UK Standard
BS EN 12620 — Aggregates for Concrete (Sharp Sand)
BS EN 12620 — Aggregates for concrete
In short: BS EN 12620 is the standard for aggregates used in concrete, including the angular sharp (grit) sand used for paving beds and concrete mixes.
What BS EN 12620 covers
It covers the grading and properties of aggregates such as sharp sand, whose angular grains give the mechanical strength needed under paving and in concrete.
Sharp sand to BS EN 12620 should be used for bedding paving and mixing concrete — not soft building sand, which is for mortar.
Apply this standard
Calculators that use BS EN 12620
Sand Calculator
Sharp sand, building sand and ballast volumes with cement-bag estimates for any mix ratio.
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Concrete Volume Calculator
Slabs, footings, columns and steps. Ready-mix vs bagged, reinforcement mesh, embodied carbon and adjustable waste.
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Paving Slab Calculator
Slab count for any patio area, factoring in joint gaps and wastage.
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Patio Material Estimator
Full shopping list: MOT Type 1, sharp-sand bed and slab count for any patio size.
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Official source: BSI Knowledge — BS EN 12620. Figures on this page are a plain-English summary for estimating purposes — always refer to the published standard for compliance.