WHAT COLOUR HAS PROVEN EFFECTIVE?

Requirements on concrete colours according to DIN EN 12878

For colouring concrete, the quality of the colour used is of crucial importance. Therefore, concrete colours manufactured and used within the European Union, must meet several requirements, specified in DIN EN 12878. In line with the commitment to manufacture high-quality admixtures, Ha-Be adopted these requirements also for its Middle Eastern operation.
     

NORMATIVE SPECIFICATIONS IN DIN EN 12878

According to DIN EN 12878, concrete colours must be weather-, UV- and alkaline-resistant. Furthermore, the European standard requires a constant colour intensity and a consistent colour stability to ensure the reproducilility of concrete products.
             

INORGANIC, SYNTHETIC PIGMENTS

According to DIN EN 12878, concrete colours must be based on inorganic, synthetic pigments, e.g. iron oxides, chromium oxides, cobalt blue, titanium white, and carbon-based black pigments. These base pigments are then again base of an endless variety of concrete colours.
         

REINFORCED OR NON-REINFORCED CONCRETE?

The standard distinguishes its requirements on colours for concrete into two categories and in regards to the intended use or uses of the final construction product:

In category A, for colours used in non-reinforced concrete such as manufactured concrete products and in category B, for colours used in steel-reinforced concrete.

In category B, the standard determines limits to ensure that adding colour to concrete does not cause any adverse reactions. A defined maximum chloride content for example protects steel-reinforced concrete from steel corrosion.

CERTIFIED QUALITY

Before being used, concrete colours are required to proof their conformity to the normative specifications in DIN EN 12878.

Ha-Be is certified to this DIN EN standard and thus only manufactures and offers pigments and liquid colours meeting the requirements. Consequently, our concrete colours bear the CE mark.