CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS TESTING
GFA’s team of materials testing professionals provide accurate testing and quality control that successfully guides our clients through stringent project specifications, difficult construction schedules and complex government regulations. We have extensive experience providing Construction Materials Testing (CMT) Services for private developers, contractors, municipal departments that manage the construction of public facilities, as well as public works and infrastructure improvement projects. We understand your continuous need for increased efficiency as well as timely and accurate reporting.
Our state-of-the-art laboratories boast new and innovative equipment for testing soils, concrete, masonry, asphalt and aggregates. Our laboratories are qualified and accredited by Construction Materials Engineering Council (CMEC), Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and AASHTO Materials Reference Laboratory Accreditation (AMRL). GFA has the only US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Validated Laboratory in the State of Florida capable of performing concrete permeability testing per USACE test method CRD-C48-92. In accordance with our accreditations, we follow strict quality assurance guidelines for equipment usage and calibration utilizing a controlled Quality Assurance Program.
GFA offers the following Construction Material Testing Services:
Aggregate & Rock
GFA offers you broad aggregate testing at every phase of your project. From our on-site quality control monitoring when you source the aggregate, right through to physical characterization in our specialized laboratories.
| Item Description | ASTM | AASHTO | FSTM | CRD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit Mass and Voids in Aggregate | ASTM C29 | AASHTO T 19 | ||
| Organic Inpurties in Fine Aggregates for Concrete | ASTM C40 | AASHTO T 21 | ||
| Sieve Analysis of Fine and Coarse Aggregates | ASTM C136 | AASHTO T 27 | ||
| Specific Gravity and Absorption of Fine Aggregate | ASTM C128 | AASHTO T 84 | FM 1-T 084 | |
| Specific Gravity And Absorption Of Coarse Aggregates | ASTM C127 | AASHTO T 85 | FM 1-T 085 | |
| Resistance to Degradation of Small-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine | ASTM C131 | AASHTO T 96 | FM 1-T 096 | |
| Clay Lumps And Friable Particles In Aggregate | ASTM C142 | AASHTO T 112 | ||
| Plastic Fines in Graded Aggregates and Soils by Use of the Sand Equivalent Test | ASTM D2419 | AASHTO T 176 | ||
| Total Moisture Content of Aggregate by Drying | ASTM C566 | AASHTO T 255 | ||
| Uncompacted Void Content of Fine Aggregate | ASTM C 1252 | AASHTO T 304 | ||
| Soundness of Aggregates by Use of Sodium Sulfate or Magnesium Sulfate | ASTM C88 | AASHTO T 104 | ||
| Materials Finer than 75-?m (No. 200) Sieve in Mineral Aggregates by Washing | ASTM C117 | AASHTO T 11 | FM 1-T 011 | |
| Lightweight Particles in Aggregate | ASTM C123 | AASHTO T 113 | ||
| Resistance to Degradation of Large-Size Coarse Aggregate by Abrasion and Impact in the Los Angeles Machine | ASTM C535 | |||
| Aggregate Durability Index | ASTM D3744 | AASHTO T 210 | ||
| Flat Particles, Elongated Particles, or Flat and Elongated Particles in Coarse Aggregate | ASTM D4791 | CRD-C119 | ||
| Evaluation of Durability of Rock for Erosion Control Under Freezing and Thawing Conditions | ASTM D5312 | CRD C144 | ||
| Evaluation of Durability of Rock for Erosion Control Under Wetting and Drying Conditions | ASTM D5313 | CRD C169 | ||
| Determining the Percentage of Fractured Particles in Coarse Aggregate | ASTM D5821 | AASHTO T 335 | ||
| Method of Calculation of the Fineness Modulus of Aggregate | CRD-C104 | |||
| Estimating Scratch Hardness of Course Aggregate Particles | CRD-C130 | |||
| Determining Percentage of Crushed Particles in Aggregate | CRD-C171 | |||
| Carbonates And Organic Matter In Base Material | FM 5-514 | |||
| Aggregate Shell Content of Coarse Aggregate | FM 5-555 |
Concrete, Masonry, Mortar, & Grout
GFA’s services include complete testing and inspection of concrete materials. GFA samples fresh concrete for air content, slump, temperature, and unit weight. Samples are obtained for compressive strength results. GFA additionally provides inspection services, floor slab flatness profiling, ultrasonic and R-meter testing and observes concrete placement and provides floor slab flatness profiling.
