CEN Standard Sand is a specially prepared siliceous reference sand used for the preparation of standard cement mortar specimens in strength testing. Its controlled 0.08–2.00 mm particle-size distribution, generally isometric and rounded grains, and 1350 ± 5 g pre-weighed package help laboratories maintain consistent mortar preparation conditions in accordance with EN 196-1.
- Reference Test Sand: Designed for standardized cement mortar preparation.
- Package Weight: Each bag contains 1350 ± 5 g of sand.
- Particle Size Range: 0.08–2.00 mm.
- Siliceous Composition: Natural sand with a high siliceous content, particularly in the finer fractions.
- Controlled Particle Distribution: Different grain fractions are prepared to provide consistent grading.
- Particle Shape: Grains are generally isometric and rounded.
- Clean and Dried Material: Sand is dried, screened and prepared under controlled conditions.
- Ready-to-Use Package: Pre-weighed packaging reduces additional weighing during specimen preparation.
- Standard Mortar Preparation: One 1350 g package is used for a standard EN 196-1 mortar batch.
- Product Code: LT-CE0075.
- Standard: EN 196-1.
| Product Code | Product Name | Bag Weight (g) | Particle Size (mm) | Particle Shape |
| LT-CE0075 | CEN Standard Sand | 1350 ± 5 | 0.08–2.00 | Isometric and Rounded |
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CEN Standard Sand for Cement Strength Testing
CEN Standard Sand is a specially prepared reference material used for standardized cement mortar preparation. Its controlled particle-size distribution and consistent package weight help laboratories compare different cement samples under equivalent test conditions.
The sand is natural and siliceous, particularly in its finer fractions. Liya Test states that the material is cleaned, dried, screened and prepared under controlled production conditions to provide consistent quality.
Controlled Particle Size Distribution
The sand contains particles ranging from 0.08 mm to 2.00 mm. Different particle-size fractions are combined to provide the grading required for reference mortar preparation.
Consistent grading is important because variations in aggregate particle distribution can influence mortar workability, compaction and strength. Using standardized sand therefore helps reduce one important source of variation between cement tests.
The particles are generally isometric and rounded in shape. This controlled geometry also supports repeatable mixing and specimen preparation.
1350 ± 5 g Pre-Weighed Package
Each package contains 1350 ± 5 g of CEN Standard Sand. The pre-weighed quantity simplifies routine laboratory preparation because the operator does not need to prepare separate sand fractions for every mortar batch.
For the standard EN 196-1 mortar mixture, the sand is combined with the specified quantities of cement and water. The prepared mortar is then placed into 40 × 40 × 160 mm prism moulds for subsequent strength testing.
Standard Mortar Preparation
During specimen preparation, the operator places cement and water into a suitable mortar mixer and follows the mixing sequence defined by the test procedure. The CEN Standard Sand is then introduced according to the specified mixing stage.
After mixing, the fresh mortar is transferred into the three-gang prism mould. A suitable jolting or compaction system helps distribute the mortar and reduce unwanted voids.
Using the same reference sand from one test series to another improves comparability between cement samples.
Quality Control Applications
CEN Standard Sand is suitable for cement factories, testing laboratories, universities and research centres. It can be used for routine production control as well as comparative studies of different cement formulations.
Because the sand properties are standardized, laboratories can focus more directly on changes caused by the cement itself rather than variations in the aggregate component.
EN 196-1 Reference Sand
EN 196-1:2016 defines the reference method for determining the strength of cement and specifies standard mortar preparation as part of the procedure.
Liya Test supplies LT-CE0075 CEN Standard Sand in 1350 ± 5 g packages with a 0.08–2.00 mm particle-size range for this application.
As a result, CEN Standard Sand combines controlled grading, standardized packaging and consistent particle characteristics to support reliable and repeatable cement strength testing.
