MATERIALS TESTING SERVICES

INTRODUCTION

CET Infrastructure provides a comprehensive, market-leading materials

testing service to UK civil engineering and infrastructure clients.

Operating from a nationwide network of regional offices and testing

laboratories, CET provides a wide range of testing and inspection

services. All services available from out UKAS accredited testing

laboratories (UKAS No. 0927) are carried out to the highest industry

standards, including the ISO 17025:2005 assessment standard, which is

aligned to the management controls defined within ISO 9001.

Backed by a highly-regarded technical and professional management

team; our focus is on exceeding expectations and always delivering what

our clients need.

CET testing facilities are strategically located throughout the UK, providing

our clients with convenient access to regional laboratories. For larger

projects, on-site testing facilities provide faster access to critical results.

Early involvement with CET at tender stage can help ensure best use of

on-site materials, reduce the cost of imported materials and enable a

thorough assessment of the most efficient and appropriate testing model

for your project.

Approval testing services allow our customers to make the best use of

site-won materials and reduce the costs associated with waste disposal.

Compliance testing ensures projects meet their obligations and enables

optimum use of on-site resources by minimising downtime and avoiding

the overworking of materials.

MATERIALS TESTING SERVICES

CET offers a range of materials testing services to match any requirement,

from basic on-site testing to bespoke, mobile UKAS laboratories.

FIELD TESTING

CET provides a nationwide sampling and testing service; delivered via

our network of highly-qualified engineers. Services include strength

testing using plate bearing and California Bearing Ratio CBR techniques,

structural assessments, surveying of ground density; including traditional

and non-destructive nuclear methods, paint and asbestos surveys.

Calling on years of in-depth technical knowledge and understanding,

our teams take pride in consistently delivering high-quality field testing

services that deliver against detailed contract specifications and

standards.

On-site testing enables the certification of areas of construction;

supporting continued placement and saving both time and money in the

long-run.

Our field testing services enable our customers to meet and exceed their

obligations, ensuring control and compliance on the most demanding of

projects.

We are happy to provide advice and guidance as to the most appropriate

tests to ensure compliance and will recommend cost-effective, best-

practice alternatives where applicable.

With expanding laboratory set-ups located throughout the United

Kingdom, CET has been providing materials testing services to

contractors, designers, local authorities and materials suppliers for more

than two decades.

We conduct tests related to all aspects of construction materials on

a daily basis, including earthworks, aggregate, asphalt and concrete

testing. Our portfolio of complementary services include structural

assessments, pavement inspections and asbestos surveying and

quantification.

EARTHWORKS TESTINGEarthworks testing from CET covers a wide range of aspects related to

the classification of excavated materials and their suitability for re-use in

earthworks. With over 30 nuclear density meters in-house, CET is the

largest user of nuclear density meters in the UK.

Whether traditional earthworks, stabilised or modified; each of CET’s

operational units delivers a comprehensive range of tests, including:

• Earthwork suitability and classification

• In-situ strength and bearing capacity by CBR / plate bearing techniques

• In-situ nuclear density meter surveys

• Soil stiffness modulus (LWD Techniques)

CONCRETE TESTINGCET offers a wide variety of on and off-site concrete tests on both fresh and

hardened concrete. Our teams of experienced technical staff will attend your site

and carry out UKAS accredited compliance testing for fresh concrete:• Workability / consistence

• Air Content

• Manufacture of concrete cubes, cylinders and beams

• Temperature measurement

• Fibre content of fresh concrete

In addition, we provide the following tests for hardened concrete:

• Curing, storage of hardened concrete cubes and cores

• Compressive strength of concrete cubes and cores

• Flexural strength of concrete beam specimens

• Tensile splitting test

• Analysis of hardened concrete for mix constituents, cement content and petrographic analysis (by co-operating partner laboratories)

ASPHALT TESTINGAsphalt testing has been a core component of the CET materials

testing portfolio since we were first established. One of our original

service offerings, it continues to be an important part of our day-to-day

operations.

