🛣️ Determination of flexural and compressive strength of moulded specimens of screed materials (cementitious, calcium sulphate, magnesite and synthetic resin) — three prisms 40 mm × 40 mm × 160 mm according to EN 13892-1, tested at 28 days: three-point bending on rollers Ø 10 mm spaced 100 mm, load rate 50 ± 10 N/s, Rf = 1.5 · Ff · l / (b · d²); compression of six halves on 40 mm × 40 mm plates (at least 600 HV), load rate 2400 ± 200 N/s, Rc = Fc / 1600 mm2; results to 0.05 N/mm2, means to 0.1 N/mm2, PN-EN 13892-2

Construction PN-EN 13892-2

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in the iTeh sample of SIST EN 13892-2:2003 (text of EN 13892-2:2002, English): from the title page through the contents, foreword and Clauses 1–6 up to the beginning of Clause 7 (test report, items a–d) — i.e. practically the whole method. Outside the sample remains the rest of the list of test report items.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF EN 13892-2:2002 (Clauses 1–6, beginning of 7). The standard was prepared by CEN/TC 303 “Floor screeds and in-situ floorings in buildings” (secretariat DIN), Working Group 2 “Test methods”; CEN approved it on 9.10.2002. Scope (1): flexural and compressive strength of moulded specimens of cementitious, calcium sulphate, magnesite and synthetic resin screed materials. Normative references (2): EN 196-1 (strength of cement), EN 13813 (properties and requirements of screed materials), EN 13892-1 (sampling, making and curing specimens), EN ISO 6507-1 (Vickers hardness). Principle (3): specimens according to EN 13892-1; first the flexural test — strength from the failure load under midspan bending; both halves of the broken specimen go to compression under a uniformly distributed load over part of the prism. Symbols (4): Ff, Fc — failure loads (N); l — distance between support roller axes (mm); b, d — width and depth of the specimen under the central roller (in the “as tested” mode; swapped in the “as cast” mode); A — contact area in compression, nominally 1600 mm2; Rf, Rc — flexural and compressive strength (N/mm2). Testing machine (5.1): the machine of EN 196-1 meets the requirements; capacity and sensitivity such that the specimen fails in the part of the range certified accurate to ± 2 % of the indicated load — normally the upper four fifths. Bending (5.2.1): two steel support rollers 44–50 mm long and (10 ± 0.5) mm in diameter, spaced (100.0 ± 0.5) mm, and a third roller in the centre; axis planes parallel, equidistant and normal to the prism; one support roller and the loading roller can tilt slightly so that the load is distributed uniformly without torsion. Compression (5.2.2): the upper machine platen aligns freely on contact, the platens do not tilt with respect to each other during loading; two bearing plates of tungsten carbide or steel with surface hardness at least 600 HV, 40.0 mm long, (40.0 ± 0.1) mm wide (mean of four measurements), 10 mm thick, flatness of contact faces 0.01 mm; jig for locating specimen and plates. Bending — procedure (6.1): three prisms 40 mm × 40 mm × 160 mm according to EN 13892-1, tested 28 days after casting, immediately after removal from storage; if the manufacturer demonstrates that the declared classes are achieved earlier, that age may be included in the designation provided all declared classes are achieved at that age; wipe the sides, weigh, measure width and depth at mid-length and calculate density; place with one side as cast centrally on the rollers; load without shock at (50 ± 10) N/s until failure; record Ff; return halves to storage; Rf = 1.5 · Ff · l / (b · d²) N/mm2, individual results to 0.05 N/mm2, mean of three to 0.1 N/mm2. Compression (6.2): six halves on the same day as bending; load on the side, not on the top as cast; cast end protrudes 16 mm beyond the nearer edge of the plates; discard specimens not giving a cube of solid material between the plates; load without shock, increasing at (2400 ± 200) N/s until failure; Rc = Fc / A, A = 40 mm × 40 mm; individual results to 0.05 N/mm2, mean of six to 0.1 N/mm2. Test report (7, beginning): number, title and date of the standard; laboratory testing and preparing samples; report identification number; manufacturer or supplier.

