EN 196 is a European Standard that specifies the methods for determining the compressive and flexural strength of cement mortars. It involves preparing prismatic test specimens measuring 40 × 40 × 160 mm, made from a standardized mortar mixture containing one part cement, three parts CEN standard sand, and one half part water (water/cement ratio 0.50).

The mortar is mechanically mixed, compacted using a jolting apparatus, and stored under controlled moisture conditions. After curing, the specimens are tested to measure both flexural and compressive strength. These procedures are used to verify the mechanical performance and quality of cement products for construction use.

For more information about this test method, please visit the official DS (Danish Standards) website.