scope:

This Technical Specification describes the testing of the freeze-thaw scaling resistance of concrete both with water and with sodium chloride solution. It can be used either to compare new constituents or new concrete compositions against a constituent or a concrete composition that is known to give adequate performance in the local environment or to assess the test results against some absolute numerical values based on local experiences. Extrapolation of test results to assess different concretes i.e. new constituents or new concrete compositions, requires an expert evaluation. In some cases the test methods may not be suitable for testing special concretes e.g. high strength concrete or permeable concrete. In these cases the result is to be treated with caution. These tests may not identify aggregates that are subject to occasional 'pop-outs'. There is no established correlation between the results obtained by the three test methods. All tests will clearly identify poor and good behaviour, but they differ in their assessment of marginal behaviour There are two types of concrete deterioration when a freeze-thaw attack occurs, scaling and internal structural damage. Test methods on internal structural damage are described in a CEN Technical Report CEN/TR 15177 "Testing the freeze-thaw resistance of concrete;Internal structural damage