IS 5817:1992 provides a comprehensive code of practice for the preparation and use of lime-pozzolana mixture concrete in building and road construction. It covers materials, mix proportions, mixing methods, laying, compaction, curing, and specific applications such as foundations, roof finishes, paving blocks, and bonded underlays in composite pavements. This standard is essential for engineers and construction professionals aiming to utilize lime-pozzolana concrete for durable, economical, and water-resistant structural and pavement works.
Overview
IS 5817:1992 provides a comprehensive code of practice for the preparation and use of lime-pozzolana mixture concrete in building and road construction. It covers materials, mix proportions, mixing methods, laying, compaction, curing, and specific applications such as foundations, roof finishes, paving blocks, and bonded underlays in composite pavements. This standard is essential for engineers and construction professionals aiming to utilize lime-pozzolana concrete for durable, economical, and water-resistant structural and pavement works.
Audience
Contents
Structure
Scope:
IS 5817 covers the use of lime-pozzolana mixture concrete in various structural and non-structural applications such as leveling courses, road bases, roof finishes, bonded underlays, and solid building/paving blocks.
| Situation | Grade of Lime-Pozzolana Mix | Coarse Aggregate | Mix by Mass (Lime-Pozzolana : Fine Agg. : Coarse Agg.) | 28 Days Strength (MPa) Compressive / Flexural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levelling course under foundations, footings, floors, roof finish | LP-20 | Crushed stone | 1 : 4 : 8 | 1.0 / 0.2 |
| Road bases, airfield bases, improved base concrete | LP-40 | Crushed stone | 1 : 2.33 : 5 | 4.0 / 0.6 |
| Bonded underlays, building & paving blocks | LP-40 | Crushed stone | 1 : 2 : 4 | 7.0 / 6.0 |
flowchart TD
A[Lime-Pozzolana Concrete] --> B[Levelling Course]
A --> C[Road Bases]
A --> D[Bonded Underlays]
A --> E[Roof Finish]
A --> F[Building & Paving Blocks
IS 5817 References & Key Specifications for Lime-Pozzolana Mixture Concrete
| IS No. | Title |
|---|---|
| 383:1970 | Coarse and fine aggregates for concrete |
| 3115:1978 | Specification for lime-based blocks |
| 4098:1983 | Specification for lime-pozzolana mixture |
| 10049:1981 | Code of practice for manufacture of lime-based blocks |
| 10359:1982 | Code of practice for lime-pozzolana concrete blocks |
| 10772:1983 | Specification for quick setting lime-pozzolana mixture |
| Situation | Grade of Lime-Pozzolana | Mix by Mass (Lime-Pozzolana : Fine Agg. : Coarse Agg.) | 28 Days Strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Levelling course, footings, base concrete | LP-20 | 1 : 4 : 8 (Crushed stone) | Compressive: 1.0 |
| 1 : 3 : 6 (Brick aggregate) | Flexural: 0.2 | ||
| Road bases, airfield bases | LP-40 | 1 : 2.33 : 5 (Crushed stone) | Compressive: 4.0 |
| Bonded underlays, building and paving blocks | LP-40 | 1 : 2 : 4 (Crushed stone) | Compressive: 7.0 |
flowchart TD
A[Select Application] --> B{Choose Grade of Lime-Pozzolana}
B -->|Levelling Course| C[LP-20]
B -->|Road Base| D
IS 5817 - Definitions and Key Specifications Summary
| Situation | Grade | Lime-Pozzolana (Mass) | Fine Agg. (Mass) | Coarse Agg. (Mass) | Compressive Strength (MPa) | Flexural Strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levelling course, footings, base concrete | LP-20 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| Road bases, airfield bases | LP-40 | 1 | 2.33 | 5 | 4.0 | 0.6 |
| Bonded underlays, blocks | LP-40 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7.0 | 0.6 |
flowchart TD
A[Lime-Pozzolana Mixture] -->
IS 5817 - Materials for Lime-Pozzolana Mixture Concrete
