Geotechnical testing determines the physical and mechanical properties of the ground that supports the works. Foundation type and depth, pavement layer design and the settlement a structure will undergo over time all follow from these figures.

Our laboratory carries out both classification tests — moisture content, bulk density, grading and Atterberg limits — and tests of mechanical behaviour: direct shear, oedometer consolidation and indirect tensile strength. For compacted layers we run Proctor and CBR tests and verify field compaction with the sand cone method.

A number of these tests are performed directly on site: density of the compacted layer, deformation modulus by static or dynamic plate, dynamic cone penetration and shear strength with a portable vane.

The geotechnical tests below are those our laboratory is accredited for under ISO/IEC 17025, certificate LT 069:

 

  1. Density and unit weight of the compacted layer (sand cone) — 1.1÷2.4 g/cm³ — ASTM D1556/D1556M-24; AASHTO T 191-14(2022)
  2. Bulk density of soil — 1.1÷1.8 g/cm³ — BS EN ISO 17892-2:2014
  3. Natural moisture content — ≥ 0.05 % — BS EN ISO 17892-1:2014+A1:2022
  4. Maximum dry density and optimum moisture content (Proctor) — 1.4÷2.35 g/cm³ — AASHTO T99-22; AASHTO T180-22; ASTM D1557-12(2021); ASTM D698-12(2021); BS EN 13286-2:2010
  5. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) — 0.1÷120 % — AASHTO T193-22; ASTM D1883-21; BS EN 13286-47:2021
  6. Particle size (hydrometer method) — ≤ 2 mm — BS 1377-2:2022; ASTM D7928-21e1
  7. Particle size (sieve analysis) — 0.063÷150 mm — ASTM D6913/D6913M-17
  8. Atterberg limits (liquid limit, plastic limit, plasticity index) — LL 1÷90 %, PL 1÷40 %, PI 1÷60 % — ASTM D4318-17e1; AASHTO T89-2022; BS EN ISO 17892-12:2018+A2:2022
  9. Direct shear strength — 0.1÷5 kN — BS EN ISO 17892-8:2018; BS EN ISO 17892-9:2018
  10. Shear strength of cohesive soils (portable vane) — 0.1÷25 N/cm² — BS EN ISO 17892-8:2018
  11. One-dimensional consolidation (oedometer) — vertical settlement 0.1÷10 mm — ASTM D2435/D2435M-11(2020); BS EN ISO 17892-5:2017
  12. Deformation modulus by static plate load test — < 300 MN/m² — CNR B.U. 146
  13. Deformation modulus by dynamic plate — < 150 MN/m² — TP BF-StB Part B 8.3
  14. Dynamic cone penetration (DCP) — 0.1÷120 % — ASTM D6951/D6951M-18
  15. Indirect tensile strength (Brazilian test) — < 15 MPa — BS EN 13286-42:2003

Please contact us for further details

Accreditation

Independently verified competence

Our laboratory is accredited by the General Directorate of Accreditation (DPA) of the Republic of Albania to S SH ISO/IEC 17025:2017, “General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories”.

ISO/IEC170252017
Testing Laboratory

Registration number LT 069. Granted 08.06.2025 and valid until 07.06.2029. The certificate is issued together with its accredited scope.

View certificate (PDF)

ISO/IEC170252017
Calibration Laboratory

Registration number LK 005. Granted 06.08.2025 and valid until 05.08.2029. The certificate is issued together with its accredited scope.

View certificate (PDF)

DPA is a signatory of the EA MLA and the ILAC MRA for testing.