CEMENT
Meeting the needs of the
road construction industry
Soil
stabilisation
LAFARGE
CONTENTS
2 Soil stabilisation – an overview
2 Mechanism of cement stabilisation
3 Recommended cements
4 Optimum solutions for soil stabilisation
4 Innovative Lafarge design
4 Composition and benefits
5 Strength
5 Performance characteristics
6 Support services for road contractors
7 Load integrity of bulk deliveries
8 Bagged product deliveries
9 Caring for the environment
- Cementitious extenders and the environment
- Green Building Council
10 About Lafarge in South Africa
- Technical resources
11 Safety when handling cement
11 International Lafarge Group
12 Ordering made easy
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LAFARGE
Soil stabilisation – an overview Recommended
Soil stabilisation is used to overcome deficiencies in available road construction material cements for soil stabilisation
by enhancing the material properties for pavement design purposes. RoadCem is a specialised cementitious binder designed to meet the
Stabilisation products are designed to control the plasticity and enhance the strength of various road needs of a wide range of road stabilisation applications. Depending on the
making materials. The principal products used are lime, Portland cement, fly ash, slag or mixtures specific site conditions, the product is formulated from Portland cement,
of these to address the specific site conditions and conform to the applicable standards. siliceous fly ash and GGBS (slag).
RoadCem is suitable for:
Cementitious stabilisation products • Stabilisation of road base, sub-base and sub-grade materials
Cementitious products are suitable for granular soils where the soils are not reactive to lime but are • Soils with either low or moderate plasticity - it is especially suited
not recommended in heavy clay soils with a high Plasticity Index (PI). to granular type materials with a lower PI
• In situ (including deep lift) stabilisation or pugmill blending
Cementitious extenders • Minor general concrete work
Fly ash and slag extended cements provide longer working time (open time) and slower strength gain
Buildcrete is a versatile general purpose cement that has been used
Benefits of cementitious products successfully on a wide range of stabilisation projects. Extended with
Cementitious products make a positive contribution to economic and resource sustainability by siliceous fly ash, it provides:
enhancing the properties of standard and substandard in situ soils to the standards required for road • Slower strength gain in this application, giving considerably more
making. time than CEM I cement for construction purposes
• Improved ultimate Unconfined Compresssive Strength (UCS) and
Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) of stabilised soils
Mechanism of
cement stabilisation
Cement is effective in stabilising a wide range soils including granular
materials, silts and light clays. A particular advantage of cement is its
capability of being used in conjunction with by-products such as fly ash
and slag.
Cement is composed of calcium silicates and calcium aluminates that
hydrate when combined with water to form the cementing compounds of
calcium silicate hydrate and calcium aluminate hydrate. The reaction also
releases calcium hydroxide (Portlandite). The formation of the cementitious
products and calcium hydroxide make Portland cement successful in
stabilising both granular and fine-grained soils, as well as aggregates and
miscellaneous materials.
In fine-grained clay soils, a pozzolanic reaction between the calcium
hydroxide released during hydration and the alumina and silica in the soils,
is an important factor in the stabilisation of these clay soils.
The permeability of cement stabilised soil is greatly reduced. The result
is a moisture-resistant material that is highly durable and resistant to
leaching over the long term.
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LAFARGE
Optimum solutions for soil stabilisation Innovative extended formulations
Lafarge Cement’s innovative formulations using quality cementitious extenders provide customers
The Lafarge range of roadbinding cements offers road project contractors a choice of reliable, quality
with all-round benefits:
performance products, which provide the optimum solution to their soil stabilisation requirements.
• Assist contractors in meeting the increasingly common and stringent environmental
The products stabilise soils by reducing the Plasticity Index (PI), while also improving the Unconfined specifications in construction tenders
Compressive Strength (UCS) and Initial Tensile Strength (ITS). • The extenders react chemically with traditional materials enhancing the strength and
durability of the finished product
Innovative Lafarge design
The unequalled technical resources of Lafarge provide road contractors Strength
with formulations that offer superior all-round performance and better
value: • RoadCem achieves strengths at 7 days >16,0MPa (megapascals) and at 28 days >32,5MPa,
• Slow-setting cementitious binders with extended working time in as required for this class of general purpose cement in accordance with the regulated
road stabilisation standard SANS EN 50197-1
• Effective in reducing the Plasticity Index of a wide range of paving
materials • Buildcrete complies with the requirement in the SANS specifications for a minimum
• Formulation options to match the challenges of different soil compressive strength >32,5MPa (EN prism test using a water/cement ratio of 0,5) within 28
conditions days of casting. The ‘R’ classification indicates that Buildcrete will achieve an early strength
• Superior long-term strength at 2 days >10,0MPa in accordance with the SANS specifications
• Excellent workability for uniform finished surface
• Quality and reliability of a Lafarge brand (An ‘N’ designation refers to a class with ordinary early strength development.)
