Designation: C 1645 – 06

Standard Test Method for

Freeze-thaw and De-icing Salt Durability of Solid Concrete
Interlocking Paving Units1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation C 1645; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 4. Apparatus
1.1 This test method covers the resistance to freezing and 4.1 Freezing-and-Thawing Apparatus—The freezing appa-
thawing of solid interlocking concrete paving units conforming ratus shall consist of suitable cabinet or cold room with
to the dimensional requirements of Specification C 936. Units controls to reach and maintain an air temperature of −5 6 3°C
are tested in a test solution that is either water or 3 % saline (23 6 5°F) within 1 h of introduction of specimens. The
solution, depending on the intended use of the units in actual thawing chamber shall maintain a controlled air temperature.
service. This temperature shall never be greater than + 30°C (86°F).
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the 4.2 Balance—A balance capable of weighing 500 g with an
standard. accuracy of 6 0.1 g shall be used for measuring the mass of the
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the fine spalled material.
safety concerns, in any, associated with its use. It is the 4.3 Oven—The oven shall be vented and capable of being
responsibility of the use of this standard to establish appropri- maintained at 60 6 2°C (140 6 4°F).
ate safety and health practices and determine the applicability 4.4 Specimen Container—The specimen container shall be
of regulatory limitation prior to use. made of non-corroding flexible material and have dimensions
that allow complete submersion of the specimen in the test
2. Referenced Documents solution. The size of the container shall be less than or equal to
2.1 ASTM Standards: 2 three times the volume of the unit that is being tested. The
C 936 Specification for Solid Concrete Interlocking Paving container shall prevent evaporation of the test solution.
Units
5. Sampling
3. Significance and Use 5.1 Selection of Test Specimens—Select whole units repre-
3.1 This test method is intended to determine the effects of sentative of the lot from which they are selected. The units
freezing and thawing on units conforming to the dimensional shall be free from visible cracks, chipped edges, and structural
requirements of Specification C 936 while immersed in a test defects.
solution. Other types of segmental concrete paving units that 5.2 Number of Test Specimens—Sample according to the
do not conform to the dimensional requirements of Specifica- requirements of Specification C 936.
tion C 936 may be tested using this method. 5.3 Identification—Mark each test specimen so that it is
3.2 The results from this test method are not intended to identifiable at any time.
provide a quantitative measure of the length of service from
paving units conforming to the dimensional requirements of 6. Preparation of Test Specimens
Specification C 936. 6.1 Curing and Conditioning—Test specimens shall consist
of full size units, a minimum of 28 days old. After sampling, all
1
test specimens shall be cured for 14 days in a moist chamber
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee C27 on Precast (cabinet or room) at an air temperature of 23 6 2°C (73 6 4°F)
Concrete Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee C27.20 on
Architectural and Structural Products. and a relative humidity of at least 90 %. Moist curing shall be
Current edition approved on June 1, 2006. Published June 2006. followed by air curing for a minimum of 14 days at 23 6 5°C
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or (73 6 9°F) at a minimum 40 % relative humidity.
contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
6.1.1 After air curing, specimens then shall be oven condi-
the ASTM website. tioned for 48 h 6 2 h at 60° 6 2°C (140 6 4°F).

