Overview
ISO/TS 16774-5:2024 - Test methods for repair materials for water-leakage cracks in underground concrete structures - Part 5 specifies a laboratory permeability test method to evaluate the watertightness of injection-type repair materials used to stop water leaking through cracks in underground concrete. The document defines principles, specimen preparation, apparatus, test procedure and reporting requirements. It provides a qualitative, comparative framework rather than prescribing exact numerical acceptance criteria.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and principle
- Evaluates impermeability of repair materials by applying hydrostatic pressure to a specimen with an artificial crack and observing leakage.
- Intended for comparative performance evaluation of materials of the same family.
- Specimen preparation
- Test specimens are formed from two cured concrete/mortar parts with a controlled artificial crack (spacers set crack width).
- Pinholes (Ø 2.5 mm) may be drilled through the bottom substrate to detect leakage during injection and testing.
- Substrate mix and curing guidance are given (example mix ratio and ~72 h curing noted), but national parameters can vary.
- Apparatus
- Air compressor and a permeability test chamber capable of the specified pressure ranges (document cites a water/air pressure range around 0.1 to 0.3 N/mm² as an example).
- Ambient and test conditions
- Standard laboratory ambient example: (22 ± 2) °C and (55 ± 5) % RH, with allowance for national variations.
- Injection method, pressure profiles and other variables are left to national practice or manufacturer instructions.
- Procedure and results
- Place specimen in chamber, fill with water, apply pressure, observe and document leakage.
- Results are mainly qualitative (pass/fail or leaking/non-leaking under applied pressure) and intended for building a comparative database.
- Test reporting
- Detailed reporting requirements: material producer, production data, chemical composition, specimen geometry, lab conditions, test data, deviations, photos and observations.
Applications and stakeholders
- Useful for:
- Material manufacturers developing or validating injection grouts (urethane, polyurea, mastic, etc.).
- Independent testing laboratories establishing comparative watertightness profiles.
- Contractors and repair specifiers selecting appropriate products for underground concrete repairs.
- Asset owners and infrastructure engineers seeking documented comparative performance for procurement decisions.
- Researchers and R&D teams benchmarking new formulations.
- Practical value: provides a reproducible laboratory protocol to compare products’ resistance to hydrostatic leakage and to document test conditions for regulatory or contractual purposes.
Related standards
- ISO/TR 16475 - General practices for the repair of water-leakage cracks in concrete structures (referenced and linked to the 16774 series).
- Other parts of the ISO/TS 16774 series (for complementary property test methods and guidance).
Keywords: ISO/TS 16774-5:2024, watertightness test method, permeability testing, repair materials, water-leakage cracks, underground concrete structures, injection grouts.