---
title: "Define initial and final setting time"
subject: "Civil Engineering Materials"
chapter: 5
key: "semester_3/civil_engineering_materials:initial-final-setting-time-define"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/initial-final-setting-time-define
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Define initial and final setting time

Civil Engineering Materials · Chapter 5: Cement

- Asked in: 2071 Chaitra, 1 marks
- Video: [Initial and Final setting time of Cement by Dr. Aruna Rawat | Civil Engineering | RGPV](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOsJE5ffgJc) — RGPV Official
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/initial-final-setting-time-define
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/civil_engineering_materials/chapter-5

## Question

Define initial and final setting time of cement.

## Short answer

Initial setting time is when cement paste begins to lose plasticity; Vicat 1 mm needle stops 5±0.5 mm from mould bottom. For OPC, it must be at least 30 min. Final setting time is when paste hardens fully; needle with collar makes an impression but collar fails to. OPC limit is 600 min max.

## Answer

- **Initial setting time:** the time from adding water to cement until the paste begins to lose plasticity, that is, when the Vicat needle (1 mm square) stops 5 ± 0.5 mm from the bottom of the mould. For OPC it must be at least **30 minutes**.
- **Final setting time:** the time from adding water until the paste has completely lost plasticity and become hard enough to resist a definite pressure, that is, when the needle with annular attachment makes an impression but the attachment fails to. For OPC it must not exceed **600 minutes (10 hours)**.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Initial setting time ends when the Vicat needle stops at:
   A. 33-35 mm from the bottom
   B. 10 mm from the top
   C. 5 +/- 0.5 mm from the bottom of the mould
   D. Touching the glass plate
   Answer: C. Paste starts losing plasticity at that point. (Key point: Initial setting)

2. Final setting is when:
   A. The needle sinks fully
   B. The cube is crushed
   C. Paste is still plastic
   D. The needle makes an impression but the annular attachment does not
   Answer: D. Paste is completely hard and resists definite pressure. (Key point: Final setting)

3. OPC setting time limits are:
   A. Initial at least 30 min, final at most 600 min
   B. Initial at most 30 min, final at least 600 min
   C. Initial 60 min, final 10 min
   D. Initial 10 min, final 30 min
   Answer: A. IS limits: 30 min minimum and 600 min maximum. (Key point: Limits)

## Related in Civil Engineering Materials

- [Setting time significance and test](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fcivil_engineering_materials%3Asetting-time-significance-test) — Civil Engineering Materials, chapter 5

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- [Setting versus hardening of cement](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Asetting-vs-hardening) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 1
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