The method uses lightweight single-use cylinders to take concrete samples away to the lab for strength testing.
The system is commonly used in the USA and is growing in mainland Europe but is still quite new to the UK. It has been developed and tested here by Surrey-based Innovation Technologies. Costain Environmental Services was given formal accreditation by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) after trialling the technology for nine months.
Being small and light, the cylinders are easier to carry and can be transported in bulk, reducing the amount of trips needed to transport them.
The new technology also reduces health and safety risks associated with the manual handling of the traditional heavy metal cubes, Costain said.
The new technology also removes the need to use mould release oil which is a potential Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) risk.
The 100mm cylinders can be used for the majority of standard concretes and the 150mm cylinders for larger aggregates, and CBM/HBM materials.
The USA has now virtually stopped using traditional steel test cubes for the reasons of cost and ease of use. The European specification for the curing and testing of concrete samples EN12390-1-2000 is identical to USA specifications ASTM C31/C31M, C470/C47M and C39/C39M. France and Germany are now in the process of also introducing this new system.
Costain Environmental Services director Andy Bull said: “The new method addresses some key issues for both the customer and the technicians who have to test concrete. Our focus has been to reduce health and safety risk, improve productivity, help reduce a customer’s carbon footprint and at the same time making the solution quick and affordable to use.”
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