Engineers and construction professionals often select specific portland cement types based on the performance requirements of a project and the environmental conditions the concrete will experience.

Cement classifications are determined by various industry standards and specifications. Portland cements are manufactured in accordance with requirements established by organisations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) through ASTM C150 Standard Specification for Portland Cement and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) A3001. Some cement products may meet more than one classification, and all Goodway Pty Limited cement products are produced to comply with applicable CSA, ASTM, AASHTO or API standards.

The following standards cover different types of portland and general-purpose cements:

ASTM Type I (CSA Type GU), Normal / General Use: Suitable for common concrete applications where no specialised performance characteristics are required. This general-purpose cement is widely used in projects such as buildings, bridges, pavements, precast concrete products and masonry applications.

ASTM Type II (CSA Type MS), Moderate Sulfate Resistance: Designed for concrete exposed to environments containing moderate levels of sulfates, such as certain soils and water conditions. In some applications, blended cements may also be used to provide equal or improved sulfate resistance.

ASTM Type II-MH (CSA Type MH), Moderate Heat of Hydration: Provides moderate sulfate resistance while controlling heat generation during hydration. This makes it suitable for projects where temperature control is important, with blended cement solutions also increasingly used for similar performance benefits.

ASTM Type III (CSA Type HE), High Early Strength: Developed to achieve faster strength development, making it ideal for projects requiring accelerated construction schedules, early formwork removal, cold-weather construction or quicker return to service.

ASTM Type IV (CSA Type LH), Low Heat of Hydration: Designed to generate less heat during hydration through slower reaction rates, making it suitable for large concrete structures such as dams, bridge foundations and other mass concrete applications where temperature control is critical.

ASTM Type V (CSA Type HS), High Sulfate Resistance: Specially formulated for concrete exposed to severe sulfate conditions. It provides enhanced protection in aggressive environments, while alternative blended cement technologies may also offer comparable or improved sulfate resistance.