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BRITISH STANDARD BS 3797:1990

Incorporating
Amendment No. 1

Specification for

Lightweight aggregates
for masonry units and
structural concrete
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BS 3797:1990

Committees responsible for this

British Standard

The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted by the Cement

Gypsum Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Policy Committee
(CAB/-) to Technical Committee CAB/2, upon which the following bodies were
represented:

Aggregate Concrete Block Association

Association of Consulting Engineers
Association of Consulting Scientists
Association of Lightweight Aggregate Manufacturers
Brick Development Association
British Aggregate Construction Materials Industries
British Cement Association
British Ceramic Research Ltd
British Civil Engineering Test Equipment Manufacturers’ Association
British Geological Sciences
British Precast Concrete Federation Ltd.
British Ready Mixed Concrete Association
British Steel Industry
Building Employers Confederation
Calcium Silicate Brick Association Limited
Chartered Institute of Building
Concrete Society
County Surveyors’ Society
Department of the Environment (Building Research Establishment)
Department of the Environment (Property Services Agency)
Department of Transport
Department of Transport (Transport and Road Research Laboratory)
Electricity Supply Industry in England and Wales
Federation of Civil Engineering Contractors
Institute of Concrete Technology
Institution of Civil Engineers
Institution of Highways and Transportation
Institution of Structural Engineers
Institution of Water and Environmental Management
Mortar Producers Association Limited
This British Standard, having Sand and Gravel Association Limited
been prepared under the Society of Chemical Industry
direction of the Cement Gypsum
Aggregates and Quarry Products
Standards Policy Committee,
was published under the
authority of the Board of BSI
and comes into effect on
30 November 1990

© BSI 01-1999
Amendments issued since publication
First published, as Part 2,
November 1976 Amd. No. Date Comments
Second edition November 1990
6796 August 1991 Indicated by a sideline in the margin
The following BSI references
relate to the work on this
standard:
Committee reference CAB/2
Draft for comment 89/14215 DC

ISBN 0 580 19024 2

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BS 3797:1990

Contents

Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Definitions 1
3 Sampling and testing 1
4 Grading 1
5 Loose bulk density (oven dry materials) 1
6 Sulphate content 2
7 Loss-on-ignition 2
Appendix A Determination of loose bulk density (oven dry materials) 4
Appendix B Determination of loss-on-ignition 4
Table 1 — Grading of coarse aggregate for structural concrete 2
Table 2 — Grading of coarse foamed or expanded blastfurnace slag 2
Table 3 — Grading of fine aggregate for structural concrete 2
Table 4 — Limits for loss-on-ignition 3
Table 5 — Dimensions of cylindrical container 4
List of references Inside back cover

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BS 3797:1990

Foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of the Cement,
Gypsum, Aggregates and Quarry Products Standards Policy Committee and is a
revision of BS 3797-2:1976 which is withdrawn. In this revision the opportunity
has been taken to include foamed or expanded blastfurnace slag previously
covered by BS 877, and clinker and furnace bottom ash aggregates previously
covered by BS 1165, which are now withdrawn. The methods of sampling and
testing of lightweight aggregates previously described in BS 3681 have either
been incorporated into appendices of this standard or covered by reference to an
appropriate Part of BS 812 and therefore BS 3681 is also withdrawn.
In order to classify materials as lightweight aggregate suitable for concrete mixes
or masonry, maximum and minimum bulk density limits have been specified.
Requirements for grading, sulphate content and loss-on-ignition have also been
given where applicable.
Some clinkers derived from lump coal burnt in older types of furnaces should be
used with discretion as they may contain nodules of free lime which, should they
become damp, could cause local expansion. If the presence of unhydrated lime is
suspected a water slake test may be appropriate.
The use of clinker and furnace bottom ash with a high loss-on-ignition is not
recommended in reinforced concrete or concrete required to have a high
durability.
A British Standard does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users of British Standards are responsible for their correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i and ii,
pages 1 to 6, an inside back cover and a back cover.
This standard has been updated (see copyright date) and may have had
amendments incorporated. This will be indicated in the amendment table on
the inside front cover.