| Situation | Lime-Pozzolana Grade | Coarse Aggregate | Mix by Mass (Lime-Pozzolana : Fine Agg. : Coarse Agg.) | Mix by Volume | 28 Days Strength (MPa) Compressive / Flexural |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levelling course, footings, base concrete, roof finish | LP-20 | Crushed stone | 1 : 4 : 8 | 1 : 2.25 : 4.5 | 1.0 / 0.2 |
| LP-7 | Crushed stone | 1 : 3 : 6 | 1 : 1.75 : 3.5 | 1.0 / 0.2 | |
| Road bases, airfield bases | LP-40 | Crushed stone | 1 : 2.33 : 5 | 1 : 1.25 : 3.0 | 4.0 / 0.6 |
| Bonded underlays, blocks | LP-40 | Crushed stone | 1 : 2 : 4 | 1 : 1.12 : 2.25 | 7.0 / 6.0 |
IS 5817: Design Considerations for Lime-Pozzolana Concrete
| Situation | Grade of Lime-Pozzolana Mix | Coarse Aggregate | Mix by Mass (Lime-Pozzolana : Fine Agg. : Coarse Agg.) | 28 Days Strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levelling course, footings, base concrete under floors | LP-20 | Crushed stone | 1 : 4 : 8 | Compressive: 1.0, Flexural: 0.2 |
| Road & air-field bases, improved base concrete | LP-40 | Crushed stone | 1 : 2.33 : 5 | Compressive: 4.0, Flexural: 0.6 |
| Bonded underlays, blocks, paving | LP-40 | Crushed stone | 1 : 2 : 4 | Compressive: 7.0, Flexural: 6.0 |
flowchart TD
A[Site Preparation] --> B[Mix Selection]
B --> C{Application}
C -->|Foundation| D[LP-20 Mix]
C -->|Road Base| E[LP-40 Mix]
C -->|Paving| F[LP-40 Mix]
D --> G[Proper Compaction]
E
IS 5817 - Strength Characteristics of Lime-Pozzolana Concrete
Strength depends on:
Minimum 28-day strength requirements:
| Situation | Grade of Lime-Pozzolana | Mix by Mass (Lime-Pozzolana : Fine Agg. : Coarse Agg.) | Compressive Strength (MPa) | Flexural Strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Levelling course under foundations, footings, base concrete under floors | LP-20 (Crushed stone) | 1 : 4 : 8 | 1.0 | 0.2 |
| Road bases, airfield bases | LP-40 (Crushed stone) | 1 : 2.33 : 5 | 4.0 | 0.6 |
| Bonded underlays, building blocks, paving blocks | LP-40 (Crushed stone) | 1 : 2 : 4 | 7.0 | 6.0 |
[ f_c \propto \frac{\text{Binder content}}{\text{Aggregate content}} \times \frac{1}{\text{Water/Binder ratio}} ]
flowchart LR
A[Select Lime-Pozzolana Grade] --> B[Determine Mix Ratios]
B --> C{Situation}
C -->|Foundation Levelling| D[Use LP-20 Mix]
C -->|Road Base| E[Use LP-40 Mix]
C -->
IS 5817 - Mixing Methods for Lime-Pozzolana Concrete
| Mixing Method | Platform/Equipment | Material Addition Sequence | Mixing Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hand Mixing | Clean, water-tight platform | Mix all materials manually | As required |
| Machine Mixing | Mechanical mixer | SSD Aggregate → Sand + Lime-Pozzolana → Part water → Remaining water | ≥ 2 minutes |
flowchart TD
A[Start] --> B[Add SSD Coarse Aggregate]
B --> C[Add Sand + Lime-Pozzolana]
C --> D[Add Part Water & Mix]
D --> E[Add Remaining Water & Mix ≥ 2 min]
E --> F[Uniform Mix Ready]
IS 5817: Preparation and Use of Lime-Pozzolana Mixture Concrete
Mix Proportions (Clause 5.3 & Table 1):
Table 1 provides recommended mix proportions for lime-pozzolana concrete depending on the application (foundations, road bases, floors, etc.).
Factors to Consider (Clause 5.2):
| Application | Lime : Pozzolana : Aggregate (by volume) |
|---|---|
| Foundations | 1 : 2 : 6 |
| Road Base & Floors | 1 : 3 : 9 |
flowchart TD
A[Select Application] --> B{Check Strength Requirement}
B -- Low to Moderate --> C[Choose Mix Proportion from Table 1]
B -- High --> D[Use Alternative Concrete]
C --> E[Prepare Lime-Pozzolana Mix]
E --> F[Add Aggregates]
F --> G[Mix Thoroughly]
G --> H[Place & Cure Concrete]
In brief: Use IS 5817 Table 1 for mix ratios; consider soil and load conditions; ensure proper curing for durability.
