What Is Portland Slag Cement?
The kind of cement to be used is simply monumental in terms of constructing powerful and robust buildings. One of the best cement varieties that is highly used and highly trusted in India is Portland Slag Cement (PSC). It is made by mixing Ordinary Portland Cement clinker with slag, which is a by-product in the steel industry in the form of granules together with gypsum. This special mix provides Portland Slag Cement with the unique properties of increased durability, increased resistance to chemical attacks, reduced heat of hydration, and impact on the environment. It is popular particularly in large structure projects, marine, underground work, and mass concrete work. In India, the BIS Certification under 455:2015 is compulsory to ensure that all bags of PSC are of the necessary quality.
Knowledge of IS 455:2015 -The Standard of Portland Slag Cement
To ensure that the Portland Slag Cement meets the requirements of Indian standards, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has introduced a specific Indian Standard named IS 455:2015. This standard outlines all the technical specifications, quality standards and testing processes that PSC has to satisfy before it can be sold legally in India. IS 455 was initially published in the year 1954 and has since undergone various revisions with the latest and most updated version being the 2015 edition. It deals with the crucial performance parameters i.e. slag contents, compressive strength, fineness, soundness, setting time, and heat of hydration. All manufacturers and importers of Portland Slag Cement in India are required to adhere to the IS 455:2015 and valid BIS ISI Mark licence in order to conduct business within the market legally.
What is BIS Certification and why is It Necessary to Portland Slag Cement?
Portland Slag Cement has been taken by the Government of India in the BIS Compulsory Certification Scheme. This implies that it is mandatory that all manufacturers, importers, and sellers of PSC require to be certified under IS 455:2015 to market or otherwise sell in India. This mandate is caused by the issue of public safety. Substandard cement may lead to weaker concrete, broken structures as well as grave safety hazards especially in huge buildings, bridges, dams, and coastal infrastructure where Portland Slag Cement is widely employed. The BIS ISI Mark on a cement bag guarantees all customers of the product that it is a tested product, and satisfies the Indian safety and quality standards. The BIS Act, 2016 can result in strict legal penalties on manufacturers who sell PSC without a valid BIS licence.
Under IS 455:2015, the key technical requirements are stated
In order to receive the BIS ISI Mark, producers of Portland Slag Cement will have to provide their product successfully passing all tests required by the IS 455:2015. PSC should have a slag content of between 25 to 70 percent of the total cement weight. The cement should attain the stipulated minimum compressive strength of cement at 3 days, 7 days and 28 days as provided in the standard. The minimum time required to set should not be below 30 minutes and the maximum time required to set should not be beyond 600 minutes. The cement strength confirmed by the Le Chatelier method and autoclave expansion test should not be above the allowable limits. The cement air permeability method should be determined as the fineness of the cement should not be lower than 225m²/kg. These tests should be performed in NABL accredited or BIS approved labs and results should always meet the requirements of IS 455:2015 in order to obtain and retain the certification.
Application to BIS Certification IS 455:2015
The BIS ISI Mark certification of Portland Slag Cement is a process that consists of a number of steps to be followed. The manufacturer is then required to first log in to the BIS Online Portal and submit formal application through which all necessary documents are required to be submitted and these include factory information, manufacturing process flow, raw material information, quality control records and the recent lab tests report which have been proven to be done by the approved labs. The next step that BIS undertakes is to appoint an officer to make a visit to the factory to ensure that the plant has the correct equipment, infrastructure and quality management systems. After clearing inspection and passing all the necessary tests of the product samples according to the requirements in the IS 455:2015, BIS issues the licence of ISI Mark that is one year long and that has to be renewed on a regular basis. Surprise inspection and market surveillance conducted by BIS is also done periodically to assure manufacturers that standards are maintained by them after receiving certification.
Advantages of BIS Certification and the role that Induce India can play
Being BIS certified according to IS 455:2015 is not only a legal requirement, but a strong business opportunity. Any product bearing the BIS ISI Mark is immediately trusted by the builders, contractors, and the government agencies. The certification has been a point of entry to bigger projects and improved business development as most government infrastructure tenders in India require the ISI Mark on cement. It enhances brand reputation, minimizes the product liability, and enhances internal quality practices as well.
Nevertheless, treading through the BIS certification process may be difficult without the necessary guidance. Induce India is a reputable certification consulting firm that provides full-fledged support of BIS ISI Mark certification in line with ISO 455: 2015. The professional practice of document preparation, laboratory tests organization, factory audit assistance, and licence renewal Induce India has a masterful team of experts who handle all the processes smoothly. Their thorough understanding of IS 455: 2015 and the BIS processes will make your application robust, make sure that your facility is auditable and your certification will proceed without any issues. Contact Induce India today and have your Portland Slag Cement certified in a proper manner.
