Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

JIS
Soil Moisture Content Test Method
JIS A 1203 : 2020

(JGS)

March 25, 2020 Revision

Japan Industrial Standards Committee Deliberation

(Published by Japanese Standards Association)

 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

A 1203:2020

Table of Contents
PREFACE........................................................................................................................................ 3
1. Scope of Application ................................................................................................................ 4
2. Reference Standard .................................................................................................................. 4
3. Terms and Definitions .............................................................................................................. 4
......................................................................................................................................................... 5
4. Test Equipment ........................................................................................................................ 5
5. Sample...................................................................................................................................... 5
......................................................................................................................................................... 6
6. Test Method.............................................................................................................................. 6
7. Calculations.............................................................................................................................. 6
8. Reports ..................................................................................................................................... 6
 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

A 1203:2020

PREFACE

This standard is a Japanese Industrial Standard that was revised by the Minister of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism after deliberation by the Japan Industrial Standards
Committee based on a proposal from the Japan Geotechnical Society (JGS) to revise the Japanese
Industrial Standard with a draft industrial standard in accordance with Article 12, Paragraph 1 of
the Industrial Standardization Law as applied mutatis mutandis in Article 16 of the same law. As
a result, JIS A 1203:2009 was revised and replaced by this standard.
This standard is a copyrighted work protected by copyright law.
Please note that some parts of this standard may conflict with patent rights, published patent
applications or utility model rights. The Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
and the Japan Industrial Standards Committee (JISC) assume no responsibility for any such checks
involving patent rights, post-publication patent applications, or utility model rights.
 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

Japanese Industrial Standards

JIS
A 1203:2020

Test Method for Water Content of Soils

preface
This standard is based on ISO 17892-1, which was published as the first edition in 2014, and is
based on the fact that the soil layer structure is complex in Japan, and that the standard provides
benefits for the entire ground, including soft ground. This is a Japanese industrial standard that
was created by changing the technical content, taking into consideration that the design system is
based on the test results obtained.
Note that the parts in this standard that are underlined with dotted lines are changes to the
corresponding international standards. A list of changes with explanations is provided in Annex
JA. In addition, a comparison with the old standard regarding technically important revisions is
provided in Annex JB.

1. Scope of Application
This standard specifies the test method for determining the moisture content of soil using a
constant temperature drying oven.
Note: The international standards to which this standard corresponds and the symbols
representing the degree of correspondence are shown below.
ISO 17892-1:2014, Geotechnical investigation and testing – Laboratory Testing of Soil – Part
1: Determination of water content (MOD)

The symbol “MOD” indicating the degree of compliance indicates “modified” based on
ISO/IEC Guide 21-1.

2. Reference Standard
The following standards constitute part of the provisions of this standard by being cited in this
standard. The latest version (including any amendments) of these cited standards shall be
applied.
JIS A 0207 Terminology for Construction Engineering
JIS R 3503 Glassware for Chemical Analysis

3. Terms and Definitions

The main terms and definitions used in this standard are based on JIS A 0207
 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

A 1203:2020

4. Test Equipment
The test equipment shall be as follows.
NOTE: for calibration and inspection of test equipment, see Annex A.
a. Containers must be heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant so that their mass does not
change even if they are used repeatedly. When using a container with a lid, use the
lid to dry the sample immediately before measuring the mass of the wet soil and to
prevent the dry soil from absorbing moisture from the air.
b. Constant temperature, a constant temperature drying oven uses air circulation to
maintain the temperature inside the oven at (110±5) °C.
c. Scales shall be capable of measuring up to the minimum reading values shown in
Table 1.

Table 1. Minimum Reading of the Scale Used to Measure the Mass of the Sample

Mass of Sample Minimum

(gr) Reading
less than 10 0.001
more than 10 less than 100 0.01
over 100 less than 1000 0.1
1000 or more 1

d. Desiccator, a desiccator is a container specified in JIS R3503 or equivalent in

function, containing a moisture absorbent such as silica gel or calcium chloride.

5. Sample
The sample shall be as follows.
The amount of sample required for each test is based on the mass shown in Table 2,
depending on the maximum particle size of the sample.
Table 2. Approximate weight according to the maximum particle size of the sample required for measuring water content ratio

Maximum Particle Size of Sample Mass of Sample

(mm) (gr)
75 5,000
37.5 1,000
19 150
4.75 30
2 10
0.425 5
 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

A 1203:2020

6. Test Method
The test method as follows.
a) Mass of the container mc measure (gr).
b) Place the sample in a container and measure the total mass ma (gr).
c) Place the sample together with the container in a constant temperature drying
oven and dry it at (110±5) °C until it reaches a constant mass.
Note that a constant mass may be defined as a change in mass before and
after drying of less than 0.1% when dried for 1 hour.
d) Transfer the oven-dried sample to a desiccator or cover the container with a lid,
and after cooling to approximately room temperature, measure the total mass mb
(gr).
e) The test shall be performed at least once on the target sample.

7. Calculations
The calculation is as follows.
The water content ratio is calculated using the following formula and rounded to one
decimal place.
When testing multiple times for the target sample, the arithmetic mean value is used as
the representative value, average values are rounded off.
The representative value is rounded to one decimal place.

m𝑎 − m𝑏
𝑤= 𝑥100
m𝑏 − m𝑐

w = moisture content ratio (%)

ma = mass of sample and container (gr)
mb = mass of oven-dried sample and container (gr)
mc = mass of container (gr)

8. Reports
The report is as follows.
a) Moisture content ratio of specimen (%)
b) Other reporting matters
 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

A 1203:2020

APPENDIX A
(reference)
Calibration and Inspection

A.1 General
this annex provides information necessary for the calibration and inspection of test equipment used
for soil moisture content tests.