IS 5817: Lime-Pozzolana Mixture Concrete (LPMC) Key Points
| Serial No. | Lime | Pozzolana | Sand | Coarse Aggregate | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 12 | Road base, floor base |
flowchart TD
A[Lime + Pozzolana] --> B[Mix with Sand & Aggregate]
B --> C[Form Lime-Pozzolana Concrete]
C --> D[Use in Foundations & Under Floors]
D --> E{Strength Requirements}
E -->|Low to Moderate| F[Suitable]
E -->|High| G[Not Suitable - Use OPC Concrete]
Note: Always verify mix proportions and strength limits as per IS 5817 Table 1 and Table I for your specific project.
IS 5817 - Lime-Pozzolana Concrete in Haunches of Arches (Clause 8.3)
| Material | Proportion (by volume) |
|---|---|
| Lime | 1 |
| Pozzolana | 2 |
| Sand (fine aggregate) | 6 |
| Water | As required for workability |
flowchart LR
A[Lime] --> Mix[Lime-Pozzolana Concrete Mix]
B[Pozzolana] --> Mix
C[Sand] --> Mix
Mix --> D[Haunches of Arches]
D --> E[Moderate Strength & Durability]
Note: For detailed strength values and limits, refer to Table 1 of IS 5817. Use lime-pozzolana concrete only where strength requirements are moderate, as per the code.
IS 5817 - Roof Finish Applications: Key Points
| Roof Finish Type | Minimum Slope |
|---|---|
| Lime-pozzolana concrete + Tiles | 1 in 60 (≈1.67%) |
| Plain Lime-pozzolana concrete | 1 in 50 (≈2%) |
flowchart LR
A[Roof Surface] --> B[Preparation as per IS 3067]
B --> C[Apply Lime-Pozzolana Concrete Mix]
C --> D{Finish Type}
D -->|Tiles + Concrete| E[Slope ≥ 1:60]
D -->|Plain Concrete| F[Slope ≥ 1:50]
E & F --> G[Efficient Drainage & Water-tight Finish]
This ensures a durable, water-resistant roof finish per IS 5817.
IS 5817: Key Points on Curing and Compaction
| Aspect | Specification |
|---|---|
| Layer Thickness | ≤ 100 mm |
| Compaction Method | Needle/screed vibrator or 8-10 t roller |
| Compaction Goal | Wet mortar appears on surface |
| Initial Curing | Wet hessian, 48 hours |
| Further Curing | Wet sand/gunny bags, ≥10 days |
| Bed Preparation | Wet and ram before concreting |
flowchart TD
A[Prepare Ground Bed] --> B[Wetting & Ramming]
B --> C[Lay Concrete in ≤100 mm Layers]
C --> D[Compact (Vibrator/Roller)]
D --> E[Wet Mortar Appears on Surface]
E --> F[Cover with Wet Hessian (48h)]
F --> G[Spread Wet Sand/Gunny Bags + Water (≥10 days)]
G --> H[Properly Cured Concrete]
This ensures durable, defect-free lime-pozzolana concrete as per IS 5817.
IS 5817 - Lime-Pozzolana Mixture Concrete in Bonded Underlays
| Serial No. | Lime (%) | Pozzolana (%) | Sand (%) | Water (%) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 15-20 | 25-30 | 45-55 | 10-12 | For bonded underlay concrete |
Note: Percentages are by weight of total binder (lime + pozzolana).
graph TD
A[Subgrade] --> B[Lime-Pozzolana Mixture Concrete Underlay]
B --> C[Thin Cement Concrete Overlay]
This layered system improves bonding and load distribution in composite pavements.
For detailed mix design, always refer to Table 1 of IS 5817 and adjust based on local materials and conditions.
