Fastcast brochure - Lafarge in South Africa

Premium
High Early Strength
Cement
Superior performance
for users of bagged cement
52,5N product

FASTCAST
Contents
01
Innovation and superior performance
02
03
03
04
05
05
06
07
08
09
09
10
10
11
12
13
Applications
Making the economical choice
Benefits of Fastcast
What the bag says
When strength is important to you
Strength performance
- Strength testing results
Deciding on a mix
- Mix proportions by volume
Composition
Tips for success
The best of both worlds
Information on precast concrete
About Lafarge in South Africa
Technical resources
Unequalled international resources
Safety when handling cement
The international Lafarge Group
Innovation and
Superior Performance
Lafarge Fastcast cement:
• Economy: less Fastcast is
required per cubic metre of
concrete than with lower strength
cements
• Cost-effectiveness: premium
performance allows quicker
turnaround time of moulds and
formwork
• High rate of early strength
development gets any concrete
job done quicker
• Superior strength at all ages
creates concrete for the most
challenging applications
• Environmentally-friendly ‘green’
formulation contributes to a
better world
PAGE 1 | LAFARGE | 2012

Applications
Domestic jobs:
• Concrete foundations and garden paths
• Medium strength concrete for driveways (strong
enough to park on sooner than with ordinary
cements)
• Ponds and water features
Industrial jobs:
• Unreinforced light industrial floors and mass
concrete
• High strength concrete for columns, suspended
slabs, heavy duty industrial floors and water
retaining structures
• Prestressed railway sleepers
Where high early age strength is needed for:
• Post-tensioning and pre-stressed slabs and
beams
• Poles and spun concrete pipe manufacture
• Culverts and large precast concrete products in
general
• Concrete roof tiles manufacture
• Brick and block making
• Precast applications in general
Where large projects require specialised custom
blends for:
• Dam/reservoir construction
• Structural concrete applications
• Tunnel lining
Fastcast’s high rate of early strength
gain increases output by allowing earlier
removal of brick and block precast
moulds, while maintaining productivity
in cooler weather.
PAGE 2 | LAFARGE | 2012
FASTCAST
Making the
economical choice
The high strength and fast rate of early strength gain of Fastcast 52,5N make it
ideal for highly technical work, as well as providing you with options for cost savings
in general concrete work:
• As a premium product, less Fastcast is required per cubic metre of concrete
in general applications
• Time is money and Fastcast’s early strength gain can save on hiring of labour
and formwork
• By achieving faster turnaround time on moulds, brick/block makers and precast
manufacturers increase their output. Productivity can also be maintained in
cooler weather
• Fastcast is the choice where strength and reliable quality is essential for
suspended slabs and high strength industrial floors
• Quality and fast early strength gain are critical to achieve high ‘sliding’ rates,
when constructing concrete silos, making Fastcast the natural choice
While achieving these excellent performance features, our
technical team’s innovative formulation also ensured that
Fastcast:
• Achieves smooth off-shutter finishes
• Enables you to make a responsible choice of an environmentally-friendly
product
Benefits of Fastcast
Fastcast has been developed as a superior performance cement with an innovative
formulation that meets the high early strength requirements of the precast industry
and similar construction environments.
Fastcast produces concretes for users who need:
• High levels of performance at an early age
• Economy: a smaller quantity is needed to achieve the required strength mix
• Convenience: packed in 50kg bags to cater for the needs of small precasters
and contractors required to fast-track smaller projects, as well as large
projects
• Cost-effectiveness: premium performance allows quicker turnaround time of
moulds and formwork
• Dense durable concrete that resists destructive attack from virtually any
adverse environments
• Improved workability for easier handling, placing and finishing
• Enhanced flowability for easier casting in complex or congested spaces
PAGE 3 | LAFARGE | 2012

