IS 269:1989 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for ordinary portland cement, 33 grade - specification. This standard covers the manufacturing, chemical, and physical requirements for 33 Grade Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC). While 33 grade cement is largely obsolete in modern construction, this code was historically essential for quality control to verify properties like setting time, soundness, and compressive strength.
Specifies requirements for 33 grade ordinary portland cement; commonly referenced for older projects.
Overview
- Status
- Superseded — superseded by IS 269:2015
- Usage level
- Rare
- Domain
- Materials Science — Cement
- Type
- Specification
Also on InfraLens for IS 269
Practical Notes
! This 1989 standard was superseded by IS 269:2015, which consolidated the specifications for 33, 43, and 53 grades of OPC into a single comprehensive code.
! 33 grade cement is rarely manufactured or used in structural concrete today, having been widely replaced by 43 and 53 grades to meet faster construction and higher early strength requirements.
! Testing for physical properties like setting time and compressive strength must be carried out as per IS 4031.
Frequently referenced clauses
cementordinary portland cementOPC 33
International Equivalents
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International Comparison — Coming Soon
We're adding equivalent international standards for this code.
Key Values8
Quick Reference Values
Minimum 3-day compressive strength16 MPa
Minimum 7-day compressive strength22 MPa
Minimum 28-day compressive strength33 MPa
Initial setting time (minimum)30 minutes
Final setting time (maximum)600 minutes
Minimum specific surface area (Blaine's)225 m²/kg
Maximum Le-Chatelier expansion (Soundness)10 mm
Maximum Autoclave expansion (Soundness)0.8%
Tables & Referenced Sections
Key Tables
Table 1 - Chemical Requirements
Table 2 - Physical Requirements
Key Clauses
Clause 5 - Chemical Requirements
Clause 6 - Physical Requirements
Clause 9 - Packing
Clause 10 - Sampling
Frequently Asked Questions4
What is the minimum 28-day compressive strength of 33 Grade OPC?+
33 MPa (N/mm²), as tested on standard mortar cubes.
What are the acceptable setting time limits?+
The minimum initial setting time is 30 minutes, and the maximum final setting time is 600 minutes.
Is IS 269:1989 still active?+
No, it has been replaced by IS 269:2015, which unified the specifications for 33, 43, and 53 grades of OPC.
What is the requirement for cement soundness in this code?+
The maximum expansion must not exceed 10 mm by the Le-Chatelier method and 0.8% by the Autoclave test.
QA/QC Inspection Templates
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QA/QC templates coming soon for this code.