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This guide helps procurement teams request the right publication and supplier information. It does not choose a cement type or composition for a particular exposure or structure.
Published record versus draft revision
EN 197-1:2011 is the published Genorma record checked on 7 October 2026, and BSI lists its corresponding adoption as current. Genorma also lists a draft revision; the draft is not the published replacement. Genorma record; BSI catalogue.
Record the edition required by the specification and recheck status at purchase. A later catalogue or national publication date should not be mistaken for a changed European reference.
Common cement is a defined product group
The public scope covers defined common cement types and constituents, with mechanical, physical, chemical and conformity provisions. It excludes several specialist groups, including very-low-heat special cement, supersulfated cement, calcium aluminate cement and masonry cement. A product described simply as “cement” may therefore need a different document. Source: Genorma scope.
| Area | Buyer’s question |
|---|---|
| Product identity | What is the full specified cement designation? |
| Product standard | Does the cement fit Part 1 or another product publication? |
| Concrete specification | Who confirms the proposed cement fits the intended concrete? |
| Supply evidence | Which records connect the product and deliveries to the accepted specification? |
For the wider material context, use the material standards guide. The separate EN 206-1 guide addresses concrete specification and production questions.
Make the supplier enquiry precise
Ask the responsible specifier to provide the complete designation, intended use and any additional project requirements. Keep the cement product decision separate from the design and concrete formulation decisions that depend on it.
- Full designation: does the quotation identify the specified product rather than only a strength description or brand?
- Product source: which manufacturer and production source will supply the order?
- Evidence: which product information and conformity or inspection records are available for review?
- Delivery identity: how will bulk or bagged deliveries be connected to the specified product?
- Substitutions: who authorises a different type, designation or source before use?
These are original procurement questions, not a prescribed conformity checklist. Use the licensed standard for constituent limits, requirements and rules, and have the responsible competent reviewer determine the relevant evidence.
For repeat supply, maintain a simple change log. A different source, product designation or declared characteristic deserves an explicit review even when the commercial product family remains familiar. Conversely, do not treat every cosmetic packaging change as a technical change without checking what actually changed.
A fictional supplier alternative
A concrete producer asks for cement matching its approved formulation. The supplier offers an alternative with a similar headline strength description and a different full designation, explaining that it is readily available.
The buyer records the proposed alternative and sends its product information to the responsible concrete specifier. That reviewer considers the formulation and project requirements, while the supplier identifies the applicable product document and delivery evidence. The purchase order is revised only after a decision is recorded.
The purchasing decision is to resolve the complete product match before accepting availability as the deciding factor. This example is fictional and does not establish that two cements are technically interchangeable.
Scope and market requirements remain separate checks
A product standard title does not alone establish the full legal or contractual requirements for supplying cement to a project. Ask the responsible reviewer to identify the applicable route and evidence for the intended market. Keep that decision separate from simply purchasing the publication.
Buy the document
Confirm the reference, language, format and user licence with Genorma. The merchant confirms available options and the final checkout price.
Frequently asked questions
Does Part 1 cover all cement products?
No. Check the defined common cement scope and specialist exclusions against the actual product.
Can a similar strength description justify substitution?
Not by itself. Review the full designation and intended application with the responsible specifier.
Should we buy the draft because its date is newer?
A draft has a different status. Identify the published document needed for the work and monitor revisions separately.
Primary sources checked on 7 October 2026. Use the licensed document for technical requirements and competent specification for product selection.
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