This international standard specifies a method for the unconfined compression test. This international standard is applicable to the determination of the unconfined compressive strength for a homogeneous specimen of undisturbed, re-compacted, remoulded or reconstituted soil under compression loading within the scope of geotechnical investigations. This test method is useful to estimate the undrained shear strength of soil. It should be noted that drainage is not prevented during this test. The estimated value for undrained shear strength is therefore only valid for soils of low permeability, which behave sufficiently undrained during the test. NOTE This document fulfils the requirements of unconfined compression tests for geotechnical investigation and testing in accordance with EN 1997-1 and EN 1997-2.