SOIL STABILISATION - Lafarge in South Africa

Lafarge
Meeting the needs of
the road construction
industry
Lafarge roadbinding cements enhance the properties
of soil by reducing the Plasticity Index (PI), while also
improving the Unconfined Compressive Strength (UCS)
and Initial Tensile Strength (ITS).
concern for the
environMent
Lafarge Cement is the only South African cement manufacturer to
have a complete range of ‘green’ extended cements.
green BuiLding counciL
Lafarge Cement is a member of the Green Building Council of
South Africa (GBCSA). It is a commitment to assist the Council in
leading the transformation of the South African property industry
to ensure that all buildings are designed, built and operated in an
environmentally sustainable way.
CEMENT
soiL staBiLisation
DATA SHEET
our ‘green’ ceMents
Lafarge Cement’s innovative ‘green’ products have
environmentally-friendly formulations that:
• Use less non-renewable materials
• Create less greenhouse gas in their manufacture
• Reduce landfill sites

coMposition
RoAdCEM CEM II/B-M (V-S) 32,5N
RoadCem is a slower strength-gaining cementitious binder
produced at our Randfontein Grinding Station (on the west side
of Johannesburg) from Portland cement, siliceous fly ash (Fly ash)
and blast furnace slag (Slag). The product’s formulation conforms
to the SANS 50197 (EN 197) specifications in accordance with
SANS 50196 (EN 196) test requirements and is designed to meet
commonly encountered road stabilisation requirements.
In accordance with the regulated standard SANS EN 50197-1,
RoadCem achieves strengths at 7 days ≥16,0MPa (megapascals)
and at 28 days ≥32,5MPa, as required for this cement class.
BuILdCRETE CEM IV/B-V 32,5R
Our well-known Buildcrete general purpose cement has been used
successfully in many Soil Stabilisation contracts. Produced at our
Lichtenburg Cement Works in the North West Province and at our
Randfontein Grinding Station, from Portland cement and Fly ash,
this versatile ‘R’ class cement has a relatively slower strength gain
compared with CEM I cements for soil stabilisation purposes.
Buildcrete’s formulation conforms to the SANS 50197 (EN 197)
specifications in accordance with SANS 50196 (EN 196) test
requirements and meets the needs of commonly encountered
road stabilisation situations.
consistent quaLity
The strength development and performance of RoadCem and
Buildcrete are continually monitored for compliance with Lafarge’s
demanding in-house standards (referred to as “Usage Quality
Testing”). This minimises product variability and assures customers
of enhanced quality and reliable performance.
support services
EVALuATIoN oF SoIL
our Quality department Southern Africa (QdSA) has a fully-fledged
soil laboratory where customer soil evaluations are conducted.
SITE INSPECTIoN
Before any order is executed, whether of bulk or bagged product,
Lafarge will carry out a site inspection to ensure that delivery and
offloading can be done safely.
dELIVERy oPTIoNS
our delivery service aims to meet the needs of any road project:
• RoadCem is delivered by bulk tanker with the option of a
spreading service, or in palletised loads of 50kg bags
• Buildcrete is delivered in palletised loads of 50kg bags
• under our brand name Civilcrete, Buildcrete is also delivered
by bulk tanker with the option of a spreading service
PAGE 2 | LAFARGE | 2010
LAFARGE