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BS 3797:1990

1 Scope 3 Sampling and testing

This British Standard specifies requirements for the Sampling and testing of aggregates shall be carried
following lightweight aggregates for masonry units out in accordance with this standard or, where
and structural concrete: pumice; expanded clay, appropriate, in accordance with BS 812-102.
shale and slate; clinker and furnace bottom ash; and
those based on pulverized-fuel ash and blastfurnace 4 Grading
slag.
4.1 General
NOTE 1 This specification does not preclude the use of
lightweight aggregates for other applications. Grading of aggregates shall be determined by
NOTE 2 The titles of the publications referred to in this carrying out tests by the dry sieve analysis method
standard are listed on the inside back cover. described in BS 812-103.1 on two portions taken
from the same sample. The percentage by mass
2 Definitions passing each sieve shall be calculated to the
For the purposes of this British Standard, the nearest 0.5 %, and the mean percentage reported to
definitions given in BS 812-102 apply together with the nearest whole number.
the following. 4.2 Coarse aggregate
NOTE All types of lightweight materials defined in 2.2 to 2.8
may be crushed to produce an appropriate size range.
Grading of coarse aggregate shall comply with the
limits given in Table 1 or Table 2, as appropriate,
2.1 and shall be described by the number of this British
lightweight aggregate Standard and the nominal size and description,
aggregate having a loose bulk density not more e.g. BS 3797, 14 mm graded or BS 3797,
than 1 200 kg/m3 for fine aggregate or not more BFS 14 mm graded.
than 1 000 kg/m3 for coarse aggregate NOTE 1 The designation BFS may refer to foamed or pelletized
expanded blastfurnance slag as defined in 2.6 and 2.7.
2.2
NOTE 2 Aggregates for use in concrete masonry complying
pumice with BS 6073-1 need not comply with the gradings given
a natural volcanic igneous rock containing air voids in Table 1 and Table 2.
and having an open texture 4.3 Fine aggregate
2.3 Grading of fine aggregate shall comply with the
expanded clay, shale and slate limits of one of the grades given in Table 3 and shall
aggregates produced by the pyroprocessing of be described by the number of this British Standard
certain argillaceous materials and the limits of the grade into which it falls,
e.g. BS 3797, grade L1.
2.4 NOTE Aggregates for use in concrete masonry complying with
processed pulverized-fuel ash (fly ash) BS 6073-1 need not comply with the gradings given in Table 3.
aggregates produced by pelletizing fly ash and
stabilizing by pyroprocessing or other means 5 Loose bulk density (oven dry
2.5
materials)
furnace bottom ash NOTE The loose bulk density is the mass of oven dry
uncompacted material in a given volume, expressed in kg/m3.
a fused residue from furnaces fired with pulverized
5.1 When tested as described in appendix A, the
coal
loose bulk density of two determinations (see A.3.1)
2.6 shall not differ by more than 30 kg/m3. If the
foamed blastfurnace slag difference is greater than 30 kg/m3, the test shall be
aggregates manufactured by foaming molten repeated on two further samples.
blastfurnace slag with sufficient water or other 5.2 When tested as described in appendix A, the
suitable medium to produce a cellular product loose bulk density of fine aggregate (nominal size
2.7 not greater than 5 mm) shall be not greater
pelletized expanded blastfurnace slag than 1 200 kg/m3 or less than 400 kg/m3.
expanded blast-furnace slag produced in pelletized 5.3 When tested as described in appendix A, the
form loose bulk density of coarse aggregate (nominal size
greater than 5 mm) shall be not greater
2.8
than 1 000 kg/m3 or less than 250 kg/m3.
clinker
a fused residue from furnaces fired with coal which
has not been pulverized

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BS 3797:1990

Table 1 — Grading of coarse aggregate for structural concrete

BS 410 test Percentage by mass passing BS 410 sieves
sieve Nominal size of graded aggregate Nominal size of single sized aggregate
20 mm 14 mm 10 mm 20 mm 14 mm 10 mm 6 mm
(20.0 mm (14.0 mm (10.0 mm
to 5.0 mm) to 5.0 mm) to 2.36 mm)
mm % (m/m) % (m/m) % (m/m) % (m/m) % (m/m) % (m/m) % (m/m)
37.5 100 — — 100 — — —
20.0 95 to 100 100 — 85 to 100 100 — —
14.0 — 95 to 100 100 — 90 to 100 100 —
10.0 30 to 60 50 to 95 85 to 100 5 to 25 20 to 45 85 to 100 100
6.3 — — — — — — 60 to 100
5.0 0 to 10 0 to 15 15 to 50 0 to 5 0 to 10 15 to 35 0 to 35
2.36 — — 0 to 15 — — 0 to 5 0 to 10
NOTE Aggregate used for concrete to be pumped may require greater continuity of size between 10 mm and 5 mm than
indicated in this table.

