Quality Control and Quality Assurance:- Quality control emphasizes on the testing of products to

uncover defects and reporting to management who make the decision to allow or deny product
release, where as quality assurance attempts to improve and stabilize production to avoid, or at
least minimize issues which led to the defect in the first place. For contract work, particularly work
awarded by government agencies, quality control issues are among the top reasons for not renewing
a contract.

Quality Control is a system of routine technical activities to measure and control the quality of the
inventory as it is being developed. The QC system is designed to
1. Provide routine and consistent checks to ensure data integrity, correctness and
completeness.
2. Identify and address errors and omissions.
3. Document and archive inventory material and record all QC activities.
Quality Assurance activities include a planned system of review procedures conducted by
personnel not directly involved in the inventory compilation process. Reviews preferably by
independent third parties, should be performed upon a finalised inventory following the
implementation of QC procedures. Reviews verify the data quality objectives were met,
ensure that the inventory represents the best possible estimates of emissions and sinks
given the current state of scientific knowledge and data available and support the
effectiveness of the QC program.
Quality Tests
Cement Tests
The cement delivered at the site is tested to confirm the specifications claimed by
manufacturers. The various tests done on cement are as follows:
1. Consistency
2. Initial and Final Setting Time
3. Compressive Strength of Cement
Reference Specifications: IS : 4031, IS: 8112, Clause 5.8.11.2.6 of CPWD Specifications
Frequency of Testing : Every 1000bags/Wagon Load/ Batch
Cement Brand : Ambuja OPC 43 grade
Determination of consistency of cement paste
Consistency: Quantity of water added to cement paste at which 10mm diameter vicats
plunger penetrates the cement paste by 6mm.
Apparatus : Balance of 0.1gm accuracy, Vicats apparatus with plunger, standard
weights, graduated glass measuring jar and trowel.
Procedure:
i) Weigh approximately 400g of cement and mix it with a weighed quantity of water. The
time of gauging should be between 3 to 5 minutes.
ii) Fill the Vicat mould with paste and level it with a trowel.

iii) Lower the plunger gently till it touches the cement surface.
iv) Release the plunger allowing it to sink into the paste.
v) Note the reading on the gauge.
vi) Repeat the above procedure taking fresh samples of cement and different quantities
of water until the reading on the gauge is 5 to 7mm.

Results
Brand of Cement
Ambuja OPC 43

Sample no
Weight of cement
Weight of water
Consistency

1
300gm
84
28%

2
3
300gm 300gm
84
87
28%

Determination of Initial and final setting time

Setting of cement: It is the stiffening of the cement paste after water is mixed. Broadly it
refers to change from fluid to solid state.
Initial Setting Time: The time from mixing of cement to the time it first starts losing its
plasticity.
Final Setting Time: The time from mixing of cement it loses its plasticity.
Apparatus: Balance of 0.1gm accuracy, Vicats apparatus with plunger, standard weights,
graduated glass measuring jar and trowel, stop watch.
Procedure:
1. Prepare a cement paste by gauging the cement with 0.85 times the water required to
give a paste of standard consistency.
2. Start a stop-watch, the moment water is added to the cement.
3. Fill the Vicat mould completely with the cement paste gauged as above, the mould
resting on a non-porous plate and smooth off the surface of the paste making it level
with the top of the mould. The cement block thus prepared in the mould is the test
block.
A) INITIAL SETTING TIME
Place the test block under the rod bearing the needle. Lower the needle gently in order
to make contact with the surface of the cement paste and release quickly, allowing it to
penetrate the test block. Repeat the procedure till the needle fails to pierce the test
block to a point 5.0 0.5mm measured from the bottom of the mould.The time period
elapsing between the time, water is added to the cement and the time, the needle fails
to pierce the test block by 5.0 0.5mm measured from the bottom of the mould, is the
initial setting time.
B) FINAL SETTING TIME
Replace the above needle by the one with an annular attachment. The cement should be

considered as finally set when, upon applying the needle gently to the surface of the test
block, the needle makes an impression therein, while the attachment fails to do so. The
period elapsing between the time, water is added to the cement and the time, the
needle makes an impression on the surface of the test block, while the attachment fails
to do so, is the final setting time.
Determination of compressive strength of cement
Apparatus: Balance of 0.1gm accuracy, standard vibrating machine, standard weights,
trowel, standard sand confirming to zone-1, 2, 3. 70.6mm square cube mould(50cm2
face area), tamping rod, Graduated glass jar.
Procedure: Take 200gm of cement and 600gm of standard sand in the proportion 1:3 by
weight) in a pan. (The standard sand shall be of quartz, of light, gray or whitish variety
and shall be free from silt. The sand grains shall be angular, the shape of grains
approximating to the spherical form, elongated and flattened grains being present only
in very small quantities. Standard sand shall pass through 2mm IS sieve and shall be
retained on 90 microns IS sieve with the following particle size distribution.

Mix the cement and sand in dry condition with a trowel for 1minitues and then add water.
The quantity of water shall be (p/4+3)% of combined weight of cement and sand where, p is
the % of water required to produce a paste of standard consistency determined earlier. Add
water and mix it until the mixture is of uniform colour. The time of mixing shall not be < 3
minutes & not > 4 minutes. Immediately after mixing the mortar, place the mortar in the
cube mould and prod with the help of the rod. The mortar shall be prodded 20 times in
about 8 sec to ensure elimination of entrained air. If vibrator is used, the period of vibration
shall be 2minitues at the specified speed of 12000+-400 vibrations /minutes. Then place the
cube moulds in temperature of 272o C and 90% relative humidity for 24 hours. After 24
hours remove the cubes from the mould and immediately submerge in clean water till
testing. Take out the cubes from water just before testing. Testing should be done on their
sides without any packing. The rate of loading should be 350 kg/cm2/minute and uniform.
Test should be conducted for 3 cubes and report the average value as the test result for both
7day and 28 day compressive strength.