as of 02.10.2026). The card of PN-EN 12350-6:2019-08 (Polish version, published 22-03-2022, 14 pages, price group G) has no “Withdrawn” heading: Building and Building Structures Sector, KT 274 Concrete, ICS 91.100.30, “Introduces: EN 12350-6:2019 [IDT]”, “Replaces: PN-EN 12350-6:2011 – Polish version”. The PKN search for “PN-EN 12350-6” (02.10.2026) also shows the editions of 2001, 2009 (English version), 2011 and the English version of the 2019-08 edition. The card of PN-EN 12350-6:2011 (Polish version) has the “Withdrawn” heading: withdrawal date 06-08-2019, “Replaced by: PN-EN 12350-6:2019-08” (English and Polish versions).

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 12350-6 appears in 7 records at 7 laboratories: AB 535, AB 1344, AB 1414, AB 1486, AB 1532, AB 1689, AB 1789. In the current scopes on the PCA website (read 02.10.2026, issues from 20.08.2025 to 19.08.2026) all seven give the 2019-08 edition, and AB 535 also gives the superseded edition PN-EN 12350-6:2011 next to it. The “Laboratories” tab (“PN-EN 12350-6”) shows 7 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 02.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (PCA entries). Fresh concrete — “Density” (AB 1344, AB 1414, AB 1486, AB 1689), “weight-volume method” (AB 535, AB 1789), “volume-weight method” (AB 1532); in all seven scopes the same item is accompanied by sampling according to PN-EN 12350-1, and in most also by consistence (slump, flow table) and air content by the pressure gauge method according to PN-EN 12350-7.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Compaction: over-vibration may cause loss of entrained air — the standard requires vibration only as long as needed for full compaction and great caution with the internal vibrator and air-entrained concrete (7.4.2). Self-compacting concrete: the container is filled in one operation and not compacted either during or after filling (7.3, 7.4.1). Filling frame: after compaction 10–20 % of the container height must remain in the frame — too little concrete means an underfilled container once the frame is removed. Weighing: the container is weighed dampened (m₁) and with concrete after wiping the outside (m₂), both times to the nearest 0,01 kg. Volume: V comes from calibration according to Annex A — the nominal container volume does not replace calibration. Edition: AB 535 has the superseded 2011 edition in its scope next to the 2019-08 edition.

WHAT WE DO NOT STATE. We do not have Clauses 8–10 or Annex A: the density formula, the rounding of the result, the content of the test report, precision data or the container calibration procedure — so we do not state any of these numbers or the formula.

Method principle

Fresh concrete is compacted in a rigid, watertight container of known volume and mass (internal vibrator, vibrating table, rod or bar; self-compacting concrete — no compaction), the surface is levelled and the container with concrete is weighed to the nearest 0,01 kg; the density follows from the mass of concrete and the volume of the container.

Applications

• Fresh concrete (including self-compacting) — control in the laboratory and in the field; 7 laboratories in PCA scopes
• Tests of fresh concrete together with consistence and air content (PN-EN 12350-2, -5, -7)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 12350-6:2019-08 (wersja polska; EN 12350-6:2019 IDT)

Title (PL)

Badania mieszanki betonowej — Część 6: Gęstość

Title (EN)

Testing fresh concrete — Part 6: Density

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sample

   Taken according to PN-EN 12350-1 and remixed in the container with the shovel. PN-EN 12350-6:2019-08 current (PKN cards as of 02.10.2026).

2. Container

   Volume V from calibration (Annex A); container clean, dampened with a moist cloth, mass m₁ to the nearest 0,01 kg.

3. Filling and compaction

   In layers, each compacted immediately (internal vibrator or table — only as long as needed for full compaction; by hand — typically 25 strokes for S1 and S2 and tapping with the mallet); self-compacting concrete is placed in one operation without compaction.

4. Levelling and weighing

   Remove the filling frame, level the surface with trowel or float, skim with the straightedge, wipe the outside of the container; mass m₂ to the nearest 0,01 kg.

5. Result

   Density from masses m₁, m₂ and volume V according to Clause 8 (we do not have the formula or the rounding rules).

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard contains no safety warnings in the part we read; fresh concrete contains cement — the laboratory sets the rules for skin and eye protection
• TECHNICAL NOTE: over-vibration may cause loss of entrained air — with the internal vibrator and air-entrained concrete the standard requires great caution

Frequently asked questions