Geotechnical testing services

In the field of geotechnics, we offer laboratory and field tests for your products and building plots.

The building land is the central factor in construction projects – both above and below ground. It presents opportunities and risks in equal measure. In order to ensure maximum safety in construction projects, the services of geotechnical specialists are required.

Range of services

We provide services and expert reports for private and public clients.

All orders are carried out by qualified specialists from the relevant field and are treated confidentially.
Most of the testing performed is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS), accreditation number: STS 317. The SAS is a member of the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). This means that the tests accredited by us are recognised internationally.

We offer the following accredited tests:

Loose rock, soil, gravel

Identification of loose rocks, classification according to USCS (SN EN ISO 14688-2, SN 670004-2B-NA)
Determination of water content by oven drying (SN EN 1097-5, SN 670903-5B)
Determination of consistency limits (flow and roll-out limits of soils) (SN 670345B)
Determination of particle size distribution of aggregates – Sieve analysis (SN EN 933-1, SN 670902-1) and hydrometer method (SN 670816)
Organic matter in soils – Determination of ignition loss (SN 670370A)

Geotechnical exploration and investigation

Field studies: Dynamic probing (SN EN ISO 22476-2, SN 671318-2)
Standard test method for monitoring ground movement using probe-type inclinometers (ASTM D 6230-98)

Soils

Plate load test EV and ME (SN 670317B)

Loose rock, soils, building ground

Identification, description and classification of soil (field identification) (SN EN ISO 14688-1, SN 670004-1B)
Determination of shear strength, concepts and general testing conditions, triaxial test (DIN 18137-1, DIN 18137-2)
Determination of shear strength, concepts and general testing conditions, direct shear test (DIN 18137-1, DIN 18137-3)
Determination of coefficient of water permeability (k-value), laboratory tests (DIN 18130-1 (1998))
One-dimensional consolidation test (oedometer test) (CEN ISO/TS 17892-5 (2004) AC (2005), SN 670340-5)

Determination of the resistance to weathering (SN EN 12224, SN 670705 (SN 670741))
Method of artificial ageing by long term exposure to the combination of UV radiation, elevated temperature and water (SN EN 1297, SIA 289-309)

Plastics

Methods of exposure to laboratory light sources – Fluorescent UV lamps (SN EN ISO 4892-1, SN EN ISO 4892-3) *

We also offer other, non-accredited tests:

Determination of frost susceptibility of soils (SN 670 140)
Determination of simple compressive strength (SN 670 352)
Determination of the optimum density and water content by compaction (Proctor: SN 670 330-5, EN 13286-50)
Determination of the drained shear strength (CD) and the undrained shear strength (CU) (laboratory vane and pocket penetrometer: SN 670 350)
Determination of the density of the soil (sand replacement method and rubber balloon method: SN 670 335a)
Immersion weighing (SN 670 340-2)
Determination of the water absorption capacity of fine soil (Neff test: DIN 18132)
Testing the watertightness of concrete manholes (SIA 190.171, SN EN 1917:2002)
Vacuum triax for determining the shear strength of coarse-grained soils
Ring shear test (DIN 18137-3)
Infiltration test, determination of the infiltration rate with the double ring infiltrator (DIN 19682-7)
Field vane testing in water-saturated fine-grained soils (DIN 4096-4)
Tensiometer, determination of soil moisture tension (DIN EN 1340/A1)
Increx, measurement of vertical deformations
Echo sounding measurements
Dynamic plate load test

In addition, experts with extensive know-how are available for consultations, expert opinions and expert reports.

Infrastructure

The geotechnics laboratory allows us to apply an extremely wide range of analysis methods in geotechnics and engineering geology, using the following equipment: