PU BLIC WORKS DEPARTM ENT

BUILDINGS

oFFrcE oF THE ENGTNEER-rN-CHTEF (BUTLDTNGS) AND

CHIEF ENGINEER (BUILDINGS) CHENNAI REGION, PWD.,
CHEPAUK, CHENNAT - 5

TECHNICAL CIRCULAR No. AEE / T1O / 33566 /2O17, dated 31.03.2O17

Sub : PWD - Buildings - Standardized Concrete Mix in

accordance with iS:456-2000 for M20, M25, M30, M35,
M40 Grade of Concrete Technical Circular - Issued for
Adoption - Regarding

Ref : 1, Director General, Bureau of Indian Standards, New

Delhi Letter dated 24.7L'2005 communicated in
Govt. D.O. letter No.41292 / G2 / 2005-1, dated
07.12.2005.
2. Deputy Accountant General (Works), Letter Dated
18.04.2007, 23.05 .2007, 74.06.2007, 3 1 . 08. 20 1 0.
3. Superintending Engineer, PWD', Planning & Design
Circle, Chennai Letter Dated 2L.O9.2001,
23.08.2006.
4. Minutes of the Board of Engineer meeting held on
25.03.207t.
5. The Chief Engineer (Buildings), PWD., Chennai letter
no. AEE I T10 (B) / 3566 / 2006, dated' 23.07.2OO7,
L6.12.2009, 28"01 .2077.
*i<*

In the Board of on 25.03.2011 the implementation of

Engineers meeting held
IS:456-2000 code in PWD was discussed and the BOE accepted and recommended the
adoption IS:456-2000 in toto pending approval of Government and requested the
Engineer-in-Chief (Buildings) to take necessary action in this regard.

Based on the Audit report of Accountant General in respect of excess cement usage
non conforming with IS:456-2000, the detail analysis has been made by the PWD and this
subject was discussed in the Board of Engineers Meeting held on L4.O7.2O77, 74.02.2017
and 14.03.2017. The Board of Engineers has also discussed about CPWD Specifications, Data
and Schedule of Rates.
Until final decision is arrived by the authorities concerned, the following Circular
instructions is issued for evolving Data for Standardized Concrete Mix in accordapce with
15:456-2000 for M20, M25, M3O, M35, M4O Grade and this may be adopted'
 After detailed analysis made in the Building Research Station Laboratory and

considering the various test results from reputed institutions like Anna University, Highways
Research Station, Soil Mechanic & Research Division of TNPWD, the Revised Data has been
evolved for various Grades of Concrete as detailed below.

1) As per IS 456-1978, at present, the Tamil Nadu PWD is adopting Nominal Mix 1:2:4
concrete (equivalent to M15 grade) in general and Nominal Mix 7:7L/2:3 concrete
(equivalent to M20 grade) for sea shore areas (24 Km from Seashore).

Z) IS 456: 1978 was revised to IS 456:2000 (code of practice for Plain and Reinforced
Concrete) in the year 2000 and this revision of IS 456-2000 specifies major thrust in
different aspects of durable structure such as environment, cover, the type and
quality of constituent material, cement content, workability, water cement ratio,
workmanship etc.

3) Clause 8.2.2 and Table 3 of IS 456:2000 specifies, Environmental Exposure Condition

as Five levels of Severity viz., Mild, Moderate, Severe, Very Severe and Extreme
condition of Environment to which the concrete will be exposed during it's working
life.

4) Table 5 of IS 456:2000 also prescribes different grade of concrete with minimum

cement content, maximum water cement ratio for different environment exposure
condition with normal aggregate of 20mm nominal maximum size. Further, Table 6
of IS 456:2000 also stipulate adjustments to minimum cement content for aggregate
other than 20mm nominal maximum size.

5) Ctause 8.2.4.2 of IS 456:2000 also stipulates that the cement content in excess of
450 kglm3 should not be used as it involves the risk of cracking due to drying
shrinkage in thin section or to early thermal cracking and to the increased risk of
damage due to alkali silica reactions.

6) proportion of Ingredients of concrete to produce the concrete of required strength are

given in Table 9 of IS 456-2000 (Also in Table 3 of IS 456 -L978) and Concrete
produced by using this proportion of ingredients is called Nominal Mix Concrete.

7) Hence based on the IS 456 -!978, present system of adopting Nominal mix in PWD,
the Cement used per m3 of concrete for M15 grade and M20 grade are 323.10 Kg/m'
and 430.80 Kglm3 resPectivelY.
B) The IS:456-2000 specifies that, the proportions of ingredients of concrete to produce
the concrete of required strength is found.out by laboratory methods and Concrete
produced by using this proportion of ingredients is called Design Mix Concrete.

e) Rational proportioning of the ingredients of concrete is the essence of concrete mix

design. The choice of proportion is controlled by factors governing the plastic state
and the hardened state.

10) Table 5 of IS 456-2000 (page 20) specifies minimum cement content, maximum
water - cement ratio etc and is reproduced as follows:-

Reinforced Concrete
sl. Exposure Minimum Minimum Maximum Free
No condition Grade of Cement Content Water- Cement
Concrete Kol m3 ratio
1 Mitd M20 300 0,55
2 Moderate M25 300 0.50
3 Severe M30 320 o.45
4 Very severe M35 340 o.45
5 Extreme M40 360 0.40

11) Cement content specified in IS 456-2000 like 300 kglm3 and 320 kglm3 for M20 &
M30 grades of concrete in the above table is for the minimum requirements'

t2) But in case of Design mix, the actual cement requirements for various grades of
concrete is more than the minimum specified above. It depends on types of cement
used, water cement ratio, size of aggregates, methods of mixing, degree of
supervision etc. Also as per clause 3.2 of IS: 10262-2OO9, the concrete mix has to be
proportioned for higher target mean compressive strength and this margin over
characteristic strength requires additional cement.

13) To adopt the Design Mix for various grade of concrete, the necessary data with
reasonable quantities of cement, aggregates, plasticizers, etc. for various grades of
concrete are to be arrived considering many parameters and conditions stipulated in
IS:456-2000. Accordingly, to arrive a data for Standardized Concrete Mix M20, M25,
M30, M35 and M4O the following analysis / test reports etc. are taken into
consideration.

a) The proposed data for Design mix M20, M25, M30, M35 and M40 arrived for
mix proportion should serve as a guide and it should be arrived based on the
experience and a knowledge of the basic principles of concrete mix design'
b) During the past years, more several deliberations and discussions were made
in this aspect during various meetings of Board of Engineers and thg review
meetings of superintending Engineers / Executive Engineers of PWD.
 c) Consultations were also made with other Organisations and Professors and
Experts in Civil Engineering in this regard.
d) Regarding quantities of cement for various grades of concrete, the quantities
of cement recommended by test reports of laboratories of reputed institutions
such as Anna University, Highways Research Station, PWD Building Research
Station, PWD Soil Mechanics & Research Division and available literatures etc.,
is considered for arriving the data for concrete mix design.
Quantities of aggregates and plasticizers provided in the Data are based on
e)
rational analysis and Laboratory Test Reports.
\4) The grade of concrete to be adopted at site is based on the exposure condition.
The general environmental exposure conditions as stipulated in clause 8.2.2.7 of
IS:456-2000 is as follows:
St. No Environment Exposure conditions
(1) (2) (3)
i) Mild Concrete surfaces protected against weather or
agg ressive cond itions, except those situated in
coastal area.
ii) Moderate Concrete surfaces sheltered from severe rain or
freezing whilst wet.
Concrete exposed to condensation and rain.
Concrete continuously under water.
Concrete in contact or buried under non-aggressive
soil / ground water.
Concrete surfaces sheltered from saturated salt air
in coastal area
i ii) Severe Concrete surfaces exposed to severe rain, alternate
wetting and drying or occasional freezing whilst wet
or severe condensation.
Concrete completely immersed in sea water.
Concrete exposed to coastal environment.
iv) Very severe Concrete surfaces exposed to sea water spray,
corrosive fumes or severe freezing conditions whilst
wet.
Concrete in contact with or buried under aggressive
sub-soil / ground water.
v) Extreme Surface of members in tidal zone.
Members in direct contact with liquid / solid
aggressive chemicals.
1s) After considering the above said all aspects, Cement contents, Water-Cement ratio for
various grades for One Cubic meter concrete is evolved for adopting in PWD Data are
detailed below :

