CONSULTING ENGINEERING GROUP

PROJECT NAME
3.0.

CEMENT

3.1.

GENERAL

3.1.1.

Scope
1

3.2.

3.3.

This Part covers the requirements for the testing and use of cement in structural concrete.

SOURCE APPROVAL
1

The Contractor shall submit to the Engineer for approval full details of the proposed
source of cement. These sources of cement supply shall be regularly and thoroughly
investigated to ensure that the quality of the material supply is satisfactory and that it
does not deteriorate during the performance of the project.The cement source shall not
be changed without the Engineer's acceptance.

The Contractor shall supply the Engineer with the manufacturers test sheets for each
consignment of cement, certifying that the cement is in compliance with the relevant
standards.

The Contractor shall submit to the Engineer the date of manufacture and proof that the
specifications have been complied with, certified by an independent agency in the country
of origin.

SAMPLING
1
2

3.4.

SPECIFICATION
PROJECT NO.

The methods of obtaining samples of cement for testing shall be carried out as described
in BS 4550 Part 1
Each delivery of cement to the Site shall be accompanied by the manufacturer's test
certificates. If such certificates are not available, the Contractor shall take representative
samples from different bags or containers of each consignment, or as required by the
Engineer. The samples shall be packed, labelled and sent for testing to an accepted sting
laboratory. Fourteen days shall be allowed for the Engineers review of these samples.

QUALITY AND TESTING

1

The specification requirements for ASTM cement types I, II, III, IV and V and ordinary
Portland cement, rapid hardening Portland cement, sulphate resisting Portland cement
and low heat cement are given in Tables 3.1 and 3.2.

Ordinary Portland cement and rapid hardening Portland cement shall meet the
requirements of BS EN 197-1. Low heat Portland cement shall conform to the
requirements of BS 1370. Sulphate resisting Portland cement shall conform to the
requirements of BS 4027. Portland blast-furnace cement and low heat blast-furnace
cement shall conform to the requirements of BS 146.

ASTM cement types I, II, III, IV and V shall meet the requirements of ASTM C-150.

The testing of cement shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of BS 4550
Parts 2 and 3.
Table 3.1

Specification Requirements for the Chemical Composition of Portland Cements Made to BS

and ASTM Standard Specifications
ASTM C 150
Compound / Property

II

III

IV

BS EN 197-1
V

OPC

RHP

BS
4027
SRPC

BS 1370
low
heat

Silica, (SiO2) %

20.0

Alumina, (Al2O3) %

6.0

SECTION 05 CONCRETE

PAGE NO. 9

CONSULTING ENGINEERING GROUP

PROJECT NAME

SPECIFICATION
PROJECT NO.
ASTM C 150

Compound / Property

II

III

IV

BS EN 197-1
V

OPC

RHP

BS
4027
SRPC

BS 1370
low
heat

Ferric Oxide, (Fe2O3) %

6.0

6. 6.5

Magnesia (MgO), %

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0

5.0**

4.0

5.0**

4.0

3.0

3.0

3.5

2.3

2.3

3.5

4.5

3.0

2.5

3.5

3.0

3.5

3.5

2.5

3.0

3.0

4.0

3.0

4.0

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

Sulphur trioxide (SO3), %

when tricalcium
aluminate 8.0%
when tricalcium
aluminate >8.0%
when tricalcium
aluminate 5.0%
when tricalcium
aluminate >5.0%
when tricalcium
aluminate <3.5%
when tricalcium
aluminate 3.5%
when tricalcium
aluminate 3.5%
Loss on ignition %

3.0

3.0

3.0

2.3

Insoluble residue %

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.5

Tricalcium silicate(C3S),%

35.0*

Dicalcium silicate (C2S) ,%

40.0*

C3S + C2S , %

66.7**

66.7**

CaO/SiO2 .

2.0**

2.0**

Tricalcium aluminate(C3A),%

8.0

15.0

7.0*

5.0^

3.5

20.0^

8.0

5.0

58.0

0.6

0.6

0.6

0.6

0.6

0.60

Tetracalcium aluminoferrite plus

twice the tricalcium aluminate
(C4AF+2(C3A)) , %
C3A for moderate sulphate
Resistance, %
C3A for high sulphate
Resistance, %
C3S+C3A for moderate heat
of hydration, %

Equivalent Alkalis
(Na2O+0.658K2O) for low-alkali
Cement, %
SECTION 05 CONCRETE

PAGE NO. 10

CONSULTING ENGINEERING GROUP

PROJECT NAME

SPECIFICATION
PROJECT NO.
ASTM C 150

Compound / Property

Chloride, %

II

III

BS EN 197-1

IV

OPC

RHP

BS
4027
SRPC

0.10

0.10

0.10

Does not apply when the heat of hydration option is specified.

