Cement and Concrete Institute

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Guide to the safe use of portland cements and concrete
Concrete is the world's most widely used building material and workers in every construction sector as well as DIY enthusiasts handle cement and wet concrete every day. Like all materials, there are potential risks involved in handling cement and concrete. This leaflet identifies the areas of risk, provides guidance on how to avoid unprotected exposure, and outlines basic first aid procedures.
Downloadable pdf file: 65 kb
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Provides information on the standards that apply in South Africa to cementitious materials for concrete. Guidance is given on selection for various applications, includes graphs of strength performance, and discusses, briefly, the manufacture and properties of cementitious materials and fillers. The cementitious materials dealt with are all based on portland cement and many contain a "cement extender". Masonry cements are outside the scope of this leaflet since they are not intended for use in concrete.
Downloadable pdf file: 143 kb
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Admixtures for concrete
Admixtures are chemicals which are added to concrete at the mixing stage to modify some of the properties of the mix. The leaflet covers the most common reasons to use admixtures and looks, in some detail, at the five types most commonly used in construction. The properties, dosage, uses and practical considerations for each type are discussed. Advice is also given on the design of mixes, storage and handling, dosage and dispensing of admixtures.
Downloadable pdf file: 74 kb
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Concrete at home and on the farm
There are many small concrete projects which the home-owner can confidently tackle. This is a practical guide to making concrete for small jobs and covers the materials needed, how thick the concrete should be, how much is required, suggested mix proportions and how to go about mixing, placing and curing the concrete.
Downloadable pdf file: 155 kb
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Concrete for precasting small items
Precasting is an economical means of producing high-quality concrete items. This leaflet gives information for small-scale precasting of relatively small unreinforced or reinforced items such as paving slabs, planks and elements for post-and-panel walling. It covers: choice of materials; mix proportions; and manufacturing processes including batching, mixing, transporting, placing, protecting, demoulding and curing.
Downloadable pdf file: 30 kb
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Concrete, mortar and plaster mixes for builders
Presented largely in graphic form, this practical leaflet gives the proportions for large and small batches of concrete, mortar and plaster. It includes brief guidelines on quantities of materials to order.
Downloadable pdf file: 174 kb
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Fibre-reinforced concrete
While concrete made with portland cement is strong in compression, it tends to be weak in tension and can also be brittle. The weakness in tension can be overcome by the use of conventional rod reinforcement and by the inclusion of sufficient volumes of certain fibres. This leaflet looks briefly at the concept of toughness, the use of fibres and the types of fibre and their properties.
Downloadable pdf file: 49 kb
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Monitoring concrete strength by the cusum system
The production of concrete must be controlled in such a way that strength specifications are met and materials costs are kept as low as possible. The cusum system is a practical means of meeting these requirements.

This technical guide, intended for concrete producers and readymix plant operators, deals mainly with monitoring the strength of a single grade of concrete (using a single set of materials) by the cusum system. Combining (or massing) results from several mixes into one cusum is dealt with briefly.
Downloadable pdf file: 64 kb
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No-fines concrete: a practical guide
No-fines concrete (NFC) consists of coarse aggregate and cement paste. It has large interconnected voids and a much lower density than conventional concrete. Its structure makes it ideal for use as a drainage layer under reservoir and basement floors, as an insulating layer and as a damp-proofing material.

Quantities for ordering building materials
Approximate quantities of materials required are given for: concrete; masonry walling; mortars, plasters and floor screeds.
Downloadable pdf file: 88 kb
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Repairing the surface of concrete - casting defects and minor damage
This publication is Intended to assist those responsible for specifying, supervising or carrying out relatively superficial repairs to concrete. Types of defects and their causes are given as well as repairs of various types and the use of different materials. The selection of materials for repairs is discussed in an appendix.

