LABORATORY TESTING

Construction Materials Testing And Inspections For Quality Assurance And Compliance

Our DC laboratory is accredited by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). HCCS has demonstrated proficiency for the testing of construction materials in conformance with the requirements of AASHTO R 18 and the AASHTO Accreditation Policies established by the AASHTO Committee on Materials and Pavements. Our laboratory personnel are certified by NICET and ACI.

Currently, there are only two accredited independent Special Inspectors in Washington, D.C. certified to provide compressive strength testing. The AASHTO R 18, ASTM E329, and ASTM C1077 accreditations for concrete lab and field testing enable us to provide our D.C. clients and regional projects with speedier turnaround times and more accurate results. The advantages of utilizing an accredited lab within the District are transport time and distance from the project site to the laboratory are significantly reduced. Transporting cylinders can adversely affect sample strength if specimens are subjected to impactful jarring and temperature conditions; reducing the distance cylinders travel minimizes the chance specimens will be damaged along the way.

Having a District-based accredited laboratory also provides a local lab “drop spot” for clients. Clients will save time and benefit from the same reduction of risk associated with minimizing specimen transport distance, as mentioned above.

Our D.C. office concrete field technicians, inspectors, and laboratory personnel are certified, cross-trained and able to provide effective quick-response to projects throughout the city to ensure client projects stay on schedule with quicker and more reliable lab results!

Soil Tests Include:

Sieve Analysis; Hydrometer Analysis; Atterberg Limits; Classification as per USCS, AASHTO, & USDA; Modified & Standard Proctors; Specific Gravity;, Direct Shear; Hydraulic Conductivity (permeability); California Bearing Ratio; Organic Content (loss on ignition); pH; Soluble Salts; Electrical Resistivity; Consolidation; Unconfined Compression Strength; UU Triaxial Shear Test; and Calcium Carbonate.

Concrete Tests Include:

Compressive Strength of Concrete, Grout, and Mortar; Split Tensile Strength of Concrete; Flexural Strength of Beams; Preparation & Compressive Strength of Concrete Core Samples; Chloride Permeability; Chloride Ion Content; and Length Change of Cement Mortar and Concrete.

Aggregate Tests Include:

Gradations; Specific Gravity & Absorption; Organic Impurities; Sand Equivalent; LA Abrasion; Sulfate Soundness; Flat and Elongated Particles; and Aggregate Angularity.

Asphalt Tests Include:

Bulk Specific Gravity of Core Sample and Maximum Theoretical Density; Extraction/Gradation

Concrete Masonry Units Tests Include:

Compressive Strength on Masonry Units and Masonry Prisms; and Moisture, Absorption and Density.

Cement Tests Include:

Fineness of Cement; and Time of Setting