Does not apply when the sulphate resistance limit is specified.

@ Low-alkali cement may be produced

Applies to the klinker rather than to the cement it self.
Table 3.2
Specification Requirements for Physical and Other Properties of Portland Cements Made to BS and
ASTM Standard Specifications
ASTM C150

Property

II

III

BS EN 197-1

IV

OPC

RHPC

BS 4027
SRPC

BS 1370
low heat

Air entrained in
mortar****,
% of volume

12

12

12

12

12

45

45

45

45

45

60

45

60

60

6.25

6.25

6.25

6.25

6.25

10

10

60

60

60

60

60

10

10

10

10

10

Setting Time
Vicat test
(min) Initial
(h) Final

(Gillourne test)
(min) Initial
(h) Final
Fineness
Air Permeability
(m2/kg)

`
280

280

280

160

160

0.8

0.8

0.8

1d

2d

3d

12.0

10^

19.0

17.

28

28

Turbidimeter
(m2/kg)

280

225

350

275

160

0.8

10

10

10

10

12.0

20

20

24.0

8.0

29

10

7.0

15.0

17.0

21

42.5*

46.**

42.5*

28**

15

160

Soundness
Autoclave
expansion (%)
Le Chatteler (mm)

0.8

Compressive
strength (MPa)
mortar cubes

7d
28 d
concrete cubes
2d

SECTION 05 CONCRETE

PAGE NO. 11

BS 1370

low
heat

CONSULTING ENGINEERING GROUP

PROJECT NAME

Property

SPECIFICATION
PROJECT NO.

ASTM C150
I

II

BS EN 197-1

III

IV

OPC

RHPC

BS 4027
SRPC

BS 1370
low heat

3d

28 d

38

19**

290a
a

Heat of Hydration
(kJ/kg)

7d

28 d

250aa
290aa

250
290

^ Becomes 7.0 if the heat of hydration option or C3S+C3A chemical limit is specified.
Becomes 12.0 if the heat of hydration option or C3S+C3A chemical limit is specified.
* And not exceeding 62.5.
** And higher than the compressive strength at 3 days.
*** shall not be the same percent in concrete mix
Optional
3.4.1.

White Cement
1

Where white cement is required for architectural proposes the typical compound
composition for white Portland Cement shall be as shown on table 3.3
Table 3.3
Typical Compound Composition of White Portland Cement

3.5.

Compound

Content, percent

Tricalcium Silicate (C3S)

51

Dicalcium Silicate (C2S)

26

Tricalcium Alumina (C3A)

11

Tetraclacium Alumina ferrite (C4AF)

Sulphur trioxide (S03)

2.6

Alkalis

0.25

The manufacturing process used for the production of white Portland cement shall ensure
that the impurities which can affect the finished product are excluded. In particular coal
ash Specification Requirements for Physical and Other Properties of Portland Cements
Made to BS and ASTM Standard Specifications shall not be used as kiln fuel, iron shall
not be used on flux in clinkering and grinding shall not be carried out by ball grinding.

DELIVERY, STORAGE AND HANDLING

1

Cement shall be delivered to the Site in sealed and branded bags, or in the
manufacturers containers, bearing the manufacturers name, cement type and date of
manufacture, in batches not exceeding 100 tons.

Cement shall be stored at the site in such a manner, as to prevent its deterioration,
intrusion of moisture and foreign matter. It must be kept dry at all times.Immediately upon
arrival at the Site the Contractor shall store the cement in silos designed for the purpose,
or dry, weather tight and properly ventilated structures with floors raised a minimum of
450 mm above the ground with adequate provision to prevent absorption of moisture.

All storage facilities shall be subject to the approval of the Engineer, and shall be such as
to permit easy access for inspection and identification. Prolonged storage of cement at
site is to be avoided.

Each consignment of cement shall be kept separately, and the Contractor shall use the
consignments in the order in which they are received.

SECTION 05 CONCRETE

PAGE NO. 12