Repairs to effect structural changes and repairs of cracks fall outside the scope of this leaflet. Repair materials are limited to formulations based on portland cement.
Downloadable pdf file: 64 kb
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Tests on concrete
This leaflet has been prepared to assist the operator and describes, step by step, the procedures for carrying out the following tests: how to measure slump and how to make 150 mm cubes. The titles of the applicable SABS methods of test are given in the list of references.
Downloadable pdf file: 75 kb
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Trial concrete mixes: proportions and quantities for ordering
Trial mix proportions for concrete made with four stone sizes and with strengths ranging from 10 MPa to 40 MPa are presented in tabular form. A field test for assessing and adjusting stone content is also given.
Downloadable pdf file: 23 kb
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Building a fish pond
Covering the construction of a pond shell in concrete, the method described is suitable for ponds with a diameter or length of up to 5 metres. The leaflet provides notes on excavating, lining the excavation, manufacture and use of spacer blocks, mesh reinforcement and mixing and placing the concrete. Water circulation and filtration are not included, and it is strongly recommended that the reader obtain specialist advice on this aspect.
Downloadable pdf file: 71 kb
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Lay a concrete driveway at home
A well-laid concrete driveway will give at least 20 to 30 years' trouble-free service and can be laid quite easily by the ordinary homeowner. This publication describes briefly the preparation of the site, recommended concrete mixes, placing of the concrete, jointing and curing.
Downloadable pdf file: 49 kb
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Making small garden ornaments in concrete
Explains how to produce garden ornaments weighing about 40 kg and manually movable by one person.The leaflet describes the equipment and materials required, how to prepare the pattern and make the mould as well as the steps involved in casting, demoulding and curing the ornament. In addition, guidance is given on how to colour the concrete and repair it if necessary.
Downloadable pdf file: 121 kb
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Concrete strip roads for the farm
Economical and durable all-weather roads, especially suitable for farms and rural areas, can be made with concrete strips laid as wheel-tracks. They can be built without expensive or sophisticated equipment and work can be done in short lengths as labour is available. Strip roads are a particularly useful means of making steep farm roads passable in all weathers.

Sand-cement floor screeds and concrete toppings for floors
Sand-cement screeds and concrete toppings commonly used as a means of providing a smooth flat floor surface. The moderately theoretical and technical publication aims to provide the information needed by architects, engineers and contractors to specify and lay floor screeds and acceptable quality.
Downloadable pdf file: 165 kb
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How to make concrete bricks and blocks
Provides the technical information required to set up and run a blockyard for small-scale manufacture of masonry units. Aspects dealt with include the feasibility study, selecting and establishing a site, selection of equipment, materials for blockmaking, trial mixes, production and quality control.
Downloadable pdf file: 54 kb
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Common defects in plaster
Aimed at the homeowner who wishes to assess whether plaster is acceptable, and if not, what can be done about it.

Defects usually fall into one of the following categories:Non-structural and structural cracks; debonding; lack of hardness; grinning;expansion and popping. Causes of the most commonly occurring defects arediscussed and repair method s for each are suggested.
Downloadable pdf file: 25 kb
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Mortar mixes for masonry
Mortar binds bricks and blocks together to give strength and stability to a wall. The leaflet discusses briefly the required materials and mix proportions to give freshly mixed mortars the necessary softness and plasticity. It also covers batching, mixing and handling the mortar as well as quantities of materials to order for mortar mixes per cubic metre or per 50 kg bag of cement.
Downloadable pdf file: 25 kb
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Successful plastering
Sand-cement plaster is used extensively in building work as a decorative or protective coating to concrete and masonry walls and concrete ceilings. This publication gives the technical information needed for successful plastering and covers selection of materials, mix proportions, surface preparation and plaster application for conventional architectural purposes. Special applications such as squash courts and swimming pools are outside its scope.
Downloadable pdf file: 101 kb
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Concrete cricket pitches
Concrete provides a permanent solution to the problem of ever-increasing maintenance costs associated with the traditional turf pitch, whether for matches or for practice. The leaflet discusses pitch layouts, site preparation, concrete mixes and quantities, reinforcement, joints, placing and compacting, and finishing and curing the concrete.
Downloadable pdf file: 54 kb
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Concrete tennis courts
Correctly constructed, concrete tennis courts can give many years of maintenance-free service. Aspects dealt with in this publication include choice and preparation of the site, setting out of the court and surround, construction of the concrete playing surface and various methods to obtain a colored finish.
Downloadable pdf file: 184 kb
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Plastering squash-court walls
The plaster on playing walls of squash courts has to be hard and strong and its surface must be a true plane with a fine matt texture. This leaflet gives information on construction requirements, the plastering system, materials, batching and mixing, quantities of materials and repair of localised failures

The following leaflets are intended to highlight the advantages of using concrete in various applications. They are full-colour and are well illustrated.

Low-volume concrete roads
Benefits include economy, long service life and durability, versatile and labour-friendly construction methods, improved safety and environmental considerations.
Downloadable pdf file: 456 kb

Tilt-up: the architectural solution
Describes the limitless creativity that tilt-up construction offers the architect.
Downloadable pdf file: 356 kb

Want quicker returns? Use tilt-up
Highlights the benefits that a tilt-up construction offers owners and developers.
Downloadable pdf file: 377 kb

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