BuildingLime and Lime ProductsSectionalCommittee,CED4 FOREWORD ThisIndianStandard( SecondRevision > was adoptedby the Bureau of Indian Standards,after the

draftfinalizedby the BuildingLime and Lime ProductsSectionalCommitteehad been approved by the Civil EngineeringDivisionCouncil. Limeconcrete,in spiteof its low strength,maybe usedin severalsituationsinconstruction, such asinwell foundationsfor moderatelytall buildings,underfloor finishes,for filling haunchesover masonryarch work and for roof terracingwork.This standardis intendedtoprovideguidance with respectto preparation and use of lime concreteon the basis of existing knowledge and experience. Lime concreteis foundto have many desirablepropertiesand advantagesfor useinconstruction. Properly prepared, compacted and laid, lime concrete is durableunder normalexposures. Lime concrete possesses considerableresistance to sulphate attack, and can be used in foundations and areas in which soil containconsiderable quantitiesof soluble sulphate or where sub-soil water tableis high.The effect of temperaturefluctuations on the volume change is negligible in lime concrete,comparedto thatof moisture variations. after setting and initial shrinkage. It also undergoesnegligible volume change In view of a comprehensive IndianStandardbeing availableon lime concretefor waterproofing treatment[ see IS 3036 : 1980Codeofpracticeforlayinglime concretefora waterproofed roof finish (firstrevisions) I, this informationhas not been coveredin this standard. Thisstandardwas first publishedin 1965 andsubsequentlyrevisedin 1974.Since publication of thefirstrevisionofthis standard,most of the referredstandardshave been revisedand, as such it was felt necessaryto revisethis standardso as to updateall the referencesfortheconvenience of the users. modified. In this revisionthe generalrequirementsregardinglayingof concretehave also been For the purposeof decidingwhether a particular requirementof this standard is complied with the final value,observedor calculated,expressingthe resultof a testor analysis,shallberounded off in accordancewithIS 2: 1960 Rulesforroundingoff numericalvalues( revised ). Thenumber of significant places retainedin the roundedoff value should be the same as thatofthespecified valuein this standard.

IS2541: 1991 Indian Standard PREPARATIONANDUSEOFLIME CONCRETECODEOF PRACTICE (Second Revision) 1 SCOPE This standardcovers the preparationand use of lime concrete and includesrequirements for materials,method of preparation, laying and finishing of concretefor different purposes. NOTE -Lime pozzolana mixture concrete have been excluded from the review ofthisstandardas it is coveredinIS 5817: 1970. 2 REFERENCES The Indian Standardslisted in Annex A are necessaryadjunctto this standard. 3 TERMINOLOGY Forthe purposeof this standard,the definitions of

thetermsgivenin IS 6508 : 1988 shallapply. 4 MATERIALS 4.1 Lime Limefor use in lime concreteshallconformto IS 712: 1984. 4.2 Cement Cementshall conformto the requirementsof 33 grade ordinaryPortlandcement specified in IS 269: 1989. 4.3 PozzolaoicMaterials 4.3.1 Burntclaypozzolanashall conform to IS 1344: 1981. 4.3.2Fly ash shall conformto IS 3812: 1981. 4.4 CoarseAggregates Coarse aggregate for use in limeconcreteshall be either natural stone aggregate conforming to IS 383: 1970 or brokenbrick( burntclay ) aggregate conforming to IS3068: 1986 or cinder aggregate conformingto IS 2686: 1977 depending upon the situation of use ( seeTable1 ). 4.5 Fine Aggregate 4.5.1Sandforuse in lime concreteshall conform to IS 383: 1970. 4.5.2 Brick aggregate shall conform to IS 3182: 1986. 4.5.3 Fly ash 4.6 Water shall conformto IS 3512: 1981. Water used for, both mixing and curing lime concrete,shall be cleanand freefrominjurious amount of deleteriousmatter. Sea watershall not be used. Portable wateris generally considered satisfactory for mixing and curing lime concrete. 5 DESIGNCONSIDERATIONS 5.1 General Lime concretemay be used generallyfor the following situations: a) As a levellingcoursefor foundationsand for plain concretefootingsfor masonry walls and columns, b) Ordinary base concreteunder floors, and c) For filling haunchesover masonry arch work. 5.2 For satisfactoryuse selection of proper lime concrete mix,the followinginformation will be necessary: a)Lime Concretein Foundations- Moisture condition of thesub-grade, sub-soil water level and foundationloads. b) Lime Concrete Under Floor Finishes Moistureconditionof the sub-grade,sub- soil water level, typeof floorfinish and floor loads. 5.3 Mix Proportions Guidanceabout mix proportions for different purposesis givenin Table1. 5.4Workability Because of very good water retentionproperties of lime mortar,workabilityof lime concrete will generally be found satisfactorywith normal methods of preparingconcrete. Workability of lime concrete may be improvedfurther by increasingthe proportion of lime mortar( but this shall not be increasedbeyondthe limit sp:cifiedinTable1 > and by usingwell graded aggregates. The proportions recommended in Table 1 will normallybe foundto give satisfactory workable mixes.Lime concrete with50 to75 mmslump( seeAnnexB ) willbe generally found suitable for uses indicated in 5.1. 5.5 Rateof Hardeningand SettingTime 5.5.1 The hardening df lime concrete will be slower than that of cement concrete,but will be satisfactory for most of the normal uses to whichit is put in building work, except where early strength is required,such as in emergency worksor in works under very wet conditions. Incase of structurallime concrete subject to load,suchas in foundations, further construc- tion shall not be startedearlierthan a periodof sevendays afterconcretehas been laid and consolidated. 5.5.2 Setting time of concretewill deperdupon the class of lime used in the preparationof mortar andwill be variable. Though initial set mayoccurin 2 to3 h, whereClass A limeis used,the final set does not usuallyoccur in lessthan10 to12 h.Placingofconcreteand compactionshall be completedbeforethp initial set has startedafterwhichthe concreteshall not

