MATERIALS TESTING
Construction Material Tests
In Situ Testing
Fresh Concrete- Earth Fill- Existing Reinforced Concrete
Properties of fresh concrete: consistency and workability (slump test), density, temperature, and air content
Properties of earth fill and pavement subsoil layers: field density (sand cone test), moisture content (speedy test), plate loading test, and Field California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
Evaluating properties of an existing reinforced concrete structural element in the field: compressive strength by rebound test (Schmidt hummer), uniformity (using ultrasonic velocity test), cover thickness and/or the reinforcement ratio (using the Cover Meter), and loading tests.
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Laboratory Testing
Cement- Aggregate- Concrete- Brick- Water- Mortar- Bitumen
Cement: fineness of cement (Blain Air Permeability Test), soundness (Le chateier), compressive strength of standard mortar, setting time (using Vicate apparatus), and full chemical analysis
Aggregate: sieve analysis, soundness, resistance to abrasion (using Los Angeles machine), organic impurities in fine aggregates, crushing value of coarse aggregates, alkali reactivity by chemical and rock cylinder methods, and determination of total dissolved salts, chlorides, and sulphate
Concrete: compressive strength of hardened concrete samples, compressive strength and chemical analysis of concrete core samples drilled from an existing concrete element, flexural strength, indirect tensile strength, modulus of elasticity.
Brick & Block Work: check of dimensions, density, absorption, compressive strength, efflorescence
Chemical analysis of water to determine its acceptance criteria for use in mixing and curing concrete (e.g., PH-sulfate-chloride-carbonate contents-total dissolved salts)
Chemical mortar: compressive strength, bond strength, length change, and exposure (such as to acids, oil, high temperature)
Bituminous material: extraction of bitumen from bituminous paving mixtures, coating and stripping of bitumen-aggregate mixture, resistance to plastic flow of bituminous mixtures (using Marshall apparatus), stability of bituminous mixtures (using Marshall apparatus)
Earth fill and pavement subsoil layers: dry density/moisture content relationship (Proctor test) and California Bearing Ratio (CBR).
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Equipment
Five crushing machines + Five sets of sieves + Seven clump test apparatus + Three Vicar test apparatus + Three air permeability tests (Blain)
Two air pressure meters for measuring the air content of fresh concrete + Six concrete thermometers
24 steel cube forms for mortar 5x5x5 cm, according to ASTM + 18 steel cube forms for mortar + 7x7x7 cm according to BS and ES + 66 steel cylinder forms 15 cm in diameter and 30 cm in height, according to ASTM + 96 steel cube forms 15x15x15 cm, according to BS and ES + Eight steel forms for concrete 10x10x40 cm, according to BS and ES
Two aggregate shakers + Two vibrators for cube mortar + Four electronic scales + One 10-ton triaxial compression machine with 10 proving rings, load cells, strain transducers, pore water pressure transducers, and accessories for all triaxial tests + Two 5-ton triaxial compression machines
One data logger with digital display (10 channels to record/print triaxial test data) + 10 odometers with accessories and cell diameters of 5, 7, and 10 cm + One automatic compactor with molds + Three manual compactors with molds, rammers, etc.
Two shear box apparatus + One ring shear apparatus + Five liquid limit apparatus + One falling head permeability test apparatus + One constant head permeability test apparatus.
Two balances with accuracy of 0.01 gm and 3 kg capacity + Two balances with accuracy of 0.01 gm and 1.6 kg capacity + Four balances with accuracy of 0.01 gm and 20 kg capacity
Four conventional ovens + Three mechanical shakers with five sets of sieves
One muffle 1600oc + One digital pH meter + Chemicals for the determination of TDS, SO3, CL for soil and water
One complete plate bearing test apparatus + Point load test apparatus
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Official Laboratory Material Testing
[Steel = Tension, Cold bend, Chemical] [Concrete = Petrographic, Abrasion] [Aggregate = Petrographic] [Welds = Ultrasonic]
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The testing of certain materials is conducted in official laboratories. Our QC engineers monitor and assure that each test performed off-site meets project specifications and quality standards.
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Quality Control
Construction supervision: We regulate time and costs, assure compliance with design and construction specifications, and control the quality of a construction project.
Control over testing & inspections: Our QC professionals will exam the qualifications of inspection and testing personnel; assure that any deficient work is corrected; perform project preparatory, initial, follow-up and completion inspections; assure that test procedures include test and instrumentation requirements; develop requirements for measuring and monitoring; assure that careful consideration is given to environmental concerns; and develop detailed acceptance criteria before project work begins.
Test records: We ensure that all tests are documented and test records include the items tested, the date of the test, the test conductor or data recorder, acceptance criteria, type of observation, results and acceptability, action taken in connection with any noted deviation, and the signature, affiliation and title of the person evaluating the test results.
Corrective Action: Any errors or deficiencies identified by the QC are addressed in a "Corrective Action Report (CAR)," which includes statements from the responsible person(s) regarding the cause of an error or deficiency, the action taken to correct it, and the action to be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Control of special processes: Our quality control engineers assure that certain tests, for example, welding radiographic and nondestructive tests, are performed by qualified personnel using approved written procedures prepared in accordance with the contract drawings and specifications and the referenced codes and standards.
Handling, storage and shipping: Materials and equipment that are handled, stored or shipped by a contractor or supplier are required to meet the applicable requirements defined in the project specifications. Our QC engineers review and assure compliance with any special handling instructions, including the use of specially tested and inspected handling tools; the storage procedures required by the drawings and specifications; preventive maintenance requirements; and requirements for the appropriate protection of shipped items.
Document control: We prepare material requisitions and purchase orders, revise procurement documents, if required, and control compliance with instructions and procedures prescribing activities that affect quality.
Record control: Our QC engineers develop and implement programs to control the collection, storage and maintenance of the records generated throughout project construction, such as material mill certificates, test certificates from off-site laboratories, test records from on-site laboratories, calibration documents, check list records, standard forms appendices, and schedules of approved and/or rejected materials.
Calibration control: We implement a program to control the calibration, recall, repair, and maintenance of measuring devices, instruments, and equipment that are used for inspection and testing, ensuring that all tools, gauges, and other measuring equipment are calibrated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. Items that typically require calibration control are: batching plants, testing machines, pressure gauges, torque wrenches, meager tester, survey instruments, scales and balances, and voltage and amperage meters.
Control of purchased items and services: Our QC engineers work with project managers to evaluate and select suppliers of purchased items and subcontracted services, in accordance with the requirements detailed in drawings and specifications. In coordination with subcontractors, our QC engineer develops a schedule for inspections and tests. Our quality control of purchased materials follows a review of the manufacturers' certificates and any data pertaining to other installations where the materials have been used. The testing of some items, such as pipes and valves, might be conducted at the manufacturer's factory under the supervision of our QC engineer.