---
title: "Field testing of cement quality"
subject: "Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure:cement-field-tests"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/cement-field-tests
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Field testing of cement quality

Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure · Chapter 1: Introduction to concrete and concrete materials

- Asked in: 2081 Bhadra, 2 marks; 2080 Baisakh, 3 marks (asked 2 times)
- Video: [Test on cement | Cement Quality | field test on cement at Construction site](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV7jDYFKez0) — Decor Engineer
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/cement-field-tests
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_5/concrete_technology_and_masonry_structure/chapter-1

## Question

How will you check the quality of cement at site (field testing methods)?

## Short answer

Field tests: uniform grey color, smooth feel, no hard lumps, cool on hand thrust, sinks in water. A stiff paste pat should harden under water in 24 h without cracks; a 25×25×200 mm block cured 7 days should support 34 kg central load on 150 mm span without failure.

## Answer

Field tests give a quick check of cement quality before use; laboratory tests (IS 4031) are needed for final acceptance.

1. **Colour**: uniform grey with a light greenish tinge, free from lumps.
2. **Physical feel**: rubbing between the fingers gives a smooth feel; a rough or gritty feel means adulteration with sand.
3. **Hand thrust**: pushing a hand deep into the bag should feel cool; warmth means the cement has already started hydrating.
4. **Lumps**: good cement has no lumps. Lumps that crush easily between the fingers may be only partly air-set (the cement is old); hard lumps mean the cement is bad.
5. **Float test**: a pinch dropped into a bucket of water should sink and not float (floating indicates impurities/adulteration or air-set cement).
6. **Setting test (paste/pat test)**: make a stiff paste (w/c about 0.35) of cement and form a pat about 75 mm in diameter and 12 mm thick, with sharp edges, on a glass plate. Kept under water, it should set hard within 24 hours and keep its shape without cracks or distortion (soundness). Its initial set should not occur before 30 minutes and its final set should be within 10 hours.
7. **Strength test**: a block of neat cement 25 mm x 25 mm x 200 mm is cured in water for 7 days, then placed on supports 150 mm apart and loaded with 34 kg at the centre; it should not show signs of failure.
8. **Fineness**: a handful of cement should not leave much residue when passed through a fine (90 micron) sieve.
9. **Storage and bag checks**: bag weight 50 kg, date of manufacture (use within 3 months), and the manufacturer's brand and grade printed on the bag (IS 269, IS 1489).

## Check yourself

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

1. A bag of cement that feels warm when a hand is pushed in indicates:
   A. It is fresh
   B. It is high grade
   C. It has started hydrating
   D. It is finer
   Answer: C. Good cement feels cool. (Key point: Hand thrust)

2. In the float test, good cement:
   A. Floats
   B. Dissolves
   C. Boils
   D. Sinks slowly in water
   Answer: D. Floating indicates impurities, adulteration or air-set. (Key point: Float test)

3. Hard lumps in cement mean:
   A. The cement is bad
   B. The cement is perfect
   C. Only slightly aged
   D. Highly fine
   Answer: A. Easily crushed lumps are partial air-set; hard lumps mean bad cement. (Key point: Lumps)

## Related in Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure

- [Quality control of concrete at site](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aquality-control-at-site) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 5, asked 11×
- [Quality control at site; slump test](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Aqc-and-slump-test) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 3
- [Field testing methods of brick](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fconcrete_technology_and_masonry_structure%3Abrick-field-testing-methods) — Concrete Technology and Masonry Structure, chapter 10

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