Building materials

Our area of work covers sampling and non-destructive construction diagnostics of all types of buildings and structures, in particular masonry, concrete, reinforced concrete and prestressed concrete structures. Modern measurement, testing and analysis techniques, including non-destructive methods, are available in fully air-conditioned laboratories to enable us to test and examine a wide range of mechanical and physical influences on mineral-based materials, in particular on binder sets, concrete, all types of bricks, masonry and plastering mortars. A large number of different parameters is determined in the context of standardisation, initial, monitoring and approval inspections.

Our experienced staff members will help you answer any technical questions, as well as with production processes and product development.

• Recognised testing, monitoring and certification body for concrete and reinforced concrete as well as for building products for masonry construction in line with the State Building Regulations LBO and the EU Construction Products Regulation
• Damage analysis and reports – condition assessment, determination of the extent and cause of damage, analysis of transport and damaging mechanisms, conservation of evidence
• Accredited testing laboratory for mineral-based materials – production of mortars and concretes, testing of fresh mortar and fresh concrete, strength testing, testing of behaviour under climatic stress, determination of the deformation behaviour, light microscope examination
• Construction site examinations – structural investigation/condition review, conventional inspection of structures, non-destructive testing using various physical methods
• Research and development – production technology, mortar and concrete technology, repair systems, ageing processes of mineral-based materials, further development of safe and durable materials

We will perform material and building diagnostic examinations of metal components and complete structures in structural, industrial and bridge construction for you, as well as of roof and façade designs, heating and sanitary installations, mechanical and plant engineering components, corrosion protection systems and coats. In addition to state-of-the-art testing technology in our laboratory, we can draw upon various non-destructive examination methods that are suitable for on-site use. We are happy to support manufacturers and processors in quality assurance. In addition, we are active worldwide in the field of monitoring and certification of metal building products and reinforcement technology.

• Recognised testing, monitoring and certification body in line with the State Building Regulations LBO and the EU Construction Products Regulation – e.g. for reinforcing steel/connections, metal building products, fibres for concrete, and design of steel and aluminium support structures
• Damage analysis – inspection and determination of the cause of building damage, expert reports for arbitration purposes, conservation of evidence, expert reports
• Accredited metal laboratory – mechanical-technological testing of reinforcing steel and reinforcing steel connections on existing steel support structures, non-destructive testing, microscopy, metallography on site and at the laboratory, emission spectrometry, corrosion testing, performance of acceptance tests, preparation of 3.1 reports
• Joining tests – verification of weldability

Your partner for comprehensive material and building material testing

We offer a wide range of testing methods – precise, conforming to standards, and tailored to your individual requirements. Our air-conditioned laboratories enable both standardized analyses and customized special tests. Modern measurement, testing, and analysis techniques are available for carrying out a wide variety of tests. The range of tests includes inorganic binders, mineral and ceramic materials, as well as impregnations, coatings, concrete additives, and plastics.

• Physical tests
  We determine the basic physical properties of materials and components in order to evaluate their structure, composition, and suitability for their intended use.
  • Tests:
    Density determination
    Hardness measurement
    Microscopy and layer thickness determination
    Mesh fabric
    PVC content
    Moisture content
    Glass fiber reinforced plastics
    Scanning electron microscopy/elemental analysis (SEM/EDX)
    X-ray diffractometry/phase analysis (XRD)

•  Thermal analyses
  We examine the behavior of materials under the influence of temperature and determine parameters that allow conclusions to be drawn about their stability, composition, and long-term durability.
• • Tests:
    Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC)
    Thermogravimetry (TG)
    Oxidation induction time (OIT)
    Ash content/loss on ignition/dry extract

• Chemical analyses & spectroscopy
  Our chemical analyses record the material composition and identify ingredients that may influence quality, safety, and durability.
  •  Tests:
    Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
    Hydroxyl value & isocyanate content
    Measurement of non-volatile components
    Water analysis

• Building material analysis
  We test mineral and organic building materials for their components and determine characteristic values that are crucial for load capacity, durability, and building protection.
  •  Tests:
    Polypropylene fiber determination (fresh and hardened concrete)
    Binder type and content
    Total chloride, total sulfate, sulfide content, water-soluble salts
    Chloride content in insulation materials
    Chloride migration
    Uranyl acetate fluorescence rapid test (alkali silicic acid reaction)

• Resistance tests
  We simulate the effects of a wide range of chemical, physical, and climatic stresses in order to realistically assess the resistance and service life of materials.
  • Tests:
    Acid resistance
    Resistance of building materials to chemical media (penetration depth/crack plates)
    Corrosion resistance (neutral salt spray, SO2 exposure, condensation)