Concrete Testing

Concrete is a building material composed of cement, crushed rock or gravel, sand and water. Chemical admixtures and other materials are often added to the mix to enhance the performance characteristics. It is commonly reinforced with steel rods (rebar) or wire screening (mesh). It is the most widely used construction material in the world.

At ACS Testing we are UKAS accredited to carry out a comprehensive scope of testing on fresh and hardened concrete, on site and in the laboratory, covering the most commonly requested tests for physical and mechanical properties.

We also offer a site investigation service on existing concrete structures – see our Site Investigation and Concrete and Bituminous Drilling sections for more details.

Type of test / Properties measured / Range of measurement	Standard Specifications
CONCRETE - fresh
Sampling fresh concrete on site	BS 1881-101
Sampling from initial discharge (slump test)	BS 1881-102
Slump	BS 1881-102
Compacting factor	BS 1881-103
Air content - method A	BS 1881-106
Air content - method B	BS 1881-106
Sampling fresh concrete on site - composite sample - spot sample	BS EN 12350-1
Slump	BS EN 12350-2
Air content - water column method	BS EN 12350-7
Air content - pressure gauge method	BS EN 12350-7
Temperature	Documented In-House Method No ISWPM 2/3 8/95
CONCRETE - hardened
Density	BS 1881-114
Compressive strength of cubes - including curing (loads from 20 to 3000 kN)	BS 1881-116 BS 1881-111
Compressive strength of cores (loads from 20 to 3000 kN)	BS 1881-120
Rebound hammer	BS EN 1881-201
Static modules of elasticity	BS EN 1881-121
Cement content	BS EN 1881-124
Chloride content	BS EN 1881-124
Cover Metal survey	BS 1881-204
Depth of carbonation	BRE Digest IP6/81
Half-cell potential	ASTM C876
Crack Monitoring
Resistivity
Compressive strength of cubes - including curing (loads from 20 to 3000 kN)	BS EN 12390-3 BS EN 12390-2
Density	BS EN 12390-7
Cored specimens - examining and testing in compression (loads from 20 to 3000 kN)	BS EN 12504-1
STABILIZED MATERIALS for civil engineering purposes
In-situ density - sand replacement method (large pouring cylinder)	BS 1924-2
In-situ density - core cutter method (for unhardened fine-grained materials)	BS 1924-2
In-situ bulk density - nuclear method by direct transmission - comparative tests	BS 1924-2
In-situ bulk density - nuclear method by direct transmission - compliance tests	BS 1924-2
In-situ moisture density - nuclear method by back scatter - comparative tests	BS 1924-2