STORAGE OF CEMENT

CEMENT – A mixture of natural elements such as limestone, clay, sand, or shale. A chemical
substance that acts as a binder material used in construction.
Precautions for proper storage of Cement:
- ATMOSPHERIC MOISTURE CONTENT-
MOISTURE – number one hazard for the cement. The presence of liquid material could
harm the cement and will harden once exposed to dampness, making the cement a useless
material.
- DURATION OF CEMENT STORAGE- Cement should not be stored for more than 3
months. If the cement is stored for a longer time and strength is found to be reduced, then
it is not good for construction
.

- PLACE OF STORAGE – They should be stored in a shed with a wood floor raised about
300mm (12’’) from the ground. Small windows with air-tight doors should be provided.
Proper drainage should be provided inside and outside the shed to drain water in any
case.
 - ARRANGING CEMENT BAGS - The cement bags should be arranged one above the
other which forms a stack of cement bags. Piles should be limited to twelve sacks in
height.

FORMS
- LUMBER FORMS – Lumber should only be partially seasoned.
KILN DRIED LUMBER tends to swell when soaked by the concrete, causing bulging and
distortion of the forms while GREEN LUMBER dries out and shrinks if allowed to stand too
long before the concrete is placed but can be prevented by keeping the boards thoroughly
saturated with water. Forms should be left in a position to experience some slight swelling
without any undesirable results.
Sizes of lumber frequently used:
-2 inch thick for columns, beams, and girder bottoms.
-1 inch thick for floor panels and beam and girder sides.
- 2x4s for struts, posts, shores, and uprights.
- 1 or 2 inches thick for cleats.
-
- PLYWOOD FORMS – works best where a smooth surface is required. The plywood
should be waterproof (Grade “A”, at least 12mm (1/2”) thick.

- STEEL FORMS – Concrete forms that are made of steel. In the form of pans for concrete
joist construction steel decking or corrugated steel for concrete slabs and slab-and-joist
construction.
- PLASTIC FORMS - It is used for the construction of boundary walls, retaining walls,
shear walls, rainwater drains, flood or storm drain walls, irrigation canals, and in concrete
banking. Polystyrene forms are now available for concrete work.