Our On Site Material Testing Services
ACS offers a comprehensive range of professional on site material testing services, all carried out by our fully trained site technicians. We provide our clients with a UKAS-accredited sampling of materials, including aggregates, bituminous, concrete, soils, and water monitoring.
In addition to material sampling, we offer a wide range of in-situ testing on each of the above materials. Our services can support both day and night work, as we understand that some projects are subject to certain working timeframes.
We deliver our on site material testing and sampling services across the whole of the South of England. If required, we can also carry out testing and sampling across South Wales and the Isle of Wight.
On Site Concrete Testing
Our experienced technicians provide fresh concrete sampling and testing to show compliance with site-specific requirements. Our on-site checks provide assurance that certain aspects are in conformance, providing quality control before concrete hardening. Cube samples can also be taken to determine hardened concrete compliance.
| Test | Method | What it shows |
| Slump Test | BS EN 12350-2 | Control measure on workability of concrete mix |
| Cube Samples | Making concrete test cubes for compliance testing, additional cubes for early strength gain of concrete | |
| Air Content | BS EN 12350-7 | Determine the amount of air introduced into the concrete to provide a more durable surface, typically used in concrete yards and PQ concrete |
| Wet Density | BS EN 12350-5 | Measuring the density of fresh concrete |
| Metallic Fibre Content in Fresh Concrete | BE EN 14271-B | Measuring the addition of fibres added at the mixing stage, used as alternative to standard steel mesh reinforcing. |
| Polymer Fibre Content in Fresh Concrete | BS EN 14271 | |
| Ferroscan | BS 1881-204 | Measure cover and spacing to reinforcement. |
| Depth of Carbonation | BS EN 14630 | Measure the depth of the carbonated layer near the surface of hardened concrete |
| Coring | BS EN 12504-1 | Cored specimens – Taking, examining and testing in compression |
On Site Soil Testing
| Test | Method | What it shows |
| Plate Bearing Testing (PBT) | IHTP& BS1377-9 | To determine the bearing capacity of a ground. 1) Mainly used to determine CBR Value in granular materials (which are not suitable for in-situ CBR tests) 2) Also used to assist in crane and piling mat design.
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| California Bearing Ratio (CBR) | BS 1377-9 | Definitive measurement for CBR value to determine thickness or road construction. |
| TRL Dynamic Cone Penetrometer | TRLDCP | Developed by TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) for estimated In-Situ measurement of CBR at continuous depths up to approx. 850mm below surface. |
| Hand Shear Vane | BS 1377-9 | In-Situ Shear strength of cohesive soils |
| Density Testing – Core Cutter | BS 1377-9 | In-Situ dry density of fine grain soils – compaction monitoring. |
| Density Testing – Sand Replacement | BS 1377-9 | In-Situ dry density of fine and coarse-grained soils – Compaction monitoring. |
| Bulk Density Testing – Nuclear method | BS 1377-9 | In-Situ dry density of fine and coarse-grained soils – Compaction monitoring (Rapid assessment). |
On Site Bituminous Testing
| Test | Method | What it shows |
| Compaction Monitoring – Nuclear Density Method | ASTMD2950 | Density checks for base and binder products to report air voids and relative compaction (%). |
| Sand Patch | BS 598-105 | Measurement of surface texture. |
| Macrotexture Depth | BS EN 13036-1 | Measurement of surface texture – definitive/dispute. |
| Rolling Straight Edge | TRL SR 290 | 3m rolling beam to measure bumps and dips in a road surface demonstrating surface regularity |
| Skid Resistance | BS EN 13036- | A measurement of slipperiness of surface. |
| Coring | BS EN 12697-27 | Obtaining samples for laboratory testing, to include; depth checks, visual logs and compaction assessments. |
Plate Bearing Test Services
Analytical Construction Services (ACS) offers comprehensive on-site plate bearing tests, also known as plate load tests, to determine a material’s ability to withstand different applied pressures and to estimate its ultimate load-bearing capacity.
During a plate load test, our trained technicians will apply the specified load to the test surface and analyse the resulting deformation. This test provides valuable insights into the likelihood of any movement or settlement of the ground – establishing how well the material will perform under the required conditions.