Concrete grade M20 M25 M30 M35 M40

Cement kglm' 325 350 400 425 440

Water-Cement ratio (Maximum) 0.5s 0.50 0.45 0.45 o.40
Machine crushed Stone Jelly (20mm) in m' 0.500 0.500 0,500 0.500 0.500
Machine crushed Stone Jelly (10-12mm) in m' 0.330 0.330 0.330 0.330 0.330
Sand tn m' o.479 o.479 o.479 o.479 0.479

16) The detailed data for Standardized Concrete Mix M20, M25, M30, M35 and M40 are
arrived and enclosed in the annexure.

t7) The minimum grade of concrete to be adopted for Reinforced Cement Concrete is
M20.

In the circumstances explained above, Revised Data now evolved for Standardized
Concrete Mix M20, M25, M30, M35 and M40 to improve the durability of Reinforced Cement
Concrete in accordance with the IS:456-2000 BIS code is herewith communicated for
adoption in all works until final decision is arrived by the authorities concerned. Besides this,
it is instructed to adhere to all the provisions stipulated in IS:456-2000 BIS code.
Encl.:_Proposed Data for
M20,M25, M30, M35 & M4o
Sd/- (R.Jayasingh)
Engineer-in-Chief (Buildings) &
Chief Engineer (Buildings),
Chennai Region, PWD.

To ./
dtne Chief Engineer (Buildings), PWD., Madurai Region, Madurai
2. The Chief Engineer (Buildings), PWD., Trichy Region, Trichy
3. AII the Superintending Engineers, PWD., Building Orgainsation
4. All the Executive Engineers, PWD', Building Orgainsation

Copy to:

1. The Principal Secretary to Government, Public Works Department, Secretariat,

Chennai-9.
2. The Principal Secretary to Government, Finance Department, Secretariat, Chennai-9
3. The Engineer-in-Chief, WRD & Chief Engineer (General), PWD., Chennai-5.

ll Forwarded Order d
2
n-Chief (Buildi 9s)
glgreer (Building ),
 M 20 CONCRETE
Providing and laying in position, standardised concrete Mix M-2o Grade
in accordance with IS:456-2000,
using 20mm and down graded hard broken granite stone jelly for all RCC items
of works with minimum
content of 325 kg/ms and maximum water cement ratio of 0.55, including admixture (plasticiser cement
plasticiser) in recommended proportions as per IS:9103 to accelerate, reta?d / super
setting of concrete, improve
workability without impairing strength and durability with about (5 cu.m.) 7730 kg. of
20mm machine crushed
stone jelly and with about (3.3 cu.m.) 5156 kg. of 10-12mm machine crushed stone jelly
and with about (4.79
cu'm') 7670 kg. of sand, but excluding cost of reinforcement grill and fabricating charges, centering and
shuttering and also including laying, vibrating with mechanical vibrators, finishing, curing,
etc. and providing
fixtures like fan clamps in the RCC floor/ roof slabs wherever necessary without claiming
extra, etc., complete
complying with standard specification and as directed by the departmental officers.
The coarse and fine
aggregates to be used should comply with the requirements of IS standards. (No
separate payment will be
made by the Department for the excess usage of materials).

5,000 cu.m. 20mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly cu.m.

Q73a Ks)

3,300 cu.m. 10-12mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly

(51s6 K9)

4.790 cu.m. Sand

(7670 Ks)

3250 Kg Cement MT
19.50 Kg Plasticiser / Super plasticiser @ 0,60% of cement Kg
3.500 Nos. Mason II Class Each
21.200 Nos. Mazdoor I Class Each
35.300 Nos. Mazdoor II Class Each

Total for 10 cu.m.

For 1 cu.m.
Add for vibration charge (as per SOR)

Sub-Total
Add for water charges & other sundries (0.5olo of Sub-Total)

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Foundation and Basement
For Ground Floor
For First Floor
For Second Floor
For Third Floor
Sd/- (R. Jayasinsh)
For Fourth Floor Erc (B) a cE (B) C.R., PWD.,
For Fifth Floor
 M 25 CONCRETE
Providing and laying in position, standardised concrete Mix M-25 Grade in
accordance with IS:456-2000,
using 20mm and down graded hard broken granite stone jelly for all RCC items of works
with minimum
content of 350 kglms and maximum water cement ratio of 0.50, including admixture (plasticiser cement
plasticiser) in recommended proportions as per IS:9103 to accelerate, retard / super
setting of concrete, improve
workability without impairing strength and durability with about (5.0 cu.m.) 7730
k9. of 20mm machine crushed
stone jelly and with about (3'3 cu'm') 5156 kg. of 10-12mm machine crushed
stone jelly and with about (4.79
cu'm') 7670 kg' of sand, but excluding cost of reinforcement grill and fabricating charges, centering
and
shuttering and also including laying, vibrating with mechanical vibrators, finishing,
curing, etc. and providing
fixtures like fan clamps in the RCC floor/ roof slabs wherever necessary without claiming
extra, etc., complete
complying with standard specification and as directed by the departmental officers. The
coarse and fine
aggregates to be used should comply with the requirements of IS Standards. (No separate payment
made by the Department for the excess usage of materials).
will be

5.000 cu.m, 20mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly CU.M.

(7730 Ks)

3.300 cu.m. 10-12mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly

CU.M.
(s1s6 Ks)

4.790 cu.m. Sand

cu.m.
(7670 Ks)

3500 Kg Cement
MT
28.00 kg Plasticiser / Super plasticiser @ 0.80o/o of cement kg
3.500 Nos. Mason II Class Each
21.200 Nos. Mazdoor I Class Each
35.300 Nos. Mazdoor II Class Each

Total for 10 cu.m.

For 1 cu.m.
Add for vibration charge (as per SOR)

Sub-Total
Add for water charges & other sundries (0.5%o of Sub-Total)

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Foundation and Basement
For Ground Floor
For First Floor
For Second Floor
For Third Floor
Sd/- (R. Jayasingh)
For Fourth Floor , Erc (B) & cE (B) C.R., PwD.,

For Fifth Floor

IJ
I
I

fkl
(B),
 M 30 CONCRETE
Providing and laying in position, Standardised Concrete Mix M-3O Grade in accordance with IS:456-2000,
using 20mm and down graded hard broken granite stone jelly for all RCC items of works with minimum cement
content of 400 kglms and maximum water cement ratio of 0.45, including admixture (plasticiser / super
plasticiser) in recommended proportions as per IS:9103 to accelerate, retard setting of concrete, improve
workability without impairing strength and durability with about (5.0 cu.m.) 7730 kg. of 20mm machine crushed
stone jelly and with about (3.3 cu.m.) 5156 kg. of 10-12mm machine crushed stone jelly and with about (4.79
cu.m') 7670 kg. of sand, but excluding cost of reinforcement grill and fabricating charges, centering and
shuttering and also including laying, vibrating with mechanical vibrators, finishing, curing, etc. and providing
fixtures like fan clamps in the RCC floor/ roof slabs wherever necessary without claiming extra, etc., complete
complying with standard specification and as directed by the departmental officers. The coarse and fine
aggregates to be used should comply with the requirements of IS Standards. (No separate payment will be
made by the Department for the excess usage of materials).

5.000 cu.m. 20mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly

(7730 Ks)

3.300 cu.m. 10-12mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly cu.m.

(s156 Ks)

4.790 cu.m. Sand cu.m.

(7670 Ks)

4000 Kg Cement MT
40.00 kg Plasticiser / Super Plasticiser @ 1% of cement kg
3.500 Nos. Mason II Class Each
27.200 Nos. Mazdoor I Class Each
35.300 Nos. Mazdoor II Class Each

Total for 10 cu.m,

For 1 cu.m.
Add for vibration charge (as per SOR)

Sub-Total
Add for water charges & other sundries (0.5olo of Sub-Total)

