JournalSep 22, 2026 · 1 min read

OPC or PPC: which cement is right for your pour?

Two grey bags, two very different behaviours. Here is how to choose between them in under five minutes.

By Bastion technical team

Ordinary Portland cement gains strength quickly. That makes it the natural choice for columns, beams and slabs where you want to strike formwork and keep the frame moving.

Portland pozzolana cement swaps about a third of the clinker for fly ash. It sets a little slower and runs cooler, and the concrete ends up denser and more resistant to water and chemicals.

A simple rule works on most sites: use OPC above ground where speed matters, and PPC below ground, in mass pours and in plaster. If you are unsure, send us your drawings and an engineer will mark them up.

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