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IS 9012:1978 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for grouting for foundation improvement - code of practice. This code of practice provides guidelines for improving foundation soils and rocks through grouting. It details the materials, methods, equipment, and procedures for various grouting techniques, including permeation, compaction, and fracture grouting, along with essential quality control and record-keeping practices.
Provides a code of practice for grouting techniques aimed at improving the strength and stability of foundations.
Overview
Status
Current
Usage level
Specialized
Domain
Geotechnical — Demolition, Renovation and Repair of Structures
EN 12715:2000CEN - European Committee for Standardization
HighCurrent
Execution of special geotechnical work — Grouting
Both standards provide a code of practice for improving ground properties using cementitious and chemical grouts.
USACE EM 1110-2-3506U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USA
HighCurrent
Grouting Technology
Provides comprehensive engineering and design guidance on grouting for civil works projects, similar to a code of practice.
ACI 552R-10ACI - American Concrete Institute, USA
MediumCurrent
Report on Grouting for Support of Structures
Focuses on grouting for structural support, covering many of the same principles and techniques for ground improvement.
Key Differences
≠IS 9012 (from 1978) is highly prescriptive, providing specific w/c ratios and pressures, while modern standards like EN 12715 are more performance-based, defining required outcomes and allowing for more engineering judgment in mix design and procedure.
≠International standards cover a much wider range of modern grout materials, including microfine cements, colloidal silica, polyurethanes, and various admixtures. IS 9012 primarily focuses on Ordinary Portland Cement and basic sodium silicate grouts.
≠Modern standards like EN 12715 mandate sophisticated real-time monitoring and data acquisition of pressure, flow, and volume, whereas IS 9012's quality control section is more basic, relying on manual readings and visual checks.
≠EN 12715 and other recent documents include specific clauses on environmental protection and the selection of environmentally compatible grouts, a topic not addressed in the 1978 Indian standard.
Key Similarities
≈All standards share the fundamental objective of injecting a fluid grout into soil or rock to improve its engineering properties, such as reducing permeability and increasing strength.
≈The principle of controlling the water-cement (w/c) ratio to manage grout viscosity, stability, and strength is central to both IS 9012 and international practices.
≈The concept of 'split-spacing' (drilling and grouting in primary, secondary, and tertiary stages) to ensure comprehensive treatment of a ground mass is a common methodology in all standards.
≈All standards emphasize the critical importance of controlling injection pressure to avoid ground damage (heave or unintended hydrofracture), often relating maximum pressure to the overburden depth.
≈The use of 'refusal criteria'—stopping injection when grout take drops below a certain limit at maximum pressure—is a common field practice specified in both IS 9012 and international guidance.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Maximum Grouting Pressure (Rule of Thumb)
P(max) in kg/cm² = 0.23 x Depth(m). This is approximately 1 psi per foot of overburden.
Often cited as 1 psi/ft (23 kPa/m) of overburden, but modern standards emphasize it's a preliminary guide, and final pressure must be determined by in-situ tests and analysis.
USACE EM 1110-2-3506
Grout Rejection Criteria
Grout intake less than 1 litre/minute for 10 minutes at specified pressure.
Varies, but a common value is < 1.1 litres/min (0.04 ft³/min) for 10-20 minutes at final pressure.
USACE EM 1110-2-3506
Initial Water-Cement Ratio (by volume)
Starting w/c ratio of 10:1, thickened as required.
Typically starting with a thicker mix, e.g., 5:1 to 3:1, depending on ground conditions observed from water tests.
USACE EM 1110-2-3506
Cement Fineness
Refers to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC), typically >225 m²/kg Blaine fineness.
Specifies different types: OPC, fine cements (>400 m²/kg), and microfine cements (>800 m²/kg), selected based on groutability.
EN 12715:2000
Grout Mixing
High-speed mixing (>1500 rpm) for at least 2 minutes.
High-shear colloidal mixing at 1500-2000 rpm is recommended to ensure particle dispersion.
ACI 552R-10
Verification Testing
Water Pressure Tests (Lugeon tests) to check permeability before and after grouting.
Lugeon tests are a primary method, supplemented by coring, lab tests on cores, and other in-situ tests to verify improvement.
EN 12715:2000
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values6
Quick Reference Values
Maximum Grouting Pressure0.25 kgf/cm² per metre of overburden (approx. 25 kPa/m)
Initial Grout W/C Ratio (by volume)10:1 to 5:1
Final Grout W/C Ratio (by volume)0.5:1
Lugeon Value Definition1 Lugeon = 1 litre/min/metre of hole at 10 kgf/cm² pressure
Bentonite Content in Cement Grout1 to 5 percent by weight of cement
The code details methods like permeation grouting, compaction grouting, and fracture/claquage grouting, using suspension (cement-based) or solution (chemical) grouts (Clause 4).
What is the recommended limit for grouting pressure?+
Grouting pressure should generally not exceed 0.25 kgf/cm² per metre of overburden to avoid hydraulic fracturing and ground heave (Clause 5.3.3).
What records need to be kept during grouting?+
Essential records include grout mix proportions, volume of grout injected, injection pressures, and any ground movement or water level changes (Clause 6.2).
How is the permeability of rock assessed for grouting?+
Through in-situ water pressure tests, often expressed in Lugeon units, to determine the rock mass's capacity to accept grout (Clause 6.3).