IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976

(Reaffirmed 2002)

Edition 2.2 (1995-12)

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR GYPSUM BUILDING PLASTER
PART I EXCLUDING PREMIXED LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTERS

( First Revision )
(Incorporating Amendment Nos. 1 & 2)

UDC 691.311

BIS 2003 BUREAU

MANAK BHAVAN , 9 BAHADUR SHAH ZAFAR MARG NEW DELHI 110002

OF

INDIAN

STANDARDS

Price Group 3

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR GYPSUM BUILDING PLASTER
PART I EXCLUDING PREMIXED LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTERS

( First Revision )
Gypsum Building Material Sectional Committee, BDC 21
Chairman DR S. K. C HOPRA Members ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR (A RCH), RESEARCH, DESIGNS AND STANDARDS ORGANIZATION, LUCKNOW JOINT DIRECTOR (ARCH) ( Alternate ) SHRI K. D. B HARGAVA Ministry of Railways Representing Cement Research Institute of India, New Delhi

Directorate of Mines and Geology, Government of Rajasthan, Jaipur India Pottery Manufacturers Association, Calcutta Shri Ram Institute for Industrial Research, Delhi

MINING ENGINEER ( Alternate ) SHRI K. K. B HATIA All

SHRI R. K. BHATNAGAR SHRI C. P. SHARDA ( Alternate ) SHRI G. J. CHANDAK Geological Survey of India, Calcutta SHRI P. N. MEHTA ( Alternate ) SHRI J. S. FRANCISCO Jamnagar Mineral Development Syndicate, Jamnagar SHRI G. C. GUPTA Delhi Development Authority, New Delhi SHRI B. B. DUTT CHOUDHARY ( Alternate ) SHRI R. K. MALIK Directorate General of Technical Development, New Delhi SHRI HAZARI LAL MARWAH Central Builders Association (Regd), Delhi SHRI AMARJIT SINGH ( Alternate ) SHRI R. D. MATHUR Ministry of Defence SHRI V. K. RAZDAN ( Alternate ) SHRI D. MOHTA Raj Plasters Ltd, Bikaner ( Continued on page 2 ) BIS 2003 BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS This publication is protected under the Indian Copyright Act (XIV of 1957) and reproduction in whole or in part by any means except with written permission of the publisher shall be deemed to be an infringement of copyright under the said Act.

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976

( Continued from page 1 ) Members Representing Gypsum Industries Pvt Ltd, Tiruchirapalli SHRI L. RAMIAH DR A. V. R. RAO National Buildings Organization, New Delhi SHRI G. T. B HIDE ( Alternate ) SHRI M. N. ROY Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Limited, Jaipur SHRI K. K. SARIN Rajasthan Housing Board, Jaipur SHRI B. G. SHARMA ( Alternate ) DR S. SEN Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CSIR), Calcutta DR S. K. GUHA ( Alternate ) SHRI SOHAN LAL SINGHANIA J. K. Cotton Spinning and Weaving Mills Co Ltd, Kanpur SHRI K. L. PAI ( Alternate ) SUPERINTENDING SURVEYOR OF Central Public Works Department, New Delhi WORKS (NDZ) SURVEYOR OF WORKS I (NDZ) ( Alternate ) DR C. A. TANEJA Central Building Research Institute (CSIR), Roorkee DR IRSHAD MASOOD ( Alternate ) SHRI H. C. VERMA Associated Instrument Manufacturers (India) Pvt Ltd, New Delhi SHRI M. N. BALIGA ( Alternate ) SHRI D. A JITHA SIMHA, Director General, ISI ( Ex-officio Member ) Director (Civ Engg) Secretary SHRI V INOD KUMAR Deputy Director (Civ Engg), ISI

