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IS 3632:1969 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for method of test for determination of the wet volume of asbestos fibre. This standard lays down the method of test for determining the wet volume of asbestos fibre, which is an important metric for evaluating the bulking characteristics and fiberization level of asbestos used in cement products.
Method of test for determination of the wet volume of asbestos fibre
! Testing must be performed with strict health and safety precautions (PPE, masks) because asbestos is a known carcinogen.
! The wet volume test is an indirect measure of the degree of opening (fiberization) of the asbestos fibres, heavily influencing the manufacturing of asbestos-cement sheets and pipes.
ISO 3617:1976International Organization for Standardization (ISO), International
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Asbestos — Determination of wet volume
Direct equivalent standard prescribing a method to determine the wet volume of asbestos fibre by settling in water.
ASTM D2011-65(1969)American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), USA
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Standard Method of Test for Wet Volume of Asbestos Fiber
Direct US equivalent method for determining the wet volume of asbestos fibre using a similar settling principle.
QAMA Method 2A-68Quebec Asbestos Mining Association (QAMA), Canada
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Standard Test for Wet Volume of Asbestos Fiber
An influential industry standard from a major historical producer, defining a nearly identical test procedure.
BS 5293-2:1976British Standards Institution (BSI), UK
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Methods of test for asbestos. Determination of wet volume
The UK national standard, technically identical to ISO 3617, for determining the wet volume of asbestos fibre.
Key Differences
≠The specified water temperature in IS 3632 is 27 ± 2 °C, reflecting Indian ambient conditions, whereas ISO 3617 specifies 20 ± 2 °C and ASTM D2011 specifies 75 ± 5 °F (approx. 24 ± 3 °C).
≠IS 3632 mandates a continuous stirring duration of 5 minutes, while ISO 3617 and the QAMA method specify a two-stage process (e.g., stir for 60 seconds, scrape down sides, stir for another 60 seconds).
≠The stirring apparatus differs; IS 3632 specifies a 4-bladed propeller at 2000 ± 200 rev/min, whereas the ISO/QAMA methods often reference the 'Hart' stirrer, which has a different impeller design and typically operates at a higher speed (e.g., 3300 rev/min).
Key Similarities
≈All standards are based on the identical principle of dispersing a known mass of fibre in water, allowing it to settle under gravity in a graduated cylinder, and measuring the resulting volume.
≈The standard mass of the asbestos fibre sample used for the test is consistently 20 g across IS 3632, ISO 3617, and ASTM D2011.
≈The total volume of water used for dispersion and measurement is 2000 ml in all compared standards.
≈All standards specify a standard settling time of 30 minutes after dispersion before the final volume reading is taken.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Sample Mass
20 ± 0.1 g
20 ± 0.1 g
ISO 3617:1976
Total Water Volume
2000 ml
2000 ml
ISO 3617:1976
Water Temperature
27 ± 2 °C
20 ± 2 °C
ISO 3617:1976
Stirring Speed
2000 ± 200 rev/min
3300 ± 100 rev/min
QAMA Method 2A-68
Stirring Duration
5 minutes (continuous)
Two 60-second periods with scraping between
ISO 3617:1976
Settling Time
30 minutes
30 minutes
ASTM D2011-65(1969)
Graduated Cylinder Capacity
2000 ml
2000 ml
ISO 3617:1976
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values3
Quick Reference Values
Standard testing temperature27 ± 2 °C
Standard relative humidity65 ± 5 %
Reading accuracyTo the nearest 1 ml
Key Formulas
Wet Volume = V (Volume of sediment in ml) / M (Mass of sample in g)
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 3 - Apparatus
Clause 4 - Preparation of Test Specimen
Clause 5 - Procedure
Frequently Asked Questions3
What is the purpose of determining the wet volume of asbestos?+
It helps assess the bulking capacity and freeness of the fibre in water, which affects the filtration rate and strength in asbestos-cement manufacturing.
What happens if the fibre is poorly fiberized?+
Poorly fiberized asbestos will yield a lower wet volume, indicating bundles have not been adequately separated into individual fibres.
Are there special safety requirements for this test?+
Yes, due to the hazardous nature of airborne asbestos fibres, sampling and testing should be conducted in properly ventilated enclosures using adequate respiratory protection.