Materials Testing
Materials Tested Include Paint, Concrete and Aggregates
Staffordshire Scientific Services offers a testing service for a wide range of products and raw materials to British Standard specifications where applicable. This service is popular among architects, building and civil engineering companies as well as with public sector highways and environmental health departments.
Materials tested include:
- Concrete: composition, chloride, sulphate, BS1881
- Aggregates: BS 812 Pt 117
- Mortar: quality of the mix
- Asphalts – leaching test BSEN 1744
- Paint: pigment, solvent content, lead
- Soil: BS 1377 Part 3, contamination
- Red shales: sulphate content also known as the ‘red ash test’
- Blastfurnace slag: BS 1047 sulphate content etc.
- Wood preservatives: Presence of active ingredients
- Metals and alloys: Composition/impurities
The above list is not exhaustive, please call us if you have any queries.
Where necessary, physical testing of these materials can be arranged through the Staffordshire County Council Highways Laboratory which is UKAS accredited.
Contaminated Land, and Soil Analysis
We have much experience of carrying out chemical analysis for the assessment of contaminated or derelict land prior to redevelopment or reclamation. We screen soils for Environmental Impact testing, and take guidance from the Environment Agency where available. We can carry out an ecological risk assessment for contaminants in soils.
Topsoil can be tested to BS3882, and the TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons) of soils can be tested under the Environment Agency’s Hazardous Waste Regulations Click here for HWR08.
The laboratory will be happy to take part at any stage in the investigative process.
Plant and Soil Analysis
Staffordshire Scientific Services offers analysis of nutrients, phytotoxins, pesticide and herbicide residues in soil and plant samples. Farmers and landscapers need to have soil checked before moving it.
This may also be of interest to organisations involved in the management of parks, gardens, and playing fields, or in weed and pest control or where investigation of possible malicious damage to soil or plants is suspected.
We can provide the certification which is required for premium grade topsoil.
The British Standard BS3882 for topsoils that are moved or traded contains tests for nutrient levels, metals toxic to plants, contamination, phosphate, nitrogen content and cations.
Heavy metals
The laboratory has state of the art technology for testing metals such as lead, mercury, chromium and arsenic, etc.
Chemical Emergencies
Scientific staff employed by the laboratory attend chemical emergencies at the request of the Police, Fire and Rescue Services and Environmental Health Inspectors. Chemical spillages, unknown chemicals and fly-tipped materials are identified and advice on safe handling is given.
For Waste Disposal and Fuel Analysis and Air Pollution click the links
Links to Further information
Our Credentials
Staffordshire Scientific Services is an efficient and reliable scientific service offering testing and analysis, advice and support to customers in the public and private sector.
We have two Public Analysts, twenty well-qualified, experienced staff, based in our Stafford laboratory which is accredited to UKAS Quality Standard ISO/IEC 17025 and is an Official UK Food Enforcement Laboratory.
View UKAS accreditation schedule for Staffordshire.
Getting In Touch
Staffordshire Scientific Services
14 Martin Street
Stafford ST16 2LG
T: 01785 277 825 F: 01785 277 812Email: county.analysts@staffordshire.gov.uk
Staffordshire County Council website