• Lower carbon footprint formulations that aid compliance with
environmental specifications
Performance characteristics
Lafarge roadbinding cements are designed to provide optimal solutions for improving the engineering
Composition and benefits properties of soil, giving the following advantages:
Lafarge roadbinding products are formulated Buildcrete CEM IV/B-V 32,5R
to conform to the SANS 50197 (EN 197) • Strength - soil strength and bearing capacity are increased
The well-known Lafarge Buildcrete general
specifications in accordance with SANS 50196 • Volume stability - controls the swell and shrinkage characteristics caused by moisture
purpose cement is produced at the Lafarge
(EN 196) test requirements and are designed to changes
Lichtenburg Cement Works in the North West
meet commonly encountered road stabilisation • Durability - increases resistance to erosion, weathering or traffic loading
Province and at the Randfontein Grinding
requirements. • Modification of clay minerals – enhances the soil strength and bearing capacity
Station, from Portland cement and fly ash. This
versatile ‘R’ class cement has a relatively slower
RoadCem CEM II/B-M (V-S) 32,5N is a slow-
strength gain compared with CEM I cements for
setting cementitious binder produced at the
soil stabilisation purposes. Buildcrete offers:
Lafarge Randfontein Grinding Station (on the
• Slower strength gain than non-
west side of Johannesburg) from Portland
extended products, giving more time for
cement, siliceous fly ash and slag. The product
construction operations
provides:
• Higher ultimate strength and improved
• Slower early rate of strength development,
durability of the stabilised soil layer
allowing considerably more time for
• Good self-healing ability, in the event of
construction operations
early-life damage caused by overloading
• Extra ability to self-heal, in the event of
early-life damage caused by overloading
• In the long term, an increased strength
that improves the structural performance
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LAFARGE
Support services for
road contractors
Mix design
It is essential that soil conditions are evaluated
and all materials are tested in order to determine
the appropriate stabilisation agent to achieve
the specified properties of the stabilised road
e.g. ITS and UCS.
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 the delivery and offloading
can be done safely.
Load integrity of BULK deliveries
Delivery options A vitally important aspect of bulk deliveries is ensuring the integrity of the
Our delivery service aims to meet the needs of load when it is handed over at the delivery point. We address this in two
any road project: ways that reinforce each other:
• RoadCem is delivered by bulk tanker with
the option of a spreading service, or in • Bulk Tanker Seal
palletised loads of 50kg bags Each load is sealed with a white seal bearing a unique tracing
• Buildcrete is delivered in palletised loads number that appears on the delivery note. The delivery note
of 50kg bags states comprehensive details of the order and product identity.
• Under our brand name Civilcrete,
Buildcrete is also delivered by bulk tanker • Bulk Product Identification Tag
with the option of a spreading service 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 CEM IV/B-V 32,5R
contractor’s personnel to quickly and General Purpose Cement
easily reassure themselves that they have
the correct product for that section of
road.
Please note:
The Lafarge Product Identification Tags are intended to help customers
conveniently and efficiently handle bulk tankers on site. The tags do not
represent a product guarantee. A secure, unbroken white Bulk Tanker Seal
is the guarantee of the integrity of the load.
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LAFARGE
Caring for the
environment
Bagged product Lafarge Cement believes that it has a responsibility
to use raw material resources wisely and in the
deliveries most environmentally-friendly way possible.
What the bag marks tell you: Every ton of cement replaced by cementitious
RoadCem and Buildcrete - Lafarge brands extenders such as fly ash and slag reduces energy
of roadbinding cements, with a low carbon consumption in cement manufacture and preserves
footprints: non-renewable mineral resources.
• 32,5N Lafarge Cement was the first company in
achieves a strength of at least 32,5MPa South Africa to offer customers a full range of
at 28 days under standard test extended environmentally-friendly cements, with
conditions lower carbon footprints.
