CEN Standard Sand according to EN 196-1

The characteristic of CEN Standard Sand is its specific grain size distribution. It ranges between 0.08 and 2.00 mm. The grain size distribution is drawn in the picture (cumulated sieve residue in % vs squared mesh size in mm) and listed in the table below. The maximum moisture content is 0.2%. The sand is portioned in bags of 1,350 (± 5) g. According to EN 196-1 mortar prisms for compressive strength testing are produced with a mixture of 450 (± 2) g cement, 225 (± 1) g water and one bag of 1,350 (± 5) g CEN Standard Sand.

Specification

Standard: Paper bag with 36 portion bags
Portion bag: 1350 ± 5 g

Grain size distribution according to EN 196-1

Mesh size (mm)	Lower limit	Intervall average	Upper limit
2,00	0	0	0
1,60	2	7	12
1,00	28	33	38
0,50	62	67	72
0,16	82	87	92
0,08	98	99	100

Production

There is no natural sand available, which fulfills the grain size distributions demands of EN 196-1. Thus, the CEN Standard sand is an artificial product consisting of several different sand type fractions. The sand type fractions are industrial produced by sieving. The different sand fractions are blended in defined portions. The selection of the raw sands, the sieving of the fractions and the following blending are the most difficult processes, which have to be continuously performed as precise as possible. Due to that CEN Standard Sand producer are pledged to control and document the grain size distribution of the product at least once a day. Furthermore, monthly 28 days compressive strength tests under consideration of an actual and an one year old CEN Standard Sand sample have to be done and compared in a clearly defined procedure. Further comparison tests have to be carried out by an external inspection body.