Our technical staff have significant experience and expertise within the

asphalt industry and we have established a well-earned reputation as one

of the leading service providers in the UK.

CET works with surfacing contractors large and small. We treat every

project with the same degree of service and professionalism, whether it’s

a small housing estate road or a major highway infrastructure project.

• Nuclear density meter surveys

• Surface regularity

• Texture and macrotexture analysis

• Temperature and materials laying records

• Laboratory analysis and compliance

• Coring of pavement surfaces

• Material analysis and physical properties

STRUCTURAL ASSESSMENTOur structures department carry out surveys on road and rail structures

to assess the overall condition and deterioration of structural concrete

and steel reinforcement. Our experienced teams are expert in visual and

non-destructive surveys including:

• Investigating the corrosion of reinforcements

• Visual Assessment of structural elements

• Half-cell survey for reinforcement corrosion

• Depth of steel cover using electromagnetic cover meter

• Concrete resistivity

• Reinforcement mapping using Ferro Scanning techniques

• Concrete delamination

• Ultrasonic / PUNDIT Crack surveys

• Crack surveys using traditional and remote crack monitors

• Bridge bash alert by remote devices

PAVEMENT EVALUATIONCET provides vital road, runway and pavement evaluation services to the

UK critical infrastructure industry.

Our qualitative and quantitative tests range from simple visual condition

and surface regularity to CBR profiling using DCP techniques, Falling

Weight Deflectometer surveying and the use of Ground Penetrating Radar

(GPR).

Our comprehensive surveys and reports provide valuable information on

the condition and life expectancy of pavement constructions across the

country; supporting informed decision making and making the case for

remedial action to maximise the pavement life of the asset.

Accurate information on the condition of pavement assets also enables

more strategic planning for future works – scheduling maintenance on

a priority basis and in the form of a preventative measure, rather than a

cure.

Our Road, Runway & Pavement Evaluation Services include:

• Falling Weight Deflectometer Surveying

• California Bearing Ratio (CBR) Profiling (using DCP techniques)

• Surface Stiffness Evaluation (lightweight LWD deflectometer)

• Visual Condition Surveying

• Skid Resistance & Texture Depth Testing

• Surface Regularity

• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

• Factual & Interpretive Reporting

• Utility & Service Detection

CET provides laboratory testing services via a nationwide network of

UKAS accredited materials testing labs; providing customers from the

Infrastructure, Engineering and Property markets with rapid access to

accurate results.

CET has Group and Flexible Scope UKAS accreditation which allows

our laboratories to provide customers with comprehensive reports

and analysis; aiding quality assurance, compliance and control whilst

providing vital data to support cost-effective decision making.

Our UKAS Laboratory Testing Services include:

• Concrete Testing (Fresh & Hardened)

• Soil Classification

• Aggregate Physical Properties

• Asphalt Analysis

• Core Testing (Asphalt & Concrete)

Other Specialist Laboratory Testing Services available utilising our Testing

Partners with their own relevant UKAS or MCERTS accreditation:

• Chemical Contamination

• Specialist Geotechnical Testing

• Paint & Heavy Metal Testing

• Thermoplastic Road Marking

LABORATORY SERVICES

For major projects, on-site facilities can provide a faster, more cost-

effective solution for materials testing.CET provides a bespoke, on-site

testing service to major infrastructure, construction and engineering

projects across the UK using our Mobile UKAS Laboratories.

Our mobile laboratory service is a turn-key solution that is developed

to meet the specific requirements of your project. Our consultants

work closely with our customers to define the scope and scale of the

laboratory before designing and deploying the testing facility on site.

With CET’s UKAS Flexible Scope Accreditation, a mobile laboratory

can provide immediate access to test facilities, analysis and reporting;

with additional support available from our occupational health, safety

and quality teams. The speed and accuracy of on-site laboratories can

generate significant savings in both time and money over the lifecycle of a

project.

