Modern deicing salts (NaCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂) are not included in the standard. A soil-cement may pass D560 with distilled water but fail rapidly in the presence of road salt due to chemical attack and osmotic pressure changes. For saline environments, ASTM C666 (for concrete) is more relevant.

The test is straightforward but labor-intensive. A soil-cement sample is compacted to a specified density and moisture content (typically using standard Proctor effort, ASTM D698). The specimen is then subjected to 12 cycles of freezing and thawing. Each cycle consists of:

The method is applicable to granular soils (sands, gravels), silts, and low-plasticity clays. It provides a standardized way to determine the required cement content—usually 5% to 14% by weight—to achieve durability.