Cement is perishable: atmospheric moisture and CO₂ cause air-setting, lumping and progressive strength loss in storage. IS 269 (with site-storage practice IS 4082) requires dry, off-ground, height-limited stacking, FIFO use, and re-testing of cement stored beyond its effective shelf life before structural use — a strength-loss source that is invisible until weak concrete appears.
Key Requirements
•Store on a dry, raised platform, away from external walls; limit stack height; cover/wrap
•First-in-first-out — use older stock first; segregate by grade/consignment
•Cement stored beyond its effective shelf life is re-tested (IS 4031) before structural use
•Reject lumpy/air-set cement (do not crush lumps and use)
•Read with IS 4082 (stacking & storage); hydrophobic cement (IS 8043) only mitigates storage, not poor practice
Practical Notes
✓Storage strength loss is silent — a perfectly good consignment can be weak by the time it is used if stored damp/long; re-test before structural use.
✓Specific gravity drops in moisture-degraded cement (IS 4031 Part 6) — a quick screen for storage deterioration.
Common Mistakes
⚠Crushing lumps from air-set cement and using it structurally.
⚠No FIFO — old stock buried while fresh is used, then old weak cement poured later.
⚠Using cement stored well beyond shelf life without re-testing.