Services Offered

- Aggregate testing:

Contest conducts aggregate testing that will assist our customers with assessing the characteristics and quality of aggregates for use in concrete, building and or construction.

These tests are conducted in our well-equipped laboratory by trained, competent staff. Site services may also be arranged for any sampling and testing required on site.

- Testing of concrete and precast concrete products:

Contest has a range of concrete tests which are conducted in our laboratory. We offer a wide range of compressive strength tests on concrete cubes, cores and precast products. Concrete Mix designs and mix verifications can also be performed.Site sampling and testing required on-site, such as making of test cubes and coring of concrete are another of our services.

- Chemical testing:

Testing of water, hardened concrete, mortar and plaster as well as aggregates can be performed by our competent staff when required.

- Investigation of construction defects:

With our in-depth knowledge of concrete construction and many years of experience, we are able to assist in investigating a wide range of concrete related construction defects.

- Specifications:

Method statements / specifications for specialist work such as grouting, high strength concrete, concrete toppings and remedials are provided.

The following tests are regularly carried out by our staff in our laboratory;

• Sieve Analyses
  
• Aggregate crushing values (ACV) + 10% FACT
  
• Flakiness Index
  
• Bulk and Relative Densities
  
• Making and curing concrete cubes
  
• Compressive strength testing of cubes, cores, bricks, blocks and pavers
  
• Tensile splitting tests on pavers
  
• Concrete Mix designs and mix verification checks
  
• Durability Index testing

On site testing / surveys:

• Sampling of test materials
  
• Making cubes on site for clients
  
• Coring of Concrete
  
• BRE Screed testing
  
• Schmidt Hammer Surveys
  
• Cover Surveys and bar locations
  

All testing is carried out strictly in accordance with the relevant specifications, be it British, American or South African by well-trained staff.

The equipment is regularly calibrated and the laboratory participates in correlation testing with other laboratories.