IS 5817: Key Specifications for Making Solid Building and Paving Blocks Using Lime-Pozzolana Mixture Concrete
| Situation | Grade of Lime-Pozzolana | Coarse Aggregate | Mix by Mass (Lime-Pozzolana : Fine Agg. : Coarse Agg.) | 28 Days Strength (MPa) Compressive / Flexural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Building blocks & paving blocks | LP-40 | Crushed stone | 1 : 2 : 4 (by mass) | 7.0 / 6.0 |
| LP-20 | Crushed stone | 1 : 1 : 2 | 7.0 / 6.0 | |
| Type 1 | Crushed stone | 1 : 1 : 3.6 | 7.0 / 6.0 | |
| Type 2 | Crushed stone | 1 : 1 : 2.64 | 7.0 / 6.0 |
flowchart TD
A[Lime-Pozzolana Mixture] --> B[Mixing with Fine & Coarse Aggregates]
B --> C[Layered Laying (≤ 100 mm)]
IS 5817: List of Referenced Indian Standards (Key Extract)
| IS No. | Title |
|---|---|
| 383:1970 | Coarse and fine aggregate from natural sources for concrete |
| 2541:1977 | Preparation and use of lime-concrete (Code of Practice) |
| 2686:1977 | Cinder as fine aggregates for lime-concrete |
| 3036:1980 | Laying lime-concrete for waterproof roof finish |
| 3067:1988 | Damp-proofing and waterproofing of buildings (General design) |
| 3068:1986 | Broken brick coarse aggregates for lime-concrete |
| 3115:1978 | Specification for lime-based blocks |
| 3182:1986 | Broken brick fine aggregates for lime mortar |
| 4098:1983 | Lime-pozzolana mixture specification |
| 4305:1967 | Glossary of terms relating to pozzolana |
| 6508:1988 | Glossary of terms relating to building lime-pozzolana |
| 10049:1981 | Manufacture of lime-based blocks (Code of Practice) |
| 10359:1982 | Manufacture and use of lime-pozzolana concrete blocks for paving |
| 10772:1983 | Quick setting lime-pozzolana mixture specification |
graph LR
A[IS 5817] --> B[IS 3115: Lime-based blocks]
A --> C[IS 10049 & 10359: Manufacture & use]
A --> D[IS 383: Aggregates]
A --> E[IS 4098: Lime-pozzolana mixture]
A --> F[IS 2541: Lime-concrete preparation]
A --> G[IS 3067: Waterproofing]
This structure helps in selecting relevant standards for lime-pozzolana concrete blocks and paving applications.
Frequently Asked
As per IS 5817:1992, the required properties of lime-pozzolana mixtures are:
Conformance: Lime-pozzolana mixtures must conform to IS 4098:1983.
Quick Setting Lime-Pozzolana: If quick setting type is used, it must conform to IS 10772:1983.
Strength Requirements: Depend on:
Minimum compressive and flexural strengths are specified in Table 1 of IS 5817, based on the application (buildings, roads).
Material: Pulverized fuel ash conforming to IS 15648:2006 can be used as part of fine aggregate.
Bond Strength: The lime-pozzolana concrete bond strength with cement concrete is about 1.5 to 2.0 MPa, important for composite pavement layers.
| Property | Standard Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lime-Pozzolana Mix | IS 4098:1983 | Base lime-pozzolana mixture |
| Quick Setting Mix | IS 10772:1983 | For rapid setting applications |
| Pulverized Fuel Ash | IS 15648:2006 | Used as fine aggregate component |
| Bond Strength | IS 5817 | 1.5 - 2.0 MPa between lime-pozzolana & cement concrete |
This ensures durability, workability, and adequate strength for structural and pavement applications.
Mixing and Compaction of Lime-Pozzolana Concrete for Road Bases (IS 5817)
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This method ensures a rigid, durable base with improved load distribution.
Recommended Curing Methods for Lime-Pozzolana Concrete (IS 5817):
Additional Notes:
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This curing regime ensures optimal hydration and strength development in lime-pozzolana concrete.
Yes, lime-pozzolana mixture concrete can be used as a bonded underlay in composite pavements as per IS 5817.
Refer to Serial No. 3, Table 1 in IS 5817 for guidance on mix proportions of lime-pozzolana concrete.
| Property | Benefit in Composite Pavement |
|---|---|
| High flexural & strain capacity | Better load distribution and reduced deflection |
| Bonded underlay use | Provides a rigid base for thin cement concrete overlay |
| Mix guidance | Available in IS 5817 Table 1 |
This makes lime-pozzolana mixture concrete an effective material for bonded underlays in composite rigid pavements.
Strength Requirements for Lime-Pozzolana Concrete (IS 5817)
The compressive and flexural strength depend on:
Minimum strength values for different building applications are specified in Table 1 of IS 5817 (not provided here), typically indicating:
Lime-pozzolana concrete is durable and resistant to sulphate attack, ideal for foundations in sulphate-rich soils and high water tables (Clause 5.7).
Bond strength with cement concrete layers is about 1.5 to 2.0 MPa if layers are placed within 1 hour (Clause 6.3).
| Application | Minimum Compressive Strength (MPa) | Minimum Flexural Strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundations | ~3 to 5 | ~1 to 1.5 |
| Floors/Pavements | ~7 to 10 | ~2 to 3 |
Refer to IS 5817 Table 1 for exact values.
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For detailed design, always consult Table 1 of IS 5817 and related IS codes IS 4098 & IS 10772.
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