What Is Cement?

Cement is the essential binding material that forms the foundation of construction. When combined with water, sand and stone, it creates concrete – the structural backbone of homes, businesses, and infrastructure.  

For generations, our cement has helped shape skylines, communities, and progress across KwaZulu-Natal. Manufactured from our own high-quality limestone resources and produced under strict quality controls, it delivers the consistent strength and reliability.  

Because cement is more than a material; it is the foundation of lasting structures and stronger communities.  

What Are the Uses & Benefits of Cement?

Cement has various applications because it’s versatile, easy to shape, durable and strong – ideal for construction.   

These applications vary from the production of concrete and mortar to screeds, plaster and grouts. Cement also offers you specialised uses such as cement stabilisation, hydraulic cement and for DIY, artistic and decorative purposes – e.g. sculpting.  

NPC Plants

NPC Durban Plant

031 450 4407
marketing@huaxin.com
199 Coedmore Road, Bellair, Durban
29.9056˚S, 30.9318˚E

Durban Portland–Limestone Cement

(SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/B-L 32,5R)

Durban Portland–Limestone Cement

(SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/A-L 42,5R)

NPC Newcastle Plant

034 375 5000
marketing@huaxin.com
1 Schonland Street, Riverside Industrial Area, Newcastle
27.7565˚S, 29.9329˚E

Newcastle Portland-Fly Ash Cement

(SSANS 50197-1 | CEM II/A-V 42,5N)

Newcastle Portland-Fly Ash Cement

(SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/B-V 32,5N)

Simuma Plant

039 687 8900
marketing@huaxin.com
Simuma No. 11486, Oribi Gorge Road, Port Shepstone
30.7111˚S, 30.3458˚E

Simuma Portland–Limestone Cement

(SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/B-L 32,5R)

Simuma Portland–Limestone Cement

(SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/A-L 42,5R)

Concrete Cement

Durban Portland–Limestone Cement

SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/B-L 32,5R

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Concrete Cement

Durban Portland–Limestone Cement

SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/A-L 42,5R

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Concrete Cement

Newcastle Portland-Fly Ash Cement

SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/A-V 42,5N

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Concrete Cement

Newcastle Portland-Fly Ash Cement

SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/B-V 32,5 N

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Portland–Limestone Cement

Simuma Portland–Limestone Cement

SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/B-L 32,5R

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Concrete Cement

Simuma Portland–Limestone Cement

SANS 50197-1 | CEM II/A-L 42,5R

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Click here to learn more about Plastering Click here to learn more about Brick-Laying Click here to learn more about Constructing a Braai Area Bag Mix Application Guide

Mechanical and Physical Requirements given as a single value

Strength Class Compressive Strength (MPa) Initial Setting Time (min) Soundness (mm)
Early Strength Standard Strength
2 Days 7 Days 28 Days Min 28 Days Max
32,5 La - ≥ 12,0 ≥ 32,5 ≤ 52,5 ≥ 75 ≤ 10
32,5 N - ≥ 16,0 ≥ 32,5 ≤ 52,5 ≥ 75
32,5 R ≥ 10,0 - ≥ 32,5 ≤ 52,5 ≥ 75
42,5 La - ≥ 16,0 ≥ 42,5 ≤ 62,5 ≥ 60
42,5 N ≥ 10,0 - ≥ 42,5 ≤ 62,5 ≥ 60
42,5 R ≥ 20,0 - ≥ 42,5 ≤ 62,5 ≥ 60
52,5 La ≥ 10,0 - ≥ 52,5 ≥ 45
52,5 N ≥ 20,0 ≥ 52,5 ≥ 45
52,5 R ≥ 30,0 - ≥ 52,5 ≥ 45
a Strength class only defined for CEM III cements.

The 27 Products in the Family of Common Cements

Main Types Notation of the 27 products
(types of common cement)		 Composition (percentage by mass) Minor Additional
Constituents
Main Constituents
Clinker
K		 Blast-
furnace
slag
S		 Silica
fume
D		 Pozzolana Fly Ash Burnt
shale
T		 Limestone
Natural
P		 Natural
Calcined
Q		 Siliceous
V		 Calcareous
W		 L LL
CEM I Portland cement CEM I 95–100 – – – – – – – – – 0–5
CEM II Portland-slag cement CEM II/A-S 80–94 6–20 –––––––– 0–5
Portland-slag cement CEM II/B-S 65–79 21–35 –––––––– 0–5
Portland-silica fume cement CEM II/A-D 90–94 – 6–10––––––– 0–5
Portland-pozzolana cement CEM II/A-P 80–94 – –6–20–––––– 0–5
Portland-pozzolana cement CEM II/B-P 65–79 – –21–35–––––– 0–5
Portland-pozzolana cement CEM II/A-Q 80–94 – ––6–20––––– 0–5
Portland-pozzolana cement CEM II/B-Q 65–79 – ––21–35––––– 0–5
Portland-fly ash cement CEM II/A-V 80–94 – –––6–20–––– 0–5
Portland-fly ash cement CEM II/B-V 65–79 – –––21–35–––– 0–5
Portland-fly ash cement CEM II/A-W 80–94 – ––––6–20––– 0–5
Portland-fly ash cement CEM II/B-W 65–79 – ––––21–35––– 0–5
Portland-burnt shale cement CEM II/A-T 80–94 – –––––6–20–– 0–5
Portland-burnt shale cement CEM II/B-T 65–79 – –––––21–35–– 0–5
Portland-limestone cement CEM II/A-L 80–94 – ––––––6–20– 0–5
Portland-limestone cement CEM II/B-L 65–79 – ––––––21–35– 0–5
Portland-limestone cement CEM II/A-LL 80–94 – –––––––6–20 0–5
Portland-limestone cement CEM II/B-LL 65–79 – –––––––21–35 0–5
Portland-composite cement CEM II/A-M 80–88 12–20 0–5
Portland-composite cement CEM II/B-M 65–79 21–35 0–5
CEM III Blast furnace cement CEM III/A 35–64 36–65 – – – – – – – – 0–5
Blast furnace cement CEM III/B 20–34 66–80 – – – – – – – – 0–5
Blast furnace cement CEM III/C 5–19 81–95 – – – – – – – – 0–5
CEM IV Pozzolanic cement CEM IV/B 45-64 - 11–35–––– 0–5
Pozzolanic cement CEM IV/B 45-64 - 36–55–––– 0–5
CEM V Composite cement CEM V/B 40-64 18-30 – 18-30––––– 0–5
Composite cement CEM V/B 20–38 31-40 – 31–49––––– 0–5

a The values in the table refer to the sum of the main and minor additional constituents.

b The proportion of silica fume is limited to 10%.

c In Portland-composite cements and pozzolanic cements, main constituents other than clinker shall be declared.