Sand for construction:

The details in this blog has been provided by Mrs Anjali J, Sr Technical Executive - Civil Engineer. Many thanks to her.

Let us know some of the important points about the SAND:

Here are some of the details regarding the sand used in construction for Reinforced Cement concrete (RCC) works, Cement Concrete (CC) works, sand cement mortar for plastering, mortar for brick / stone masonry works, pointing works, etc,.

Details mentioned are with the refence of:

IS 269 : 2015 Ordinary Portland Cement ‒ Specification

IS 383 : 2016 Specification of Coarse and Fine Aggregate

IS 1542 : 1992 Sand for Plaster—Specification

IS 2386 Part 1 : 1963 Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete

IS 2386 Part 2 : 1963 Estimation of deleterious materials and organic impurities

IS 2386 Part 3 : 1963  Specific gravity, density, voids, absorption and bulking

IS 3812 (part 1) : 2013 Pulverized Fuel Ash –Specification  Part 1 : For Use as Pozzolana in Cement, Cement Mortar and Concrete

IS 4032:1985 Methods of Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Cements

IS 4082 : 1996 Recommendations on Stacking and Storage of Construction Materials and Components at site

IS 12089 : 1987  Specification for Granulated Slag for the Manufacture of Portland Slag Cement

And

a) DIN 18555 (part 2 to 6) – Testing of mortars containing mineral binders, determination of consistency flow, compressive strength, setting time, elastic modules and bond strength.

b) ASTM C 941- Standard Test Method for water retentivity of Ground Mixtures.

c) ASTM D 4541 – Standard Test Method for Pull-off strength of Coatings.

d) ASTM C 157 – Standard Test Method for Length Change of Hardened Hydraulic – cement mortar and concrete

e) ASTM C-1403 – Standard Test Method for Rate of water Absorption of Masonry Mortars.

f) BS EN 1015-1999 (part 1,8,11,12 &18) – Method of Test for Mortar for masonry.

g) BSEN 998-1-2016 – Specification for mortar for masonry, rendering and plastering mortar.

The sand shall consist of natural sand, crushed stone sand or crushed gravel sand or a combination of any of these. The sand shall be hard, durable, clean and free from contaminants.

The sand shall not contain any harmful impurities, such as, iron pyrites, alkalies, salts, coal, mica, shale or similar laminated materials, soft fragments, sea shells and organic impurities in such quantities as to affect adversely the hardening, the strength, the durability and the appearance of the plaster or applied decoration, or to cause corrosion of metal lathing or other metal in contact with the plaster.

Clay, silt and dust [determined in accordance with IS 2386 (Part 2)] – Not more than 5 percent by weight.

The average compressive strength shall be not less than 3 N/mm at 28 days.

The amount of water for gauging shall be that required to give a flow between 110 to 115 with 25 drops in 15 seconds.

Sand grading: 

The fineness modulus of sand shall be not less than 1.4 in case of crushed stone sands and crushed gravel sands and not less than 1.5 in case of naturally occurring sands.

Mineral / Chemical additive shall be made as per the agreement / manufacturer’s specification.

Minimum property of CM 1:4 shall be 

Other than 1:4 mix of CM shall have minimum property of: