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Course Description: AEC Daily: Specifying Low-Carbon Concrete: ASTM C595 Cement Performance, Challenges, and Best Practices
The construction industry is rapidly transitioning from traditional ASTM C150 portland cements to ASTM C595 blended hydraulic cements as part of broader efforts to reduce embodied carbon and achieve net-zero emissions goals. These new cements can serve as direct replacements for conventional portland cement in many applications; however, their performance characteristics, material behavior, and construction implications may differ.
Participants will explore the environmental drivers behind low-carbon cement adoption, the composition and performance characteristics of blended cements, and common construction challenges associated with low-carbon concrete. The course finishes with best practices for working with low-carbon cement that support successful project outcomes.
Identify the environmental and regulatory factors, including reducing embodied carbon, driving the industry’s transition from ASTM C150 portland cements to ASTM C595 blended hydraulic cements.
Differentiate among the major ASTM C595 cement types and explain how limestone content, supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), and cement fineness influence concrete performance, strength development, workability, and durability.
Recognize common construction and post installation challenges associated with low-carbon cement systems, including changes in setting behavior, finishing characteristics, delamination risk, porosity, color variation, and compatibility with surface treatments.
Apply best practices for specifying, reviewing submittals, interpreting batch tickets, coordinating construction teams, and managing owner expectations when working with ASTM C595 cement concrete systems.