Offering everything from basic soil classification to running surface testing

our on-site UKAS laboratories are staffed by fully-qualified engineers &

technicians and ensure a responsive, high quality service tailored to your

specific project requirements with technical reporting and on-site support

and materials advice.

Our UKAS mobile laboratories are supported by the CET Structures Ltd

Occupational Health, Safety & Quality Department who can assist with

the laboratory design, installation and management of the units.

MOBILE UKAS LABORATORIES

CET provides an integrated, multi-disciplinary ground risk management service. Our

geotechnical and environmental consultancy teams are supported by in-house site

investigation and materials testing services; an approach that allows us to deliver

significant cost and quality benefits to our clients:

• Fast an efficient, multi-disciplined testing offering

• Experienced in construction and civil engineering projects

• Costs are reduced through not procuring or managing investigations from third

parties

• A single point of contact is provided with the client ensuring effective and efficient

communication

• Professional engineers and environmental scientists supervise projects ensuring

that the scope of investigations is managed to maximise data acquisition whilst

minimising costs

• By providing investigation and testing from in-house resources and supply chain

partners CET are able to maintain control of quality and programme

The ground risk management offering is enhanced by provision of drainage and

structural investigations, to determine the form of structures and the layout and

condition of existing drainage.

These services are further supported by paintings and coatings surveys; which enable

clients to assess the condition of their assets, prioritise maintenance and ensure

specification compliance of any remedial schemes.

BENEFITS

Since achieving flexible scope accreditation via UKAS, CET has supported

a wide range of contracts, both large and small, with UKAS accredited

mobile laboratories. The addition of the UKAS accreditation allows us to

provide a level of service above and beyond our competitors; delivering

even greater value to our contractor, local authority and consultancy

clients.

CROSSRAIL C305 EASTERN RUNNING TUNNELSCET were commissioned to provide two fully-equipped, UKAS accredited

laboratories testing concrete used in the production of the running tunnels.

The scope of works covered a wide range of disciplines associated with

both the spray concrete used at DSJV’s Limmo Peninsula site beneath the

streets of London and the pre-cast concrete sections at the production

facility in Kent.

Our laboratories were set-up and installed, working to UKAS standards,

within 6 weeks.

DIRFT 2 Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal phase 2 (DIRFT2) is a rail-

connected 54 hectare expansion of the original DIRFT development in

Northamptonshire.

The scheme was designed for rail-connected warehousing; allowing

transfer between sea and channel tunnel born rail freight and road

transport or warehousing. As a part of the development, a rail tunnel was

constructed beneath the A5 connecting the expansion with the original

DIRFT railport.

CET were tasked with the delivery and management of a mobile

laboratory to provide a range of earthworks-related tests on the DIRFT 2

project.

A380 KINGSKERSWELL BY-PASSThe South Devon Link Road is a 5.5km dual carriageway, which will

provide a bypass for Kingskerswell. The road bypasses the existing A380

between Newton Abbot and Torbay.

CET provide a fully-functional UKAS laboratory on-site, carrying out a

range of tests normally associated with a major road by-pass scheme.

Working in partnership with Galliford Try / SIAC JV’s Materials Engineer,

we worked jointly to create a working laboratory to suit all parties. Our

senior team recruited local staff who received training on a range of

test disciplines, allowing them to continue to develop within the civil

engineering testing industry once the works have finished.

EXPERIENCE

CET has provided a very professional, reliable and flexible testing service that has enabled us to progress confidently with our works. Their approach has allowed us to adapt quickly to programme changes and prevailing site conditions.

