10 Essentials of Construction Testing and Engineering

Construction testing and engineering testing essential so you get it right.

Testing construction material is an important step in the building process, as the outcome of testing, as well as the processes used, will ultimately affect the safety and longevity of the final building site. 

While the reality on most building sites is that the accuracy of testing and cost-effectiveness are often balanced, these days it’s pretty easy to ensure a high degree of accuracy while still keeping costs at a minimum.

Regardless, the overall goal is to establish the foundation for assisting design engineers in making good, informed decisions while meeting building code requirements.

By testing construction materials, along with ensuring proper geotechnical analysis, it’s possible to guarantee buildings will meet regulatory requirements and last over time.

Overall, construction materials, engineering, and testing (CoMET) are used to ensure quality control and construction quality assurance. However, construction testing and engineering can only go so far without some key essentials.

10 Essentials of Construction Testing and Engineering:

1. Observation, testing and evaluation of building materials
2. Observation, testing and evaluation of quality construction methods and processes
3. Observation, testing and evaluation of building outcomes
4. Meeting building code compliance
5. Site grading and subsurface prep
6. Soil testing and analysis; evaluation of subsurface materials
7. Cost-effective geotechnical solutions and materials used
8. Safe application of contaminated subsurface materials
9. Proper recycling of excavated materials and debris
10. Assurance of ground stability, especially in areas common to environmental disaster such as earthquakes, flooding, etc.

By making sure to follow each of these 10 essential steps, you’re ensuring that every aspect of inspection is covered, in turn ensuring a stable, up-to-code building for the long run.

That said, there are a couple more important points to note: CoMET services must be performed during the early stages of a project and processes must be hands-on to ensure each step is given complete attention.

Getting more specific, it’s also important to choose the right type of testing each step of the way. For example, should you choose Standard Penetration Testing or Cone Penetration Testing for soil testing and analysis? Answering this question may take a bit of research, but it’s worth the effort.