Table 2 — Grading of coarse foamed or 6 Sulphate content

expanded blastfurnace slag
When sampled as described in B.2.1 to B.2.6 and
BS 410 test sieve Percentage by mass passing BS 410 tested as described in BS 812-118, the sulphate
test sieves
content of two determinations (see B.2.1) shall not
mm % (m/m) differ by more than 0.1 %. If the difference is greater
20.0 100 than 0.1 % the test shall be repeated on two further
samples.
14.0 90 to 100
Lightweight aggregate shall have a sulphate
10.0 60 to 100 content of not more than 1.0 % when the sulphate
6.3 — content is expressed as sulphur trioxide.
5.0 10 to 50
7 Loss-on-ignition
2.36 0 to 15
NOTE The loss-on-ignition is the percentage loss in mass of a
sample ignited at 775 ± 25 °C.
Table 3 — Grading of fine aggregate for
When tested as described in appendix B, the
structural concrete
loss-on-ignition of two determinations (see B.2.1)
BS 410 test Percentage by mass passing BS 410 shall not differ by more than 5 % of the appropriate
sieve test sieves limiting value as given in Table 4. If the difference
Grade L1 Grade L2 is greater than 5 % of the appropriate limiting
% (m/m) % (m/m) value, the test shall be repeated on two further
samples. The loss-on-ignition shall not exceed the
10.00 mm 100 100 values given in Table 4.
5.00 mm 90 to 100 90 to 100
2.36 mm 55 to 100 60 to 100
1.18 mm 35 to 90 40 to 80
600 µm 20 to 60 30 to 60
300 µm 10 to 30 25 to 40
150 µm 5 to 19 20 to 35

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BS 3797:1990

Table 4 — Limits for loss-on-ignition

Aggregate Maximum
loss-on-ignition
Pumice Not applicable
Blastfurnace slag Not applicable
Expanded clay shale and slate 4%
Pyroprocessed pulverized-fuel 4%
ash
Pulverized-fuel ash stabilized 8%
by other means
Clinker and furnace bottom 10 %
ash for use in concrete for
general purposes
Clinker and furnace bottom 25 %
ash for use in concrete for
interior work not normally
exposed to damp conditions