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976

Indian Standard
SPECIFICATION FOR GYPSUM BUILDING PLASTER
PART I EXCLUDING PREMIXED LIGHTWEIGHT PLASTERS

( First Revision )
0. F O R E W O R D 0.1 This Indian Standard (Part I) (First Revision) was adopted by the Indian Standards Institution on 20 February 1976, after the draft finalized by the Gypsum Building Materials Sectional Committee had been approved by the Civil Engineering Division Council. 0.2 This standard was first published in 1963. It has now been revised in two parts: Part I deals with gypsum plaster excluding premixed lightweight plaster and Part II deals with premixed lightweight plasters. Gypsum plaster has been reclassified according to the latest method of classification and anhydrous plaster which was previously recommended as undercoat plaster and finishing plaster has now been recommended for only finishing purposes. Based on the changes in classification, changes in the requirements of plaster have also been made. 0.3 Gypsum building plasters are used extensively in many countries of the world including Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, United States of America and USSR, for general building operations and for the manufacture of preformed gypsum building products which have the specific advantages of lightness and high fire resistance. 0.4 The various resources for gypsum in this country, when developed, will yield in addition to high grade gypsum, large quantities of gypsum of purity 70 percent or less. The latter according to present knowledge, have also prospects of economic use mainly as building materials, namely, in the form of gypsum plaster, gypsum plaster boards, and gypsum blocks and tiles. This standard on gypsum plaster, which is one in the series, covers the various categories of gypsum plaster used in normal building construction. 0.5 Gypsum building plasters may vary widely in their properties partly because manufacturing processes differ and partly because adjustments are made to suit users requirements. Thus the properties required of plasters for undercoat work differ to some extent from those required for finishing coats; a further variation is sometimes necessary in the latter class in order to control the hardness of finish 3

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976 or surfaces intended for specific purposes. Keeping these points in view it has been attempted in this standard to classify gypsum plasters on the basis of partially dehydrated gypsum and anhydrous gypsum. 0.6 This edition 2.2 incorporates Amendment No. 1 (June 1991) and Amendment No. 2 (December 1995). Side bar indicates modification of the text as the result of incorporation of the amendments. 0.7 For the purpose of deciding whether a particular requirement of this standard is complied with, the final value, observed or calculated, expressing the result of a test or analysis, shall be rounded off in accordance with IS : 2-1960*. The number of significant places retained in the rounded off value should be the same as that of the specified value in this standard. 1. SCOPE 1.1 This standard (Part I) covers the classification and chemical and physical requirements for gypsum building plasters which possess a definite set due to hydration of calcium sulphate, anhydrous or hemihydrate, to form gypsum and are used in the manufacture of gypsum building products. 1.2 Premixed lightweight building plasters are not included in this standard. 2. TERMINOLOGY 2.1 For the purpose of this standard, the definitions given in IS : 2469-1976 shall apply. 3. CLASSIFICATION 3.1 Gypsum plaster shall be classified as follows: a) Plaster of paris, b) Retarded hemihydrate gypsum plaster: Type I Under coat: a) Browning plaster, b) Metal lathing plaster, Type II Final coat plaster: a) Finish plaster, b) Board finish plaster, c) Anhydrous gypsum plasters are for finishing only, and d) Keenes plaster is for finishing only.
*Rules for rounding off numerical values ( revised ). Glossary of terms relating to gypsum ( first revision ).

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976

NOTE Keenes plaster is of the anhydrous type. It is characterized by being more easily brought to a smooth and clean finish associated with gradual set. In this standard Keenes plaster is differentiated from a anhydrous gypsum plaster by a higher standard of purity (CaSO4 not less than 80 percent) and hardness. The special qualities traditionally associated with this type of plaster cannot be dealt with at present by any convenient direct test.

4. CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS 4.1 The chemical composition of the plasters shall be given in Table 1.
TABLE 1 CHEMICAL COMPOSITION REQUIREMENT SL N O. (1) i) ii) iii) iv) v) vi) Plaster of Paris hemihydrate (2) (3) SO3, percent by mass, 35 Min CaO, percent by 2/3 of SO3 mass, Min content Soluble magnesium 0.3 salts, expressed as percentage of MgO, Max Soluble sodium salts, 0.3 expressed as percentage of Na2O, Max Loss of ignition, Not greatpercent by mass er than 9 and less than 4 Free lime, Min percent PARTICULARS Retarded Hemihydrate Gypsum Plaster (4) 35 2/3 of SO3 content 0.3 Anhydrous Gypsum Plaster (5) 40 Keenes Plaster METHOD OF TEST (6) 47 2/3 of SO3 2/3 of SO3 content content 0.3 0.3 (7) see IS : 12881982* see IS : 12881982* see Appendix A 0.3 0.3 0.3 see Appendix A Not greater than 9 and less than 4 3 3.0 Max 2.0 Max see Appendix B see Appendix C *Method of test for mineral gypsum and gypsum products ( second revision ). Applicable to metal lathing plaster.

5. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 5.1 Purity No material shall be added to gypsum plasters except those which are necessary to control the setting, such as sodium citrate, break-drown products of keratin, potassium sulphate, sodium sulphate, alum and zinc sulphate; or working characteristics such as Alkyl-Aryl sulphonate; or to impart anti-corrosion such as nitrates and nitrites of alkali metals or fungicidal properties. 5

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976 5.2 Gypsum plaster shall also satisfy the requirements given in Table 2, when tested according to the procedures given in IS : 2542 (Part I)-1978*.
TABLE 2 SL PARTICULARS NO . PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS R EQUIREMENT Type A (short time setting) (3) Type B (long time setting) (4) 120-900 60-180 4* Set plaster pats shall not show any sign of disintegration, popping or pitting Diameter of the indentation shall not be less than 3 mm and not more than 4.5 mm 5.0* (1.0) (1) (2) Plaster of Paris (5) 20-360 Set plaster pats shall not show any sign of disintegration, popping or pitting Diameter of the indentation shall not be more than 4 mm 2.0 (6) 20-360 Set plaster pats shall not show any sign of disintegration, popping or pitting Diameter of the indentation shall not be more than 3.5 mm 2.0 5.0 0.20 at 24 h 0.5 at 96 h Anhydrous Keenes Plaster Gypsum Plaster

i) Setting time minutes: a) Plaster 45-120 sand mixture b) Neat 20-40 plaster Transverse 5 ii) strength, kg/cm2, Min iii) Soundness Set plaster pats shall not show any sign of disintegration, popping or pitting iv) Mechanical resistance of set neat plaster

v) Residue on 90 m sieve percentage, Max vi) Expansion on setting percentage, Max

*Applicable to undercoat plasters only. Applicable to final coat plasters. Applicable to board finish plasters only. *Methods of test for gypsum plaster, concrete and products: Part I Plaster and concrete ( first revision ).

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976 5.3 Notwithstanding the requirements specified in 5.1, additives for the purpose of colouring may be added to Keenes plaster. 6. SAMPLING 6.1 Lot In any consignment, all the packages of the gypsum plaster of the same class and type and from the same batch of manufacture shall be grouped together to constitute a lot. 6.1.1 Samples shall be selected and tested separately from each lot to determine its conformity or otherwise to the requirements of the specification. 6.2 The number of packages to be selected for the sample from a lot shall depend upon the size of the lot and shall be in accordance with col 1 and 2 of Table 3.
TABLE 3 NUMBER OF PACKAGES TO BE SELECTED FOR THE SAMPLE SAMPLE SIZE (N O. OF PACKAGES TO BE SELECTED FOR THE SAMPLE ) (2) 3 4 5 7 10

LOT SIZE (NO. OF PACKAGES IN THE LOT) (1) Up to 100 101 ,, 150 151 ,, 300 301 ,, 500 501 and above

6.2.1 The packages for the sample shall be selected at random from the lot and in order to ensure the randomness of selection the procedures given in IS : 4905-1968* may be adopted. 6.3 Number of Tests 6.3.1 The contents of each package in the sample shall be thoroughly homogenized by mixing separately and sufficient quantity of gypsum plaster shall then be drawn from each package separately for carrying out the tests for setting time, transverse strength and residue on 90 m Sieve. These samples of gypsum plaster drawn from each package shall be kept separately and tested individually for each of the tests mentioned above. The samples should be placed immediately in clean, dry, airtight containers for delivering to the laboratory.
*Methods for random sampling.

