Materials Testing Laboratory
GEC’s testing laboratory has achieved a number of certifications and accreditations. GEC has the only testing laboratory in the Middle Georgia area that meets the stringent requirements of ASTM E329. ASTM E329 (Standard Specification for agencies Engaged in the Testing and/or Inspection of Materials Used in Construction) is a lengthy document that details the qualifications for an inspection agency and laboratory personnel. It also specifies the technical requirements for equipment and procedures used in testing and inspection of construction materials.
Our in-house laboratory can perform a variety of soil, concrete, and aggregate tests. Examples include:
Soil Testing and Analysis |
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GEC's in-house testing lab has achieved accreditation or certification by several agencies:
- The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) - the primary accreditation body for construction material testing in the United States.
- Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory (CCRL), an agency committed to the improvement of quality testing in the construction materials industry through laboratory assessments, proficiency samples, instruction, guidance, and clarification of ASTM standards.
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE). The Corps validation is performed in accordance with ER 1110-1-261, which defines the requirements for the QA testing procedures for agencies that wish to work on Corps of Engineers funded projects. Click here to view our USCOE validation.
GEC engineering technicians also participate in a number of qualifications programs. These include:
- American Concrete Institute (ACI)
- National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET)
- American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM)
- Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT)
- Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission (GSWCC)
All of our technicians are required to be certified in one of more of the above organizations.
What is ASTM E329? It refers to a document created by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) that specifies the standards, equipment, and procedures that should be used by a qualified testing agency. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is the primary accrediting agency for construction testing labs. They visit the lab and scrutinize every procedure and piece of equipment. If the lab is indeed "up to snuff", it is designated as AASHTO R18 Accredited, and listed at www.amrl.net. GEC's materials testing lab meets these stringent requirements, and is the only Middle Georgia lab that does.
The AASHTO inspection pulls together several accrediting agencies that deal with policies and procedures for testing construction materials. These organizations include:
- Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory
- American National Standards Institute
- Asphalt Institute
- International Code Council
- plus several of the agencies we are already affiliated with (listed above).
Contact GEC when you need materials testing from a certified laboratory.
