ICS 91.100.15   
 
Reference number  
DRS 514-3: 202 2 
© RSB 2022 
  
 RWANDA 
STANDARD  DRS  
514-3 
 
First edition  
2022-mm-dd 
 
Compressed earth blocks —  
Part 3: Test methods  
   
DRS 514-3: 2022  
©RSB 202 2 - All rights reserved                  ii 
 In order to match with technological development and to keep continuous progress in industries, 
standards are subject to periodic review. Users shall ascertain that they are in possession of the latest 
edition 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
© RSB 2022 
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Website: www.rsb.gov.rw  
ePortal: www.portal.rsb.gov.rw   DRS 514-3: 202 2 
iii                ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  iv 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  1 
4 Tables of tests  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  1 
 DRS 514-3: 2022  
©RSB 202 2 - All rights reserved                  iv 
 Foreword   
Rwanda Standard s are prepared  by Technical Committees and approved by Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) 
Board  of Directors in  accordance with the procedures of RSB, in compliance with Annex 3 of the WTO/TBT 
agreement on the preparation, adoption and application of standards.  
The main task o f technical committees is to prepare national standards.  Final Draft Rwanda S tandards adopted 
by Technical committ ees are ratified  by me mbers of RSB Board of Director s for publication and gazettment as 
Rwanda Standards.  
DRS 514 -1 was prepared by Technical Committee RSB/TC 9, Civil engineering and building materials.  
In the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following standard:  
ARS 670 -3: 2014, Compressed earth blocks - Part 3: Test methods  
The assistance de rived from the above source is hereby acknowledged with thanks.  
DRS 514  consists of the following parts, under the general title Compressed earth blocks : 
⎯ Part 1: Definitions, classifications, specifications  
⎯ Part 2 Earth mortars  
⎯ Part 3: Test methods  
⎯ Part 4: Code of practice  for production and construction  
Committee membership  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee on Civil engineering and building 
materials (RSB/TC 9) in the preparation of this standard.  
A+ Construction Group Ltd  
Africeramics Ltd  
Consultants Engineers Group (CEG) Ltd  
D&D Resources Ltd  
Dutureheza Ltd  
Enabel Rwanda  
Greenpack Africa Ltd  DRS 514-3: 202 2 
v                ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) - Musanze  
Mass Design Group  
NP Construction Construction  Company (NPCC) Ltd  
Road Transport Development Agency (RTDA)  
Rwanda Housing Authority (RHA)  
Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA)  
Rwanda Quarries Association (RQA)  
SKAT Consult  
St Joseph Engineering Company (SJEC) Ltd  
Standards for Sustainability (SfS)  
Stonecraft Industries Ltd  
University of Rwanda - College of Science and Technology (UR - CST)  
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) – Secretariat  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DRS 514-3: 2022  
©RSB 202 2 - All rights reserved                  vi 
 Introduction  
There are two kinds of identification tests for raw materials, and more specifically for earth: quantitative and 
qualitative.  
In the case of the former, tests are carried out using laboratory equipment and the operating modes are those 
habitually used. In the case of the latter, these are so -called field tests, the us e of which certainly figures in the 
technical literature, but which nevertheless requires a sure level of skill and knowledge on the part of the 
operator. In all cases, professional experience will be vital.  
With regard to mechanical tests, these should be suited to the intrinsic characteristics of earth, which differ 
widely from those of most other mineral building materials.  
 DRS 514-3: 202 2 
1                ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 Compressed earth blocks — Part 3: Test methods  
1 Scope  
This Draft Rwanda  Standard specifies test methods for verification of the characteristics of compressed earth 
blocks intended for house construction.  
2 Normative references  
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of  their content co nstitutes 
requirements of this document.  For dated references, only the edition  cited applies. For undated references, the 
latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
DRS 546, Clay products for buildings — Vocabulary  
3 Terms  and definitions  
For the purposes of this standard, the terms and definitions given in DRS 546 apply.  
4 Tables of tests  
Table 1  — Earth tests  
Characteristics  Symb  Tests  Nature of 
tests  Place of testing  Character of 
test  Ref. 
Quarry  Workshop  
/Site  Lab Opt Recom  
GRANULARITY           
Texture   
Wet sieving  N   
x  
x 1,4   
Hydrometer 
test N   
x  
x 1,4 
  
Simplified 
sedimentation  L  
x   
x 1,3,4  
  
Sand 
equivalent  L  
x   
x 1,4 
  
Visual 
examination  L x x  
x  
1,3,4  
  
Hand -washing 
test L x x  
x  
1,3,4  
  
Pellet test  L x x  
x  
1,3,4    
Cigar test  L x x   
x 1,3,4  
Pulverisation ratio   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 1,3,4  
©RSB 202 2 - All rights reserved                  2 
 Characteristics  Symb  Tests  Nature of 
tests  Place of testing  Character of 
test  Ref. 
Quarry  Workshop  
/Site  Lab Opt Recom  
  
