SECTION 01 45 29

TESTING & LABORATORY SERVICES

PART 1 - GENERAL
1.1

DESCRIPTION
This section covers materials testing and inspection during construction
provided by a Testing Laboratory retained and paid for by the Contractor.

1.2

REQUIREMENTS
A.

The Testing Laboratory shall inspect the materials and workmanship

and perform the tests described herein and additional tests
requested by the Project Engineer. When it appears that the
materials furnished, or work performed by the Contractor fail to
meet the construction contract requirements, the Testing Laboratory
shall direct the attention of the Project Engineer to such failure.

B.

Written Reports: Submit all test reports to Project Engineer within

24 hours after each test is completed.

C.

Verbal Reports: Testing Laboratory is to give verbal notification

to Project Engineer immediately of any irregularity.

D.

Test Standards: Testing Laboratory shall furnish the Project

Engineer one copy of each standard (ASTM, AASHTO, and AWS) referred
to or which is pertinent to these specifications.

PART 2 - EXECUTION
2.1

EARTHWORK
A.

Testing Compaction:
1.

Determine maximum density and optimum moisture content for

each type of fill, backfill and subgrade material used AASHTO
T180, "Moisture-Density Relations of Soils using a 10-pound
Rammer and 18-inch Drop, Method A".

2.

Make field density tests in accordance with AASHTO T191,

Density of Soil In-Place by the Sand-Cone Method; AASHTO T205,
Density of Soil In-Place by the Rubber-Balloon Method; or,
AASHTO T238, Density of Soil and Soil-Aggregate In-Place by
Nuclear Methods.
a.
One test for each 300 cubic yards of fill or backfill.
b.

One test for each 400 square yards of subgrade.

c.

One test for each 300 linear feet of curb and gutter,
curb, and sidewalk.

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B.
2.2

d.

One test along trenches at maximum 100-feet intervals

per 4-feet of vertical lift and at changes in required
density.

e.

For each isolated parcel less than 300 cubic yards, 400
square yards, 300 linear feet, and 100-foot intervals
per 4-foot lift take at least two tests.

Inspection: Provide supervised geotechnical technician to inspect

excavation, surface preparation, and backfill for structural fill.

CONCRETE
A.

B.

Batch Plant Inspection and Materials Testing:

1.

Continuous batch plant inspection shall be performed until

concrete quality is established to the satisfaction of the
Project Engineer with the concurrence of the Contracting
Officer and periodic inspections shall be performed thereafter
as determined by Project Engineer.

2.

Periodically inspect and test batch proportioning equipment

for accuracy and report deficiencies to Project Engineer.

3.

Samples and test mix ingredients as necessary to insure

compliance with specifications.

4.

Sample and test aggregates daily and as necessary for moisture

content. Request that adjustments be made in quantities of
mixing water and aggregates as necessary to maintain water cement ratio of approved design mixes.

5.

Certify, in duplicate, that ingredients and proportions and

amounts of ingredients in concrete conform with approved trial
mixes. When concrete is batched or mixed off immediate
building site, certify (by signing, initialing or stamping
thereon) on delivery slips (duplicate) that ingredients in
truck-load mixes conform to proportions of aggregate weight,
cement factor, and water-cement ratio of approved trial mixes.

Materials:
1.

Provide a technician at site of placement at all times to

perform concrete sampling and testing.

2.

Take concrete samples in accordance with ASTM C172. Mold and

cure compression test cylinders in accordance with ASTM C31.
Make at least three cylinders for each 50 cubic yard or less
of each concrete type, and at least three cylinders for any
one day's pour for each concrete type. Label each cylinder
with an identification number. Project Engineer may require
additional cylinders to be molded and cured under job
conditions.

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C.

3.

Test slump of concrete periodically and during making of

concrete test cylinders. Method of making slump test shall be
as described in ASTM C143.

4.

Determine air content of air entrained concrete at least twice

a day during progress of work and during making of concrete
test cylinders. Determine air content by either ASTM C173 or
ASTM C231.

5.

If slump or air content fall outside specified limits another

test shall be made immediately from another portion of same
batch.

6.

Insure maintenance of water-cement ratio established by

approved trial mix, but notifying Project Engineer to require
addition of cement (at the job site) whenever slump exceeds
specified maximum.

7.

Notify laboratory technician at batch plant of mix

irregularities and request materials and proportioning check.

8.

Verify that specified mixing has been accomplished.

Laboratory Tests of Field Samples:

1.

