National Bulletin:	210-22-13	Date:	September 20, 2022
Subject:	ENG – Design Considerations for Type IL Portland Cement

Purpose. This bulletin advises states and centers of the availability of and design considerations for Type IL Portland cement.

Expiration Date. September 30, 2023

Background. Cement types have different properties for specific purposes. Type IL Portland cement is a Portland-limestone blended cement with a limestone content between 5 percent and 15 percent.

Using Type IL cement in the cement-making process saves energy because the limestone can be easily ground and blended directly into the Portland cement. Not calcining (heating) 10 percent of the cement saves about 10 percent of the energy usually needed to make cement.

Explanation. ASTM C595 - Standard Specification for Blended Hydraulic Cements, covers the material requirements for Type IL cement.

Cement manufacturers across the United States are likely to have Type IL Portland cement available soon. The NRCS needs to adopt this product to maintain sustainable and cost-effective construction. Attachment A provides design considerations for using Type IL Portland cement within NRCS.

Type IL Portland cement was added as an eligible cement to the National Engineering Handbook, Part 642, Chapter 3, Material Specification 531, “Portland Cement.”

Contact. For questions about this bulletin, contact Arthur Ramthun, P.E., National Construction Engineer, at (202) 906-0010 or arthur.ramthun@usda.gov.

/s/

NOLLER HERBERT
Deputy Chief for Science and Technology

Attachment A - Type IL Report