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IS 1624:1986 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for method of field testing of building lime. This standard provides simple, rapid field testing methods to assess the general quality and suitability of building lime on construction sites without the need for a full laboratory setup. It covers visual inspection, impurity checks, workability (ball test), and basic soundness.
Method of field testing of building lime
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Rare
Domain
Materials Science — Building Limes and Gypsum Products
Standard Test Methods for Physical Testing of Quicklime, Hydrated Lime, and Limestone
Provides precise laboratory methods for physical properties that IS 1624 assesses qualitatively in the field.
EN 459-2:2021CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
MediumCurrent
Building lime - Part 2: Test methods
Defines reference laboratory test methods for building lime properties, contrasting with the simplified field tests of IS 1624.
ASTM C25-22ASTM International, USA
LowCurrent
Standard Test Methods for Chemical Analysis of Limestone, Quicklime, and Hydrated Lime
Focuses on quantitative chemical analysis, whereas IS 1624 uses a simple acid test for a qualitative check of carbonates.
BS 6463-102:1996BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
LowWithdrawn
Quicklime, hydrated lime and natural calcium carbonate. Methods of test. Chemical analysis
Provided detailed laboratory chemical analysis methods, now harmonized under the European standard EN 459-2.
Key Differences
≠IS 1624 specifies qualitative, observational field tests (e.g., visual inspection, feel), while standards like ASTM C110 and EN 459-2 mandate quantitative, instrument-based laboratory tests.
≠The soundness test in IS 1624 is a simple pat boiled in water, whereas ASTM C110 uses an autoclave expansion test under high pressure and temperature, providing a much more severe and measurable assessment.
≠IS 1624 is intended for rapid, on-site assessment with minimal equipment, whereas international standards are designed for product certification and require a controlled laboratory environment with specialized apparatus.
≠The assessment of unburnt material in IS 1624 is a simple effervescence test with acid, while ASTM C25 and EN 459-2 require complex chemical analysis to determine the exact percentage of carbon dioxide.
Key Similarities
≈Both the Indian and international standards recognize the critical importance of testing for soundness to prevent delayed expansion, cracking, and failure in plaster or mortar.
≈All standards include methods to assess the presence of impurities or unreacted materials, such as unburnt calcium carbonate, which affects the quality and performance of the lime.
≈The concept of workability or plasticity is common to all standards, acknowledging its importance for application, although the method of assessment differs from subjective (IS) to quantitative (ASTM).
≈Both IS 1624 and international standards for hydraulic limes include a test to confirm the material's ability to set and harden under water, which is the defining characteristic of hydraulic lime.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Soundness Test Method
A pat of lime putty is observed for cracks after 24 hours in air and 3 hours in boiling water.
A test bar is subjected to steam at 2.03 MPa in an autoclave for 3 hours; maximum expansion is measured.
ASTM C110
Test for Carbonates
Qualitative: Observation of effervescence upon adding dilute hydrochloric acid.
Quantitative: Determination of CO2 percentage by chemical analysis or instrumentation.
ASTM C25
Workability / Plasticity
Subjective assessment by 'feel' with a trowel. Putty should be smooth and plastic.
Quantitative measurement of a 'Plasticity Figure' using an Emley Plasticimeter (min. 200 for plastic limes).
ASTM C110
Setting Time (Hydraulic Lime)
Qualitative: A pat is placed under water for a month to check for hardening.
Quantitative: Time of setting is determined using the Vicat needle apparatus (e.g., initial set >2h).
EN 459-2
Test Environment
Field / On-site
Controlled Laboratory
ASTM C110 / EN 459-2
Fineness / Residue
Not a specified field test, but assessed through visual inspection for lumps.
Measured as percentage residue on specific sieves (e.g., max 0.5% on 600-µm sieve for hydrated lime).
ASTM C110
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use