Material Testing and Quality Control Department

Any company which perform activities in different fields of construction, an emphasis of quality works shall be given much attention. MASTOUR READY MIXED CONCRETE COMPANY, design its company with great reliance from its customers to have first class quality output. The company established its own Material Testing and Quality Control Department to look over the quality of its products.
General Purpose:
The Material Testing and Quality Control Department (MTQCD) general purpose is to provide assistance to the company with respect to the choice of materials needed to be used on its products, with which the company gain profit without sacrificing the quality of works.
Specific Purpose:
• The department shall resort ways and means to provide and meet the design data, standard and specifications provided by the clients.
• Conduct different testing s to any types of materials in order to meet client's requirements.
• Design mixes and works in conformity with the submitted data and standards and specifications.
• Regularly performed testing to all finished products, if it attains the requirements and does immediate action or solutions to any problem that affects the quality.
SCOPE OF WORK:
A.   Aggregate Testing
- includes sieve analysis of different types of aggregates, specific gravity and other physical and quality tests.
B.    Mix Design-
- when all the necessary data for the design have been tested and passed all requirements, the department will produced a Mix Design in conformity with the set standards and specification.
C.    Concrete Mix Test
- uniformity of mix, slump test, unit weight, air content and other test set by clients requirements . Sampling and curing of concrete samples and take the compressive strength at 7 and 28 days respectively.
Other tests shall be performed by the department depending on the requirements set by the clients or by the representative involved.
Commonly used name of materials and words in laboratory:
• Cement - OPC / Ordinary Portland
• SRC / Sulfate Resistant Cement
• Graded Gravel (Coarse aggregate)- Sizes (3/8", 1/2", 3/4", 1"and so on....)
• Sand (Fine Aggregate) - mechanically screened to produce clean and free from silt.
• Chemical Dyes - use to produce colored concrete.
• Microsilica - use for water tanks, swimming pools and other structures. Also what is known as water proofing?.
Admixtures: • Type A - Water reducing
• Type B - Set retarding
• Type D - Water reducing and retarding
• Type F - High range water reducing
• Type G - High range water reducing and retarding.
Cooling System:
The company has a cooling system consist of chiller to cool the water up to 8 degrees centigrade. Cooled water is used in concrete during hot weather. Ice is used if chilled water is not enough to cool the mix up 32 degrees centigrade.
Technical Recommendation:
• Should follow the recommendation of the engineer during casting.
• On the client, to make effort to unload the concrete from the truck mixer as soon as possible. Time factor is very important for the quality of concrete.
• During concrete pouring, especially on columns, walls, slabs and other small pouring areas vibrators are highly recommended to avoid honeycombs and to remove air voids to maintain quality of concrete and shape.
• We recommend good wood (lumber) in columns and walls to have a good quality and shape of work.
• Additional water at site is prohibited; it should be approved by the engineer or in charge.
Recommendation after concrete is poured:
• Moisture must be maintained during the process of curing. Rapid loss of moisture will affect the quality of concrete.
• Treatment or covering with wet burlap is recommended.
• Ponding is another method for curing.
• Cure new concrete with spraying curing compound is also advisable.