Test compression test cylinders for strength in accordance

with ASTM C39. For each test series, test one cylinder at 7
days and one cylinder at 28 days. The remaining cylinder will
be used as a spare to be tested at either 7 or 28 day test as
required. Laboratory test reports shall be compiled as
follows: Compressive strength test shall be the result of one
cylinder, except when the one cylinder shows evidence of
improper sampling, molding or testing, in which case it shall
be discarded and strength of the spare cylinder shall be used.

2.

Furnish certified compression test reports (duplicate) to

Project Engineer. On test report indicate following
information:
a.

Cylinder identification number and date cast.

b.

Specific location at which test samples were taken.

c.

Type of concrete, slump, and percent air.

d.

Compressive strength of concrete in psi.

e.

Weather conditions during placing.

f.

Temperature of concrete in each test cylinder when test

cylinder was molded.

g.

Maximum and minimum ambient temperature during placing.

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2.3

2.4

h.

Ambient temperature when concrete sample in test

cylinder was taken.

i.

Date delivered to laboratory and date tested.

CONCRETE REINFORCEMENT
A.

Review mill test reports furnished by the Contractor.

B.

Make one tensile and one bend test from each pair of samples
obtained.

C.

Written report shall include, in addition to test results, heat

number, manufacturer, type and grade of steel, and bar size.

MASONRY
When requested by Project Engineer during progress of work, take and test
samples of mortar in accordance with ASTM C91 for conformance with
specified strength requirements.

2.5

STRUCTURAL STEEL
A.

Provide all necessary shop and field inspection and testing services
to certify that all structural steel work is done in accordance with
drawings and specifications.
1.

Welding accomplished shall conform with AWS D1.1 Structural

Welding Code.

2.

Prefabrication Inspection:

3.

a.

Review design and shop detail drawings for size, length,

type and location of all welds to be made.

b.

Approve welding procedure qualifications either by

prequalification or by witnessing qualifications tests.

c.

Approve welder qualifications either by certification

and/or by retesting.

d.

Approve procedure for control of distortion and

shrinkage stresses.

e.

Approve procedures for welding in accordance with

applicable portions of Section 4, Technique, of AWS
D1.1.

Fabrication and Erection:

a.

Inspect welding equipment for capacity, maintenance and

working condition.

01 45 29-4

B.

2.6

b.

Verify specified electrodes and handling and storage of

electrodes in accordance with AWS D1.1

c.

Inspect preparation and assembly of materials to be

welded for conformance with AWS D1.1.

d.

Inspect preheating and interpass temperatures for

conformance with Table 4.2 of AWS D1.1.

e.

Verify that quality of welds meet the requirements of

Paragraph 8.15, Quality of Welds, of AWS D1.1.

f.

Correction of rejected welds shall be made in accordance

with Paragraph 3.7, Corrections, of AWS D1.1.

Inspection reports, record of welders and their certification, and

identification, and instances of noncompliance shall be submitted to
the Project Engineer as specified under "WRITTEN REPORTS" and
"VERBAL REPORTS."

TYPE OF TEST
Approximate
Number of
Tests
Required
A.

EARTHWORK:
Laboratory Compaction Test, Soils
(AASHTO T180)
Field Density, Soils (AASHTO T191)

B.

___5___
___5___

CONCRETE:
Making and Curing Concrete Test Cylinders
(ASTM C31)
___2___
Compressive Strength, Test Cylinders (ASTM C39)
___2___
Concrete Slump Test (ASTM C143)
___2___
Concrete Air Content Test (ASTM C173 or C321)
___2___
Unit Weight, Lightweight Concrete (ASTM C567)
___2___

C.

REINFORCING STEEL:
Tensile Test (ASTM A370)
Bend Test (ASTM A370)

D.

___0___
___0___

GROUT and MORTAR:

Making and Curing Test Cubes (ASTM C109)
Compressive Strength, Test Cubes (ASTM C91)

E.

AGGREGATE BASE:
Laboratory Compaction, Aggregate Base

01 45 29-5

___0___
___0___

(AASHTO T180)
Field Density, Aggregate Base (AASHTO T191)
F.
TECHNICAL PERSONNEL:

___0___
___10___

1.

Materials Testing
5 per month
5 per month

2.

a)
Laboratory
b)
Materials Technician
Shop and Field Inspection:
a)
b)

2 per month
2 per month

3.

Inspector, Structural Steel

Inspector, Concrete

Technicians to perform test and inspection listed above. The

laboratory will be equipped with concrete cylinder storage
facilities, compression machine, cube molds, proctor molds,
balances, scales, moisture ovens, slump cones, air meter, and all
necessary equipment for compaction control.

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