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). In the PKN search (term “PN-EN 13892-2”, 03.10.2026) PN-EN 13892-2:2004 (Polish version, “Methods of test for screed materials — Part 2: Determination of flexural and compressive strength”, “Introduces: EN 13892-2:2002 [IDT]”) has no withdrawal note; PN-EN 13892-2:2003 (English version) — “Withdrawn and replaced by PN-EN 13892-2:2004 — Polish version”. In the iTeh catalogue (read on 03.10.2026) EN 13892-2:2002 has the status “Published”, stage 90.92 “Decision on results of review — revise” (review from 11.12.2018, completed on 30.09.2026) and a link to Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 — CEN decided to revise the standard; there is no new edition yet.

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 13892-2 appears in 10 records at 6 laboratories: AB 054, AB 499, AB 535, AB 556, AB 1703, AB 1783. In the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026, issues from 03.10.2023 to 25.06.2026) the number appears in 8 rows of the same 6 laboratories (AB 535 and AB 1783 2 each, the others 1 each; at some laboratories one cell covers bending and compression). The form “PN-EN 13892-2:2004”, without year at AB 054 (flexible scope “E”). None of these items is suspended. The “Laboratories” tab (“PN-EN 13892-2”) shows the same 6 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA). Floor screeds and materials for them: flexural and compressive strength — AB 499, AB 535, AB 1703, AB 1783; flexural only — AB 054 and AB 556. No item states the type of binder or a strength range.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. With the machine: the specimen must fail in the part of the range certified to ± 2 % (5.1). With orientation: in bending the prism lies on a side as cast, and in compression the load is applied to a side, not to the top surface as cast (6.1, 6.2); the cast end protrudes 16 mm. With the loading rate: 50 N/s in bending and 2400 N/s in compression (6.1, 6.2). With the plates: hardness at least 600 HV, width (40.0 ± 0.1) mm and flatness 0.01 mm (5.2.2). With age: 28 days, unless the manufacturer demonstrates the declared classes earlier (6.1). With compression: specimens without a full cube between the plates are discarded (6.2). With rounding: 0.05 N/mm2 for individual results, 0.1 N/mm2 for means.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not read the further test report items (Clause 7) or the method of making and curing specimens (EN 13892-1). Nor do we give strength classes from EN 13813.

Method principle

Three 40 × 40 × 160 mm prisms of screed material, made and cured according to EN 13892-1, are tested at 28 days: first three-point bending on rollers spaced 100 mm with a load increasing at 50 N/s — Rf = 1.5 · Ff · l / (b · d²); then six halves are compressed between 40 × 40 mm plates at 2400 N/s — Rc = Fc / 1600 mm2. Mean of three (bending) and six (compression) results, to 0.1 N/mm2.

Applications

• Cementitious, calcium sulphate, magnesite and synthetic resin screed materials — flexural and compressive strength (1)
• Specimens moulded according to EN 13892-1; classification according to EN 13813 (2)
• Floor screeds and materials for them — bending and compression in the accreditation scopes of 6 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 13892-2:2004

Title (PL)

Metody badania materiałów na podkłady podłogowe — Część 2: Oznaczanie wytrzymałości na zginanie i ściskanie

Title (EN)

Methods of test for screed materials — Part 2: Determination of flexural and compressive strength

Step-by-step procedure

1. Specimens

   Three prisms 40 × 40 × 160 mm according to EN 13892-1; at 28 days, immediately after removal from storage. PN-EN 13892-2:2004 current (PKN search, 03.10.2026).

2. Preparation

   Wipe, weigh, measure width and depth at mid-length, calculate density.

3. Bending

   Side as cast on rollers spaced 100 mm; (50 ± 10) N/s until failure; Rf = 1.5 · Ff · l / (b · d²).

4. Compression

   Six halves on the same day; 40 × 40 mm plates, cast end protruding 16 mm; (2400 ± 200) N/s; Rc = Fc / 1600 mm2.

5. Result

   Individual to 0.05 N/mm2, means to 0.1 N/mm2; report according to Clause 7.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Specimens fracturing in bending and compression — machine guard, eye protection
• Work at the testing machine — hands out of the platen zone during loading

Frequently asked questions