❄️ Freeze-Thaw Resistance of Concrete

Construction PN-88/B-06250

Overview

STATUS (as of 02.11.2026). PN-B-06250:1988 “Beton zwykły” (Ordinary concrete; in accreditation scopes usually in the old notation PN-88/B-06250) — Polish version, published 14.11.1988, WITHDRAWN on 28.01.2004 and replaced by PN-EN 206-1:2003. The frost resistance method of this standard (cited in PCA accreditation scopes as 6.5 or 6.5.1, the “ordinary method”) was taken over by the national supplementary standard PN-B-06265 — in accreditation scopes as Annex N of the 2018-10 and 2022-08 editions. PN-B-06265:2022-08 “Beton — Wymagania, właściwości użytkowe, produkcja i zgodność — Krajowe uzupełnienie PN-EN 206+A2:2021-08” (Polish version, published 08.08.2022), together with amendment Az1:2025-08, was withdrawn on 15.09.2026; it was replaced by PN-EN 206-1:2026-09 (English version, published 15.09.2026, implements EN 206-1:2026). The second part of the description concerns technical specification PKN-CEN/TS 12390-9:2017-07 “Badania betonu — Część 9: Oznaczanie odporności na zamrażanie i rozmrażanie w obecności soli odladzających — Złuszczanie” — English version, published 04.07.2017, implements CEN/TS 12390-9:2016 [IDT], which replaced the 2006 edition; card without a withdrawal note.

BACKGROUND (CEN/TS 12390-9, introduction and scope). Freezing and thawing of concrete without adequate resistance causes two types of damage: surface scaling and internal structural damage. CEN/TS 12390-9 covers only scaling resistance — with water and with sodium chloride solution; tests for internal damage are described in report CEN/TR 15177. The results are used to compare new constituents or concrete compositions with a solution proven under local conditions, or for assessment against limit values based on local experience; establishing such values requires correlation with the behaviour of concrete in the field, set out in national application documents. According to a document by a cement producer, standard PN-EN 206 itself does not define a method for testing frost resistance or criteria for assessing it.

ORDINARY METHOD (PN-88/B-06250 6.5.1, later PN-B-06265 Annex N — according to a document by a cement producer; we do not have the text of the standards). The designed frost resistance grade F is verified — after the number of cycles contained in its symbol (F25, F50, F75, F100, F150, F200, F300). From one batch of concrete, 12 specimens are tested — cubes or cylinders as for compressive strength testing, or regular specimens cut from a structure or product, with a side or diameter of at least 100 mm — stored at (18 ± 2) °C and a relative humidity above 90 %. All specimens are saturated with water for at least 7 days. Six specimens remain in water at (18 ± 2) °C throughout the test; the other six, after wiping off the water, are weighed to an accuracy of 0.2 %, frozen in air at (−18 ± 2) °C for at least 4 h and thawed in water at (18 ± 2) °C for 2–4 h; a full cycle lasts at least 6 h. After the last cycle the specimens are weighed and their compressive strength is tested. The grade is achieved if the specimens show no cracks, the total mass loss (broken corners, edges, spalls) does not exceed 5 % of the mass before the first freezing, and the compressive strength is lower than that of the unfrozen specimens by not more than 20 %. Mass loss ΔG = (G1 − G2) / G1 · 100 %, strength decrease ΔR = (R1 − R2) / R1 · 100 % (G1, G2 — mean masses of saturated specimens before the first freezing and after the last thawing; R1 — mean strength of the unfrozen specimens, R2 — of the tested specimens).

CEN/TS 12390-9 — THREE METHODS (clauses 1–5). The specification has a reference method — the slab test — and two alternative methods: the cube test and the CF/CDF test. For routine testing any of them may be used with the agreement of the parties, and in case of doubt and without such agreement — the reference method; there is no established correlation between the results of the three methods. The freezing medium is de-ionized water (test without salt) or 97 % by mass of tap water and 3 % by mass of sodium chloride (test with de-icing salt).