A.2 Test Equipment

A.2.1 Constant Temperature Drying Oven
Inspection of constant temperature drying ovens shall be as follows.
a) Inspection with the constant temperature drying oven empty, measure the temperature near
the Center of oven. Temperature will be measured once a year using a calibrated
thermometer.

A.2.2 Scales
Calibration and inspection of scales shall be carried out as follows.
a) Calibration scales shall be calibrated using standard weights when used and at least once a
year thereafter. The standard weight is specified by JIS B7609 and has a mass within the
range in which the scale is used.
b) Before using the inspection scale, check the zero point and the display when the standard
weight of the mass to be used is placed on it.
 ISO 17892-1:2014, Geotechnical investigation and testing – Laboratory testing of soil
JIS A 1203:2020 Soil moisture content test method
– Part 1: Determination of water content

(I) JIS regulations (II) (III) Provisions of International Standards (IV) Evaluation of each article of (V) Reasons for technical differences between
Internati technical difference between JIS JIS and international standards and future
onal and international standards and countermeasures
Specific its contents
A 1203:2020

ation
Clause Content Number Clause Content Evaluation Contents of
number number of each technical
clause differences

3 Terms The main terms 3 For the purposes of this Change The terminology The terminology used in the standard is shown in
and and definitions document, the following terms used in the JIS A 0207, so changes were made to check the
definition used in this and definitions apply. standard was reference standard JIS A 0207.
s standard are based changed to be
on JIS A 0207 3.1 water content (w) confirmed by the
reference
Ratio of the mass of free water standard JIS A
to the mass of dry soil 0207
Geotechnical
Engineering
Terminology

3.2 Fluid content (Wn) Delete Define fluid Considering the current situation, which is not
content clearly defined in Japan.
Ratio of the mass of free water
(reference)

including dissolved solids to the

mass of dry soil
APPENDIX JA

4c) Scales The scale must be 4.3 Accurate to 0.01 gr or 0.1% of Addition The minimum Organize and clarify sample mass and minimum
able to measure the weighed mass whichever reading value was reading value in a table
up to the value is the greater. clarified and
minimum reading added based on
values shown in the sample mass
Table 1

5 Samples The amount of - - Change The minimum Considering the current situation in Japan. Where
sample required mass of the the design system uses sieves that are different
for each test is sample was from the corresponding international standards.
based on the changed to The minimum mass of the sample that
Comparison table between JIS and corresponding international standards

weight shown in accommodate corresponded to the same sieves as the old JIS
Table 2, difference in was stipulated.
depending on the sieve size
maximum particle
size of the sample.
Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.
 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

(I) JIS regulations (II) (III) Provisions of (IV) Evaluation of each article of technical (V) Reasons for technical differences between JIS and international
International International Standards difference between JIS and international standards and future countermeasures
Specification standards and its contents
Number
Clause Content Clause Content Evaluation of Contents of technical
number number each clause differences

6 Test a) Measure the mass mc (gr) 5.2 Place the moist Addition Added the requirement to Specified that the mass of the container will be measured during the
Method of the container test specimen in a measure the mass of the test.
b) Place the sample in a 5.2.1 clean, dry container during the test.
container and measure the container of
total mass ma (gr) known mass (mc,
including the mass
of the lid, if one is
to be used) and
determine its total
mass. This value
shall be recorded
(m1).

c) Place the sample together 5.2.2 The lid (if used) Change The temperature setting of the Taking into consideration the current situation in Japan, where a design
with the container in a shall be removed, constant temperature drying system is in place, the set temperature was defined as the old JIS
constant temperature the container with oven was changed to match the
drying oven and dry it at the moist test actual situation in Japan
(110±5) °C until it reaches specimen shall be
a constant mass. placed in a drying
oven maintained
at 105 °C to
110 °C

d) - 5.2.3 Coarse soils may Delete Drying time for coarse samples It was deleted in consideration of the current situation in Japan where
often be dried to has been removed the design system is established.
constant mass in a
period of about 4h
at this
temperature, when
a forced-draft
oven is used.

e) The test shall be - - Addition Added the number of tests. Specify the number of tests.
performed at least once on
the target sample
 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

(I) JIS regulations (II) (III) Provisions of (IV) Evaluation of each article of technical (V) Reasons for technical differences between JIS and international
International International Standards difference between JIS and international standards and future countermeasures
Specification standards and its contents
Number
Clause Content Clause Content Evaluation of Contents of technical
number number each clause differences

7 Moisture content ratio is 7 c) Water content of Change The display method of moisture It was necessary to verify the method of displaying the moisture
calculations calculated using the the test specimen, content ratio values has been content ratio value, and it was decided that the value should be rounded
following formula and below 100% to changed. to one decimal place, regardless of its size.
rounded to one decimal place
one decimal place. and above 100%
If testing is performed to the nearest
multiple whole percent;
times on the target sample, the
arithmetic mean value will
be used as the representative
value. The average value is
rounded to one decimal place
and used as a representative
value.
Annex A This annex provides Annex (normative) Change The contents of calibration and Considering the current situation in Japan, where a design system is
information necessary for the A inspection are specified for established, the content of calibration and inspection was used as a
Calibration calibration and inspection of Calibration, reference. reference.
and points test equipment used in soil maintenance, and
moisture content tests. checks
 Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.

APPENDIX JB
(reference)
Comparison table between old and new regarding technically important revisions
Disclaimer: not the original document. own translation, for internal consumption only.