Technical requirements for sand are given in BSS 171, while sampling and testing methods –

in BSS 172. Rules for delivery, acceptance, storage, transportation and documentation shall comply
with BSS 10589.

4123. Cement

Cement, used for concrete works, shall be approved by the Engineer and classified in
accordance with BSS 16568.

Portland cement, Slag-modified Portland cement and Pozzolan-modified Portland cement shall
meet the requirements of BSS 27.

Sulphate resistant Portland cement shall meet the requirements of BSS 7267.

Samples of the to be used in the Project shall be tested in accordance with the methodology of
the following standards, when appropriate:

BSS 1937 Chemical analysis of Portland cement clinker

BSS 72 Physical and mechanical properties

BSS 7747 Compound composition of cement

Acceptance, sampling, packing, marking, documentation, storage and transportation of cement

shall comply with the requirements under BSS 9345.

Cement shall be delivered in firm and well sealed bags or bulk. Delivered quantities shall be
sufficient, in order to avoid interruption of concrete works. Consignments from different suppliers,
moist or with reduced quality due to other reasons, shall be removed from the construction site.

4124. Water

Water used for concrete or plaster, water for damping at curing, and water for washing coarse
aggregates and sand shall comply with the requirements under BSS 636.

Water quality analysis shall be carried out during the organisation of concrete works and at any
change of the source of water or water components. Proven drinkable water shall not be analysed.

Water sampling, storage and transporting shall comply with BSS 3097. The methods for
analysing the admixtures are laid down in BSS 636.

4125. Chemical admixtures

Chemical admixtures to concrete, in small and controlled quantities, aiming at improvement of

concrete mixture or concrete structure properties, shall meet the classification and requirements,
provided by BSS 14069. This standard provides overall technical requirements regarding chemical
admixtures.

The quantities and methods of application of admixtures shall meet the recommendations by the
manufacturer.

3
 The use of chemical admixtures is allowed only if specified in the Design or agreed by the
Engineer, or when by means of preliminary tests it is proven, that admixtures meet the BSS 14069
requirements.

The use of chemical admixtures shall not have negative impact on cement hardening, strength,
durability or the anticorrosion protection of the reinforcement.

Admixtures not satisfying the requirements under BSS 14069 can be used only if agreed with
the Engineer.

4130. Concrete

4131. General principles

Concrete is a man-made, stone resembling material, produced after placing in a type of

framework ( according to requirements ) and hardening of a mixture of cement, water and aggregates,
with occasional special admixtures ( if required by mix design).

Prior to placing in the framework, the above described mixture is called “concrete mixture”.

Concrete classification shall comply with BSS 7268.

In accordance with environment conditions, types of concrete are divided into the following
groups:

- Group I – concrete not in direct contact with water, protected from atmospheric impacts and
0
with environmental temperature not exceeding 100 С;

- Group II – concrete under water level or in constant contact with water, without any
0
atmospheric impact and/or freezing ( below 0 С) temperatures;

- Group III – open air concrete, directly exposed to atmospheric impacts, and environmental
0
temperature not exceeding 100 С;

- Group IV – concrete in direct contact with water (exposed to cycles of wetting and drying) and
directly exposed to atmospheric impacts.

4132. Classes of concrete

The concrete is divided into classes, denominated by letters and figures, depending on the
properties, used at the design of structures and controlled during construction in accordance with
standard methods. The compressive strength class is marked by the letter “В”, and the figure is the
normative strength of a cube of concrete, i. e. the strength reached by at least 95% of testing cubes,
made of this testing mixture. These classes of compressive strength are as follows: В5; В7.5; В10;
В12.5; В15; В20; В25; В30; В35; В40; В45; В50; В55 and В60.

Axial tensile strength and bending tensile strength classes are specified in BSS 7268.

Control and measurement of the concrete strength shall be carried out on the basis of
compression strength on the 28-th day and in accordance with BSS 9673 by statistical method,

4
allowing comparison between the actual concrete strength and the standard strength (controlled
strength) for the respective required concrete class.

Concrete strength shall be measured from test cubes, prepared, stored and tested in
accordance with requirements under BSS 505 in moulds meeting the requirements under BSS 15899.

Samples to be tested for concrete strength shall be collected from the place of concrete mixture
production.

In cases when dry mixtures are produced, samples shall be collected from the place of
placement.

One random sample out of every one hundred mixings of same type of concrete shall be
collected, but not less than three samples per shift, whereas the samples shall be collected from three
random places. One test cube shall be produced for testing out of each sample.

Control and measurement of concrete strength shall be performed using a non-failure testing
method in accordance with BSS 3816 and BSS 15013, or by testing of samples from the hardened
concrete structure taken by an accredited laboratory, only after written permission or order from the
Engineer.

4133. Water tightness

Concrete classes for water tightness are as follows: Bв0.2; Bв0.4; Bв0.6; Bв0.8 and Bв1.0
(BSS 7268).

Control and measurement of water tightness shall satisfy requirements under BSS 7269, while
testing methods shall follow BSS 505.

Should specific water tightness be required, water tightness concrete class shall be specified in
the Design.

4134. Resistance to cold

Concrete classes in terms of resistance to cold are as follows: Вм 50; Вм 100; Вм 150 and Вм
200.

Concrete class is expressed by a figure, corresponding to the minimum number of freezing-

defreezing cycles withstood by the cubes.

Concrete classes from groups III and IV (see BSS 7268) according to resistance to cold shall
be equal to the values, given in Table 4134.1, or higher.

Table 4134.1
Climate conditions Cold resistance classes of concrete for groups
Average monthly temperature of the air at the Group III Group IV
construction site in the coldest month during
the last 10 years:
0
Вм 50 Вм 100
Above -5 С
0 0
Вм 100 Вм 150
Between -5 С and -10 С