The government of Bahrain has announced tougher new standards for locally-produced and imported cement as it tightens control over the industry to raise the standard of construction materials. A new regulation signed by Industry and Commerce Minister, His Excellency Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, requires all cement sold in the country to meet specific technical requirements before entering the market.
These include BS EN 197-1, which provides specifications for 27 common cement products and their constituents, and GSO ASTM C150, covering Portland cement. Additionally, no product can circulated without a conformity certificate from the Bahrain Standards and Metrology Directorate and will be subject to regular laboratory testing to ensure its continued quality.
There will also be strict conditions concerning storage and transportation. Cement must be kept in dry, covered spaces, away from moisture and airborne pollutants. Bags should be placed on raised wooden or plastic platforms 15-30cm above ground, and stacked no higher than 10 bags at a time.
The Bahraini government warns of sharp consequences for those who do not abide by the new rules, including the removal non-compliant products from the market and suspension or revoking of conformity certificates.
