Recognitions

CTC prides itself as being one of the first cement laboratories to gain recognition as a third-party material testing laboratory. With recognitions from BRS and BPS, CTC has established its role in the construction industry in ensuring safety in our infrastructure, and consumer safety, in general.

 

In June 1985, the Product Standards Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry, now the Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS) recognized CTC, then Cement Central Laboratory (CCL), as a third-party laboratory after CCL passed its technical competence criteria to conduct tests and/or analysis of cement and allied products. To this day, CTC continues to test both locally manufactured and imported cement products for conformity with the Philippine National Standards, specifically PNS 07, PNS 63, PNS 69 and PNS ASTM C91. Test certificate issued by CTC on tests done on cement sampled by BPS or authorized representatives form part of the requirements for the issuance of license to manufacture to local cement producers and Import Commodity Clearance to importers / traders.

In May 1989, the Bureau of Research and Standards (BRS) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) accredited CTC, again then as CCL, to undertake physical and chemical analyses of Portland cement T-I to T-V, blended cement, raw and in-process materials for cement manufacture. BRS has recognized CTC since then. This recognition qualifies CTC to test cement used in government infrastructure projects of DPWH and of the Department of Transportation.

Then, on November 25, 2020, CTC’s application for an upgrade of its scope of tests recognized by BRS was approved; scope now includes test on aggregates, specifically the much sought-after potential alkali reactivity of aggregates using the mortar bar method (ASTM C1260) and potential alkali-silica reactivity of combinations of cementitious material and aggregate using the accelerated mortar-bar-method (ASTM C1567). To date CTC is the only recognized laboratory with this capability.

In February 2019, CeMAP-CTC was awarded the Certificate of Authority to Operate (CATO) by the Board of Chemistry of the Professional Regulatory Commission. With the enactment of Republic Act 10657, the Chemistry Profession Act of 2015, commonly known as the Chemistry Law, the CATO is a mandatory requirement for the operation of a chemical laboratory in the Philippines. CeMAP-CTC is the first cement testing laboratory to hold a CATO.

CTC’s much-vaunted competency in cement testing rests on solid ground. Third-party evaluation, specifically, performance in proficiency testing schemes administered by Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL, a division of ASTM International in U.S.A.) and by LafargeHolcim (managed by Quantum Ingenierie in Anse, France) attest to CTC’s competence in testing.

For almost two decades, CTC has been a consistent participant of the Proficiency Sample Program of CCRL. Worldwide participation level varies from 46 for Masonry Cement to more than 200 for Portland Cement. CTC’s competence is assessed in testing Physical/Mechanical and Chemical testing of Portland Cement, Blended Cement, Masonry Cement and Fly Ash. Integrity and excellence.

Similar to CCRL, CTC’s participation in the LafargeHolcim Quantum Ingenierie Round Robin Tests (LH QI RRT) dates back to early 2000s, back then when it was still known as Lafarge IU. Over 150 laboratories participate in this annual exercise. In 2020, LH QI RRT started issuing certificates of participation that reflect the rating and classification of the laboratories. From 2020 to 2022, CTC has been accorded a Class A / Excellent status.

The scope of tests that CTC participates in at the CCRL PSP and QI RRT covers almost all the test services that CTC offers to its customers.

CTC’s Laboratory Manager is a member of ASTM C01 and ASTM C07, and the Vice Chairman of BPS/TC 3.

In August 2019, ASTM Committee C01 on Cement accepted the membership of CTC’s Laboratory Manager. The area of interest of Committee ASTM C01 comprises the hydraulic and other inorganic cements and their ingredients, all characteristics, and the means to determine those characteristics. Currently, the CTC Laboratory Manager’s membership has been assigned an official vote for ballots proposed in 11 subcommittees.

Moreover, CTC’s Laboratory Manager became a member of ASTM Committee C07 on Lime and Limestone in April 2023. ASTM Committee C07 is formed to stimulate research and the development, to facilitate communication among producers, users and other interested parties, and to formulate specifications, practices, methods of tests and terminology relating to lime and limestone.

With the reactivation of the Bureau of Philippine Standards Technical Committee on Cement and Lime (BPS/TC 3) in April 2018, CTC has renewed its membership as one of the representatives of testing institutions. Since then, CTC contributes significantly in the development of PNS 07, PNS 63, PNS ASTM C91, other cement and lime specifications, and the reference standards, practices and methods related to these. The BPS/TC 3 also includes representatives from the academe, consumer, government agency, trade/industry, and research institutions.