Soil Density/Compaction Test Kits?

Question

Where can i find suppliers for nuclear density tester. or sand cone test kit. or soil compaction tester in the philippines?

Pls post the suppliers name and contact number or website. Many thanks!

Answer 1

I've had the opportunity to work on remote site Projects the world over, - Alaska, China, SE Asia, Iran, Oman, Kuwait, the African Gold Coast to name a few, and ...

I suggest that you consider learning to take test core sample with a split spoon auger, and to do soil density field tests and 'bake off's' on your own for a variety of reasons.  

1. Hiring a full time onsite testing lab is expensive and time consuming.  You have field techs who only are supposed to collect and test samples - in most cases they can not tell you if the test passed or failed only the results which you have to determine meet the Project Specs. Reports usually have to be generated by a lic. Soils PE back at the lab, - again time lost - especially if re-testing is required, or slightly below passing tests need to be 'averaged' with passing tests.

2.  Soils Borings are accurate only on the time & date taken, and representative only of the material sampling inside of the borehole.  It's my experience that far too few soils borings are taken on sites of mixed subsurficial strata & geology, urban sites, and wetlands.

3.  Assembling and maintaing a fully functional Soils Testing Kit is compairatively inexpensive, portable, and for the most part employs the use of readily available tools and test materials.

4.    Manual Soil testing is low tech, and can't break-down, dosen't rely on electricity, is a simple manual & equation process.  Is not affected by the weather.  Is not ruined, disabled or brokenm if drped on the ground, out of a pick up, drpped into a river off a dock, rained on, or by high humidiy, mold or rust. They are light weight and easily portable, made of rust resistant aluminum or stainless steel

5.  Manual soil testing is relatively easy to learn / teach and to use.  You can have probably buy 50 sand cone test kits & gas burners and 50 split spoon augers, for the price one NDT machine.

6. NDT's.  Nuclear Density Testing machines are expensive, relatively fragile, need to be baselined & set up for each use.  They are bulky, realatively heavy, do not take kindly to being dropped on the ground, will not work if dropped off a dock into a river.   if they need service they have to be shipped to the Manufacturer for repairs or re-calibration.

A Soil Density Testing Primer / Bible can be found at:

soils.usda.gov/sqi/assessmbly/files/te...

While your at it, I suggest you learn to inspect, test, and approve or reject cast-in-place redi-mix concrete for reinforcing steel placement, slump, air content, casting test cylinder sets, in-place pH testing.

Also consider learning how to test & certify structural steel weld & bolt connections, and structural wood framing

( Why learn how to and get certified to inspect these other construction materials?)  Money that's Why.  I often found that I was the only official "Inspector" for thousands of miles around, and I was coinstantly called upon by Goverment and Private concerns alike to investigate problems, assess the condition of structures and systems, advise on whether to remodel & add on, or tear down & build new, how to phase & sequence construction, review pricing & schedules, and of course to "Inspect" Projects for Conformance to the Plans and Specifications as an outside Consultant.  

I usually charged around $ 200.00 US plus all expenses, ( plane tickets, lodging, meals, -everthing), and in almost all cases I was given some really great "spiffs" for taking my time to do the work and give them a nice engraved leather bound report.  Spiffs like what?  All expense paid deep sea king salmon fishing or halibut weekends.  Memorial rifle & moose or bear hunt.  Memorial shotgun & Upland game Hunt.

Memorial Tribal Warrior's Battle dress spear and fighting stick, and Lion or Wildebeast hunt.  One Year Free guaranteed VIP Suite lodgings at any of a Major Upscale Interrnational Hotel Chain's Facilities, (no limit on stay length, no black out date, complementary room service).

Best of luck to you.

Good Luck