• LOA number
Lafarge is authorised to sell RoadCem Cementitious extenders
and Buildcrete in the South African and the environment:
market as it more than meet the Fly ash and slag are environmentally-friendly
products. Lafarge Cement’s innovative use of
necessary regulatory requirements.
cementitious extenders as a component of building
It is mandatory to display a Letter of
materials is making a significant contribution to
Authority (LOA) number on a bag of sustainable development by:
cement and on the sale transaction • Reducing the use of non-renewable
documentation resources
• Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from
• SABS mark cement plants
Indicates that RoadCem and Buildcrete • Recycling by-products of coal burning
comply with the compulsory standard power stations and blast furnaces, which
in the SANS 50197 (EN 197) cuts back on the landfill sites
specifications. Although displaying the
SABS mark is no longer mandatory,
Lafarge Cement voluntarily displays it Green Building Council
Lafarge Cement was the first member of the building
• e-mark materials industry to join the Green Building Council
Indicates that the packaging equipment of South Africa (GBCSA). It is a commitment to
and systems at our Lichtenburg Cement assist the Council in leading the transformation of
Works have been audited and approved the South African property industry to ensure that
by the NRCS and comply with the all buildings are designed, built and operated in
SANS 1841 standard. Our customers an environmentally sustainable way. The aim is to
are assured of receiving the quantity for
allow all people in our country to work and live in
which they have paid
healthy, efficient and productive environments.
PAGE 8 | LAFARGE | 2012 PAGE 9 | LAFARGE | 2009
LAFARGE
About Lafarge in SAFETY WHEN HANDLING CEMENT
South Africa Before starting any job, make safety the
Lafarge is a leading supplier of building materials first step in your planning.
to the South African construction industry through
Cement is such a commonly available product that many people use
its two main operating companies:
it without giving any thought to personal protection. It is important
• Lafarge Industries South Africa (Pty) Ltd,
to take sensible handling precautions:
(which includes the cement, readymix
• Always wear protective clothing, boots, gloves and safety glasses
concrete and the gypsum-plasterboard
• Wash cement off skin immediately with water and mild soap
operations)
• Thoroughly rinse any cement in eyes with water and seek
• Lafarge Mining South Africa (Pty)
medical attention if irritation persists
Ltd (which covers the aggregate and
• Keep a straight back and bend at the knees when lifting bags of
limestone quarrying interests).
cement
The companies trade as Lafarge Cement, Lafarge Right Way WRONG Way
Aggregates, Lafarge Readymix and Lafarge Gypsum.
Technical resources Scope of QDSA’s Accreditation
Lafarge roadbinding cements are fully supported The SANAS accreditation covers thirty-five
by the unique technical and laboratory resources test methods, including all the SANS EN
of Quality Department Southern Africa (QDSA) tests for Common and Masonry cements,
at Industria, Gauteng. QDSA operates one of the other relevant SANS, EN and DIN test
largest and most respected SANAS (South African methods for aggregates and concrete, as well
National Accreditation System) Accredited Civil as an in-house method for Dense Medium
Engineering testing facilities in South Africa. Separation. Within the framework of this For further information, Safety Data sheets are available from:
Complying with ISO/IEC 17025, the facility has accreditation, QDSA can add another 200 • Your local building materials supplier
a proud sixteen-year track record of continuous tests to the above methods. • Lafarge Cement Customer Care: 011 657 1010
accreditation. • Lafarge website: www.lafarge.co.za
THE INTERNATIONAL
LAFARGE GROUP
Lafarge is the world-leader in building materials, with top-ranking
positions in its Cement, Aggregates & Concrete businesses. The Group
has 68 000 employees in 64 countries and, in 2011, posted sales of
15,3 billion Euros.
For the second year in a row, Lafarge ranked amongst the Top 10 of 500
companies evaluated by the “Carbon Disclosure Project” in recognition
of their strategy and actions against global warming. With the world’s
leading building materials research facility, Lafarge places innovation
at the heart of its priorities, working for sustainable construction and
architectual creativity.
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LAFARGE
Leading through innovation
Lafarge has continually invested in the better
understanding of cement and in advancing
the development of building materials. It
offers the construction industry and the
general public innovative solutions bringing
greater safety, comfort and quality to their
everyday surroundings.
Additional information is available on the
website at: www.lafarge.co.za
Ordering
made easy
If you have registered to use the Lafarge
Customer Portal, ordering cement can be
done at your convenience, 24 hours a day,
365 days a year.
For further information or to register to use
our Customer Portal, please contact:
• Your local Lafarge Sales Representative
• Customer Care: 011 657 1010 or
• Download an Application form from our
website: www.lafarge.co.za
FOR ALL YOUR ROADBINDING CEMENT
QUERIES PHONE:
Toll Free: 0860 109 275
Call Centre: 011 657 1111
Customer Care: 011 657 1010
PAGE 12 | LAFARGE | 2012 PAGE 13 | LAFARGE | 2012
Lafarge Industries South Africa (Pty) Ltd
35 Westfield Road
Longmeadow Business Estate Ext 11, Edenvale, 1609
Tel no.: 0860 LAFARG / 0860 523 274
or 0861 LAFARG / 0861 523 274
Main fax no.: 086 631 0006
www.lafarge.co.za
