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Specify the concrete outcomes and exposure requirements first, then choose a cement-acceptance route the contract permits. ASTM C595/C595M addresses blended hydraulic cement through ingredient and proportion provisions plus some performance requirements; ASTM C1157/C1157M accepts hydraulic cement by performance criteria without restricting its composition. Neither designation alone proves that a proposed concrete mixture will meet every project requirement.
Start with the concrete requirements, not the cement label
Define what the concrete must do in service and during construction: required strength, placement or fresh-concrete needs, and durability for the project’s exposures. For each requirement, identify the applicable test method, acceptance criteria, and how acceptance will be determined in the contract documents.
NRMCA’s performance-specification guidance recommends measurable performance indicators with defined acceptance criteria and avoiding restrictions on mixture proportions. That approach leaves the producer room to select a workable combination of cement, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and admixtures while still demonstrating compliance.
Do not assume a cement designation substitutes for concrete-level acceptance. Select concrete tests and criteria appropriate to the actual concern; there is no single universal set of limits established by the sources cited here.
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Choose the cement standard route the contract allows
| Specification route | What it addresses | When to consider it |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM C595/C595M-23 | Blended hydraulic cement using slag, pozzolan, limestone, or combinations with portland cement or clinker, or slag with lime. It includes ingredient and proportion provisions as well as some performance requirements. (ASTM, 2023 edition) | When the project or agency specifies blended cement by category or composition and that prescriptive route is permitted. |
| ASTM C1157/C1157M-25 | Hydraulic cement with no restrictions on composition or constituents; product acceptance is based on performance criteria. Classes address general use, high early strength, sulfate resistance, and heat of hydration. Optional requirements address low reactivity with alkali-silica-reactive aggregates and air-entraining cement. (ASTM listing; 2025 edition listed as most recent by ANSI Webstore at the time of the cited research) | When composition-neutral cement acceptance is allowed and fits the project’s agency and contract requirements. |
The standards govern cement, not the entire concrete mixture. Check the adopted edition, agency specifications, owner amendments, and contract before selecting either route; a project may restrict otherwise available options.
Translate exposure concerns into specific requirements
Sulfate exposure
For sulfate concerns, identify the project’s exposure classification and applicable provisions before choosing an acceptance route. FHWA’s 2011 technical brief describes optional sulfate-resistance designations under both C595 and C1157 and identifies ASTM C1012 mortar expansion testing as the basis for moderate or high sulfate-resistance designations. The brief is a technical overview, not a current code provision; confirm the current test method edition and project-approved acceptance criteria.
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Potential alkali-silica reactivity
Consider the aggregate and cementitious-material combination when addressing alkali-silica reaction (ASR). FHWA’s 2011 brief discusses optional ASR-related requirements and cites ASTM C227 and ASTM C1567 methods. Because those references and recommendations are dated, confirm current methods and the project’s accepted mitigation and acceptance provisions rather than copying an old test criterion into a new specification.
Early strength and heat of hydration
Where construction schedule or thermal control makes these properties important, determine whether the relevant C1157 class or other contract provision addresses the need. State any concrete-level verification required by the project; a cement class should not be treated as proof of all placement or in-place performance outcomes.
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Develop the specification in a practical sequence
- Confirm governing documents. Identify the adopted building or transportation code, agency standard specifications, owner amendments, concrete exposure classifications, and any project-specific durability provisions.
- Select an allowable cement route. Use the applicable C595/C595M edition when the contract requires a blended-cement category or composition route. Consider C1157/C1157M only when composition-neutral acceptance is permitted within the contract and agency framework.
- State concrete outcomes and acceptance procedures. Specify the performance indicators, standard test methods, sampling and acceptance procedures, and criteria required by the project. Avoid prescribing cement type, SCM percentage, or mixture proportions without a governing provision or a justified project constraint.
- Add exposure-specific provisions. Address sulfate, ASR, heat, or other documented exposure concerns using current, project-approved methods and criteria. Do not import example designations or thresholds without checking the governing documents.
- Define submittal evidence. Require enough information to evaluate the proposed materials and concrete against the stated requirements, then review the proposed combination rather than approving the cement designation in isolation.
Review the proposed cementitious combination
NRMCA’s March 2026 Guide to Improving Specifications for Ready Mixed Concrete lists both C595 blended hydraulic cement and C1157 performance hydraulic cement as permitted material specifications. It also notes that producers may use additional SCMs with blended cement to meet strength and durability requirements. Blended cement therefore does not eliminate the need to assess the full proposed mixture.
Depending on the contract, request submittals identifying:
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- Simple operation, stable performance
- Clear scale, accurate indication, not easy to deform
- Well-made, thick product, wear-resistant
- Regular size, firm, long service life
- Accurate measurement, accurate parameters, high-cost performance
- The cement standard, designation, source, and relevant optional properties.
- Proposed SCMs and admixtures, plus mixture proportions where the contract requires them.
- Test data needed to demonstrate compliance with the project’s concrete performance criteria.
Check the proposed materials and test evidence against the specific acceptance requirements. If a criterion, test method, or required submittal is absent from the contract, resolve it before relying on it for acceptance; do not substitute an assumed universal limit.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to verify before issuing the specification
- Which code and standard editions, agency provisions, and amendments govern the project.
- Whether the contract permits C595, C1157, or both, and whether it imposes additional cement or mixture restrictions.
- Which exposure conditions matter and which current tests and acceptance criteria address them.
- Whether the proposed mixture—not just its cement designation—has a defined route to demonstrate the required outcomes.
- Whether submittal and acceptance procedures give the owner and producer a clear, contractually consistent basis for review.
The applicable project documents determine the allowable designations, methods, and limits. The general U.S.-oriented guidance here does not establish requirements for a particular jurisdiction, owner, or project.
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