Fine Aggregate Testing
(Sand Testing — IS 383)

Comprehensive physical and mechanical testing of fine aggregates (natural sand, M-sand, crushed stone dust) as per IS 383 — verifying suitability for concrete, mortar and plaster applications.

Overview

What is the Fine Aggregate Testing?

Fine Aggregate Testing covers all the physical, mechanical and chemical tests required to assess whether a fine aggregate (river sand, manufactured sand or stone dust) meets the requirements of IS 383:2016 for use in structural concrete, mortar and plaster. Inadequate aggregate quality directly impacts concrete strength, workability and durability.

At Global Lab, fine aggregate testing is conducted in our NABL-accredited laboratory covering sieve analysis (particle size distribution), specific gravity, water absorption, bulk density, silt content (field & lab), organic impurities, clay lumps, shell content and soundness testing. Results are compared against IS 383 Zone II, Zone III requirements.

Complete IS 383 Test Suite

All mandatory and recommended tests per IS 383:2016 conducted.

Sieve Analysis & Grading Zone

Particle size distribution plotted and classified as Zone I, II, III or IV.

Silt & Clay Content

Field settlement test and wet sieve method for silt/clay — critical for concrete quality.

Specific Gravity & Absorption

SSD specific gravity and 24-hour water absorption for mix design calculations.

NABL Certified Reports

All results on NABL-accredited letterhead with IS 383 compliance statement.

Organic Impurity Test

Colorimetric test for organic impurities — failure can cause severe strength loss.

Test in Action

Fine Aggregate Testing — Site Images

Sieve Analysis of Fine Aggregate

Fine Aggregates Test

IS 383 Grading Zone Chart Plotted

Test Procedure

How the Fine Aggregate Testing is Conducted

1

Sample Collection & Preparation

Representative sample collected per IS 2386. Sample is dried and split to test portion using riffle box.
2

Sieve Analysis

Dried sample passed through IS sieve series (4.75mm to 150μm). Percentage passing each sieve calculated and grading zone determined.
3

Specific Gravity & Water Absorption

Pycnometer method (IS 2386 Part 3) — SSD specific gravity and 24-hour absorption determined.
4

Silt Content & Deleterious Material

Field settlement test and wet sieve method for silt. Clay lumps, coal and lignite content per IS 2386 Part 2.
5

Reporting & IS 383 Compliance

All results tabulated and compared against IS 383:2016 limits. NABL report with pass/fail compliance statement issued within 7 days.

Standards & Specifications

Applicable Test Standards

Standard	Title	Scope	Type
IS 383:2016	Coarse and Fine Aggregate for Concrete — Specification	Aggregate Specification	Indian Standard
IS 2386	Methods of Test for Aggregates for Concrete (Parts 1–8)	Aggregate Testing	Indian Standard
ASTM C33	Standard Specification for Concrete Aggregates	Aggregate Standard	ASTM
IS 1542	Sand for Plaster — Specification	Plaster Sand	Indian Standard

Applications

Where is the CAPO Test Used?

Quality control acceptance testing of river sand and M-sand for structural concrete

Approval testing of new aggregate sources for large infrastructure projects

Batch-to-batch quality monitoring for ready mix concrete plants

Source approval testing for cement and concrete product manufacturers

Aggregate suitability assessment for high-performance and durability-specified concrete

Pre-qualification testing for government and NHAI infrastructure projects

Why Choose Global Lab

Our Advantages

NABL Accredited ReportsLegally valid IS 383 compliance certificates for all QC requirements.

Complete Test PackageAll IS 383 mandatory tests in a single submission — single report.

Autovity Digital ReportsAccess all aggregate test data and grading curves digitally.

Fast 7-Day TurnaroundComplete IS 383 test suite completed and reported within 7 days.

Pan-India SamplingSample collection teams across 7 lab locations for source testing.

Mix Design IntegrationAggregate test data directly fed into our concrete mix design service.

Fine Aggregate Testing(Sand Testing — IS 383)