BS 6089:2010

This British Standard complements BS EN 13791, which gives methods for determining the characteristic in-situ compressive strength in concrete structures and precast concrete components based on:

1. core testing;

2. rebound hammer, ultrasonic pulse velocity and pull-out force measurements after a relationship with core strength has been determined for the particular concrete under investigation.

This British Standard provides additional guidance on:

• planning an investigation (see Clause 5);

• selection of test methods (see 5.4);

• selection of the test locations (see 5.5 and 5.6);

• assessment of individual core results within a group (see 6.1);

• assessment where the strength of concrete based on test specimens is in doubt (see Clause 7).

In addition, this British Standard provides guidance on the following cases not covered by BS EN 13791:

• assessment of an unknown structure using a margin based on the t-statistic (see 6.2);

• use of indirect methods without correlation to core strength (see 6.3);

• relative testing, i.e. comparison of a volume of concrete under investigation with concrete in similar elements that has been accepted (see 6.4);

• action when the producer has declared nonconformity (see Clause 8).

This British Standard does not provide guidance on:

• the use of cores with a diameter of less than 50 mm or the use of microcores;

• whether a structure has adequate durability;

• the use of in-situ testing as an alternative to conformity testing based on test specimens.

  NOTE For completeness, Figure 1 and Figure 2 identify such a procedure but this British Standard does not attempt to provide any of the necessary detail.