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Foundation and Basement
For Ground Floor
For First Floor
For Second Floor
For Third Floor
For Fourth Floor
Sd/- (R. Jayasingh)
For Fifth Floor EIC (B) & CE (B) C.R., PWD.,
 M 35 CONCRETE
Providing and laying in position, standardised concrete Mix M-35 Grade in
accordance with IS:456-2000,
using 20mm and down graded hard broken granite stone jelly for all RCC items
of works with minimum cement
content of 425 kg/m' and maximum water cement ratio of 0.45, including admixture (plasticiser
plasticiser) in recommended proportions as per IS:9103 to accelerate, reta-rd / super
setting of concrete, lmprove
workability without impairing strength and durability with about (5.0 cu.m.) 7730 kg. of
20mm machine crushed
stone jelly and with about (3'3 cu.m.) 5156 kg. of 10-12mm machine crushed stone jelly
and wlth about (4.79
cu'm') 7670 kg' of sand, but excluding cost of reinforcement grill and fabrlcating charges, centering
and
shuttering and also including laying, vibrating with mechanical vibrators, finishing,
curing, etc. and providing
fixtures like fan clamps in the RCC floor/ roof slabs wherever necessary without claiming
extra, etc., complete
complying with standard specification and as directed by the deparimental officers.
The coarse and fine
aggregates to be used should comply with the requirements of IS standards. (No
separate payment will be made
by the Department for the excess usage of materials).

5.000 cu.m. 20mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly

(7730 K9)

3.300 cu.m. 10-12mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly

CU.M.
(5156 Kg)

4.790 cu.m. Sand

cu.m.
(7670 Ks)

4250 Kg Cement
MT
51.00 kg Plasticiser / Super plasticiser @ l.2o/o of cement kg
3.500 Nos. Mason II Class Each
21.200 Nos. Mazdoor I Class Each
35.300 Nos. Mazdoor II Class Each

Total for 10 cu.m.

For 1cu.m.
Add for vibration charge (as per SOR)

Sub-Total
Add for water charges & other sundries (O.So/o of Sub-Total)

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Foundation and Basement
For Ground Floor
For First Floor
For Second Floor
For Third Floor
Sd/- (R. Jayasingh)
For Fourth Floor Erc (B) & CE (B) C.R., PWD.,

For Fifth Floor

 M 40 CONCRETE
Providing and laying in position, standardised concrete Mix M-4o Grade in accordance with
IS:456-2000,
using 20mm and down graded hard broken granite stone jelly for all RCC items of works with minimum
cement
content of 440 kglms and maximum water cement ratio of 0.40, including admixture (plasticiser
plasticiser) in recommended proportions as per IS:9103 to accelerate, retard setting / super
of concrete, improve
workability without impairing strength and durability with about (5.0 cu.m.) 7730 kg. of 2omm machine
crushed
stone jelly and with about (3'3 cu,m.) 5136 kg. of 10-12mm machine crushed stone jelly and with
about (4.79
cu'm.) 7670 kg' of sand, but excluding cost of reinforcement grill and fabricailng charges, centering and
shuttering and also including laying, vibrating with mechanical vibrators, finishing, curing, etc, and providing
fixtures like fan clamps in the RCC floor/ roof slabs wherever necessary without claiming extra, etc., complete
complying with standard specification and as dir.ected by the departmental officers. The coarse and fine
aggregates to be used should comply with the requirements of IS Standards. (No separate payment
will be
made bv the Deoartment for the excess rrsaoe of materials).

5.000 cu.m. 20mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly

(7730 K9)

3.300 cu.m. 10-12mm Machine Crushed Stone Jelly

(s136 Ks)

4.790 cu.m. Sand

(7670 Ks)

44OO Kg Cement MT
61.60 kg Plasticiser / Super Plasticiser @ l.4o/o of cement kg
3.500 Nos. Mason II Class Each
27.200 Nos. Mazdoor I Class Each
35.300 Nos. Mazdoor II Class Each

Total for 10 cu.m.

For 1cu.m.
Add for vibration charge (as per SOR)

Sub-Total
Add for water charges & other sundries (0.5olo of Sub-Total)

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Rate for 1 cu.m.

Foundation and Basement
For Ground Floor
For First Floor
For Second Floor
Sd/- (R. Jayasingh)
For Third Floor Erc (B) & cE (B) C.R., PWD.,

For Fourth Floor

For Fifth Floor

-- tL,\
for En -chkf ('B
(B),
Chennai
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