European standards for concrete

EN 206-1 is a 'framework standard' with national provisions, detailed requirements, rules of application etc being provided by a complementary national standard, which for the UK is BS 8500, Complementary British Standard to BS EN 206-1.

 

The old British Standard for concrete, BS 5328, was withdrawn in December 2003 and replaced by BS EN 206-1, published in 2000, and the UK complementary standard BS 8500, published in  February 2002.

 

 

BS 8500 is significantly different from BS 5328 in both approach and specific requirements. It has changed the way concrete specifications are written. In essence under BS 8500, concrete may be specified as either proprietary, standardised prescribed, prescribed, designated or designed concrete.

Designed concrete contains a requirement for strength and this may be satisfied by using a designed concrete where the specifier states the limitations on the mix design (e.g. in industrial ground floor slabs). Or a designated concrete, where a supplier accredited by a third party (e.g. QARMC etc) designs the mix to suit the requirements of the designation given by the specifier (e.g. GEN, RC35 as defined in BS8500).

 

For most building and commercial structures, the designated concrete method of specification is appropriate. BS 8500-1, A.4 gives guidance on the selection of designated concrete. The inputs are the exposure classes and intended working life. The appropriate designated concrete and nominal cover to reinforcement are then selected from BS 8500-1, table A6 ensuring that the strength class associated with the selected designated concrete is adequate for structural purposes.