| Item Description | ASTM | AASHTO | CRD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Test For Compressive Strength Of Cylindrical Concrete Specimens | ASTM C39 | AASHTO T 22 | |
| Test For Making And Curing Concrete Test Specimens In The Field | ASTM C31 | AASHTO T 23 | |
| Test For Obtaining And Testing Drilled Cores And Sawed Beams Of Concrete | ASTM C42 | AASHTO T 24 | |
| Test For Flexural Strength Of Concrete (Using Simple Beam With Third- Point Loading) | ASTM C78 | AASHTO T 97 | |
| Test For Slump Of Hydraulic Cement Concrete | ASTM C143 | AASHTO T 119 | |
| Test For Density (Unit Weight), Yield, And Air Content (Gravimetric) Of Concrete | ASTM C138 | AASHTO T 121 | |
| Test For Air Content Of Freshly Mixed Concrete By The Pressure Method | ASTM C231 | AASHTO T 152 | |
| Test For Air Content Of Freshly Mixed Concrete By The Volumetric Method | ASTM C173 | AASHTO T 196 | |
| Test For Capping Cylindrical Concrete Specimens | ASTM C617 | AASHTO T 231 | |
| Test For Temperature Of Freshly Mixed Portland Cement Concrete | AASHTO T 309 | ||
| Surface Resistivity of Concrete | AASHTO T 358 | ||
| Concrete Compressive Compressive Strength of Grout\Mortar | ASTM C109 | ||
| Concrete Masonry Unit Sampling & Testing | ASTM C140 | ||
| Length Change of Hardened Hydraulic-Cement Mortar and Concrete | ASTM C157 | ||
| Measuring Thickness of Concrete Elements Using Drilled Concrete Cores | ASTM C174 | ||
| Making and Curing Concrete Test Specimens in the Laboratory | ASTM C192 | ||
| Flexural Strength of Concrete (Using Simple Beam With Center-Point Loading) | ASTM C293 | ||
| Length Change of Hardened Cement Paste, Mortar, and Concrete | ASTM C490 | ||
| Compressive Strength of Lightweight Insulating Concrete | ASTM C495 | ||
| Determining Density of Structural Lightweight Concrete | ASTM C567 | ||
| Density, Absorption, and Voids in Hardened Concrete | ASTM C642 | ||
| Resistance? of? Concrete? to? Rapid? Freezing? and? Thawing | ASTM C666 | CRD C114 | |
| Preconstruction and Construction Evaluation of Mortars for Plain and Reinforced Unit Masonry | ASTM C780 | ||
| Penetration Resistance of Hardened Concrete | ASTM C803 | ||
| Rebound Number of Hardened Concrete | ASTM C805 | ||
| Flow of Grout for Preplaced-Aggregate Concrete (Flow Cone Method) | ASTM C939 | ||
| Electrical Indication of Concrete's Ability to Resist Chloride Ion Penetration | ASTM C1202 | ||
| Water Permeability of Concrete | CRD C48 |
Soils
GFA provides certified technicians to monitor the compaction of soils by performing on-site tests (e.g. soil density, moisture content, and visual observations). We analyze the suitability of site soils for structural fill and provide recommendations for suggested alterations and equipment utilization. We perform vibro-floatation monitoring and ground penetrating radar as well as other testing services.
