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IS 5421 : 1981Glossary of terms relating to testing sieves and test sieving

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ISO 2194 · BS ISO 2194
CurrentSpecializedTerminologyMaterials Science · Sieves, Sieving and Other Sizing Methods
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IS 5421:1981 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for glossary of terms relating to testing sieves and test sieving. This standard provides a glossary of standardized terms relating to testing sieves and test sieving procedures. It ensures uniformity in terminology across different disciplines performing particle size analysis, material grading, and quality control of granular materials.

Glossary of terms relating to testing sieves and test sieving

Overview

Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Materials Science — Sieves, Sieving and Other Sizing Methods
Type
Terminology
Earlier editions
IS 5421:2013
International equivalents
ISO 2194:2020 · ISO (International Organization for Standardization)BS ISO 2194:2020 · BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
Typically used with
IS 460IS 1607IS 4879
Practical Notes
! Use this standard to resolve technical ambiguities in lab reports, distinguishing clearly between terms like 'mesh', 'aperture', and 'wire diameter'.
! Modern engineering practices prefer specifying sieve sizes by 'aperture size' (in mm or microns) rather than 'mesh number', to prevent confusion caused by varying wire thicknesses.
Frequently referenced clauses
Cl. 2General termsCl. 3Terms relating to test sievesCl. 4Terms relating to test sieving
Pulled from IS 5421:1981. Browse the full clause & table index below in Tables & Referenced Sections.
aggregatessoilcementpowdersgranular materials

International Equivalents

Similar International Standards
ISO 2194:2020ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
HighCurrent
Industrial screens — Vocabulary
Broader scope ('Industrial screens') but contains the definitive vocabulary for test sieves, superseding the older standard.
ISO 2395:1990ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
HighWithdrawn
Test sieves and test sieving — Vocabulary
Direct historical equivalent, focused entirely on the vocabulary of test sieves and sieving.
ASTM E1638-94(2017)ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials), USA
HighWithdrawn
Standard Terminology Relating to Sieves, Sieving Methods, and Screening Media
The primary North American equivalent for terminology, though its content is now integrated into other ASTM standards.
BS ISO 2194:2020BSI (British Standards Institution), UK
HighCurrent
Industrial screens. Vocabulary
The British national adoption of the current ISO standard, effectively identical in technical content.
Key Differences
≠IS 5421:1981 is a standalone alphabetical glossary, whereas the modern equivalent, ISO 2194:2020, is a structured, multi-lingual vocabulary organized into thematic sections (e.g., types of screens, components, processes).
≠The Indian standard is from 1981 and has not been revised, while its international counterparts are either very recent (ISO 2194:2020) or have been withdrawn, indicating a more dynamic update cycle internationally.
≠Definitions in IS 5421 are often simpler and more descriptive, while those in ISO 2194:2020 are more precise and technical, often specifying measurement conditions (e.g., defining aperture measurement 'at mid-position').
≠ISO 2194:2020 has a significantly broader scope, covering all 'industrial screens', and includes modern terminology not found in the 1981 Indian standard, which is strictly limited to lab test sieves.
Key Similarities
≈All standards share the fundamental goal of establishing a common, unambiguous vocabulary for test sieving to support related specification standards like IS 460 and ISO 3310.
≈Core concepts such as 'Aperture', 'Wire Diameter', 'Test Sieve', and 'Sieving' are defined across all standards, forming the basis of particle size analysis terminology.
≈All standards make a clear distinction between the 'sieving medium' (e.g., woven wire cloth) and the assembled 'test sieve' (frame plus medium).
≈Phenomena related to the sieving process, such as 'blinding' (blocking of apertures), are defined in both the Indian and international standards, acknowledging common practical issues.
Parameter Comparison
ParameterIS ValueInternationalSource
Definition of 'Aperture'The distance between two adjacent parallel wires.distance between two adjacent warp or weft wires, measured in the projection plane of the wire cloth at mid-positionISO 2194:2020
Definition of 'Test Sieve'A sieve intended for the particle size analysis of a material.device for testing with one or more sieving media, mounted in a frameISO 2194:2020
Definition of 'Blinding'The condition where the apertures of the sieving medium are blocked by particles of the material being sieved.reduction of the open screening area as a result of the apertures becoming blocked with near-size particles or being coated with fine materialISO 2194:2020
Definition of 'Nesting Sieves'A set of sieves so constructed that they may be fitted together.set of test sieves with the same nominal diameter, so they can be assembled into a stackISO 2194:2020
Definition of 'Sieving Medium'A surface provided with apertures of specified shape and size.part of a screening machine on which the size separation is carried out (also termed sieving surface)ISO 2194:2020
Definition of 'Nominal Wire Diameter'The diameter of the wire specified for weaving the wire cloth.diameter of a round wire before weavingISO 2194:2020
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use

Key Values0

No quick reference values available for this code yet.

Tables & Referenced Sections

Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 2 - General terms
Clause 3 - Terms relating to test sieves
Clause 4 - Terms relating to test sieving

Related Resources on InfraLens

Cross-Referenced Codes
IS 460:2000Test Sieves: Part-I Wire Cloth Test Sieves
→
IS 1607:1977Methods for test sieving
→
IS 4879:1968Method of sub-division of a gross sample of p...
→

Frequently Asked Questions3

What is the technical difference between 'aperture' and 'mesh'?+
Aperture is the clear dimension between adjacent wires (the actual opening size), whereas mesh conventionally refers to the number of openings per linear unit (like an inch).
What does 'oversize' mean in test sieving terminology?+
Oversize refers to the portion of the material charge that does not pass through the apertures and is retained on a specific testing sieve.
What is meant by the 'charge'?+
The charge is the specified test sample or quantity of material placed on a test sieve for analysis.

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