CEN/TC 193

Date: 2026-02-05

prEN 13409:2026

Secretariat: UNE

Adhesives — Test method for cementitious and calciumsulfate-based floor levelling compounds — Determination of setting time

Klebstoffe — Prüfverfahren für hydraulisch erhärtende Boden-Spachtelmassen — Bestimmung der Abbindezeit

Adhésifs — Méthode d’essai pour les mortiers de lissage à base de ciment et de sulfate de calcium — Détermination du temps de prise

CCMC will prepare and attach the official title page.

Contents Page

European foreword 3

Introduction 4

1 Scope 5

2 Normative references 5

3 Terms and definitions 5

4 Principle 5

5 Standard test conditions 5

6 Apparatus and materials 6

7 Procedure 6

7.1 Calibration 6

7.2 Determination of initial setting time 6

7.3 Determination of final setting time 7

8 Expression of results 8

9 Test report 8

European foreword

This document (prEN 13409:2026) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 193 “Adhesives”, the secretariat of which is held by UNE.

This document is currently submitted to the CEN Enquiry.

This document will supersede EN 13409:2002.

prEN 13409:2026 includes the following significant technical changes with respect to EN 13409:2002:

— term “hydraulic setting floor smoothing and/or levelling compounds” changed to “cementitious and calciumsulfate-based floor levelling compounds”;

— concretisation of the scope;

— editorial changes.

Introduction

Persons using this document are to be familiar with normal laboratory practice.

This document does not purport to address all the safety problems, if any, associated with its use.

It is the responsibility of the user to establish health and safety practices and to ensure compliance with any European and national regulatory conditions.

This document specifies the measurement of setting time of a prepared cementitious or calcium sulfate-based floor levelling compound, after mixing with the liquid component, e.g. water.

This document applies to cementitious and calcium sulfate-based floor levelling compounds used for the preparation of subfloors to ensure the suitability of the substrate prior to the installation of floor coverings. By using the floor levelling compound, a homogeneous layer is built up on the load-bearing substrate, to ensure consistent absorbency, evenness and strength.

The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content constitutes 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.

EN 196‑3, Methods of testing cement — Part 3: Determination of setting time and soundness

EN 923, Adhesives — Terms and definitions

prEN 1937:2026, Adhesives — Test method for cementitious and calciumsulfate-based floor levelling compounds — Standard mixing procedures

ISO 554, Standard atmospheres for conditioning and/or testing — Specifications

For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 923, prEN 1937:2026 and the following apply.

ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:

— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp/

— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/

3.1

setting

process of transition from plastic to solid state

Note to entry 1: The setting time is characterized by the initial and final penetration times.

The setting time is determined by observing the penetration of a needle into floor levelling compound after mixing with water and recording the time for a given penetration value.

The standard test conditions shall be (23 ± 2) °C and (50 ± 5) % relative humidity in accordance with ISO 554.

All test materials and apparatus shall be stored under these conditions for the duration of the test.

The tests shall be carried out in an area where the air circulation is less than 0,2 m/s.

6.1 Vicat apparatus, in accordance with EN 196‑3 (see Figure 1) with a steel needle, length (50 ± 1) mm, diameter (1,13 ± 0,05) mm, and attachment made from corrosion resistant metal.

The total mass of the moving parts shall be (300 ± 1) g. Their movement shall be truly vertical on an axis coincident with the steel needle and without significant friction.

6.2 Mould (see Figure 1a)), containing the mixture under test shall be made of hard rubber. It shall be of truncated conical form (40,0 ± 0,2) mm deep and shall have internal diameters at top and bottom of (70 ± 5) mm and (80 ± 5) mm respectively.

The apparatus shall be sufficiently rigid and placed on a plane glass plate larger than the mould and at least 2,5 mm thick.

Moulds of metal or plastics or of cylindrical form can be used provided they are of the specified depth and that they can be shown to give the same test results as the specified hard rubber mould of truncated conical form.

6.3 Timer, accurate to 1 s.

6.4 Floor levelling compound, in accordance with prEN 1937:2026.

6.5 Liquid, to mix with the floor levelling compound, in accordance with prEN 1937:2026.

Calibrate the Vicat apparatus (7.1) with the needle (see Figure 1b)), attached in advance of the test by lowering the needle to rest on the base plate to be used. Adjust the pointer to zero. Raise the needle to the stand-by position.

Lightly grease the glass plate and the mould. When the standard mixing procedure is completed in accordance with prEN 1937:2026, fill the mould immediately without undue compaction or vibration and start the timer. Using a straight edge implement remove the excess with a gentle sawing action to leave a flat smooth surface.

Place the test specimen centrally under the needle.

When the prepared floor levelling compound mixture is showing signs of setting lower the needle gently until it is in contact with the surface. Pause in that position for between 1 s and 2 s in order to avoid initial velocity or forced acceleration of the moving parts.

Then release quickly and allow the needle to penetrate vertically into the prepared floor levelling compound.

Read the scale when penetration has ceased or after 30 s after the release of the needle whichever is earlier.

Record the scale reading which indicates the distance between the end of the needle and the base plate together with the time from zero.

Remove and clean the needle.

Reposition the test specimen so that the next point of penetration is at a distance greater than 10 mm from the edge or of any previous test.

Repeat at conveniently spaced time intervals, e.g. 5 min. until the scale reading is (4 ± 1) mm.

Time intervals near the end point should be reduced to ensure that successive test results do not vary excessively.

Record to the nearest minute the time at which this occurs together with any abnormalities such as separation.

Dimensions in millimetres

Key

1 Hard rubber mould

2 Platform for correcting weights

3 Glass plate

Figure 1 — Vicat apparatus for determining setting times

Continue with the procedure in 8.2 until the needle penetrates the compound by 0,5 mm.

Time intervals near the end point should be reduced to ensure that successive test results do not vary excessively.

Record to the nearest minute the time measured from zero at which the needle first penetrates only 0,5 mm into the test specimen.

8.1 Express the initial setting time as the elapsed time between the end of the mixing procedure to prepare the mixture to when the reading is (4 ± 1) mm on the scale, rounded to the nearest minute.

8.2 Express the final setting time as the elapsed time between the end of the mixing procedure to prepare the mixture to when the needle first penetrates only 0,5 mm into the mixture, rounded to the nearest minute.

The test report shall include:

a) a reference to this document;

b) the designation of the floor levelling compound under test, the date of manufacture and/or batch number, if known;

c) the proportions of the liquid components by mass in relation to 100 parts of powder component;

d) the method of mixing the compound and the total time in minutes in accordance with prEN 1937:2026;

e) the initial and final setting times, in minutes;

f) any deviations from the specified test methods;

g) date of test.