Link points to Internet Archive / others. Not hosted by InfraLens. Details
IS 5913:2003 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for asbestos cement products - methods of test. This standard specifies the methods for conducting physical and mechanical tests on various asbestos cement products. It provides uniform procedures for determining properties such as transverse strength, water absorption, hydraulic resistance, and crushing strength for items like pipes, sheets, and fittings.
! This code only defines the 'method' of testing. Acceptance criteria (pass/fail values) must be obtained from the relevant product specification code (e.g., IS 459 for pressure pipes).
! Due to the health hazards of asbestos fibres, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and controlled environments are mandatory when cutting, breaking, or testing these materials.
! Test results are highly dependent on sample conditioning (e.g., dry, wet, or saturated). Strictly follow the pre-test conditioning procedures specified for each test.
ISO 8336:2017ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
HighCurrent
Fibre-cement flat sheets — Product specification and test methods
Covers test methods for fibre-cement flat sheets, which are methodologically similar to asbestos-cement tests.
EN 12467:2012+A2:2018CEN (European Committee for Standardization), Europe
HighCurrent
Fibre-cement flat sheets - Product specification and test methods
The European source standard for ISO 8336, providing nearly identical test methods for flat sheets.
ASTM C1185-08(2021)ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials), USA
MediumCurrent
Standard Test Methods for Sampling and Testing Non-Asbestos Fiber-Cement Flat Sheet, Roofing and Siding Shingles, and Clapboards
Provides test methods for non-asbestos fibre-cement products with similar principles but some different parameters.
ISO 9933:1995ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
HighWithdrawn
Fibre-cement products — Test methods
A direct historical equivalent for fibre-cement products, from which many current test methods are derived.
Key Differences
≠IS 5913 is explicitly for asbestos-cement (AC) products, whereas modern international equivalents like ISO 8336 and EN 12467 are for non-asbestos fibre-cement (FC) and explicitly prohibit asbestos content.
≠For the water absorption test, IS 5913 specifies a fixed immersion period of 48 hours, while ISO 8336 requires immersion until 'constant mass' is achieved, a more performance-based criterion.
≠The rate of loading for the transverse breaking load test in IS 5913 is defined by a target failure time (15-90s), whereas ISO 8336 specifies a constant crosshead speed (e.g., 2.5 mm/min), which is more precise.
≠Conditioning requirements differ; IS 5913 specifies 'wet' conditioning by immersion at 27 ± 2 °C, while ISO 8336 specifies immersion at a different ambient temperature (23 ± 5 °C) until saturation.
Key Similarities
≈The fundamental principle of the transverse breaking load (bending) test, using two support rollers and a central loading roller to determine flexural strength, is common across all standards.
≈The water tightness test methodology is highly similar, involving the application of a static head of water on a specimen for 24 hours and observing the underside for signs of leakage.
≈The method for determining apparent density, which involves weighing a dry specimen in air and then in water (Archimedes' principle) or by dimensional measurement, is fundamentally the same.
≈Procedures for measuring basic dimensions like length, width, thickness, and squareness rely on standard metrological tools and techniques that are consistent across all standards.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Bending Test - Support Roller Diameter (for sheets)
38 mm
20 mm (for spans < 600 mm) or 30 mm (for spans >= 600 mm)
ISO 8336:2017
Water Tightness Test - Head of Water
200 ± 5 mm
250 ± 5 mm
EN 12467:2012+A2:2018
Water Tightness Test - Duration
24 hours
24 hours
EN 12467:2012+A2:2018
Water Absorption Test - Specimen Immersion Time
48 hours (fixed)
Until constant mass is achieved (mass change < 0.1% in 24h)
ISO 8336:2017
Wet Conditioning - Water Temperature
27 ± 2 °C
23 ± 5 °C (Ambient)
ISO 8336:2017
Bending Test - Loading Rate
Uniform rate to cause failure in 15 s to 90 s
Constant speed of 2.5 mm/min (for thickness ≤ 12 mm)
ISO 8336:2017
Warm Water Test - Water Temperature
Not specified in IS 5913
60 ± 2 °C for 56 days (for certain durability categories)
EN 12467:2012+A2:2018
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values0
No quick reference values available for this code yet.
Key Formulas
R = (3 * P * L) / (2 * b * t^2) — Modulus of rupture for transverse strength test on flat sheets
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
No tables data
Key Clauses
Clause 4 - Transverse Strength (Breaking Load) Test
Clause 6 - Water Absorption Test
Clause 8 - Hydraulic Pressure Test (for pipes)
Clause 9 - Crushing Test (for pipes)
Clause 10 - Water Tightness Test (for pipes & fittings)
To provide standardized, repeatable test procedures for assessing the quality and performance of asbestos cement products.
Does this standard specify the minimum breaking load for an AC corrugated sheet?+
No. This standard only details how to perform the breaking load test (Clause 4). The minimum required value is specified in the product standard, IS 3007.
What is the procedure for the water absorption test?+
A dried specimen is weighed, immersed in water for 24 hours, wiped, and re-weighed. The percentage increase in mass represents the water absorption (Clause 6).
Which test is used to check for leaks in AC pipes?+
The Hydraulic Pressure Test (Clause 8) and the Water Tightness Test (Clause 10) are used to check the pipe's ability to withstand internal pressure and prevent leakage.