MARK ALDMAN, DSJV MATERIALS ENGINEER

GLOSSARY

FIELD TESTING

EARTHWORKS

• Plate bearing, modulus of elasticity, multi stage plate bearing

• California Bearing Ratio

• In-situ NDM / Compaction survey

• Stiffness Modulus using PRIMA L100 Dynamic Plate

• Moisture Condition Value (standard & rapid)

• Degree of pulverisation

• Rate of spread

• Earthwork sampling

• Sand replacement density

• Core cutter density

• Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

CONCRETE

• Sampling fresh concrete

• Manufacture of concrete cubes, beams and cylinders

• Workability (slump, Compaction factor, flow table)

• Air content

• Concrete training services (sampling to manufacture)

• Cutting core specimens

ASPHALT / CARRIAGEWAY

• Asphalt laying records and temperatures

• Nuclear Density Meter Survey

• Surface Regularity (Rolling & transverse straightedge)

• Surface texture (sand patch)

• Surface macrotexture (glass beads)

• Coring asphalt surfaces

• Skid resistance (Pendulum PSV)

• Falling Weight Deflectometer

• Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

STRUCTURES

• Sampling concrete dust by drilling techniques

• Depth of Carbonation

• Determination of concrete resistivity

• Location of reinforcement (Cover meter)

• Half-cell potential of uncoated reinforcing steel

PAVEMENT INVESTIGATION

• Coring of carriageway surfaces

• Dynamic Cone Penetrometer

• Visual inspection of carriageway surfaces

• Falling Weight Deflectometer

• Heavy Weight Deflectometer

• Ground Penetrating Radar

• Interpretative reporting, including residual life expectancy

GLOSSARY

LABORATORY TESTING

SOILS

• Moisture / Saturation Moisture Content

• Particle Size Distribution

• Plasticity Index (Liquid and Plastic limits)

• Chalk Crushing Value

• IDD of chalk

• Compaction Studies (2.5kg, 4.5kg & vibrating hammer)

• Particle Density

• California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

• Consolidation Properties (One Dimensional)

• Large Shear Box

• Determination of the state of desiccation in clay soils

CHEMICAL

• WAC testing

• TRL Sulphate suites (WS, OS & TPS)

• All typical component / elemental chemical tests

• Asbestos ID and quantification

AGGREGATES

• Particle Size Distribution

• Flakiness Index

• Elongation Index

• Moisture / Water Content

• 10% Fines Value

• Shape Index

• Assessment of fines (Methylene Blue Test)

• Constituents of coarse recycled aggregates

• Micro-Deval

• Los Angeles Abrasion

• Loose bulk density and voids

• Particle Density and water absorption

• Magnesium Sulphate Soundness

BITUMINOUS

• Recovery, needle penetration & softening point

• Soluble binder and mineral aggregate grading

• Maximum density

• Bulk density and air void content of core specimens

• Conventional / percentage refusal density

• Hot sand test for adhesivity on pre-coated chippings

CONCRETE

• Compressive strength and density of hardened concrete cubes

• Compressive strength of concrete cores

• Flexural strength of concrete beams

• Compressive strength of concrete cylinders

• Petrographic analysis

• Mix proportions

DRAINAGE & UTILITY SURVEYS• CCTV surveying & drainage mapping

• Power jetting

• Utility detection (PAS 128)

• Manhole pit and gully surveys

• Ground Penetrating Radar

GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES• Cable percussion boreholes

• Cut down/reduced headroom cable percussion boreholes

• Rotary boreholes

• Driven window and windowless sampler boreholes

• Dynamic probing (DPH and DPSH)

• TRL dynamic probes for CBR

• Machine and hand dug trial pitting

• BRE 365 Soakage tests

• Permeability testing

• Instrumentation: including piezometers, gas wells,

inclinometers,extensometers

• Hand auguring

• Bolt down plate bearing tests

• Desk Studies

• Factual and Interpretative reporting

• Tender and preconstruction support

• Earthworks assessment

• Soils stabilisation design

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES• Desk studies

• Preliminary risk assessments (PRA)

• Generic Risk Assessments (GRA)

• Contamination surveys

• Instrumentation

• Monitoring

• Waste Classification

• WAC testing

• Pre-acquisition surveys

• Remediation strategies

• Validation testing and reporting

CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTRECET, 3 Boundary Court,

Willow Farm Business Park,

Castle Donington

Leicestershire

DE74 2UD

t. 0843 227 2362

e. enquiries@cet-uk.com

w. cet-uk.com