ASTM & SPECIALTY TESTS THAT WE DO
MICROSCOPY (PETROGRAPHY)
ASTM C 295 (Petrographic Examinations of Aggregates)
ASTM C 457 (Air void analysis of concrete)
ASTM C 856 (Concrete Petrography)
ASTM C 1324 (Masonry mortar, Stucco)
ASTM C 1721 (Petrography of Dimension stone)
ASTM C 1723 (SEM-EDS Analysis of Concrete)
CHEMICAL TESTS
ASTM C 114 (Gypsum, Lime, Cement)
ASTM C 114 (Oxide Analysis by XRF)
ASTM C 1152 (Acid-soluble chloride)
ASTM C 1218 (Water-soluble chloride)
ASTM C 1202 (Chloride Permeability)
ASTM C 1324 (Masonry Mortar, Stucco, Grout)
ASTM C 1084 (Cement Content)
ASTM D 4327 (Ion Chromatography)
PHYSICAL TESTS
ASTM C 42 (Compressive strength)
ASTM C 67 (Brick tests)
ASTM C 157 (Length change)
ASTM C 1260 (ASR expansion)
ASTM C 1567 (ASR expansion)
ASTM C 586 (ACR expansion)
ASTM C 97 (Stone absorption)
ASTM C 642 (Density, Absorption, Voids)
SPECIALTY TESTS
X-ray Diffraction (e.g., ASTM C 1365
on XRD of cement and clinker)
Thermal Analysis TGA, DTG, DSC
(e.g., for masonry mortar in ASTM C 1324)
FTIR Spectroscopy (for organic and inorganic
functional groups)
For a complete list of tests and pricing please see our Fee Schedule.
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS THAT WE EXAMINE
CEMENT AND POZZOLAN
Portland Cement Clinker and Raw Feed
Portland Cements
Blended Cements
Natural Cements
Fly Ash, Slags, Silica Fume, Natural Pozzolans, Metakaoline, Rice Husk Ash
Expansive Cement
High Early Strength Cement
Gypsum Products
Lime Products
CONCRETE
Portland Cement Concrete
Blended Cement Concrete
High Performance Concrete
High Strength Concrete
Fiber Reinforced Concrete
Precast & Prestressed Concrete Products
Polymer-Modified Concrete
Rollar-Compacted Concrete
Self-Consolidating Concrete
AGGREGATES
Crushed Stone
Natural Sand and Gravel
Blast-Furnace Slag
Lightweight Aggregates
Manufactured Sand
Aggregate Dust, Mineral Fillers
Alkali-Aggregate Reactivity
Deleterious Constituents
Unsound Particles
MASONRY UNITS & MORTAR
Cement-Lime Mortar
Masonry Cement Mortar
Mortar Cement Mortar
Lime Mortar
Natural Cement - Lime Mortar
Historic Mortars
Gypsum-based Mortars
Clay Masonry Units
Concrete Masonry Units
Stone Masonry Units
Architectural Cast Stone
PLASTER
Portland Cement Plaster (Stucco)
Lime Plaster
Gypsum Plaster
TILE & FLOOR COVERING
VCT, Ceramic Tile, and Quarry Tile Failures
Gypsum-based Floor Covering
Floor Covering Failures
DIMENSION STONES
Limestone
Granite
Marble
Slate
Verde Antique
OTHER MATERIALS
Fill Materials
Repair and Patching Grouts and Mortars
Anchoring Grouts and Mortars
Shotcrete
Concrete and Mortar Pipes (Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe, Reinforced Concrete Pipe, Sewer Pipe)
Concrete Chimney
Evaluation of novel cementitious products
For a complete list of tests and pricing please see our Fee Schedule.
FAILURE INVESTIGATIONS
CEMENT AND POZZOLAN
Low cement content
Excessive cement content
Slow strength gain of cement
Manufacturing Issues
False and Flash Setting
Improper fly ash type and/or content
Excessive carbon residue in fly ash and its effect on strength development and air environment in concrete
CONCRETE
Poor Quality Control
Failure to conform project specifications
Surface Scaling, Dusting, Spalling, Delamination, Blister, Discoloration, Mortar Lift-off, Cracking
Plastic and Drying Shrinkage Cracking
Slab curling and cracking
Corrosion of reinforcing steel in concrete and associated distress
Alkali-Aggregate Reactions (ASR & ACR)
Internal & External Sulfate Attacks
Seawater Attacks
Salt Attacks
Efflorescence, Staining, Discoloration
Delayed hydration of free lime and magnesia
Loss of Strength
Salt Hydration Distress
Acid and Alkali Attacks
Surface Abrasion and Erosion
Freezing of plastic or hardened concrete and associated distress
Abnormal (delayed or accelerated) setting
Fire attacks and related distress
Cement and Concrete Burns
AGGREGATES
Aggregate Popouts
Staining and discoloration due to unsound particles in aggregate
Pyrrhotite-related staining, discoloration, and cracking in aggregate and concrete
Pyrite staining and related cracking
Distress due to chemical or physical unsoundness of aggregates
Alkali-Silica Reactions and Related Distress in Concrete
Alkali-Carbonate Reactions and Related Distress in Concrete
MASONRY UNITS & MORTAR
Water leakage
Cracking
Freezing-related distress
Efflorescence, Staining, Discoloration
Salt attacks
Masonry units' discoloration, popout, staining
Weakened masonry-mortar bonds
Crumbling of masonry mortar
PLASTER (STUCCO) & GROUT
Stucco Discoloration, Rust Staining, Cracking,
Corrosion of metal lath reinforcement
De-bondong of stucco from substrate
Deleterious reactions in stucco
Anchoring grout failures due to expansion and cracking
TILE & FLOOR COVERING
VCT, Ceramic Tile, and Quarry Tile Cracking, Discoloration, Blistering, Bumps, and De-bonding from Substrate
Gypsum-based Floor Covering Issues from Low Strength to De-bonding
Floor Covering Failures due to moisture and moisture-related deleterious reactions in concrete
DIMENSION STONES
Limestone staining, cracking, discoloration
Granite cracking, de-bonding
Marble discoloration, staining, and cracking
Slate cracking
MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
Paint failures from plaster, drywall, concrete floor or other surfaces
Failure of topping or a protective coating from concrete substrate
Architectural cast stone failures
For a complete list of tests and pricing please see our Fee Schedule.