SOIL TESTING SERVICES
To complement the range of investigation and consulting services provided by Jeffery and Katauskas Pty Ltd, an earthworks and pavement testing service is also available through our associated company, Soil Test Services Pty Ltd (STS). Both insitu and laboratory testing is covered within the terms of their NATA laboratory registration. STS services can be supported by our specialist consulting expertise to enable rapid and economical solutions to any construction problems which may arise.
Field testing is serviced by a team of geotechnicians operating from fully equipped utilities with direct communication to assist with rapid deployment. For typical metropolitan works, operations are based from the fully equipped main laboratory in Macquarie Park or the satellite base at Moorebank. Site laboratories are frequently set up for larger or remote projects on both short term and long term operations. Vehicles can be set up as temporary site laboratories to service smaller sites where no facilities are available.
The usual range of tests carried out to determine or control the density of fill materials are Sand Replacement, Dynamic Cone Penetrometer and Nuclear Densometer, the latter being particularly useful on large jobs where site specific correlations can be established, where nondestructive testing is required and to provide rapid coverage of large fill areas. Pavement testing facilities include laboratory control testing of road pavement materials (Subbase/ Basecourse) and testing and evaluation of subgrade properties. Benkelman Beam testing of existing pavements can be carried out and data can be reduced and analysed using computer software developed inhouse. Soil Test Services have a full Quality Management System in operation and a Quality Manual is available. This is regularly reviewed by NATA. Quality Audit testing is often required particularly on larger projects, as part of Quality Assurance schemes and is regularly undertaken.
Typical examples of projects undertaken include:
- Earthworks control testing of 9km of dual lane arterial road construction for Hornsby Shire Council.
- Audit testing of asphaltic concrete density and material quality for major surfacing contract at Mascot Airport for the Federal Airport Corporation.
- Full earthworks and pavement construction supervision for the Austlink Industrial Park subdivision at Terrey Hills.
- Mona Vale Road/ Forest Way Interchange pavement construction and road widening for the RTA.
Laboratory testing facilities for which we are NATA registered include a comprehensive range of soil, rock, aggregate, asphaltic concrete and concrete testing. Details are given in our schedule of rates which is available on request.
It is important for clients to recognise the distinction between testing services and obtaining professional advice and it is for this reason that the two companies are run in parallel.