REFERENCE METHOD — SLAB TEST (clause 5). From each of four cubes of 150 mm side (made according to EN 12390-2) a specimen (50 ± 2) mm thick is sawn perpendicular to the top surface, so that the test surface passes through the centre of the cube. For the first day the cubes stay in their moulds under a polyethylene sheet at (20 ± 2) °C, after (24 ± 2) h they go into tap water at (20 ± 2) °C, and from day 7 into a chamber at (20 ± 2) °C, (65 ± 5) % humidity and an evaporation rate of (45 ± 15) g/(m²·h) (with the CO₂ content controlled within (300–1 000) ppmv). The specimens are sawn at (21 ± 1) days, at (25 ± 1) days all surfaces except the test surface are covered with rubber reaching (20 ± 1) mm above the test surface, on day 28 the test surface is covered with a layer of about 3 mm of de-ionized water for (72 ± 2) h, and before the test the specimen is thermally insulated with (20 ± 1) mm polystyrene. The test starts at an age of 31 days: not earlier than 15 min before placing in the freezing chamber, the water is replaced by a 3 mm layer of freezing medium at (20 ± 2) °C. The resistance is assessed from the mass of material scaled from the test surface after 56 cycles; according to a document by a cement producer (for the 2007 edition), the scaled material is also weighed after (7 ± 1), (14 ± 1), (28 ± 1) and (42 ± 1) cycles, and the result is given as the cumulative mass per unit area in kg/m². According to the same document, the requirements for concrete pavements in PN-EN 13877-2 (categories FT1 and FT2) refer to the mass loss after 28 and 56 cycles.

ALTERNATIVE METHODS (clauses 6–7 — outside the available text; according to a document by a cement producer for the 2007 edition). In the cube test, four cubes of 100 mm side immersed in de-ionized water or in a 3 % NaCl solution undergo 56 cycles, and the result is the cumulative mass of scaled material as a percentage of the specimen mass. In the CF/CDF test, five specimens of about 140 mm × 150 mm × 70 mm (a 150 mm mould divided by a PTFE plate) with the sides sealed with aluminium foil on butyl rubber or with solvent-free epoxy resin absorb liquid through the test surface for 7 days and then undergo 28 cycles in NaCl solution (CDF) or 56 cycles in de-ionized water (CF); the scaled material is weighed after (4 ± 1), (6 ± 1), (14 ± 1) and 28 cycles (CDF) or after (14 ± 1), (28 ± 1), (42 ± 1) and 56 cycles (CF), and the result is given in kg/m².

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE HERE. We do not have the text of PN-B-06250:1988 or Annex N of PN-B-06265 — the ordinary method is described according to a document by a cement producer; nor do we know the content of PN-EN 206-1:2026 and whether it takes over the ordinary method. From CEN/TS 12390-9:2016 we know the text up to 5.3 — we do not give the temperature cycle (Figure 4), the method of collecting the scaled material or the procedure of the alternative methods from this edition, and the numbers of cycles and measurement times of the alternative methods come from the description of the 2007 edition. We do not give scaling limit values as general ones — according to the specification they are set in national application documents.

Method principle

Ordinary method (PN-88/B-06250, later PN-B-06265 Annex N): six water-saturated specimens are frozen in air at (−18 ± 2) °C for at least 4 h and thawed in water at (18 ± 2) °C for 2–4 h (cycle of at least 6 h), while six reference specimens remain in water; after the number of cycles in the symbol of grade F, cracks, mass loss (not more than 5 %) and the decrease in compressive strength (not more than 20 %) are assessed.

CEN/TS 12390-9 (reference method — slab test): the surface of a 50 mm thick specimen sawn from a cube of 150 mm side is covered with a 3 mm layer of de-ionized water or 3 % NaCl solution and subjected to 56 freeze–thaw cycles; the measure of resistance is the mass of scaled material.

