This Technical Specification describes the testing of the freeze-thaw scaling resistance of concrete both with water
and with sodium chloride solution. It can be used either to compare new constituents or new concrete compositions
against a constituent or a concrete composition that is known to give adequate performance in the local
environment or to assess the test results against some absolute numerical values based on local experiences.
Extrapolation of test results to assess different concretes i.e. new constituents or new concrete compositions,
requires an expert evaluation.
NOTE In some cases the test methods may not be suitable for testing special concretes e.g. high strength concrete or
permeable concrete. In these cases the result is to be treated with caution. These tests may not identify aggregates that are
subject to occasional ‘pop-outs’.
There is no established correlation between the results obtained by the three test methods. All tests will clearly
identify poor and good behaviour, but they differ in their assessment of marginal behaviour
There are two types of concrete deterioration when a freeze-thaw attack occurs, scaling and internal structural
damage. Test methods on internal structural damage are described in a CEN Technical Report CEN/TR 15177
"Testing the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete - Internal structural damage".
BS DD CEN/TS 12390-9:2006 Referenced Document
EN 12390-2 Testing hardened concrete - Part 2: Making and curing specimens for strength tests*, 2009-03-01 Update
EN 60751 Industrial platinum resistance thermometers and platinum temperature sensors*, 2008-09-01 Update
ISO 5725 Precision of test methods; Determination of repeatability and reproducibility for a standard test method by inter-laboratory tests