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IS 2116:1980 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for sand for masonry mortars - specification. This standard specifies the requirements for naturally occurring sands, crushed stone sands, and crushed gravel sands used in the preparation of masonry mortars. It covers the required quality, particle size grading, and maximum limits for deleterious materials to ensure optimum workability and mortar strength.
Sand for masonry mortars - Specification
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Frequently Used
Domain
Materials Science — Building Construction Practices incl. Painting, Varnishing
! Excessive silt and clay content (above 5%) severely reduces the bond strength between the masonry units and the mortar, often leading to shrinkage cracks.
! Sand graded for masonry mortar differs from concrete sand; it requires a specific fineness curve to ensure good workability and smooth jointing.
! When using crushed stone sand, washing is frequently necessary to bring the fine dust content within the 5% permissible limit.
Standard Specification for Aggregate for Masonry Mortar
Directly specifies grading and quality requirements for natural and manufactured sand for masonry mortar.
BS EN 13139:2002BSI (UK) / CEN (Europe)
HighCurrent
Aggregates for mortar
Specifies properties of aggregates from natural, manufactured, or recycled sources for use in mortars.
AS 3700-2018Standards Australia (Australia)
MediumCurrent
Masonry structures
A broader masonry code that contains specific grading and quality requirements for sand within its clauses.
CSA A179-14CSA Group (Canada)
MediumCurrent
Mortar and Grout for Unit Masonry
Specifies requirements for mortar and grout, including aggregate properties and grading limits.
Key Differences
≠IS 2116 provides a single grading envelope, whereas BS EN 13139 uses a more flexible system with different grading designations (e.g., 0/1, 0/2, 0/4 mm) and categories for fines content, allowing for mix design optimization.
≠For organic impurities, IS 2116 is purely prescriptive (reject if color is too dark). ASTM C144 allows for a performance-based override; sand failing the color test can still be accepted if it passes a comparative mortar strength test (ASTM C87).
≠The allowable fines content (material passing 75-micron sieve) in IS 2116 for crushed stone sand (up to 15%) is significantly higher than what is typically permitted in ASTM C144 for manufactured sand (up to 5%).
≠Modern standards like BS EN 13139 explicitly include provisions for recycled aggregates, a source not covered in the 1980 version of the Indian Standard.
Key Similarities
≈All standards use sieve analysis as the fundamental method to control the particle size distribution of sand to ensure proper workability and final mortar properties.
≈All standards impose strict limits on deleterious substances such as clay lumps, silt, and organic matter, which are known to compromise mortar bond, strength, and long-term durability.
≈The principle of ensuring aggregate durability through a soundness test (e.g., sodium or magnesium sulphate test) is common across IS 2116 and its international counterparts like ASTM C144.
≈All standards have the same primary objective: to specify the characteristics of fine aggregate to produce a consistent, workable, and durable masonry mortar suitable for its intended use.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Grading - % Passing 4.75 mm sieve
90 - 100%
100%
ASTM C144-21
Grading - % Passing 1.18 mm sieve
40 - 85%
40 - 80%
ASTM C144-21
Grading - % Passing 150 µm sieve
0 - 15%
2 - 10%
ASTM C144-21
Fines Content (Natural Sand) - max % passing 75 µm sieve
5%
3%
ASTM C144-21
Fines Content (Crushed Stone Sand) - max % passing 75 µm sieve
15%
5% (for Manufactured Sand)
ASTM C144-21
Clay Lumps and Friable Particles - max %
1.0%
1.0%
ASTM C144-21
Soundness (Sodium Sulphate test, 5 cycles) - max loss %
10%
10% (when specified)
ASTM C144-21
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
Maximum clay, fine silt, and fine dust content (natural sand)5% by mass
Maximum clay, fine silt, and fine dust content (crushed stone sand)5% by mass
Percentage passing 4.75 mm IS Sieve100%
Percentage passing 2.36 mm IS Sieve90 to 100%
Percentage passing 150-micron IS Sieve0 to 15%
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Grading of Sand for Use in Masonry Mortars
What is the maximum permissible limit of clay and fine silt in sand for masonry?+
5% by mass, as specified in Clause 3.2.1.
What is the maximum particle size allowed for masonry sand?+
100% of the sand must pass through a 4.75 mm IS Sieve according to Table 1.
Can crushed stone dust be used for masonry mortars?+
Yes, crushed stone sand is permitted provided it meets the grading requirements and deleterious material limits (like dust content) are strictly controlled.