Applications

• Verification of the designed frost resistance grade F of concrete (F25–F300) by the ordinary method — cited in PCA accreditation scopes as PN-88/B-06250 6.5.1 or PN-B-06265 Annex N
• Comparison of new constituents or concrete compositions with a solution proven under local conditions (CEN/TS 12390-9, scope)
• Assessment of the scaling resistance of a concrete surface during freezing in water or in the presence of de-icing salts (CEN/TS 12390-9)
• Concrete pavements — resistance categories FT1 and FT2 according to PN-EN 13877-2 assessed by mass loss after 28 and 56 cycles
• Concrete, concrete mixes, precast products, members and concrete in situ — listed in the introduction to CEN/TS 12390-9

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-88/B-06250 (PN-B-06250:1988), PKN-CEN/TS 12390-9:2017-07

Title (PL)

Beton zwykły / Badania betonu — Część 9: Oznaczanie odporności na zamrażanie i rozmrażanie w obecności soli odladzających — Złuszczanie

Title (EN)

Ordinary concrete / Testing hardened concrete — Part 9: Freeze-thaw resistance with de-icing salts — Scaling

Step-by-step procedure

1. Ordinary method — specimens

   From one batch of concrete prepare 12 cubic or cylindrical specimens (as for compressive strength testing) or regular specimens cut from a structure, with a side or diameter of at least 100 mm; store at (18 ± 2) °C and a relative humidity above 90 % (description of the ordinary method).

2. Ordinary method — saturation and division

   Saturate all specimens with water for at least 7 days. Leave six reference specimens in water at (18 ± 2) °C until the end of the test; weigh the other six, after wiping off the water, to an accuracy of 0.2 %.

3. Ordinary method — cycles

   Freeze in air at (−18 ± 2) °C for at least 4 h and thaw in water at (18 ± 2) °C for 2–4 h; full cycle of at least 6 h. Number of cycles according to the symbol of grade F (e.g. 150 for F150).

   🌡 Temperature: −18 ± 2 °C / 18 ± 2 °C

4. Ordinary method — assessment

   After the last cycle weigh the specimens and test the compressive strength of the tested and reference specimens. Calculate ΔG = (G1 − G2) / G1 · 100 % and ΔR = (R1 − R2) / R1 · 100 %. Grade F achieved: no cracks, ΔG ≤ 5 %, ΔR ≤ 20 %.

5. CEN/TS 12390-9 — specimens for the slab test

   Make four cubes of 150 mm side (EN 12390-2): one day in the moulds under film at (20 ± 2) °C, from (24 ± 2) h in tap water at (20 ± 2) °C, from day 7 in the climate chamber. At (21 ± 1) days saw from each a specimen (50 ± 2) mm thick with the test surface in the centre of the cube; measure the dimensions to an accuracy of ± 0.5 mm (5.3).

6. CEN/TS 12390-9 — sealing and re-saturation

   At (25 ± 1) days cover all surfaces except the test surface with rubber (rubber edge (20 ± 1) mm above the test surface). At 28 days cover the test surface with a layer of about 3 mm of de-ionized water for (72 ± 2) h at (20 ± 2) °C; before the test insulate the specimen with (20 ± 1) mm polystyrene (5.3).

7. CEN/TS 12390-9 — test

   At 31 days, not earlier than 15 min before placing in the chamber, replace the water with a 3 mm layer of freezing medium at (20 ± 2) °C and start the cycles according to Figure 4 of the standard. After 56 cycles determine the mass of material scaled from the test surface (intermediate measurements according to the description of the 2007 edition: after (7 ± 1), (14 ± 1), (28 ± 1) and (42 ± 1) cycles) (5.1, 5.3).

8. Alternative methods

   Cube test or CF/CDF only with the agreement of the parties; in case of doubt and without agreement, the slab test is used (introduction to CEN/TS 12390-9). The procedure of these methods is in clauses 6–7 of the specification (outside the available text).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• The available texts contain no safety requirements — rules for working with freezing chambers, salt solution, diamond saw, adhesive and compression machine are set by the laboratory on the basis of a risk assessment

Frequently asked questions