This standard BS 1881-122:2011+A1:2020 Testing concrete is classified in these ICS categories:

• 91.100.30 Concrete and concrete products

This Part of BS 1881 specifies a method for the determination of water absorption of concrete specimens cored from a structure or a precast component.

The method may also be used to determine the water absorption of concrete cast into prisms or cylinders where the surface to volume ratio can be calculated and where no point in the specimen is more than 50 mm from a free surface.

NOTE 1 The results from different types of specimens should not be compared.

The measured water absorption of the specimen is corrected to that equivalent to a surface to volume ratio of a core 75 mm long with a diameter of 75 mm.

NOTE 2 Absorption values for cast specimens are normally slightly lower than those for a core from the same concrete but the difference can be more significant if the aggregate is absorbent.

NOTE 3 Cast specimens are normally used in comparative testing between a specified test concrete and an equivalent control.