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Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Apr 16 15:46:07 EDT 2009
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 C 1645 – 06
6.1.2 Before testing begins, the specimens shall be brushed material collected at the bottom of the containers shall be
clean with a stiff bristled brush and all loose burrs and edge washed, filtered using an 80 µm filter paper, and dried to a
shards shall be removed with a carborundum stone. constant mass. This residue shall be defined as mass loss
expressed in grams. The residue shall be cumulatively weighed
7. Procedure after 10, 25, and 50 (if necessary) cycles.
7.1 Freezing and Thawing Cycles—One freeze-thaw cycle 7.5.1 If the test solution is 3 % saline, provide a new
shall be completed every 24 h. The cycle shall consist of 16 6 solution of 3 % NaCl following each determination of loss of
1 h of freezing followed by 8 6 1 h of thawing. The specimens mass. The 24-hour presoaking period shall be waived follow-
shall be subjected to continuous cycles. If for reasons beyond ing 10 and 25 cycles provided that the specimens are main-
the operator’s control, a freezing period cannot commence at tained in a saturated condition during mass determination.
the specified time, the specimens shall remain in a thawed 7.5.2 The test shall continue until 25 freeze-thaw cycles
condition until conditions are suitable for resumption of the have been completed or unless an individual test specimen has
test. The specimen temperature shall conform to –5 6 3°C (23 disintegrated, or lost more than 200 g/m2. If the loss of mass
6 5°F) for the last 2 h of the freezing cycle and a minimum of exceeds 200 g/m2 from an individual specimen the test shall
+5° C (40°F) for the last 1 h of the thawing cycle. The continue until 50 freeze-thaw cycles have been completed. If at
temperature shall be recorded at least every 15 min with a any time losses exceed 500 g/m2 or disintegration of an
temperature probe inside a specimen. individual specimen necessitates termination of testing prema-
7.2 Specimen Containment—Immediately following turely, the loss of mass shall be determined and added to the
completion of the oven conditioning, each warm specimen previously lost mass.
shall be centered with the wearing surface facing upwards in 8. Calculation and Report
individual containers. The supported bottom surface of the
8.1 The loss of mass shall be calculated in grams per square
specimens shall rest on glass, stainless steel, ceramic, or plastic
meter of surface area to the nearest 0.1 g/m2. The total surface
spacers approximately 5 mm (0.2 in.) high to ensure exposure
area of the paver shall be determined from the specified shape
of the entire bottom surface to the test solution. A minimum of
and dimensions shown in the manufacturer’s mold drawings.
5 mm (0.2 in.) clearance shall be provided between the
8.2 The report shall include the following:
specimen and the container in all directions.
8.2.1 name of client and manufacturer;
7.3 Test Solution—If the test solution is saline, containers
8.2.2 the date of manufacture and sampling;
shall be filled with 3 6 0.1 % NaCl solution. The test solution
8.2.3 plant or field sampling;
(tap water or saline) shall have a minimum temperature of
8.2.4 the batch number;
15°C (60°F). The level of the test solution shall be 5 6 1 mm
8.2.5 identification of specimens and color;
(0.2 6 0.04 in.) above the surface of the specimens. Excess test
8.2.6 dimensions of the specimens;
solution volume shall be avoided in order to ensure rapid
8.2.7 dates of the beginning and end of the test;
freezing of the specimens. After filling the containers they shall
8.2.8 mass lost by each specimen and the average results
be immediately closed to minimize evaporation and the closed
after 10, 25, and 50 (if necessary) cycles or at the time of
containers left at a minimum temperature of 15°C (60°F) for 24
termination of the test;
h 6 1 h.
8.2.9 the number of cycles at termination;
7.4 Temperature Monitoring—Following the 24-hour satu-
8.2.10 a description of the damage suffered by the speci-
ration period, the specimens shall be subjected to continuous
mens, with photographs where possible; and
freeze-thaw cycles. The ambient temperature in the freeze-
8.2.11 any deviations from this testing procedure.
thaw apparatus, as well as those of the specimen, shall be
continuously measured at least every 15 min, recorded and 9. Precision and Bias
reported. If for any reason, continuous 24-hour cycles cannot 9.1 Precision and bias data for this test method is not yet
be maintained, then this shall be noted in the report. available.
7.5 Collection of Residue—After 10, 25, and (if necessary)
50 cycles, the specimens shall be washed with de-ionized water 10. Keywords
to remove all loose particles. These particles and spalled 10.1 freeze-thaw durability; interlocking concrete pavers

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Copyright by ASTM Int'l (all rights reserved); Thu Apr 16 15:46:07 EDT 2009
Downloaded/printed by
Laurentian University pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions authorized.