Our experienced material testing lab team will ensure your plate load testing requirements are clearly understood, efficiently conducted, and carefully reported. This will provide you with accurate and reliable data to drive your project’s success.
Contact us for On-Site Material Testing Services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is on site material testing in construction?
On site material testing involves assessing the quality and compliance of construction materials directly at the project location. ACS provides UKAS-accredited on site material testing for concrete, soils, aggregates, and bituminous materials to ensure immediate quality control.
Do you provide on site soil testing services?
Yes. ACS offers comprehensive soil test on site services across the South of England and South Wales. Tests include plate bearing tests, CBR, dynamic cone penetrometer, and hand shear vane to assess soil strength, stability, and suitability for construction.
What is a soil compaction test on site?
A soil compaction test on site determines the density and compaction level of soil layers during earthworks. ACS uses methods like the sand replacement test, core cutter, and nuclear density gauge to ensure ground conditions meet design specifications in line with BS 1377 standards.
What on site concrete testing services are available?
ACS provides full on site concrete testing, including:
- Slump testing
- Air content & wet density checks
- Fibre content analysis
- Concrete cube testing & coring
These tests are performed in accordance with BS EN standards to verify fresh and hardened concrete quality before and after placement.
Why choose a UKAS-accredited material testing lab for on-site services?
Using a UKAS-accredited material testing lab like ACS ensures testing is performed to recognised national standards. Accreditation guarantees the reliability, accuracy, and traceability of on-site results for soils, concrete, and other materials.
Please see below for a list of the services provided by ACS:
Geo-Environmental Consultancy
The ACS Geo-Environmental Consultancy Department has been operating as part of ACS for over 10 years.
On-Site Testing Services
ACS offers a comprehensive range of professional on-site testing, all carried out by our fully trained site technicians.
Aggregates and Soils Testing
From our main laboratory in Poole, Dorset, ACS provide quality testing and material consultancy for the construction and civil engineering industry.
Bituminous Testing
ACS carries out testing on new bituminous binder material and testing on hardened material for physical and chemical properties. Circa pre 1980’s Tar (Carcinogenic effects) was also used as a binder, ACS staff can sample and test materials to assess if Tar was used.
Concrete Testing
Concrete was the first service to be offered by ACS back in 1987. Since then, we have increased our scope to cover a wide range of UKAS Accredited testing methods on fresh and hardened concrete.
Mortar and Screed Testing
ACS can sample and test new and hardened mortar. Hardened mortar for mix proportions and constituents, new mortar for compressive and flexural strength.
Contamination and WAC Testing
At ACS we offer an efficient and reliable chemical analysis service for waste soils and construction materials using various test solids and leaching procedures specified by the Environment Agency.
Chemical Testing
The ACS chemical laboratory was established in 2007. It complements the physical materials testing service provided by ACS by offering a range of chemical analytical services.
Leachate and Water Analysis
Our purpose-built analytical laboratory enables ACS to provide a comprehensive sampling, monitoring and analysis service on a wide range of leachate and water samples.
Natural Stone Testing
Our newly refurbished stone testing laboratory has given us the opportunity to expand our testing scope. In addition, we have increased production and improved on our turnaround of samples.
Site Laboratory Services
Over the last 35 years, ACS have supplied custom fitted site laboratories with technicians to many construction sites and projects worldwide.
Persistent Organic Pollutants
Our experienced lab technicians can provide detailed and accurate analysis of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in almost any sample matrix in line with the Stockholm Convention.
Energy From Waste
Experts in Energy from Waste residues, ACS offers a full range of services, including gasification, pyrolysis, syngas and tar sampling, and analysis and interpretation of analytical results for IBA and APCr.
RoHS Compliance Testing
At ACS, we undertake rigorous RoHS compliance testing to identify and quantify any contaminants in your shredded waste, ensuring your product meets strict RoHS requirements.
Energy Supply, Generation & Regulation
Our highly skilled team provide industry-leading waste fuel testing services for RDF, SRF, MSW, and Solid Biomass, helping you save costs and meet compliance standards for total peace of mind.
CONTACT ONE OF THE TEAM
If you require a collection that is outside of our usual range, please feel free to call us on 01202 622858.
Or contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.