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Labinsight: Building Science Laboratory

(Pubbl. 13/12/2023)

Tag: labinsight testing of building materials

The Construction Science Department is certainly one of the oldest departments of Istituto Giordano; in order to meet the different needs of its customers, the laboratory has diversified into three different branches: construction, geotechnics and testing and inspection.

Over the years, the laboratory has acquired the skills and expertise to respond to a market that is increasingly focused on the preservation and protection of existing buildings and properties. Our teams of specialist professionals work alongside and with technicians, surveyors, engineers, architects and site managers to plan the investigations to be carried out in accordance with the client's requirements.

To find out more about the department, we asked its manager, Gianluca Ferraiolo, a few questions.

What are the main activities of the laboratory?

The main activities are the performance of laboratory tests and site investigations for civil engineering and geotechnical road construction.
Activities all aimed at qualifying and determining the mechanical properties of construction materials and products:

Compression tests on materials such as concrete, soil and rock, bricks, masonry, mortar and plaster, jet grouting;
Tests on building products such as gratings and drainage channels, lintels, kerbs, stone paving, septic tanks, and tile adhesives;
Tensile tests on steel, steel structures, carbon fibre composite products (FRC, FRCM);
Adhesion, freeze-thaw, thermal shock, wear and slipperiness tests on floors;
Stress testing, non-destructive testing, monitoring and investigation of existing structures and buildings.

What rules govern testing activities?

In Italy, the Technical Standards for Construction were published with the Ministerial Decree of 17/01/2018 and the subsequent application circular of 21/01/2019 of the C.S.LL.PP are the reference for materials and products for structural use, as well as for the safety assessment of existing structures and constructions. These documents refer to all the reference procedures and regulations for the testing of construction materials and products.
The Construction Science Division operates under the authority of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport to:

Carry out and certify tests on construction materials in accordance with Art. 20 of Law 1086/71, Art. 59 of Presidential Decree 380/2001 and circ. no. 7617/STC (authorisation D.M. no. 22913 of 27/11/1982);
Carry out and certify tests on soil and rock pursuant to Art. 59 of Presidential Decree 380/2001 and circ. no. 7618/STC (authorisation D.M. no. 5513 of 18/08/2014);
Perform and certify tests and inspections of building materials on existing structures and works pursuant to Art. 59 of Presidential Decree 380/2001 and circ. no. 633/STC (authorisation D.M. no. 18 of 03/01/2022).

What equipment do you use to carry out the tests?

The laboratory is equipped with a wide range of equipment, including universal presses for tensile and compression tests, with full scales from a few kN up to 3000 kN to test different types of materials, monitoring equipment with remote management, electronic instruments for destructive and non-destructive testing, and climatic chambers with temperature and humidity control. We also have test benches that can be set up according to customer requirements. However, the main resource is the technicians, whose skills and competencies are also certified by the possession of 2nd and 3rd level licences for non-destructive testing in the civil sector.