Procedure:

i. Take 400 gm. of cement sample and add 0.85 times water required for its standard consistency to prepare homogenous cement paste. Note down the time at which water is added to cement as T1 min.

ii. Fill this cement paste in Vicat’s mould. Keep this mould under Vicat’s apparatus with IST needle attached to it.

iii. Now allow the IST needle to penetrate in the paste by realize pin observe the total penetration. If the penetration is not 33to 35 mm from top then change the position of penetration surface.

iv. Note down the time at which IST needle will give required penetration as T2 min. Hence calculate the initial setting time.

v. IST = T₂ - T₁ min.

vi. Replace IST needle with FST needle and allow FST needle to penetrate in same cement paste.

vii. Note down the time at which FST needle will give the Just impression on a cement surface as T₃ min.

viii. Calculate final setting time i.e. FST = T₃-T₁ min.