PHRC Webinars

Finishing Concrete with Type IL Cement and SCMs

11/10/2026 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET

Instructor: Susan Armstrong (Director of Specifications & Sustainability, Pennsylvania Aggregates and Concrete Association (PACA))

Handouts

Link to Webinar: https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/5017846546200/WN_b5uCYHkdRdaSnCs-2-yHDA

Description

Concrete finishers are increasingly working with mixtures that use Type IL Portland-limestone cement and supplementary cementitious materials such as slag cement and fly ash. While these mixtures can provide important durability, performance, and environmental benefits, they may behave differently during placement, finishing, curing, and early strength development than traditional ordinary Portland cement mixtures. This presentation explains the practical differences finishers may observe in the field and provides guidance for successfully placing and finishing these mixtures. Topics include changes in setting time, bleeding, surface appearance, workability, finishing timing, curing requirements, cold- and hot-weather considerations, and the importance of communication among the concrete producer, contractor, and finishing crew. The goal is to help finishers recognize that these mixtures are not necessarily more difficult to finish, but they may require adjustments in timing, planning, and field practices.

Learning Objectives

1. Identify the basic differences between ordinary Portland cement, Type IL Portland-limestone cement, slag cement, and fly ash used in concrete mixtures.
2. Recognize how Type IL cement and supplementary cementitious materials may affect concrete workability, bleeding, setting time, surface appearance, and early strength development.
3. Adjust placement and finishing practices to account for changing weather conditions, delayed setting, reduced bleeding, and other characteristics of these mixtures.
4. Apply proper curing and communication practices that help reduce surface defects, cracking, scaling, and other performance problems.

Cost

Free to attend; $25 for continuing education credit in live webinar

Credit Hours

Live Webinar: 1.0 PA L&I Contact Hour, 1 PDH for engineers in Pennsylvania, 1.0 AIA LU|HSW, 1.0 ICC Contact Hour (0.1 CEU)

Tags: 2026-27