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976 6.3.2 The test for the remaining physical requirements and the chemical requirements shall be carried out on a composite sample prepared by thoroughly mixing equal quantities of gypsum plaster taken from each of the packages selected in the sample. 6.4 Criteria for Conformity A lot shall be considered as conforming to the requirements of this standard if the conditions mentioned in 6.4.1 and 6.4.2 are satisfied. 6.4.1 For test results on setting time, transverse strength and residue on 1.18-mm IS Sieve, the average ( X ) and the range ( R ) shall be calculated. From the corresponding average and range value for each characteristic the value of the expressions X 0.4R shall be calculated. The value of the expression X 0.4R as calculated above should be greater than or equal to the minimum limits specified, and the value of the expression X + 0.4R shall be less than or equal to the maximum limit specified. 6.4.2 All the test results for various physical and chemical requirements tested on the composite sample shall satisfy the corresponding specification requirements. 7. PACKING AND MARKING 7.1 Gypsum plasters shall be dry and free from lumps and shall be suitably packed in watertight bags or containers. The following information shall be marked legibly on each package: a) Name of the manufacturer; b) Class and type of plaster; c) Date of manufacture, batch number, if any; and d) Net mass. 7.2 BIS Certification Marking The product may also be marked with Standard Mark. 7.2.1 The use of the Standard Mark is governed by the provisions of Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 and the Rules and Regulations made thereunder. The details of conditions under which the licence for the use of Standard Mark may be granted to manufacturers or producers may be obtained from the Bureau of Indian Standards. 8

IS : 2547 (Part I) - 1976

APPENDIX A
( Table 1 ) A-1. DETERMINATION OF SOLUBLE SODIUM AND MAGNESIUM SALTS A-1.1 Weigh 1 g of the plaster, ground to pass a 212-micron IS Sieve complying with the requirements of IS : 460 (Part 1) - 1985* into a polyethylene bottle, add 100 ml of water to room temperature and 1 g of salt free gypsum. Shake the bottle occasionally during the next hour to prevent caking and then allow it to stand until a clear supernatant liquid is obtained. A-1.2 Determine the contents of soluble sodium salts and magnesium salts in portions of the clear supernatant liquid. Express the results as Na2O and MgO.

APPENDIX B
( Table 1 ) B-1. DETERMINATION OF LOSS ON IGNITION B-1.1 Weigh 2 g of the plaster into a squat weighing bottle, previously weighed complete with cover. Distribute the plaster evenly over the bottle to constant mass at a temperature between 280C and 300C. Cover the weighing bottle and reweigh immediately it is cool.

APPENDIX C
( Table 1 ) DETERMINATION OF FREE LIME C-1. PROCEDURE C-1.1 Suspend 5 g of the sample in approximately 100 ml of water. Add several drops of phenolphthalein indicator solution (0.5 percent in 50 percent aqueous ethanol) and titrate with 0.5 N hydrochloric acid until the pink colour of the indicator just disappears. Continue the titration until the pink colour does not return after standing for 2 to 3 minutes. With 5 g sample, 1 ml 0.5 N hydrochloric acid 0.37 percent Ca(OH)2.
*Specification for test sieves : Part 1 Wire cloth test sieves ( third revision ).

Bureau of Indian Standards BIS is a statutory institution established under the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986 to promote harmonious development of the activities of standardization, marking and quality certification of goods and attending to connected matters in the country. Copyright BIS has the copyright of all its publications. No part of these publications may be reproduced in any form without the prior permission in writing of BIS. This does not preclude the free use, in the course of implementing the standard, of necessary details, such as symbols and sizes, type or grade designations. Enquiries relating to copyright be addressed to the Director (Publications), BIS. Review of Indian Standards Amendments are issued to standards as the need arises on the basis of comments. Standards are also reviewed periodically; a standard along with amendments is reaffirmed when such review indicates that no changes are needed; if the review indicates that changes are needed, it is taken up for revision. Users of Indian Standards should ascertain that they are in possession of the latest amendments or edition by referring to the latest issue of BIS Catalogue and Standards : Monthly Additions. This Indian Standard has been developed by Technical Committee : BDC 21 and amended by CED 21 Amendments Issued Since Publication Date of Issue June 1991 December 1995

Amend No. Amd. No. 1 Amd. No. 2

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