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BS 3797:1990

Appendix A Determination of loose A.3 Test procedure

bulk density (oven dry materials) A.3.1 Carry out the test on two samples.
A.3.2 Dry the aggregate sample to constant mass in
A.1 Apparatus
an oven controlled at 105 ± 5 °C.
A.1.1 Balance, capable of weighing up to 25 kg to an A.3.3 Place the container on a horizontal surface
accuracy of 5 g. and fill to overflowing by discharging the test
A.1.2 Watertight container, of sufficient rigidity to aggregate from the scoop, from a height not
retain its shape, of the dimensions given in Table 5, exceeding 50 mm above the top of the container. The
made of corrosion-resistant metal, with a smooth test aggregate in the container shall not be
internal face, the rim machined to a plane surface, subjected to tamping or shock.
the rim and base at fight angles to the axis and NOTE Care should be taken to prevent, so far as is possible,
fitted with handles. segregation of the particle sizes of which the sample is composed.
Table 5 — Dimensions of cylindrical container A.3.4 On completion of filling, strike level the
Nominal Inside Inside Minimum Radius surface of the aggregate using the straightedge.
capacity diameter height wall between A.3.5 The mass of the aggregate in the container
thickness wall and shall then be determined to the nearest 0.01 kg and
base
the bulk density, oven dry, calculated in kg/m3.
m3 mm mm mm mm
A.4 Calculation and expression of results
0.01 200 ± 1.5 320 ± 1.5 4 20
A.4.1 Calculate the loose bulk density (oven dry) of
A.1.3 Scoop, as described in 3.1 of each sample by dividing the mass of the aggregate
BS 1881-101:1983. in kilograms by the volume of the container in cubic
A.1.4 Straightedge, made of steel, not less metres. Calculate the mean of the two
than 300 mm in length. determinations and record this as the loose bulk
density.
A.1.5 Glass pipette, if required, of known volume.
A.4.2 Express the loose bulk density (oven dry) in
A.1.6 Oven, capable of being controlled to maintain
kilograms per cubic metre to the nearest 5 kg/m3
a temperature of 105 ± 5 °C.
stating the nominal size of the aggregate tested.
A.2 Calibration of the watertight container Appendix B Determination of
A.2.1 Weigh the empty container. loss-on-ignition
A.2.2 Place the container on a horizontal surface
B.1 Apparatus
and fill with water at a temperature of 20 ± 5 °C so
that no meniscus is above the rim. If necessary, B.1.1 Two balances, one capable of weighing 25 kg
remove by means of a pipette a sufficient known with an accuracy of 5 g and one capable of
volume of water to allow the container to be lifted weighing 100 g with an accuracy of 0.001 g.
and placed on the balance platform without loss of B.1.2 Electric muffle furnace, capable of being
water. Add the mass of any removed water to the controlled to maintain a temperature of 775 ± 25 °C.
mass of the water remaining in the container.
B.1.3 Test sieves, with apertures of 5 mm, 1.18 mm
A.2.3 Calculate the capacity of the container by and 150 µm complying with BS 410.
dividing the mass of the water, to the
nearest 0.01 kg, required to fill the container, B.1.4 Desiccator, glass vessel provided with a lid
by 1 000 kg/m3. Express the capacity to the which can form an airtight seal.
nearest 0.00001 m3 (0.1 %). B.1.5 Dish, crucible (with lid) approximately 35 mm
A.2.4 Repeat the test twice more and take the in diameter and 40 mm in height and capable of
arithmetic mean result. maintaining a constant mass when heated
to 800 °C.
B.1.6 Oven, capable of being controlled to maintain
a temperature of 105 ± 5 °C.

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BS 3797:1990

B.2 Test procedure B.3 Calculation and expression of results

B.2.1 Carry out the test on two samples. B.3.1 Calculate the loss in mass of each sample,
B.2.2 Obtain a sample of approximately 10 kg of the expressed as a percentage of the dry mass from the
aggregate in accordance with BS 812-102 and crush equation:
it until it passes a 5 mm aperture test sieve. % loss-on-ignition =
B.2.3 Remix the sample and reduce it by standard loss in mass
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- × 100
sample reduction procedures until a subsample original dry mass of sample
weighing approximately 2 kg is obtained.
Calculate the mean of the two determinations and
B.2.4 Dry the subsample to constant mass in an record this as the loss-on-ignition.
oven controlled at 105 ± 5 °C and grind it until it
B.3.2 Express the loss-on-ignition to the
passes a 1.18 mm test sieve.
nearest 0.1 %.
B.2.5 Remix the subsample and reduce it to a final
sample of approximately 100 g.
B.2.6 Grind the final sample until it passes
a 150 µm test sieve.
B.2.7 Weigh a test portion of approximately 1 g of
the final sample in a previously ignited and weighed
dish. Place the sample in a muffle furnace
maintained at a temperature of 775 ± 25 °C and
cover the dish with a lid for the first 10 ± 1 min.
After 2 h to 3 h remove the dish from the furnace,
allow it to cool in the desiccator and reweigh.

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6
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BS 3797:1990

Publications referred to

BS410, Specification for test sieves.

BS 812, Testing aggregates.
BS 812-102, Methods for sampling.
BS 812-103.1, Methods for determination of particle size distribution.
BS 812-118, Methods for determination of sulphate content.
BS 1881, Testing concrete.
BS 1881-101, Method of sampling fresh concrete on site.
BS 6073, Precast concrete masonry units.
BS 6073-1, Specification for precast concrete masonry units.

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