The Frequency Of Various Tests

In the first stage of construction, the first test that shall be taken is the In-Situ Density test but I was a bit stock when the consultant asked about the frequency of various tests and in the compaction test of in-situ soil.

I made research immediately just within the contract project documents: specification, drawing, bill of quantity but most often it is written on the specification, sometimes it is also written in the general specification on the structural drawing.

I would try to post some frequencies of different tests for newbies or for those who have years of experience already to bookmark this page as your reference. So that it will be very easy for you to find out and come back again on this post.

Especially in the world of technologies today has a huge difference from the past,  what I mean is if you have an android mobile or tablet with you when you are at the site you can use it to browse this post and see immediately “The Frequency Of Test” that you need of.

Here are the frequency of various tests and for soil.

S/N	Description	Area	Test Frequency	Qty. of test
1	Soil
1.A	Compaction test	Under Footing	Every 200 square meter	One
		Under Wall Footing	Every 30 linear meter	One
		Under Slab on Grade	Every 1000 square meter	One
1.B	CBR	Below pavement	Every 5000 cubic meter	One sample
1.C	Proctor test	Soil Stockpile	Every new material	One sample
1.D	Atterberg Limit: Liquid Limit Plasticity Index Plastic Limit	Soil Stockpile	Every new material	One sample
1.E	Sieve Analysis	Soil Stockpile	Every new material	One sample

Here are the frequency of tests for steel reinforcement or rebar.

S/N	Description	Area	Test Frequency	Qty. of test
1	Steel reinforcement
1.A	Chemical Test	Concrete elements	Every 100 ton	2 sample for each bar size
1.B	Mechanical Test	Concrete elements	Every 100 ton	2 sample for each bar size

Here are the frequency of tests for concrete.

S/N	Description	Area	Test Frequency	Qty. of Test
1	Concrete
1.A	Compression Test	Footing, Raft Foundation, Pile Foundation	every 100 cubic meter of concrete	6 cubes (1 set)
		Slab, Grade beam	every 50 cubic meter of concrete	6 cubes (1 set)
		Column	every 30 cubic meter of concrete	6 cubes (1 set)
1.B	Durability: RCP Absorption Test Permeability Test	Foundation	Bi-monthly or every 700 cubic meter	3 cubes for RCP 3 cubes for Absorption 3 cubes for Permeability
2	Concrete Masonry Unit - CMU
2.A	Compression test	External Walls and Internal partitions	Every new supplier	3 samples of CMU
2.B	Dimension check	External Walls and Internal partitions	Every new supplier	3 samples of CMU

Here are the frequency of tests for Aggregate in a concrete batching plant.

S/N	Description	Test Frequency	Qty. of test
1	Aggregate
1.A	Grading	Each two weeks or per 100 cubic meter whichever is more frequent	One
1.B	Material Fines	Each two weeks or per 100 cubic meter whichever is more frequent	One
1.C	Clay lumps and Friable Particles	Each two weeks or per 100 cubic meter whichever is more frequent	One
1.D	Organic Impurities	Each month or 200 cubic meter whichever is more frequent	One
1.E	Water absorption	Each month or 200 cubic meter whichever is more frequent	One
1.F	Specific gravity	Each month or 200 cubic meter whichever is more frequent	One
1.G	Shell content	Each 2 months or per 100 cubic meter	One
1.H	Moisture variation in sand by moisture meter	Daily	Two

Related Article:

1. How To Do A Compaction Test Or In-Situ Density Test

I am hoping that these frequencies of tests have helped the engineers in the number of test requirements for their respective projects but as I noticed the frequency of tests may vary and depending on the specification of the project so the engineers should go through their respective contract specification and verify the above frequencies but still these frequencies will serve you as a guide.

 

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