BS EN 13791:2019

What is BS EN 13791 - Assessment of compressive strength of concrete about?  

BS EN 13791 discusses assessment methods for compressive strength of in-situ concrete and precast concrete components to help its users determine the quality of the concrete. or the gives methods and procedures for the estimation of the in situ compressive strength and characteristic in situ compressive strength of concrete in structures and precast concrete components using direct methods (core testing) and indirect methods, e.g., ultra-sonic pulse velocity, rebound number 

BS EN 13791 provides requirements for determining the in-situ strength at test locations and the 

characteristic strength of test regions, but how this information is to be applied needs to be considered in the light of the specific situation and engineering judgement applied to the specific case. 

Note1: BS EN 13791 does not include the assessment of the quality of concrete for properties other than compressive strength, e.g., durability-related properties. 

Note2: BS EN 13791 is not for the assessment of conformity of concrete compressive strength in accordance with EN 206 or EN 13369, except as indicated in EN 206:2013+A1:2016, 5.5.1.2 or 8.4. 

Note3: BS EN 13791 does not cover the procedures or criteria for the routine conformity control of precast concrete components using either direct or indirect measurements of the in-situ strength. 

Who is BS EN 13791- Assessment of compressive strength of concrete for? 

BS EN 13791 on assessment of compressive strength of in-situ and precast concrete is useful for: 

• Cement plants 
• Precast concrete plants 
• Civil engineers 
• Real estate developers 
• Architects 

Why should you use BS EN 13791- Assessment of compressive strength of concrete?  

The compressive strength of concrete determines its ability to withstand the pressure that it would have to endure over the lifecycle of the structure it is used in. 

BS EN 13791 provides principles and guidance for establishing the relationships between test results from indirect test methods and the in situ compressive strength. BS EN 13791 provides procedures and guidance for assessing the conformity with the compressive strength class of precast concrete components supplied to structures under construction where standard tests indicate doubt or where the quality of execution is in doubt. 

These guidelines provided by BS EN 13791 help you to verify the quality of concrete and thereby enhancing the structural integrity of the building. 

What’s changed since the last update? 

BS EN 13791:2019 supersedes EN 13791:2007. The main changes in BS EN 13791:2019 compared to EN 13791:2007 are: 

• The standard is fully revised but for continuity the methodological approaches and scope is retained as well as much of the previous layout 

• The primary focus is on the determination of the characteristic in situ compressive strength for application with EN 1990 and EN 1992-1-1 
• More comprehensive guidance is provided on applying the procedures, particularly with respect to defining a test result, a measurement, volume of concrete, test location, small test region and test region 
• Requirements to set out the purpose of the investigation, procedures to be adopted, test methods, test locations and test regions to be defined prior to commencing the testing, are included 
• Clause 8, "Estimation of compressive strength for structural assessment of an existing structure", covers the previous requirements for assessment of characteristic in situ compressive strength by either testing cores or indirect methods