What the bag says
FASTCAST
Fastcast - Our innovative premium
high early strength cement
• 52,5N - achieves a strength of > 52,5MPa at
28 days under standard test conditions and fast
early strength development: > 20MPa at 2 days
• SABS mark
Fastcast complies with the SANS EN 197-1&2
specifications. Although displaying the SABS
mark is no longer mandatory, Lafarge Cement
voluntarily displays it
• LOA number
Lafarge is authorised to sell Fastcast in the
South African market. It is a legal requirement
to show the LOA number on a bag of cement
• e-mark - Indicates that the packaging
equipment and systems at our Lichtenburg
Cement Works have been audited and approved
by the SABS. Customers will receive the
quantity they have paid for
• Safety - Take note of the health and safety
warnings! Cement dust on moist skin or in eyes
can be a strong irritant. To reduce the risk of
back injury use good handling procedures with
50kg bags.
Strength
performance
Fastcast is formulated to have a high rate of early
strength development as its primary characteristic.
This is a major benefit to:
• the productivity of precast concrete product
manufacturers by allowing quicker turnaround
time of moulds
• applications where high early strength is a
requirement
Fastcast is also ideal in applications requiring high
ultimate strength concrete mixes for suspended slabs
and prestressed floor slabs
When strength is
important to you
• 32,5; 42,5 and 52,5 are strength classifications
measured in MPa (megapascals). It is the
minimum strength that will be achieved after
28 days in accordance with the government
regulatory standards (e.g. Fastcast will achieve
the minimum strength of 52,5 MPa after 28 days
as required for this class of premium cement)
• ‘N’ after the strength classification indicates the
cement has been formulated to achieve a normal
strength development at an early age
• ‘R’ after the strength classification indicates
the cement will have rapid early strength
development
Less is more!
The high rate of early strength development offers cost savings for general concrete work. Less Fastcast is
required per cubic metre of concrete than with other cements.
WHAT DOES A LAFARGE BAG OF CEMENT MEAN FOR YOU?
WHAT DOES A LAFARGE BAG OF CEMENT MEAN FOR YOU?
• an assurance of quality and performance
• a product designed to meet your needs: needs that have been identified from listening to you and
from our work with architects, engineers and everyone in the construction process
• a formulation that has benefited from the international Group’ technical know-how to create an
innovative, user-friendly product
Not only does the Lafarge name ensure that buyers receive the correct quantity of
cement but bags from our Lichtenburg Cement Works also carry the SABS e-mark.
With Lafarge you can be assured of getting the quantity you have paid for!
PAGE 4 | LAFARGE | 2012
Strength testing results
Extensive testing and trial work with this innovative cement has demonstrated Fastcast’s excellent early strength
and high compressive strength development. This also applies to its flexural strength performance which is
important when handling freshly made precast elements:
FASTCAST CEM II/A-V 52,5N AVERAGE TEST RESULTS
Curing time: Days EN Prism compressive strength MPa SANS 50197 (EN 197)
2 > 25,0 > 20,0 MPa
28 > 60,0 > 52,5 MPa
PAGE 5 | LAFARGE | 2012

FASTCAST
Innovation in Action
Fastcast 52,5N premium high early strength cement is formulated for use in specialised applications
such as precast manufacture and concrete road repair. Bagged Fastcast also brings the high early
strength benefits to the general end user of cement.
Deciding on a mix
A standard builder’s wheelbarrow that holds 65 litres of material is generally used to measure out the correct
volumes of cement, stone and sand required to make a batch of concrete. Fastcast is supplied in 50kg bags
for use in a wide range of smaller jobs, as indicated in the mix proportions tables below. 2 x 50kg bags (often
still referred to as ‘pockets’) are equivalent in volume to one wheelbarrow load.
Note: If you want to make a smaller batch of concrete, remember to use the same size container (for example a bucket)
to measure all the ingredients. (Using a shovel to measure materials is not recommended because you cannot judge the
quantities accurately.)
Volume mixes
Fastcast is suitable for:
Volume proportions of materials
Cement Sand Stone
Medium strength concrete: 20 -25MPa
Driveways, light industrial floors (unreinforced) 1 3½ 3½
Reinforced concrete structural
applications: 25-30MPa
Suspended slabs, heavy duty industrial floors
Watertight concrete:
Reservoirs, ponds
1 3 3
1 2½ 2½
General smaller precast items:
Lintels, garden ornaments 1 3 3
Brick and Block
making 1 10 -
Composition
Fastcast is an innovative Class II cement, classified
as CEM II/A-V 52,5N Portland-fly ash cement, in
accordance with SANS 50197-1 (EN 197-1). The
product is formulated from Portland cement clinker
and siliceous fly ash, together with a strength
enhancer.
Manufacturing Fastcast exclusively at our
Lichtenburg Cement Works in the North West
Province from consistent high quality raw materials
enhances the quality and reliable performance of
the product.
A quality fly ash offers wide ranging physical,
performance and handling benefits for concrete,
while also benefiting the environment.
Fly ash and the environment:
Fly ash is an environmentally-friendly
product. Worldwide, the increasing use of
fly ash as a component of building materials
is making a significant contribution to
sustainable development by:
• Reducing the use of non-renewable resources
such as limestone and coal
• Reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the
cement industry
• Recycling a by-product of coal burning power
stations which cuts back on the landfill sites
Note: Use the same size container for
measuring all the materials in a batch
– see volume proportions above.
Make Lafarge your responsible
‘green’ choice of cement
PAGE 6 | LAFARGE | 2012
PAGE 7 | LAFARGE | 2012

