The execution of materials investigations includes prospecting and analyses of suitable sources, centreline and borrow pit sampling, together with in situ and laboratory testing of road construction materials.
Cost saving techniques and testing programs can be formulated to meet client design and construction requirements.
Construction quality control testing is undertaken either though regular site visits by laboratory personnel or in laboratories established specifically for the purpose on site.
Design and control testing of bituminous surfacing and in situ testing of compacted asphalt layers are performed.
Civilab's Asphalt laboratory in Centurion was of the first in South Africa to obtain SANAS accreditation for the new SANS3001 series of standards for the testing of construction materials.
Complete site investigations are undertaken, from initial planning and preparation of budgets to final presentation of results, for the full spectrum of civil engineering projects. These include buildings, bridges, dams, embankments and cuttings.
Drilling and sampling of deep investigation holes can be arranged by negotiating directly with specialised contractors or calling for tenders. Similarly, geophysical explorations can be organized.
The operations at Booysens Reserve have a wide range of specialized testing facilities to determine strength, deformation and other properties of undisturbed and remoulded soil samples and rock cores.
These determinations include shear-, compressibility-, permeability- and dispersive properties of soils, as well as the mechanical and chemical suitability of coarse and fine aggregates for dam investigations.
At its current capacity, this Geotechnical laboratory is one of the largest in Africa and boasts the following to ensure efficiency of the highest level:
Triaxial and Direct Shear Testing Capacity:
9 Computer-controlled Triaxial Loadframes
33 Triaxial cells (11 concurrent samples) for 38mm, 50mm and 75mm diam. samples
65 Pressure lines for Saturation-, Consolidation-, Permeability- and Compression stages
6 Computer-monitored Direct Shear frames
Consolidation Testing Capacity:
20 Computer-monitored Consolidation/Oedometer machines
Permeability testing Capacity:
33 Permeability/Triaxial cells for Constant Head Flexible Wall Permeability testing
12 Standard Infiltrometer for Falling/Constant Head Permeability (Zero load)
4 Modified Oedometer (Under loads of 10kPa to 1600kPa)
Comprehensive technical services are provided for concrete mix design and construction quality control. These include casting and testing of cubes and drilling and testing of concrete cores, all in accordance with standard specifications.
Special testing of concrete and other construction materials is carried out to meet specific client requirements.