Overview
ISO 3867:2017 - Composition cork - Expansion joint fillers - Test methods defines standardized laboratory procedures for evaluating agglomerated (composition) cork used as expansion joint fillers in concrete and other construction materials. Published in 2017 (third edition) by ISO/TC 87 (Cork), the standard covers test methods to determine key physical and mechanical characteristics for joint-filler products with nominal thicknesses from 6.3 mm to 25 mm.
Key Topics
The standard specifies test procedures, apparatus and reporting requirements for the following properties:
- Apparent density - mass and volume determination to assess material consistency.
- Expansion in water - immersion (boiling water for self‑expanding types) and measurement of thickness change to quantify swelling.
- Compression - controlled compression (typically to 50% thickness) using a calibrated testing machine.
- Recovery - measurement of thickness after unloading to assess elastic rebound and long‑term joint filling ability.
- Extrusion - lateral displacement under compression using a three‑sided mould to evaluate tendency to extrude from joints.
- Water absorption - 24 h immersion test (18–25 °C) and mass/volume calculations to estimate durability and service life.
Additional technical details include specimen preparation and sampling (square 100 × 100 mm specimens, at least five per sample), required accuracy of instruments (balances, vernier/dial gauges), and specific measurement and calculation formulas for results and reporting.
Applications
ISO 3867:2017 is essential for:
- Manufacturers of agglomerated cork joint fillers - for product development, quality control and factory testing.
- Testing laboratories - to perform repeatable, comparable performance tests for acceptance and certification.
- Consulting engineers, architects and contractors - to select joint fillers that meet performance criteria for concrete expansion joints and other construction applications.
- Procurement/specification writers - to reference objective test methods in technical specifications and tender documents.
Practical benefits include ensuring continuous joint filling during thermal movement, reducing risk of concrete damage, and assessing expected durability (via water absorption and recovery metrics).
Related Standards
- ISO 3869:2017 - Agglomerated cork - Expansion joint fillers - Specifications, packaging and marking (product requirements referenced by ISO 3867)
- ISO 7322:2014 - Composition cork - Test methods (related measurement procedures)
- ISO 633 - Cork - Vocabulary (terms and definitions)
Using ISO 3867:2017 helps stakeholders ensure reproducible testing, compliance with industry practice, and reliable performance data for composition cork expansion joint fillers.