Tips for success
Use good quality materials:
Cement:
Choose a reputable branded product - the Lafarge name
assures you of quality and reliability
Sand:
Use clean good quality sand. Be careful not to use sand that
is contaminated with silt, clay or organic matter which will
reduce the strength of concrete
Stone:
Use clean good quality stone (‘aggregates’)
Water:
Use clean, good quality water and only in sufficient
quantity to make the mix workable. Too much water reduces
the strength of the hardened concrete
Take care of your cement:
Storage:
Make sure cement bags are stored in a dry place protected
from rain and also damp ground. Ideally, the bags should be
stacked in a closed shed on a raised platform
When working with cement:
Brick laying: Clay bricks ‘steal’ the water from a mortar mix resulting in
poor adhesion. Wet clay bricks before laying them. (Concrete
blocks and bricks should be laid dry.)
Clean any spilt mortar mix off brickwork as you are ‘laying’ – it
is more difficult to remove after it has been allowed to harden
FASTCAST
The best of both
worlds
While featuring excellent quality and reliable high
performance, Lafarge cements are also the responsible
choice for those who want a better world for future
generations. We were the first manufacturer in South
Africa to offer a complete range of extended lower
carbon footprint cements.
WHAT IS ‘GREEN’ CEMENT?
Protecting your work:
Although concrete must be kept damp while curing, always
protect fresh concrete from rain until it has hardened
Lafarge was the first industrial group to enter into a worldwide
Conservation Partnership with the environmental protection
organisation, WWF International
PAGE 8 | LAFARGE | 2012
Lafarge Cement’s products have innovative
environmentally-friendly formulations that:
• use less non-renewable materials
• create less greenhouse gas in their
manufacture
• reduce landfill sites
Green Building
Council
Lafarge Cement was the first member of the building
materials industry to join the Green Building Council of
South Africa (GBCSA). It is a commitment to assist the
Green Building Council in leading the transformation
of the South African property industry to ensure that
all buildings are designed, built and operated in an
environmentally sustainable way. The aim is to allow
all people in our country to work and live in healthy,
efficient and productive environments.
INFORMATION ON PRECAST
CONCRETE
1. Refer to the Cement & Concrete
Institute’s website: www.cnci.org.za
2. Applicable Standard Specifications:
• SABS 1504–1990: Prestressed
concrete lintels
• SABS 927–2001 : Precast concrete
kerbs, edgings and channels
PAGE 9 | LAFARGE | 2012

FASTCAST
About Lafarge in
South Africa
Lafarge is a leading supplier of building
materials to the South African construction
industry.
The international Lafarge Group’s wholly-owned
subsidiary, Lafarge South Africa Holdings (Pty) Ltd,
has two main subsidiary operating companies:
• Lafarge Industries South Africa (Pty) Ltd, (which
includes the cement, readymix concrete and the
gypsum-plasterboard operations)
• Lafarge Mining South Africa (Pty) Ltd (which
covers the aggregate and limestone quarrying
interests).
LEADING BY INNOVATION
Lafarge has continually invested in
researching the properties 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.
Unequalled
international
resources
One of Lafarge Cement’s strengths is having access
to the experience and technical resources of the
international Lafarge Group.
• Lafarge operates the world’s largest building
materials research centre
• In 2010, over €150 million was spent on product
innovation and industrial process improvement
• Four technical centres with over 600 engineers
and technicians from all over the world work on
the optimisation of production processes and the
creation of tomorrow’s materials
• Over 60% of the research centre’s budget is
dedicated to sustainable construction issues
This research and development, together with the
exchange of information and benchmarking between
the international Group’s 168 cement and clinker
facilities, ensures the world-class quality of Lafarge’s
products.
The companies trade as Lafarge Cement, Lafarge
Aggregates, Lafarge Readymix and Lafarge Gypsum.
Technical
resources
Fastcast is supported by the unique technical and
laboratory resources of Quality Department Southern
Africa (QDSA) at Industria, Gauteng. QDSA operates
one of the largest and most respected SANAS (South
African National Accreditation System) Accredited
Civil Engineering testing facilities in South Africa.
Complying with ISO/IEC 17025, the facility has
a proud sixteen-year track record of continuous
accreditation.
PAGE 10 | LAFARGE | 2012
PAGE 11 | LAFARGE | 2012

FASTCAST
Safety when handling cement
Before starting any job, make safety the
first step in your planning.
Cement is such a commonly available product that
many people use it without giving any thought to
personal protection. It is important to take sensible
handling precautions:
Thoroughly rinse any
cement in eyes with
water and seek medical
attention if irritation
persists
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 architectural
creativity.
Always wear protective
clothing, boots, gloves
and safety glasses
Right Way
WRONG Way
Additional information is available
on the website at: www.lafarge.co.za
For further information on Fastcast please
contact us on:
TOLL-FREE: 0860 109 275
CALL CENTRE: 011 657 1111
Customer Care: 011 657 1010
Wash cement off skin
immediately with water
and mild soap
Keep a straight back and bend at the knees when
lifting bags of cement.
For further information, Safety Data sheets
are available from:
• Your local building materials supplier
• Lafarge Customer Care: (011) 657 1010
• Lafarge website: www.lafarge.co.za
“Our generation has inherited an
incredibly beautiful world from our
parents and they from their parents.
It is in our hands whether our children
and their children inherit the same
world.”
Sir Richard Branson
– world-renowned entrepreneur
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: 0860 LAFARG / 0860 523 274
or 0861 LAFARG / 0861 523 274
Main fax: 086 631 0006
www.lafarge.co.za