As a foundational building material, concrete must exceed quality and strength expectations. This means rigorous testing throughout the construction process. In this blog, we discuss how concrete testing software makes this easier and more accurate. Concrete is the most commonly used material in construction projects. Indeed, the durability (and safety) of every structure depends on…
In this blog, we discuss how concrete maturity and traditional strength testing work together to deliver valuable information sooner – optimizing construction schedules. The construction materials testing industry is excited by the possibilities of estimating concrete strength via the non-destructive maturity method. This method provides a number of enhancements to the traditional laboratory compression test…
How Construction Materials Testing Errors Increase Risk The smallest materials testing errors can lead to costly re-testing, mitigation, consequential damages and questionable insurance claims. In this blog, we discuss what these CMT errors look like—and what insurers can do to eliminate the associated risk. As a construction insurer, you agree to assume certain risks on…
Now more than ever, CMT pros need technology that not only solves the immediate issues of today but also continues to pay dividends down the line. In this blog, we discuss four major features that make certain your technology is future proof. Technology changes fast. While some industries lead the charge, the construction industry has…
Everyone who depends on CMT results – test labs, engineers, project owners, DOTs and beyond – has had to rapidly shift gears in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has, understandably, created a few new problems. In this blog, we address how CMT stakeholders can deal with them and stay afloat. The coronavirus pandemic has…
Damon Thomas, P.E., is an architectural and civil engineer with nearly 30 years experience in construction materials testing and subsidence engineering. He is president of CTL|Thompson Materials Engineers, Inc. This article originally appeared on ForConstructionPros.com on February 17, 2020. Materials testing is still heavily reliant on humans, but cloud-based platforms that communicate directly with break…
The way a CMT lab stores data has a direct impact on its test results, accuracy and reputation. In this post, we highlight four approaches to data storage and how each one affects the construction materials testing environment. One of the most important things a lab must be able to do is retrieve and reference…
Construction materials testing data is only as accurate and reliable as the workflow that produces it. But what if your workflow is biased? How would you know? The answer depends on how you manage these 4 factors. ACI 214R-11 identifies eight principal causes, or sources, of variation in strength testing. In other words, the elements…
Trustworthiness can make or break a lab. It can cost you clients. It can cost you your business. So, how can you be sure your lab is trustworthy? It depends on where that trust comes from. In the last decade, mistakes, fake data and falsified tests have damaged trust in the CMT industry. Labs and…
Productivity is vital to the success of a construction materials testing (CMT) lab. But what does the word actually mean in a lab setting? In this post, we’ll look at how CMT labs break down productivity into something they can measure, and four ways they go about increasing it. Believe it or not, multitasking is…