QCS Section 5 Part 3 Cement Page 1

3. CEMENT ........................................................................................................2

3.1 GENERAL ......................................................................................................2

3.1.1 Scope 2
3.1.2 References 2
3.2 SOURCE APPROVAL....................................................................................2

3.3 SAMPLING.....................................................................................................2

3.4 QUALITY AND TESTING ...............................................................................2

3.4.1 White Cement 3
3.5 DELIVERY, STORAGE AND HANDLING ......................................................4
QCS Section 5 Part 3 Cement Page 2

3. CEMENT
3.1 GENERAL

3.1.1 Scope

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

2 Related Sections and Parts are as follows:

Part 6, Property Requirements
3.1.2 References
BS 12, Portland cement
BS 146, Portland-blast furnace cement
BS 1370, Low heat Portland cement
BS 4027, Sulphate-resisting Portland cement
BS 4550, Methods of testing cement
3.2 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.

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

3 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.

3.3 SAMPLING

1 The methods of obtaining samples of cement for testing shall be carried out as described in
BS 4550 Part 1

2 The Contractor shall provide samples from each consignment of cement delivered to the
Site, or as required by the Engineer. Fourteen days shall be allowed for the Engineer’s
review of these samples.

3.4 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.

2 Ordinary Portland cement and rapid hardening Portland cement shall meet the requirements
of BS 12. 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.

3 ASTM cement types I, II, III, IV and V shall meet the requirements of ASTM C-150.
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4 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 Type BS 12 BS 4027 BS 370

Compound I II III IV V OPC RHP SRPC low heat

Silica, S, (SiO2) ≥ - 21.0 - - - - - - -

Alumina, A, (Al2O3) ≤ - 6.0 - - - - - - -
Ferric Oxide, F, (Fe2O3) ≤ - 6.0 - 6.5 - - - - -
Magnesia (MgO) ≤ 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 6.0 4.0 4.0 4.0 4.0
Sulphur trioxide (SO3)
when tricalcium
aluminate ≤8% ≤ 3.0 3.0 3.5 2.3 2.3 - - - -
when tricalcium
aluminate ≥8% ≤ 3.5 - 4.5 - - - - - -
when tricalcium
aluminate ≤5% ≤ - - - - - 2.5 3.0 - 2.5
when tricalcium
aluminate ≥5% ≤ - - - - - 3.0 3.5 2.5 3.1

Loss of ignition ≤ 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0
Insoluble residue ≤ 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 0.75 1.5 1.5 1.5 1.5

Tricalcium silicate (C3S) ≤ - - - 35.0 - - - - -

Dicalcium silicate (C2S) ≥ - - - 40.0 - - - - -
Tricalcium aluminate (C3A) ≤ - 8.0 15.0 7.0 5.0 - - 3.5 -
Tetracalcium alumino ferrite
(C4AF+2(C3A)) ≤ - - - - 20.0 - - - -
C3A for moderate sulphate
resistance ≤ - - 8.0 - - - - - -
C3A for high sulphate
resistance ≤ - - 5.0 - - - - - -
C3S+C3A for moderate heat
of hydration ≤ - 58.0 - - - - - - -

Alkalis (NaO2+0.658K2O)
for low alkali cement ≤ 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 0.6 - - 0.6 -

Note: Abbreviations commonly used to describe compounds and oxides present in

Portland cement:

A, alumina C2S, dicalcium silicate F, ferric oxide

C, lime C3S, tricalcium silicate H, water
C3A, tricalcium aluminate C4AF, tetracalcium alumino ferrite S, silica
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

Compound Content, percent

Tricalcium Silicate (C3S) 51
Dicalcium Silicate (C2S) 26
Tricalcium Alumina (C3A) 11
Tetraclacium Alumina ferrite (C4AF) 1
Sulphur trioxide (S03) 2.6
Alkalis 0.25
2 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
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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.

3.5 DELIVERY, STORAGE AND HANDLING

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

2 Immediately upon arrival at the Site the Contractor shall store the cement in
(a) silos designed for the purpose, or
(b) 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.
3 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.

4 Each consignment of cement shall be kept separately, and the Contractor shall use the
consignments in the order in which they are received.
Table 3.2
Specification Requirements for Physical and Other Properties of Portland Cements Made to BS and
ASTM Standard Specifications

ASTM Type BS 12 BS 4027 BS 1370

I II III IV V OPC RHPC SRPC low heat
Specification for (% by weight) (% by weight)

Setting Time (min) Initial ≥ 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 45 60

(Vicat test) (h) Final ≤ 8 8 8 8 8 10 10 10 10
(Gillourne test) (min) Initial ≥ 60 60 60 60 60 - - - -
(h) Final ≤ 10 10 10 10 10 - - - -

Fineness
≥
2
Air Permeability (m /kg) 280 280 - 280 28 225 325 250 27
≥
2
Turbidimeter (m /kg) 160 160 - 160 16 - - - -

Soundness
Autoclave expansion (%) ≤ 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 0.8 - - - -
Le Chatteler (mm) ≤ - - - - - 10 10 10 10

Compressive strength (MPa) ≥

mortar 1d - - 12.4 - - - - - -
cubes 3d 12.4 10.3 24.1 - 8.3 23 29 20 10
7d 19.3 17.2/ - 6.9 15 - - - -
28 d - - - 17.2 20 41 46 39 28

concrete 3d - - - - - 13 18 10 5
cubes 28 d - - - - - 29 33 27 19

Heat of Hydration (kJ/kg) ≤

(1 cal/g = 4.2 kJ/kg) 7d - 293+ - 251+ - - - - 250
28 d - 335+ - 293+ - - - - 290

5 In no case shall bagged cement be stored in stacks more than eight bags high.

6 A free passage of at least 1 m shall be left between the cement and the side walls of the
structure.

7 Different types of cement shall be kept in clearly marked separate storage facilities.

8 Cement delivered to Site in drums or bags by the supplier or manufacturer shall be stored in
the drums or bags until used in the Works.
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9 Any cement in drums or bags which have been opened shall be used immediately.

10 Where Site limitations preclude the storage of cement of Site, cement shall be stored at a
central location and shall be delivered daily as required to specific job sites.

11 The Contractor shall provide weighing machines which shall be kept permanently in each
shed for checking the weight of the bags or barrels of cement. The weighing machines shall
be calibrated by an independent agency. The Engineer shall have access at all times to the
cement storage sheds.

12 During transport and storage the cement shall be fully protected from all weather elements.

13 Any consignment of cement not used within two months from the date of manufacture and
cement which in the opinion of the Engineer is of doubtful quality shall not be used in the
Works until it has been retested and test result sheets showing that it complies in all
respects with the specification and relevant standards have been delivered to the Engineer.

END OF PART