European Standards

EFCA sponsors the Chairman of TC 104/SC3, the TC responsible for the development of new European standards for admixtures and co-ordinates input by national associations to their mirror committees. EN 934 is a series of standards covering admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout. These are complimented by the EN 480 series covering test methods for admixtures.

Series EN 934 Admixtures for concrete, mortar and grout:

• Part 1. Common requirements. Published March 2008
• Part 2. Concrete admixtures – Definitions, conformity, marking and labelling. Published May 2009
• Part 3. Admixtures for masonry mortar. Approved for publication
• Part 4. Admixtures for grout for prestressing tendons. Published June 2009
• Part 5. Admixtures for sprayed concrete. Published November 2007
• Part 6 + A1. Sampling, conformity control, evaluation of conformity, marking and labelling. Pt 6 published September 2001. A1 published 2005.

EN 934-2: work activated following EFCA proposal for an amendment to extend the standard to a further type of admixture - viscosity modifying admixtures (VMA).

EN 934-3: work activated on a corrigendum to correct a number of referencing errors.

EN 934-6: work activated to revise the standard to incorporate past amendments.

Series EN 480 Admixtures for concrete mortar and grout - Test methods

A 5 year review of the following standards has been initiated: EN 480-8:1996, EN 934-6:2001, EN 480-4:2005, EN 480-5:2005, EN 480-6:2005, EN 480-11:2005, EN 480-12:2005.

Owing to changes in the types of cement on the market there is a need to revise the requirements for reference cement in EN 480-1 and EN 480-13. Proposals have been submitted to CEN TC 104/ SC3 for amendment to the above by EFCA and the work activated.

A new standard EN 480-15: Reference concrete and method for testing viscosity modifying Admixtures has been proposed following the EFCA proposal for the inclusion of VMA in EN 934-2 and has been accepted for CEN enquiry.

Mould Release Agent task Force

The work of the EFCA TC on the classification of form/mould release agents has been terminated following the completion of the French MRA Classification by French Concrete Admixture Association SYNAD. Anyone interested in following the SYNAD approach to MRA Classification is asked to contact SYNAD directly.

Self-Compacting Concrete

The EFCA TC has played a leading role in initiating and contributing to the European Joint Project group producing the new Guidelines and a Specification for SCC. "The European Guidelines for Self Compacting Concrete" represent a state-of-the-art document addressed to those specifiers, designers, purchasers, producers and users who wish to enhance their expertise and use of SCC. These guidelines and are available for free download on the publication page of this web site.

EFCA is preparing proposals to provide the basis for draft requirements to be added to EN 934-2. The EFCA Technical Committee is looking to introduce a test method to allow Viscosity Modifying Admixtures (VMAs) for segregation resistance in SCC.