Providing Concrete Cube Testing Services Nationwide
At Site Testing Services Nationwide Ltd, we have two decades of experience in the civil engineering and construction industry, becoming one of the leading companies nationwide in the area of site investigation services. Our full scope covers a comprehensive range of services, including geotechnical, chemical analysis and concrete cube testing.
When it comes to concrete testing services, we hold the capacity to carry out concrete cube testing at a variety of our laboratories throughout the UK. Our comprehensive range of tests are UCAS accredited, which guarantees the highest level of quality control during our laboratory testing.
Our concrete cube testing services provide consistent results that will determine the compressive strength of hardened concrete, along with its consistency. Each concrete cube test conducted provides our clients with full assurance that their concrete is fully compliant with industry standards.
Our full range of services, including cube testing, adhere to the latest British and European standards. We are fully accredited by UKAS and comply with ISO/IEC 17025, the competence standard for testing and calibration laboratories.
Each concrete cube test concludes with a simple, concise report which can be completed with an efficient turnaround. Whether for domestic or commercial needs, you can be fully confident in the quality of your concrete, upon completion of a concrete cube test from Site Testing Services Nationwide Ltd.
Contact usWhat is a concrete cube test?
A concrete cube test is a way to test the strength of concrete. The concrete is cast into cube moulds and allowed to cure. It is then crushed at intervals of 7 or 28 days. This test is used to determine whether concrete that has been poured at a construction site has the specified compressive strength.
Cube testing is an essential procedure for the construction industry, used for many construction projects. Measuring the strength of any concrete mix is imperative to understand how much compressive strength it has, before failure. In other words, its capacity to withstand pressure on the surface without any cracks or bending.
Contact usWhy is a concrete cube test required?
The compressive strength of concrete is vital in the construction industry, as it is a critical proponent of any construction project. The importance of concrete strength should never be underestimated, as it is the foundation of any structural integrity and the durability of buildings.
When purchasing concrete for any commercial or domestic project, it remains imperative that the supplier is in line with British and EU regulations and adheres to their quality control standards.
Many factors, including the cement strength and the water-to-cement ratio, can influence the compressive strength of concrete.
Therefore, a concrete cube test should be undertaken to ensure the concrete is aligned with regulation standards.
When is Concrete Cube Testing Required?
Concrete cube testing is typically required for the following reasons:
- When concrete is going to be used as a structural element during a construction project.
- It is an essential part of quality control. These processes are implemented to ensure that the concrete mix in question is capable of supporting the intended loads and stresses.
- To remain compliant with building regulations and standards stating that the concrete must be able to withstand certain pressures, meeting certain strength criteria.
How is a Concrete Cube Test Carried Out?
In general, the steps for conducting a concrete cube test are as follows:
- Sample Preparation: Freshly mixed concrete samples are taken. These samples are taken to a laboratory for concrete cube testing.
- Moulding: Fresh concrete is poured into cube moulds that are typically made from steel or cast iron.
- Curing: The concrete cube moulds are used as samples. These samples are kept in a temperature-controlled environment to harden.
- Demoulding: After approximately 24 hours of curing, the moulds are removed and immersed in water for further curing.
- Testing: After leaving the fresh concrete samples to be cured, the concrete cubes are put into a compression testing machine. The cubes’ compressive strength is tested using compression as the specified curing period (usually 7 or 28 days.) The compression machine will apply force until the concrete sample is broken. The crushing strength is then recorded.
This test gives critical information about the material characteristics of the concrete used in a particular project. It ensures that the concrete meets the safety, durability and performance standards.
What size should the cubes be when the test is carried out?
The standard size for cube moulds is usually 150mm x 150mm x 150mm or 100mm x 100mm x 100mm. The size of the cubes is often determined by the specific regulations or standards that apply to the project in question.
Experts in concrete cube testing
At Site Testing Services Nationwide Ltd, we are experts in concrete cube testing, covering a full spectrum of site investigation services in the construction and civil engineering industries.
Regardless of the scale of the project or the site location, we offer nationwide coverage whilst providing clear and concise results promptly.
Using the latest technology in the industry, with one of the leading testing laboratories in the UK, we remain fully prepared to support a full range of services.
Get in contact with us today for a free no-obligation quote.