Sieving  N  
x   
x 1,3,4 
PLASTICITY           
Liquid limit  LL  Casagrande 
test  N  
x x  
x 1,3,4  
Plastic limit  PL  Atterberg 
thread test  N  
x x  
x 1,3,4  
  
Cone  N  
x x x   
Plasticity index  IP  Calculation  N  
x x  
x 1,3,4  
CLASS           
Class of soil   
Determined in 
table  L   
x x  
3 
SHRINKAGE           
Linear shrinkage   
Alcock test  N  
x   
x 2,3   
Pellet test  L  
x  
x  
1,3,4  
CHEMICAL 
COMPOSITION           
pH   
pH test  N  
x x  
x 1,3,4  
Soluble salts   
Chemical 
analysis  N   
x  
x 1,4 
Acid salts   
Chemical 
analysis  N   
x  
x 1,4 
Alkaline salts   
Chemical 
analysis  N   
x  
x 1,4 
Organic matter or 
humus   
Chemical 
analysis  N  
x x  
x 1,4 
  
Smell test  L x x   
x 3,4 
Carbonates   
Chemical 
analysis  N   
x  
x 1,4 
Sulphates   
Chemical 
analysis  N   
x  
x 1,4 
Chlorides   
Chemical 
analysis  N   
x  
x 1,4 
MINERALOGY           
Methylene blue 
value of the O/d 
fraction of the soil  VBS 
(O/d)  Methylene 
blue test  N   
x  
x 1,4 DRS 514-3: 202 2 
3                ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 Characteristics  Symb  Tests  Nature of 
tests  Place of testing  Character of 
test  Ref. 
Quarry  Workshop  
/Site  Lab Opt Recom  
Methylene blue 
value of the entire 
soil VBS 
Total  Methylene 
blue test  N   
x  
x 1,4 
Nature of colloids   
X-ray test  N   
x x  
1 
COMPACTIBILITY           
Optimal water 
content  Wopt  Static Proctor  N   
x  
x 4 
  
Dropping ball 
test  L  
x   
x 2,4 
L = qualitative N = quantitative  
Table 2 — Water tests  
Characteristics  Symb  Tests  Nature 
of  
tests  Place of testing  Character of 
test  Ref. 
Quarry  Workshop  
/Site  Lab Opt  Recom  
QUALITY           
Transparency   
Visual 
examination  L   
x    
x  2,3,4  
Salinity   
Taste 
examination  L   
x    
x  2,3,4  
  
Evaporation  L   
x    
x  2,3,4  
L = qualitative N = quantitative  
 
Table 3 — Cement tests  
Characteristics  Symbols  Tests  Nature  
of  
tests  Place of testing  Character of 
test  Ref. 
Quarry  Workshop  
/Site  Lab Opt Recom  
QUALITY           
Class   
Rod test  N    
x   
x  1    
Bending rod  L   
x    
x  2  
Going off   
Visual and tactile 
examination  L   
x    
x  4  
L = qualitative N = quantitative   
©RSB 202 2 - All rights reserved                  4 
 Table 4 — Line tests  
Characteristics  Symbol
s Tests  Natur
e of  
tests  Place of testing  Character of test  Ref
.  
Quarr
y Worksho
p 
/Site  Laborator
y  Option
al  Reco
m 
COMPOSITIO
N          
Active lime   
Chemical 
analysis  N    
x  x   
1  
QUALITY           
Going off   
Visual and 
tactile 
examinatio
n  L   
x    
x  4  
L = qualitative N = quantitative  
Table 5 — CEB tests  
Characteristics  Symbols  Tests  Nature 
of 
tests  Place of testing  Character of 
test Ref. 
Quarry  Workshop  
/Site Lab Opt Recom  
CONFIGURATION           
Sections   
Metric 
measurement  N  
x   
x 4 
DIMENSIONS           
Work dimensions   
Metric 
measurement  N  
x   
x 4 
GEOMETRY           
Parallelism   
Metric 
measurement  N  
x   
x 4 
Surface smoothness   
Metric 
measurement  N  
x   
x 4 
Edge smoothness   
Metric 
measurement  N  
x   
x 4 
Surface obliquity   
Metric 
measurement  N  
x   
x 4 
APPEARANCE           
Pitting   
Metric 
examination  N  
x   
x 4 
Roughness   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 4 
Chips   
Metric 
measurement  N  
x   
x 4 DRS 514-3: 202 2 
5                ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 Flaking, etc.   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 4 
Splits, etc.   
Metric 
measurement  N  
x   
x 4 
Colour   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 4 
Structure   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 4 
Texture   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 4 
PHYSICOCHEMICAL           
Pitting   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 4 
Efflorescence   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 4 
MECHANICAL, 
PHYSICAL AND 
HYDRIC           
Dry compressive 
strength  fb dry Crushing 
strength test  N   
x   
1,4 
Wet compressive 
strength  fb wet Crushing 
strength test  N   
x   
1,4 
Dry tensile strength  
t
bf dry Tensile 
strength test  N   
x   
1,4 
Wet tensile strength  
t
bfwet Tensile 
strength test  N   
x   
1,4 
Bending strength   
Block 
breaking lest  N  
x   
x 2,3,4  
Dry density  d Metric 
measurement 
+ weight 
measurement  N  
x   
x 1,2,3,4  
Erosion   
Erosion  N   
x x  
4 
Abrasion - loss of 
material   
Abrasion  N   
x x  
4 
Shrinkage   
Shrinkage  N  
x x  
x 4 
Water absorption   
Weight 
measurement  N   
x  
x 4 
Water absorption by 
the exposed face   
Weight 
measurement  N   
x  
x 4 
Specific heat  C Specific heat  N   
x x  
1 
Thermal conduction 
coefficient   Thermal 
conduction  N   
x x  
1 
L = qualitative N = quantitative   
©RSB 202 2 - All rights reserved                  6 
 Table 6 — Mortar tests  
Characteristics  Symb  Tests  Nature 
of 
tests  Place of testing  Character of test  Ref. 
Quarry  Workshop  
/Site Laboratory  Optional  Recom  
MECHANICAL, 
PHYSICAL, 
HYDRIC           
Dry 
compressive 
strength  fm dry Crushing 
strength 
test  N   
x   
4 
Dry tensile 
strength  
t
mf dry Tensile 
strength 
test  N   
x   
4 
L = qualitative N = quantitative  
Table 7 — Masonry tests  
Characteristics  Symbol
s Tests  Natur
e of 
tests  Place of testing  Character of 
test Ref
. 
Quarr
y Worksho
p 
/Site La
b Op
t Reco
m 
CONFIGURATION           
Bonding pattern   
Visual 
examination  L  
x   
x 2,4 
Horizontality of 
courses   
Metric 
measuremen
t  N  
x   
x 4 
DIMENSIONS           
Execution 
dimensions   
Metric 
measuremen
t  N  
x   
x 4 
GEOMETRY           
Sweep   
Metric 
measuremen
t  N  
x   
x 4 
Plumb   
Metric 
measuremen
t  N  
x   
x 4 
APPEARANCE           
Oozing   
Visual 
examination  L  
x  
x  
4 
Macro -cracks   
Visual 
examination  L  
x  
x  
4 
Chips   
Visual 
examination L  
x  
x  
4 DRS 514-3: 202 2 
7                ©RSB 2022 - All rights reserved  
 and metric 
measuremen
t  
Colour   
Visual 
examination  L  
x  
x  
4 
Texture   
Visual 
examination  L  
x  
x  
4 
PHYSICOCHEMICA
L          
Pitting   
- Visual 
examination  L  
x  
x  
4 
Efflorescence   
- Visual 
examination  L  
x  
x  
4 
MECHANICAL, 
PHYSICAL AND 
HYDRIC           
Dry characteristic 
compressive strength  fk Calculated  N   
x   
4 
Thermal heat loss 
coefficient   
Calculated  N   
x x  
1 
Thermal lag 
coefficient   Calculated  N   
x x  
1 
Acoustic absorption 
coefficient  I Calculated  N   
x x  
1 
Fire resistance   
Fire 
resistance  N   
x x  
1 
Shrinkage   
Metric 
measuremen
t  N   
x  
x 1,4 
L = qualitative N = quantitative   
©RSB 202 2 - All rights reserved                  8 
 Bibliography  
[1] Compressed earth blocks. Vol. I. Manual of production. CRATerre -EAG: Rigassi V., Aus der Arbeit von 
GATE, Friedrich Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig/Wiesbaden, Germany, 1995.  
[2] Earth Construction: a comprehensive guide. CRATerre -EAG: H. Houben and H . Guillaud. IT 
Publications, Rugby, United Kingdom, 1994.  
[3] Compressed earth blocks: materials identification tests and mechanical tests. ENTPE/CRATerre -EAG, 
Lyon, France, 1998.  
 DRS 514-3:2022  
 
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