| Item Description | ASTM | AASHTO | FSTM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry Preparation Of Disturbed Soil And Soil-Aggregate Samples For Test | ASTM D421 | AASHTO R 58 | |
| Wet Preparation Of Disturbed Soil Samples For Test | AASHTO R 74 | ||
| Particle Size Analysis Of Soils | ASTM D422 | AASHTO T 88 | |
| Liquid Limit of soils | AASHTO T 89 | ||
| Test for Determining the Plastic Limit and Plasticity Index of Soils | ASTM D4318 | AASHTO T 90 | |
| Standard Proctor (Moisture-Density Relations of Soils Using A 2.5-Kg [5.5-Lb] Rammer and a 305-Mm [12-In.] Drop) | ASTM D698 | AASHTO T 99 | FM 1-T099 |
| Specific Gravity of Soils | ASTM D854 | AASHTO T 100 | |
| Modified Proctor (Moisture Density Relations of Soils Using a 10-lb. (4.54kg) Rammer and an 18-in. (457mm) Drop) | ASTM D1557 | AASHTO T 180 | FM 1-T180 |
| Test For Density Of Soil In-Place By The Sand-Cone Method | ASTM D1556 | AASHTO T 191 | |
| Test For The California Bearing Ratio | ASTM D1883 | AASHTO T 193 | |
| Permeability of Granular Soil (Constant Head) | AASHTO T 215 | ||
| Test For Determination Of Moisture In Soils By Means Of A Calcium Carbide Gas Pressure Moisture Tester | ASTM D4944 | AASHTO T 217 | |
| Laboratory Determination of Moisture Content of Soils | ASTM D2216 | AASHTO T 265 | |
| Determination of Organic Content in Soils by Loss on Ignition | ASTM D2974 | AASHTO T 267 | FM 1-T 267 |
| Unconsolidated-Undrained Triaxial Compression Test on Cohesive Soils | ASTM D2850 | AASHTO T 296 | |
| Consolidated Undrained Triaxial Compression Test for Cohesive Soils | ASTM D4767 | AASHTO T 297 | |
| Test For In-Place Density And Moisture Content Of Soil And SoilAggregate By Nuclear Methods (Shallow Depth) | ASTM D6938 | AASHTO T 310 | |
| Moisture-Density (Unit Weight) Relations of Soil-Cement Mixtures | ASTM D558 | AASHTO T 134 | |
| Determining the Amount of Material Finer than 75-?m (No. 200) Sieve in Soils by Washing | ASTM D1140 | ||
| Compressive Strength Of Molded Soil Cement Cylinders | ASTM D1633 | ||
| Classification of Soils for Engineering Purposes (Unified Soil Classification System) | ASTM D2487 | ||
| Description and Identification of Soils (Visual-Manual Procedures) | ASTM D2488 | ||
| Maximum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils Using a Vibratory Table | ASTM D4253 | ||
| Minimum Index Density and Unit Weight of Soils and Calculation of Relative Density | ASTM D4254 | ||
| Determination of Water Content of Soil and Rock by Microwave Oven Heating | ASTM D4643 | ||
| Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a Flexible Wall Permeameter | ASTM D5084 | ||
| Particle-Size Distribution (Gradation) of Fine-Grained Soils Using the Sedimentation (Hydrometer) Analysis | ASTM D7928 | ||
| Carbonates And Organic Matter In Base Material | FM 5-514 | ||
| Limerock Bearing Ratio (LBR) | FM 5-515 | ||
| pH of Soil and Water | FM 5-550 | ||
| Minimum Resistivity of Soil and Water | FM 5-551 | ||
| Chloride in Soil and Water | FM 5-552 | ||
| Sulfate in Soil and Water | FM 5-553 |
Asphalt / Bituminous
GFA’s services are designed to ensure that asphalt products comply as intended. GFA provides asphalt mix designs and verifications, aggregate gradation, stability and specific gravity testing. Field services such as placement inspection, thickness checks, and asphalt coring are also offered.
| Item Description | ASTM | AASHTO | FSTM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sampling Asphalt Materials | ASTM D140 | ||
| Sampling Bituminous Paving Mixtures | ASTM D979 | ||
| Bulk Specific Gravity and Density of Non-Absorptive Compacted Asphalt Mixtures (Cores) | ASTM D2726 | AASHTO T 166 | FM 1-T 166 |
| Density of Bituminous Concrete in Place by Nuclear Methods | ASTM D2950 | AASHTO T 355 |
| Category | Item Description |
|---|---|
| Fireproofing | Standard Test Methods for Thickness and Density of Sprayed Fire-Resistive Material (SFRM) Applied to Structural Members (ASTM E605) |
| Fireproofing | Standard Test Method for Cohesion/Adhesion of Sprayed Fire-Resistive Materials Applied to Structural Members (ASTM E736) |
| Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) | Dye Penetrant Testing |
| Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) | High Strength Bolting Inspections and Torque Testing |
| Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) | Ultrasonic Testing (UT) |
| Magnetic Particle Testing (MT) |
