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IS 14893:2019 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for ready-mixed concrete - specification. This standard specifies the requirements for production, quality control, and supply of ready-mixed concrete (RMC). It covers constituent materials, ordering information, manufacturing tolerances, transport, delivery, sampling, and conformity criteria to ensure quality for construction projects.
Covers the requirements for ready-mixed concrete (RMC) delivered to the purchaser at the site in a plastic state.
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Frequently Used
Domain
Materials Science — Precast and Prefabricated Concrete
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! The purchaser must clearly specify either a 'prescribed mix' (providing proportions) or a 'designed mix' (providing performance requirements like strength and workability). 'Designed mix' is most common.
! Always check the delivery ticket (challan) on-site for details like grade, quantity, time of batching, and admixture content before accepting the concrete.
! Unauthorized addition of water to the transit mixer at the site is strictly prohibited as it compromises the strength and durability of the concrete.
Specifies requirements for ready-mixed concrete, covering materials, ordering, production, and delivery to the purchaser.
BS EN 206:2013+A2:2021BSI (British Standards Institution) / CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Concrete - Specification, performance, production and conformity
Provides a comprehensive framework for the specification, performance, production, and conformity of concrete for structures.
AS 1379-2007Standards Australia, Australia
HighCurrent
Specification and supply of concrete
Specifies requirements for the materials, production, and supply of concrete for various construction applications.
CSA A23.1-19CSA Group, Canada
MediumCurrent
Concrete materials and methods of concrete construction
Covers materials and methods for concrete construction, including the supply of ready-mixed concrete, within a broader scope.
Key Differences
≠IS 14893 specifies a maximum delivery time of 2 hours from loading, whereas ASTM C94 specifies 90 minutes or 300 drum revolutions, whichever is first. This can significantly impact logistics in hot weather.
≠EN 206 uses a detailed system of exposure classes (e.g., XC, XD, XS) to define durability requirements, which is not as explicitly structured in IS 14893, which relies on references to IS 456 for durability provisions.
≠Concrete strength is classified as 'M' grades (e.g., M25) in IS 14893 based on 150mm cube strength. EN 206 uses dual-number classes (e.g., C25/30) representing characteristic cylinder and cube strengths, respectively.
≠Conformity and production control rules in EN 206 are more statistically rigorous and detailed (e.g., Methods A, B, C for different production levels) compared to the conformity criteria in IS 14893, which references IS 456.
Key Similarities
≈All standards cover the entire process of ready-mixed concrete from ordering and material selection to batching, mixing, delivery, and discharge.
≈All standards provide options for specifying concrete based on either performance (e.g., strength, slump, durability) or by prescription (specifying exact mix proportions and constituents).
≈All standards require the producer to implement a quality control system and provide documentation (delivery ticket/note) with key information about the delivered concrete batch.
≈All standards mandate sampling and testing of fresh and hardened concrete at the point of delivery to verify compliance with the specified properties, particularly slump and compressive strength.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Maximum Delivery Time
2 hours from the time of loading
90 minutes or before 300 drum revolutions, whichever occurs first
ASTM C94/C94M
Slump Tolerance (Specified Slump 50-100 mm)
± 25 mm
± 1.5 in. [± 38 mm] (for specified slump > 4 in.)
ASTM C94/C94M
Concrete Temperature at Delivery
Generally between 5°C and 40°C
Limits specified based on section size and weather, e.g., max 95°F [35°C] for hot weather
ASTM C94/C94M
Sampling Frequency (Compressive Strength)
1 sample per 50 m³ or part thereof, for each grade
1 sample per 150 yd³ [approx. 115 m³] of each class
For a specified slump of 50-100 mm, the tolerance is ±25 mm. For slump over 100 mm, it's ±30 mm (Table 3).
What is the minimum sampling frequency for RMC?+
1 sample for the first 50 m³ of production, then 1 sample for every 50 m³ thereafter. Frequency should be agreed for quantities less than 6 m³ (Clause 11.2.2.1).
What key information must be on the RMC delivery ticket?+
Producer's name, truck no., concrete grade, quantity, time of loading, type of cement and admixture, and specified workability are some key details (Clause 10.4).
Can water be added to the RMC truck on site?+
No. Addition of water is prohibited unless it's part of the held-back mix design water, added under supervision before discharge begins, and its acceptability is verified (Clause 10.3).