Construction Materials Engineering & Testing

S&ME invests great effort and resources to gain the laboratory accreditations and staff certifications to keep pace with evolving client expectations and needs.

With today’s comprehensive inventory of laboratory equipment and staff experience we complete most tests in-house, focusing on client schedules and objectives. We’ve even developed a customized system, for appropriate projects, to manage and transmit electronic project files to the client, partnering firms and our laboratories.

S&ME’s labs apply a quality program accredited by the AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory. Technician training leads to advanced certifications in programs such as the National Institute of Certified Engineering Technicians (NICET) and the American Concrete Institute (ACI).

We still supply CMT “nuts and bolts,” but our skills encompass Special Inspections and the exacting services for Nuclear Quality Assurance. We intend to meet your expectations and needs.

Construction Materials Engineering & Testing Services

Asphalt Testing, Engineering and Observation

Engineering consultation
Design
Construction observation
Laboratory testing

Concrete Testing, Engineering & Monitoring

Preconstruction Review
Mix Designs
Batchplant and track observations
Fresh concrete field testing
Laboratory testing of hardened concrete
Evaluation of in-place conditions

Specialized Laboratory Testing

Concrete and concrete ingredient materials
Grout, mortar, and epoxy
Soil and rock
Asphalt
Masonry products
Geosynthetics
Dimension and architectural cast stone

Foundation Construction Review and Observation

Observing shallow-spread footings and mat foundation observation
Drilled shaft (Caisson) installation observations
Post-construction evaluation
Pile installation observation
Mechanically stabilized earthen walls and slopes

Geosynthetics Engineering and Testing

Laboratory testing
Construction monitoring

Soil Testing and Observation

Borrow source evaluation
Site stripping, undercutting and subgrade evaluation
Density testing and fill placement observation
Post-construction fill assessment
Laboratory analysis of physical and mechanical properties

Nondestructive Testing and Metals Evaluation

Metals analysis
Coating services
Sprayed-on fireproofing inspection
Penetrant Testing
Magnetic Particle Testing
Ultrasonic Testing

Special Inspections

S&ME provides special inspections to owners during construction of the following, and potentially other, types of work:

Fabrication of structural members or assemblies
Steel construction (welding, high-strength bolts, details)
Concrete construction (materials, reinforcing steel, post-tensioning placement, curing)
Masonry construction
Soils (site preparation, fill placement, in-place density)
Pile foundations
Pier foundations
Sprayed fire-resistant materials

Accreditation and Certification

S&ME can provide testing on projects that require:

laboratory that has been validated by the U.S. Corps of Engineers to perform material tests
laboratory or personnel to have DOT approval/certifications
accreditation to ASTM E 329, D3740, C 1077 or D 3666
NQA-1 Program for Nuclear Safety Related projects
10CFR50 Appendix Program for Nuclear Safety Related Projects
license to perform testing on samples contaminated with low levels of radioactive material

S&ME can provide qualified personnel that maintain certifications from organizations such as: