UKAS Accredited
Concrete Site Testing
FIND OUT MOREContact Simtec Today
Simtec Materials Testing was established in 2007 with a workforce that already had many years of experience in the construction and civil engineering industry. Our committed and pioneering approach to standards and compliance has allowed us to build a strong reputation in the industry.
Our strong reputation has allowed us to work with both small and large contractors and construction materials suppliers, including Tarmac, Aggregate Industries, Hanson and more.
Our base for building this reputation has been improved by our very accessible and well-located Laboratories in East Goscote Leicestershire. This allows us to receive and process construction materials samples effectively and in a timely manner from across the UK.
Construction Materials Testing Overview
Legally enforceable contracts govern construction and Civil engineering operations. Within those contracts is a requirement for the client to be given proof that materials used are of acceptable quality and the workmanship in handling and placing those materials is of equally high quality. Simtec is an organisation that can evidence that requirement by carrying out materials testing to the high standards required by the relevant controlling standards. Within the industry, various aspects are subject to the requirements of British Standards (BS), agreed European Norms (BS EN), American standards (ASTM) and the Highways England Specification for Highway Works (SHW).
Simtec can provide on-site and in-house laboratory testing of many of these aspects and, via close working relationships with our partners, can provide further, more specialist testing services.
Many of the tests offered are UKAS accredited, and a full list can be viewed on-line via the UKAS website – we are constantly extending our scope of testing, so please ask if you require anything not listed. We are, of course, happy to discuss any particular requirements by phone or e-mail.
Construction Materials Testing In Detail
UKAS Accredited BS and BS EN Standard Testing
Simtec can offer a wide range of construction materials testing, covering Aggregates, Bituminous material mixtures, Road Pavement surfaces, Bituminous road surfacing, Concrete, Soils & Unbound and Hydraulically Bound Mixtures.
With reference to Soils testing, here are some examples of British Standard testing which are UKAS accredited to perform:
- Moisture content – oven drying method BS 1377-2:1990
- Liquid limit – cone penetrometer BS 1377-2:1990
- Liquid limit – cone penetrometer – one point BS 1377-2:1990
- Plastic limit BS 1377-2:1990
- Plasticity index BS 1377-2:1990
- Particle size distribution – wet and dry sieving BS 1377-2:1990
- Dry density/moisture content relationship (2.5 kg rammer) BS 1377-4:1990
- Dry density/moisture content relationship (4.5 kg rammer) BS 1377-4:1990
- Moisture condition value (MCV) BS 1377-4:1990
- MCV – natural moisture content BS 1377-4:1990
- MCV – moisture content relationship BS 1377-4:1990
UKAS accreditation is assessed on individual tests, and Simtec endeavour to gain accreditation for most site and laboratory tests as and when there is a demand in the marketplace. We currently hold accreditation for around 60 individual test methods, and it is constantly increasing. Our schedule was recently transitioned to ISO/IEC 17025:2017.
Services Simtec Offer
Simtec offer services in all the following disciplines and more:
- Highways and construction
- Environmental and waste management
- Water, drainage and utility works
We undertake testing of earthworks, concrete, unbound and hydraulically bound aggregates, bituminous mixtures and recycled aggregates. Additionally, we can provide a range of in-situ testing on both placed and naturally occurring materials, including diamond coring, surface regularity, skid resistance, plate bearing, incremental loading tests, geotechnical investigation, drainage testing and dust monitoring.
Simtec provides a high-quality service from well equipped, UKAS accredited laboratories in Leicestershire.
Our laboratory testing is constantly monitored internally and regularly audited to provide the level of service expected by our clients. Our comprehensive range of tests is UKAS accredited to guarantee the quality and validity of results and subsequent test reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our standard turnaround on laboratory samples is ten working days. however, we can, in most cases, provide an express service to suit the needs of your business. These are generally five, three and one day services as appropriate. Some tests take longer than others and adherence to the standards means the timescale cannot be shortened.
If no laboratory samples are taken from site we aim to get your reports to you within 48 hours but preliminary results can usually be given after the test is complete to give you an idea of compliance.
Usually a week to guarantee a slot although on occasion we can work around the client to fit in urgent jobs or last minute requests.
The size of sample depends on the material and the reason for the testing. Simtec Materials Testing can offer advice once we know the nature of the tests required. The more information you can supply, for example, client, site name, date sampled, material type, specification etc the more accurately we can advise you. A purchase order is normally required at this stage.
A call to our office will be sufficient as our staff are more than happy to provide you with all you need. Although generic method statements are written for all of our test procedures, risk assessments tend to be site/project specific and the base documents are reworked to include the peculiarities of the site in question.
The Simtec approach
Fast, accurate assurance when you need it.
We act as the grease-in-the-wheels of the construction industry, ensuring work progresses at pace with unnecessary costs avoided. Since 2007 we have established ourselves as the trusted name in construction materials testing, building a professional, practical and methodical business culture from the top down.
Our approach is simple – we believe shared knowledge is the foundation on which we all progress. That’s why we have documented and routinely share best practices with our partners and clients to minimise everyone’s exposure to risk.
Every contract we undertake is measured against the Simtec Optimum Compliance Benchmark –data consisting of best practice criteria, designed to help you achieve consistently high compliance approval and avoid cost of delay or remedial work. We’re proud that the integrity, rigour and safeguarding we provide has established Simtec as a trusted testing partner to firms across the UK’s construction sector.
