Achieving Consistent, Reliable Results: 5 Best Practices for Construction Materials Testing Technicians

Construction materials testing (CMT) is crucial to ensuring a project’s integrity, as each site and project presents unique challenges. That’s where expert construction materials testing Technicians come in.

The best Technicians follow five best practices to maintain the integrity of the project throughout its duration. Whether the Technician is new to the industry or has decades of experience, following these five best practices will ensure each project is completed reliably, with quality, and on time.

1. Referring to Project Specifications

Project specifications, created by architects and engineers, outline critical expectations and standards for the site. This includes factors such as soil bearing capacity, concrete strength, and material requirements. The specifications are essential for ensuring the construction process proceeds smoothly, with accurate, reliable testing. By regularly referring to these specifications throughout the testing process, teams ensure the quality of each testing activity, preserving the integrity of the project and safe developments.

2. Considering Environmental Factors

Environmental factors are another key factor Technicians must consider when testing construction materials. Extreme weather conditions—like freezing temperatures, heavy snow, or record-breaking heat—can impact the performance of materials and test results.

Luckily, organizations like the American Concrete Institute (ACI) and Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) have specifications for handling different weather elements and set standards for requirements needed to adhere to environmental factors.

For example, ACI’s Guide to Cold Weather Concreting (ACI 306R-16) provides us with recommended concrete temperatures, as seen in Table 5.1 below.

Table 5.1 – Recommended concrete temperatures are pulled from the Guide to Cold Weather Concreting (ACI 306R-16), reported by ACI Committee 306, published in September 2016, Errata as of June 28, 2017. The image was pulled on January 15, 2025.

Additionally, ACI 306R-16 provides the best methods for retaining concrete temperature in cold weather. Technicians can utilize insulating blankets, heated enclosures, and heated forms to minimize heat loss. They can also consider preheating mix water or aggregates, applying curing compounds, and leaving concrete in insulated forms to help maintain heat. Regular monitoring ensures consistent temperatures, while gradual adjustments prevent thermal shock to the material.

3. Verifying all Calibrated Equipment

Every test, whether in the field or in the laboratory, relies on the equipment’s precision to deliver dependable results. Technicians must ensure their equipment is calibrated to ACI’s benchmark standards. This attention to detail guarantees accuracy, increases safety, and upholds quality – validating results and securing confidence.

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4. Properly Documenting Data

From field testing to lab testing, detailed documentation is a key component of CMT results. Technicians track daily activities in reports, describing everything from material placements to the specific tests performed. Consistently logged data upholds project consistency, allowing professionals to reference the data throughout the project duration with a full understanding of the progress. Additionally, proper documentation supports accountability and transparency, increasing confidence with fellow trades on site and, most importantly, the client.

5. Continuous Communication

High collaboration increases a project’s success rate. The same goes for construction sites, requiring continuous communication from all trades. Technicians who maintain open and ongoing communication can increase productivity as various trades can effectively work around each other to complete respective responsibilities. It also ensures that if any issues arise, they can quickly be addressed before the project’s timeline and budget are affected.

For example, if a geotechnical investigation determines that the soil at a particular site has a bearing capacity of 3,000 psf, and the foundation design must accommodate loads exceeding this limit, the project manager has options to address the discrepancy. They can choose to pour the foundation deeper to reach soil layers with higher bearing capacity or pour the foundation wider to distribute the structural load over a larger area. Both approaches ensure the foundation remains stable and adheres to safety and durability standards. However, to resolve this efficiently and safely, ongoing communication with project engineers is required to ensure the decision aligns with design specifications and project goals.

Following best practices in CMT not only prevents costly structural failures and delays but also guarantees that a project is built to last and will perform as designed.

The stakes are high throughout the construction process, and following best practices in materials testing is the key to success. By ensuring accuracy, reliability, and communication throughout the testing process, projects are set up for long-term safety, quality, and performance.

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References

ACI Committee 306. (2017). Guide to cold weather concreting: ACI 306R-16. American Concrete Institute. January 15, 2025, https://www.concrete.org/