At the heart of any successful construction project lies quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC). Our team works closely with contractors, consultants, and testing firms to track and report on the critical materials testing and special inspections that ensure every project meets its required standards. Whether it’s soil compaction, concrete strength, or structural integrity, we provide a detailed overview of how our materials testing and special inspections reporting process adds value to each project.

What is Materials Testing & Special Inspections Reporting?

Our role in materials testing and special inspections is to ensure that all tests and inspections are being conducted as per the contractual obligations and industry standards. These reports cover a wide range of testing services, including but not limited to:

Earthwork inspections such as grading, drainage, and compaction.

Laboratory and field density testing.

Excavation, shoring, and support of excavation (SOE) for deep excavations.

Inspections for reinforcing steel placement and structural inspections (bolted and welded connections).

Testing of concrete, grout, and mortar, including post-tensioned tendon elongations.

Wood sheathing nailing patterns, exterior sheathing, waterproofing, stucco, siding applications, and roofing installations.

These tests and inspections are often conducted by the Geotechnical Engineer of Record or third-party Construction Materials Testing (CMT) firms hired by the project owner. Many states and jurisdictions (such as New York City) require special inspections, which must be carried out by certified inspectors and reported directly to the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ).

Scope of Testing and Inspections

To ensure that testing and inspection services are conducted as required, we take the following steps:

Confirm the Scope of Services
We begin by obtaining copies of proposals or contracts with the geotechnical, CMT, design consultants, and special inspection firms. This helps verify that these firms have been engaged and outlines the scope of their testing and inspection responsibilities. We confirm the frequency, type, and number of inspections to be made to ensure they meet project requirements.

Evaluate Testing & Inspections
Next, we assess whether the appropriate testing and inspections are being carried out. Key questions we address include:

Is the scope clearly defined and reasonable according to what has been contracted?

Are the tests being conducted in accordance with the geotechnical report, project specifications, and ASTM standards?

Are any adjustments needed to the scope of testing?

It is crucial that this review is conducted early in the construction phase, as failure to contract the necessary testing and inspections is a major red flag.

Reporting Requirements
We ensure that the testing and inspection firms provide timely and complete reports. These reports must be accurate and include the project details, testing conditions, results, and references to applicable test standards. If a test fails or conditions are deficient, the report should recommend retesting or rework to resolve the issues.

Document Access
To stay on top of ongoing inspections, we request access to all testing and inspection reports. We often ask to be added to the distribution list for testing firms or for access to project management systems (such as ProCore, Box.com, or Dropbox) where these documents are stored.

Tracking Deficiencies & Ensuring Timely Resolution

One of the critical aspects of our role is monitoring deficiencies and ensuring that any issues are addressed quickly to avoid costly delays or rework. We follow these steps:

Tracking Deficiencies
We do not summarize every deficiency in our reports; instead, we focus on verifying that any failed tests or deficient conditions have been properly communicated to the design team and resolved promptly. The longer issues are allowed to linger, the more costly they become to fix.

Deficiency Log
A deficiency or deviation log is a vital tool for tracking issues and their resolution. This log may be kept by the CMT firm or the project team, and we make sure to include it in our provided documents. If a deficiency log is not being used, we alert the client and encourage them to implement one to streamline communication and resolution.

Reporting on Issues
We don’t just report that a test failed—we also track whether the issue has been resolved. For example, if failed compaction tests occur, we ensure that the issue is addressed within a day or two, as the soil must be recompacted before further layers are added.

Concrete Testing
Concrete tests are a significant part of our reporting process. Concrete cylinders are tested at multiple intervals (such as 7, 28, and 56 days) to track strength development. While we do not accept or reject results, we track these tests and provide recommendations if 7-day tests are questionable, ensuring that the 28-day results are followed up on appropriately.

Reporting Suggestions & Best Practices

To streamline our reporting process and ensure our clients are informed, we provide the following recommendations:

Clear Reporting of Testing Results
We report on the dates through which reports have been received and reviewed, including tracking failed tests that need retesting or corrective actions. We keep a count of issues for transparency and follow-up.

Timely Action for Failed Tests
Some tests, like failed compaction tests, need immediate correction. We track the failed results and report that these have been rectified as soon as possible, ensuring that the project moves forward without delay.

Concrete Strength Testing
We pay special attention to concrete tests, particularly the 7-day tests. While a passing result at 7 days doesn’t guarantee final acceptance, we track any questionable results for follow-up at 28 days, ensuring that any failure is addressed with the structural engineer of record for final determination.

Our Value to Clients

Through comprehensive materials testing and special inspections reporting, we add value by:

Ensuring that all tests and inspections are completed according to schedule and meet industry standards.

Monitoring and tracking deficiencies to ensure timely resolution.

Providing clear and actionable recommendations for dealing with failed tests or construction issues.

Ensuring that construction projects remain on track and meet regulatory and contractual requirements.

By closely monitoring testing and inspection results, we provide peace of mind to our clients, ensuring the highest standards of quality are maintained throughout the project’s lifecycle.