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Construction Material Testing

Material properties vary from source to source, and poor-quality material can weaken a structure for its entire life. Our laboratory tests cement (physical and chemical), concrete cubes, TMT and structural steel, aggregates, bricks, construction water, tiles, stone, GI products and waterproofing compounds as per the relevant IS codes.

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Material Testing for Buildings and Bridges

The properties of construction materials vary from place to place, and these variations can affect the strength and durability of a structure. The engineering properties of aggregates, such as grain size, specific gravity, flakiness and elongation, play a significant role in this.

The compressive strength of cement can also decline when it is stored improperly or for long periods in godowns before use on site. It is therefore essential to confirm the physical properties of cement well before it is used in construction.

The compressive strength and durability of concrete are also frequently reduced by an incorrect water–cement ratio, whether too much or too little water is used. In addition, soluble salts present in the water used for construction can damage a building over time.

For these reasons, all construction materials should be tested for their inherent properties in accordance with the relevant Indian Standards before construction begins. Proper quality control tests, such as cement concrete mix design, are therefore essential for the safe design of every civil engineering structure.

What We Test

Tests & Standards

  • Water

    No. 1

    IS 456IS 10500

    Suitability for construction purposes; suitability for drinking purposes

  • Marble / Kota Stone

    No. 2

    IS 1130

    Water absorption, specific gravity, hardness (Mohs scale)

  • Sandstone

    No. 3

    IS 3622

    Water absorption, transverse strength

  • Cement Concrete / Chequered Tiles

    No. 4

    IS 1237IS 13801

    Wet transverse strength, water absorption, abrasion value, dimensions

  • Glazed / Ceramic Tiles

    No. 5

    IS 777IS 13753IS 13754IS 13755IS 13756

    Water absorption, crazing, impact resistance and chemical resistance

  • Aluminium Sections

    No. 14

    IS 1868

    Thickness of anodic coating

  • Galvanised Steel Sheets (Plain and Corrugated)

    No. 15

    IS 277

    Mass of coating

  • GI Pipes

    No. 16

    IS 1239

    Galvanising, weight per metre, wall thickness and outside diameter

  • GI Barbed Wire

    No. 17

    IS 278

    Weight per metre, diameter, pitch of barbs, tensile strength, breaking load, galvanising

  • TOR / TMT Steel Bars and Structural Steel (plates, flats, angles, tees, beams, channels, etc.)

    No. 18

    IS 1786IS 808IS 2062IS 1977IS 1730IS 1732

    Mechanical testing: mass per metre run, tensile strength, percentage elongation, 0.2% proof stress, bend test, rebend test. Chemical analysis: carbon, sulphur, phosphorus

  • MS Tubular Pipes

    No. 19

    IS 1161IS 1239

    Tensile strength, yield strength and percentage elongation; bend / flattening test; weight per metre; chemical analysis

  • Cement Concrete Cubes

    No. 20

    IS 456IS 516

    Compressive strength

  • Bricks / Brick Tiles

    No. 21

    IS 1077

    Water absorption and compressive strength; efflorescence; dimension test

  • Aggregates (Coarse and Fine)

    No. 22

    IS 383IS 2386

    Grading / fineness modulus; silt content; impact value; crushing value; abrasion value; specific gravity; water absorption; flakiness index; bulk density; stripping test; soundness test; deleterious materials; organic impurities; alkali–aggregate reactivity; ten percent fines value

  • Cement

    No. 23

    IS 269IS 8112IS 12269IS 1489

    Complete physical tests (fineness, initial and final setting time, specific surface area, soundness, compressive strength); complete chemical analysis

  • Lime

    No. 25

    Chemical analysis

  • Cement Mortar / Cement Concrete

    No. 26

    Chemical analysis to determine the mix ratio by the calcium oxide method; chemical analysis to determine the mix ratio by the silica method

  • Waterproofing Compound

    No. 33

    IS 2645

    Permeability, setting time, compressive strength and water-soluble chloride content

  • Structural Granite

    No. 34

    IS 3316

    Compressive strength, specific gravity, water absorption

  • Bitumen Felt / Tar Felt

    No. 35

    IS 1322

    Pliability; storage sticking test; sheet resistance; water absorption; percentage bitumen content

Standards Followed

  • Cement (8)

    • IS 4031:1968

      Methods of Physical Tests for Hydraulic Cement

      fineness by dry sieving; specific surface of cement; soundness; consistency of standard cement paste; initial and final setting time; compressive strength; compressive strength of masonry cement; compressive and transverse strength of plastic mortar; heat of hydration of low heat Portland cement; drying shrinkage of Portland pozzolana cement; specific gravity of hydraulic cement; air content of cement mortar; water retentivity of masonry cement

    • IS 4032:1968

      Methods of Chemical Analysis of Hydraulic Cement

      sampling; reproducibility of results; chemical analysis of hydraulic cement other than Portland slag cement and Portland pozzolana cement; determination of free lime in Portland cement; chemical analysis of Portland slag cement; chemical analysis of Portland pozzolana cement; pozzolanicity test for Portland pozzolana cement; staining test for masonry cement (determination of water-soluble alkali)

    • IS 269:1989

      Ordinary Portland Cement, 33 Grade

    • IS 8112:1989

      Ordinary Portland Cement, 43 Grade

    • IS 12269:1989

      Ordinary Portland Cement, 53 Grade

    • IS 455:1989

      Portland Slag Cement

    • IS 1489 (Part 1):1991

      Portland Pozzolana Cement Specification, Part 1: Fly Ash Based

    • IS 1489 (Part 2):1991

      Portland Pozzolana Cement Specification, Part 2: Calcined Clay Based

  • Cement Concrete (6)