perforMance Benefits
Lafarge soil stabilising cements are designed to provide optimal solutions for improving the engineering properties of soil, giving the
following advantages:
• Strength - soil strength and bearing capacity are increased
• Volume stability - controls the swell and shrinkage characteristics caused by moisture changes
• durability- increases resistance to erosion, weathering or traffic loading
• Modification of clay minerals – enhances the soil strength and bearing capacity
quaLity assurance
BuLk dELIVERIES
A vitally important aspect of bulk deliveries is ensuring the integrity
of the load when it is handed over at the delivery point. We address
this in two ways that reinforce each other:
Bulk Tanker Seal
Each load is sealed with a white seal bearing a unique tracing
number that appears on the delivery note. The delivery note states
comprehensive details of the order and product identity.
appLications
Bulk Product Identification Tag
For easy identification of your Lafarge bulk cement delivery we have
a system that requires all discharge valves on our road tankers to
carry a colour coded and descriptive Product Identification Tag.
Our Tags will allow the road construction contractor’s personnel to
quickly and easily reassure themselves that they have the correct
product for that section of road.
RoAd STABILISATIoN:
The correct percentage of RoadCem or Buildcrete to be used for soil stabilisation purposes has to be determined by laboratory evaluations.
PI testing will indicate the required modification of the soil, whilst UCS and ITS testing confirm the strength properties at the required
modified AASHTO* density. *American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
oThER APPLICATIoNS:
Buildcrete is widely used as a versatile general purpose cement. RoadCem can also be used for minor general concrete work.
Please refer to the following recommended mix proportions:
BUILDCRETE AND ROADCEM
ARE SUITABLE FOR:
HOME CONCRETE: 10-15MPa
Foundations, Footings,
Domestic floors - unreinforced
MEDIUM STRENGTH
CONCRETE: 20-25MPa
Driveways, Light industrial floors - unreinforced
STRUCTURAL
APPLICATIONS: 25-30MPa
Reinforced concrete suspended slabs,
Heavy duty industrial floors
WATERTIGHT CONCRETE
Reservoirs, Ponds
NUMBERS DENOTE VOLUME PROPORTIONS
CEMENT
LAFARGE
SAND STONE
1 3½ 3½
1 2½ 2½
1 2 2
1 1½ 1½
2010 | LAFARGE | PAGE 3

Bagged product
deLiveries
While the Lafarge name is a worldwide assurance of quality, the
RoadCem and Buildcrete bags also display the following locally
regulated quality symbols:
• LoA number - The Letter of Authority (LOA) number
shows that Lafarge is authorised to sell RoadCem in the
South African market. It is mandatory to display a LOA
number on a bag of cement and on the delivery note.
• SABS mark - Although displaying the SABS mark is no
longer mandatory, Lafarge Cement voluntarily displays it
properties
RoadCem complies with the chemical and physical requirements
of SANS 50197 (EN197) for a Class 32,5N cement and
Buildcrete for a Class 32,5R cement.
PAGE 4 | LAFARGE | 2010
PhySICAL PRoPERTIES
PRoPERTy RoAdCEM* BuILdCRETE*
2 day
Compressive
strength
7 day
Compressive
strength
28 day
Compressive
strength
EN 197
REQuIREMENT
- 16,0MPa ≥10,0MPa
> 22,0MPa - ≥16,0MPa
> 40,0MPa > 40,0MPa
≥32,5MPa
≤52,5MPa
Initial set 300 minutes 210 minutes ≥75 minutes
Soundness < 1,0 mm 1,0 mm ≤10 mm
*Average test results
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
SO3 2,3% 1,60% ≤3,5% M/M
Cl - 0,02% 0,030% ≤0,10% M/M
LAFARGE
technicaL services
RoadCem and Buildcrete are fully supported by
the unique technical and laboratory resources
of Quality Department Southern Africa (QDSA)
at Industria, Gauteng. QDSA operates one
of the largest and most respected SANAS
(South African National Accreditation System)
Accredited Civil Engineering testing facilities in
South Africa. Complying with ISO/IEC 17025,
the facility has a proud fourteen year track
record of continuous accreditation. The facility
is also equipped to undertake soil stabilisation
testing.
safety: our no 1
priority
BEFoRE STARTING ANy joB, MAkE SAFETy ThE FIRST STEP IN
youR PLANNING:
Take note of the health and safety warnings on the back of the
RoadCem and Buildcrete bags, which include:
• Cement dust on moist skin or in eyes can be a strong irritant.
Protect yourself by wearing suitable clothing, safety goggles,
gloves and boots, when handling cement
• To reduce the risk of back injury make sure that good
handling procedures are followed when lifting bags of cement
Safety data sheets are available from:
• Your local building materials supplier
• Lafarge Cement Call Centre on (011) 257 3085
• Lafarge website: www.lafarge.co.za