bedisturbed. 2 5.6 Strength Requirement 5.6.1 The strength of lime concrete will depend on the class of lime typeand size of coarse aggregate, proportionand quality of pozzolanic materials used in mortar for preparation of concrete. The process of strength development in limeconcreteis slow andmayextendthrough years. 5.6.2 Theminimumstrengthof lime concrete of mix proportionsspecified in Table1, when tested in accordance with procedurelaid down in AnnexesB andC shall be1 N/mm2of compressivestrengthat 28 days and 02 N/m2 of transverse strength at 90 days.The compressive strengthat 90 daysis expected to rise to 12N/mm2. 6 PREPARATIONOF LIMECONCRETE 6.1 Mortarfor Concrete 6.1.1 Plainlime mortar orlime pozzolana mortaror lime cementmortar of specified proportions of differentingredients shall be used. Lime shall be used inthe formof dry hydratedlime or in the formof puttywhichshall be prepared in accordancewith IS1635: 1975. The mortar shall be prepared according to the recommendations laiddownin IS 2250: 1981. 6.2Coarse Aggregate If coarse aggregate contains excessive dirt, it shall bs wlshedandwell drained b:foreuse. Burnt clay, cinderand otherporous coarse aggregateshallbe thoroughlysoaked and used in saturateddry conditions. 6.3Mixing 6.3.1 Lime concretemay be hand mixed or a small hand operatedmixer rnly be used.For largerquantitiesthe use of amechanicalmixer would be desirable. 6.3.2 Hmd Mixing Mixing shall bedoneona clean water tight platform of sufficientsize to provideample mixing area. The platformshall have tight close jointsso that there is no leakage of water or mortarthroughthem and the mixing tool does not strikethe jointswhile in operation. 6.3.2.1 The coarse aggregate shall first be stackedto an even surfaceon the platform. Limemortar( or lime-pozzolana mortar) in the specifiedproportionshall thenbe evenlyspread over the aggregateand the whole thoroughly mixed. Water in just sufficient quantity shall be appliedwith a sprinkler,to enable the mortar to adhereto each piece ofaggregate. The mixing shall be done by turningit over and over severaltimes, until all the particlesofaggregate are coveredwith mortarand a concrete of uniform appearanceand consistency is obtained. 6.3.3 Machine Mixing Clean, saturatedsurface dry coarse aggregate shall first be fed intothemixer. Lime mortar ( or lime-pozzolana mortar) in thespecified proportionshall then be fed into the mixerand the contentsmixed well.The requiredquantity of cementshall thenbe added,if necessary. Mixingshall be continueduntilthere is a uniform distribution of thematerials. Final adjustmentof water,to obtain concrete of required consistency,maybemade by adding .clean water,if necessary, and turning the ingredientsin themixer. 7LAYING .7.1 General *Only that much quantityof concrete shall be mixedwhichcan be laid in positionwithintwo hours after mixing. The concrete shall -preferablybe placedin positionimmediately after mixing has beencompleted. Laying and compaction of concrete shall be completed withinfour hours of adding water. NOTE - If cement has been used in the mix, the concrete shall be laid in position within half-an hour after water has been

added toit and compactedwithinone hour. 7.2 LimeConcretein Foundationsand Under Floors 7.2.1The soil sub-gradeon whichconcreteis to be laidshall b$ properlywetted and rammed befor: concretingis started. Guidance about the mix proportionsto b= used may b: obtained from Table 1. 7.2.2 The concreteshall b= laid carefullyin position( notthrownfroma height ) while fresh, in layers not exceeding 150 mmin thickness when consolidated. Careshall be taken while placing the concrete so that segregationof aggregateparticles and mortar does not take place. Each layer shall be thoroughly rammed and consolidated before succeeding layers is placed. During laying and consolidation, concreteshallbe kept free from contaminationby leaves, straw, twigs, dirt and other deleterious matters. Alternatively, duty plate or surface vibrators may be used for uniformand good compaction. 7.2.3Heavyrammersshallbe used and ramming shallbe continueduntila skinof mortarcovers the surface and completely hides the aggregate ( iron rammers weighiyg4h to5& kg and ;i;nrore fhaa300 cmin area are generally satisfactory ). Square rammers are helpfulin consolidation of edges.No water shall b: addedduringramming. Where joints inthesamelayerare unavoidable,the end of each layer shall be slopedat an angle of 30 and made rough to ensure properbond with new concrete. The surfaceof each completedlayer shall be watered,roughened and cleaned by wire brushingor any other suitable means before the next layer is laid over it.Where verticaljointsoccurinan upper and a lower layer, theyshall be at least 600 mm apart horizontally. 7.2.4 The mixing and rammingshallgoon continuously when once started; relief parties being providedto avoid stoppage. This may be achieved by arranging workmen in one or more lines acrossthe concrete,with a lateral clear space of notmore than500 mm between workmen Sufficient labour and materialsshall be employed to make up the concrete foundation layer by layer, simultaneously throughoutthe whole building. When this is not practicable, unfinished layers of concrete shall have break jointsas describedin 7.2.3.