    • IS 1199:1959

      Methods of Sampling and Analysis of Concrete

      sampling of fresh concrete in the field; securing and preparing test specimens from hardened concrete; workability tests (slump test, compacting factor test, flow table test and Vee-Bee consistometer test); analysis of freshly mixed concrete; determination of weight per cubic metre, yield, cement factor and air content of freshly mixed concrete; air content of freshly mixed concrete by the pressure method; cement content of hardened Portland cement concrete; determination of changes in length on drying and wetting (initial drying shrinkage, drying shrinkage and moisture movement)

    • IS 516:1959

      Methods of Tests for Strength of Concrete

    • IS 456:1978

      Plain and Reinforced Concrete (Revised in 2000)

      Section 1 – General; Section 2 – Materials, Workmanship, Inspection and Testing; Section 3 – General Design Requirements; Section 4 – Special Design Requirements for Structural Members and Systems; Section 5 – Structural Design (Limit State Method); Section 6 – Structural Design (Working Stress Method)

    • IS 10262:1982

      Recommended Guidelines for Concrete Mix Design

    • IS 101:1964

      Methods of Test for Ready Mixed Paints and Enamels

    • IS 1727:1967

      Methods of Test for Pozzolanic Materials

  • Aggregates – IS 2386 (Parts I to VIII): 1963 (8)

    • IS 2386 (Part I):1963

      Particle Size and Shape

      sieve analysis; material finer than 75 micron; flakiness index; elongation index; angularity number

    • IS 2386 (Part II):1963

      Estimation of Deleterious Materials and Organic Impurities

      clay lumps; clay and fine silt; lightweight pieces; soft particles; organic impurities

    • IS 2386 (Part III):1963

      Specific Gravity, Density, Voids, Absorption and Bulking

      specific gravity and water absorption; bulk density and voids; bulking of fine aggregate; surface moisture in fine aggregate

    • IS 2386 (Part IV):1963

      Mechanical Properties

      aggregate crushing value; ten percent fines value; aggregate impact value; aggregate abrasion value; polished stone value; crushing strength

    • IS 2386 (Part V):1963

      Soundness

    • IS 2386 (Part VI):1963

      Mortar-Making Properties of Fine Aggregate

    • IS 2386 (Part VII):1963

      Alkali–Aggregate Reactivity

    • IS 2386 (Part VIII):1963

      Petrographic Examination

  • Bricks (2)

    • IS 3495:1976

      Methods of Test for Burnt Clay Building Bricks

    • IS 1077:1976

      Specification for Common Burnt Clay Building Bricks

  • Water (for Construction and Drinking Purposes) (1)

    • IS 456:1978

      Plain and Reinforced Concrete (Revised in 2000)

      Section 1 – General; Section 2 – Materials, Workmanship, Inspection and Testing; Section 3 – General Design Requirements; Section 4 – Special Design Requirements for Structural Members and Systems; Section 5 – Structural Design (Limit State Method); Section 6 – Structural Design (Working Stress Method)

Equipment Used

Laboratory & Equipment

Chemical Analysis of Soil and Water

  • Glassware and chemicals for testing exchangeable ions and the presence of deleterious salts in soil (such as SO₄, Cl and CO₃)
  • Chemical reagents for analysing the suitability of water for curing and construction purposes
  • Determination of chlorpyrifos content by the Kjeldahl method

Cement and Concrete

  • Vicat apparatus with plunger and needles for consistency and setting time of cement
  • Le Chatelier apparatus for soundness of cement
  • Blaine air permeability apparatus for specific surface area of cement
  • IS sieve for fineness by dry sieving
  • Standard sand for casting 3-inch cubes
  • Cube moulds in various numbers
  • Mechanical/hydraulic compressive strength testing machine of 100-ton capacity
  • 200-ton digital electronic compression testing machine for compressive strength
  • Chemicals and glassware for chemical analysis of cement-sand mortar and cement concrete samples
  • Concrete mix design apparatus

Steel and Metals

  • Universal Testing Machine for physical tests on steel bars and other MS sections
  • Chemical analysis of steel samples and other MS sections
  • Apparatus for testing the thickness of anodic coating on aluminium sections
  • Apparatus for testing GI barbed wire
  • Apparatus for testing GI sheets

Stone, Tiles and Building Products

  • Testing apparatus for marble, Kota stone and sandstone
  • Apparatus for testing terrazzo tiles and chequered tiles
  • Apparatus for testing glazed tiles
  • Apparatus for testing waterproofing compounds
  • Hydrostatic pressure test apparatus

How We Work

  1. 01

    Tell us your requirement.

  2. 02

    We carry out the site investigation or collect your samples.

  3. 03

    We test as per IS, IRC and MoRTH standards.

  4. 04

    You receive a detailed report with recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What does GEOTECH test?

    Soil, cement, concrete, steel, aggregates, bricks, bitumen, water, timber, plywood and boards, tiles, stone, GI products and waterproofing compounds. We also carry out earth resistivity, groundwater and contour surveys.

  • Which standards do you follow?

    The relevant Indian Standards (IS codes), Indian Roads Congress (IRC) codes and MoRTH specifications.

  • Are your reports accepted by government departments?

    Our laboratory is approved by CPWD, MES, Airport Authority of India, BSNL, All India Radio and other departments.

  • How do I send samples?

    [Owner to confirm: drop-off at the lab and/or collection from site.]

Planning a project? Get your soil and materials tested right.

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  • Mix Design

    Cement concrete mixes to IS 10262 and IS 456, and Marshall bituminous mix design to MoRTH and IRC.