CC Full Form — Cement Concrete
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CC stands for Cement Concrete — the mix of cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (stone) and water that hardens into the structural material every building rests on. It is the umbrella term; the two forms you meet on site, PCC and RCC, are cement concrete without and with steel reinforcement. This page covers what CC is, its ingredients and grades, and the PCC vs RCC split.
Cement Concrete
The full form
Cement + sand + aggregate + water
The ingredients
PCC & RCC
Its two forms
What cement concrete is
Cement concrete is a designed mixture: cement binds, sand fills the small voids, coarse aggregate gives bulk and strength, and water triggers the chemical reaction (hydration) that sets it. Fresh concrete is plastic and can be cast to any shape; hardened, it is strong in compression but weak in tension — which is exactly why steel is added to make RCC. Its strength depends on the mix proportions and, above all, the water–cement ratio and curing.
Grades of cement concrete
Concrete is specified by grade — the letter M (mix) followed by its 28-day characteristic compressive strength in MPa. Lower grades use nominal volume ratios; higher grades are design mixes.
| Grade | Nominal ratio | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| M5 | 1:5:10 | Lean concrete, levelling |
| M7.5 | 1:4:8 | PCC, blinding |
| M10 | 1:3:6 | PCC under footings |
| M15 | 1:2:4 | Light structural, PCC |
| M20 | 1:1.5:3 | House RCC — the default |
| M25 | 1:1:2 | RCC (site shorthand; design mix above M20) |
See the grade of concrete guide for the full table and the concrete calculator for material quantities.
PCC vs RCC — the two forms of CC
| PCC (Plain Cement Concrete) | RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) | |
|---|---|---|
| Steel | None | Steel bars embedded |
| Carries | Compression only | Compression and tension (bending) |
| Used for | Levelling course, below footings, floors, aprons | Footings, columns, beams, slabs |
| Grade | Usually M7.5–M15 | M20 and above |
PCC simply spreads load and gives a clean base; it cannot span or bend. RCC has steel to take the tension, so it makes every element that spans — the frame of the house. Both are cement concrete; the steel is the only difference.
Frequently asked questions
What is the full form of CC? CC stands for Cement Concrete — a mixture of cement, sand, coarse aggregate and water that hardens into a strong building material.
What is the difference between CC, PCC and RCC? CC (cement concrete) is the general material. PCC (plain cement concrete) is CC with no steel, used for levelling and below footings. RCC (reinforced cement concrete) is CC with steel bars, used for slabs, beams and columns that must bend.
What are the ingredients of cement concrete? Cement, fine aggregate (sand), coarse aggregate (stone chips) and water. The water–cement ratio and curing control the final strength more than anything else.
What does the M in M20 concrete mean? The M stands for Mix, and the number is the 28-day characteristic compressive strength in megapascals. M20 concrete reaches 20 MPa. Grades up to M20 have nominal ratios; higher grades are design mixes.
Which grade of cement concrete is used in house construction? M20 (1:1.5:3) is the usual grade for residential RCC — footings, columns, beams and slabs. Lean grades like M7.5 and M10 are used for PCC below footings and floors.
CivilSite Editorial Team✓ Engineer reviewed
Written and reviewed by practising civil engineers with 10+ years of Indian residential construction experience.