LimsPulse
Construction materials testing

Blaine Air Permeability Apparatus

Measures the fineness of cement as specific surface area (m²/kg) by timing how long a fixed volume of air takes to pass through a compacted bed of cement.

  • Cement manufacturing
  • Construction materials testing
  • Fly ash and slag suppliers
  • Academic labs
Illustration of Blaine Air Permeability Apparatus
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE

Maintenance checklist

Each use

  • Clean cell, disc and plunger
  • Check the manometer liquid level

Monthly

  • Inspect the seal between the cell and manometer
  • Check for leaks by closing off the cell and watching the liquid level

Six-monthly / annual

  • Re-determine the apparatus constant with reference cement
  • Re-determine bed volume
  • Replace discoloured manometer liquid and re-check the constant
SAFETY

Safety precautions

Before you work on the Blaine
  • If mercury is used for bed-volume determination, handle it only in a tray in a ventilated area, wear gloves, and follow your site's mercury spill procedure. Some labs use alternative methods to avoid mercury.
  • Avoid breathing cement dust; wear a dust mask when handling dry powder.
  • Handle the glass manometer carefully to avoid breakage.
In LimsPulse · Calibration Management

Keep every Blaine in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.

See how