💧 Concrete water permeability

Construction PN-EN 12390-8

Overview

STATUS (as of 06.11.2026). PN-EN 12390-8:2019-08 — Polish version, published on 05.07.2021, implements EN 12390-8:2019 [IDT]; it replaced PN-EN 12390-8:2011 (Polish version). The PKN card has no withdrawal note — the standard is current. According to the foreword, the 2019 edition differs from the 2009 edition by an editorial revision, and its scope has been restricted to specimens cured in water.

SCOPE (clause 1). The standard specifies a method for determining the depth of penetration of water under pressure in hardened concrete which has been water cured.

PRINCIPLE (clause 4). Water is applied under pressure to the surface of hardened concrete. The specimen is then split and the depth reached by the water front is measured.

APPARATUS (clause 5). Any suitable equipment may be used in which the water pressure acts on the test area of the specimen and the applied pressure is continuously indicated; an example arrangement is shown in Figure 1 of the standard (plates screwed together with threaded rods, sealing ring). Water may be applied from the bottom or from the top. The seal shall be watertight, made of rubber or a similar material. The test area is approximately half of the length of the edge or the diameter of the test surface. It is preferable that the apparatus allows the other surfaces of the specimen to be observed.

SPECIMEN (clause 6). Cube, cylinder or prism; the minimum dimension of the surface to be tested is not less than 150 mm and no other dimension is less than 100 mm. Smaller specimens can be tested — their dimensions and test area are then given in the report. Cores are at least 95 mm in diameter.

PREPARATION (7.1). Immediately after demoulding, the surface to be exposed to water pressure is roughened with a wire brush and the specimen is cured under water in accordance with EN 12390-2. That standard requires the specimen to stay in the mould for at least 16 h but not longer than 3 days at (20 ± 5) °C, and after demoulding to be cured in water at (20 ± 2) °C until tested.

TEST (7.2–7.3). The test is started when the specimen is at least 28 days old. The pressure is not applied to a trowelled surface. Water acts at a pressure of (500 ± 50) kPa for (72 ± 2) h; tap water can be used. During the test the surfaces not exposed to the pressure are observed periodically; any leakage is recorded and the validity of the result is considered. After the test the face exposed to water is wiped and the specimen is split in half perpendicular to it, with that face at the bottom. As soon as the split face has dried so that the water front is clearly visible, the front is marked on the specimen and the maximum depth of penetration under the test area is measured to the nearest 1 mm.

RESULT AND REPORT (clauses 8–9). The result is the maximum depth of penetration in millimetres. The report gives: reference to the standard, identification of the specimen, date of start of the test, shape and dimensions of the specimen, direction of application of the water pressure with respect to the casting direction, maximum depth of penetration, any leakage with consideration of the validity of the result, and deviations from the standard.

SECOND SOURCE. In a study by a team of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) on the water permeability of concrete with a superplasticizer and admixtures (Materials 2020), the depth of penetration was tested in accordance with EN 12390-8 (2009 edition) on three cubic specimens of each concrete: a pressure of (500 ± 50) kPa was applied to the bottom moulded face, the other surfaces were observed during the test, and after (72 ± 2) h the specimens were split into halves.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE HERE. The precision of the method — clause 10 of the standard is outside the available text. A permissible depth of penetration or former national watertightness grades — the test standard does not contain them; the requirement for the concrete is set by its specification or by the design.

Method principle

A concrete specimen (cube, cylinder or prism with a test surface of at least 150 mm), cured under water and at least 28 days old, is placed in the apparatus so that water at a pressure of (500 ± 50) kPa acts for (72 ± 2) h on a test area of about half the edge length or diameter of the test surface. The specimen is then split perpendicular to that surface, the water front is marked on the split face and the maximum depth of penetration is measured to the nearest 1 mm.

Applications

• Determination of the depth of penetration of water under pressure in hardened, water-cured concrete (scope of the standard, clause 1)
• Moulded specimens: cubes, cylinders and prisms with a test surface of at least 150 mm (clause 6)
• Cores at least 95 mm in diameter (clause 6)
• Specimens smaller than required — with their dimensions and test area given in the report (clause 6)
• Comparison of concretes of different composition, e.g. with admixtures (as the method was used in the SGGW study, Materials 2020)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 12390-8:2019-08

Title (PL)

Badania betonu — Część 8: Głębokość penetracji wody pod ciśnieniem

Title (EN)

Testing hardened concrete — Part 8: Depth of penetration of water under pressure

Step-by-step procedure

1. Moulding and demoulding

   Leave the specimen in the mould for at least 16 h but not longer than 3 days at (20 ± 5) °C, protected against shock and dehydration (EN 12390-2, 6.5.1).

   🌡 Temperature: (20 ± 5) °C

2. Roughening the surface

   Immediately after demoulding, roughen the surface to be exposed to water pressure with a wire brush (7.1).

3. Water curing

   Cure the specimen under water at (20 ± 2) °C until tested; start the test when the specimen is at least 28 days old (7.1–7.2; EN 12390-2, 6.5.2).

   🌡 Temperature: (20 ± 2) °C

4. Placing the specimen

   Choose a surface that is not trowelled, place the specimen in the apparatus with a watertight seal so that water acts on a test area of about half the edge length or diameter (clause 5, 7.2). Record the direction of the pressure with respect to the casting direction.

5. Applying pressure

   Apply a water pressure of (500 ± 50) kPa for (72 ± 2) h. Periodically observe the surfaces not exposed to the pressure; record any leakage and consider the validity of the result (7.2).

6. Splitting

   Remove the specimen, wipe the face exposed to water and split the specimen in half perpendicular to it, with that face at the bottom (7.3).

7. Measurement

   When the split face has dried and the water front is clearly visible, mark it and measure the maximum depth of penetration under the test area to the nearest 1 mm (7.3).

8. Report

   Give the reference to the standard, identification and description of the specimen (shape, dimensions), date of start, direction of the pressure, maximum depth of penetration in mm, any leakage with consideration of validity, and deviations from the standard (clause 9).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard contains no safety requirements; the rules for working with apparatus under a water pressure of (500 ± 50) kPa are set by the laboratory on the basis of a risk assessment and the instructions of the apparatus
• Splitting concrete specimens — the method and guards are chosen by the laboratory for the device used (not specified by the standard)

Frequently asked questions