Geotechnical testing services

In the field of geotechnics, we offer laboratory and field tests for your products and construction sites.

The subsoil is a decisive factor in construction projects – both above and beneath the surface. It harbours opportunities and risks in equal measure. To ensure maximum safety in construction projects, the services of geotechnical specialists are required.

Range of services

We provide services and expert reports for customers from the private and public sector.
All orders are carried out by trained specialists and are treated confidentially.

The majority of the tests are accredited in accordance with 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 material, classification according to the 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: sieving method (SN EN 933-1, SN 670902-1) and slurry analysis using the hydrometer method (SN 670816)
Determination of shear strength, terms and basic test conditions, triaxial tests (DIN 18137-1, DIN 18137-2)
Determination of shear strength, terms and basic test conditions, direct shear tests (DIN 18137-1, DIN 18137-2)
Determination of the water permeability coefficient (k-value), laboratory tests (DIN 18130-1 [1998])
One-dimensional compression tests (oedometer tests) (CEN ISO/TS 17892-5 (2004) AC (2005), SN 670340-5)

Soils (not accredited)

Organic additions on soil quality: determination of loss on ignition (SN 670370A)
Determination of optimum density and water content by compaction (Proctor: SN 670 330-5, EN 13286-50)
Determination of the water absorption capacity of the fine fractions of soils (Neff test: DIN 18132)
Triaxal tests by vacuum technique to determine the shear strength of coarse-grained soils

Geotechnical exploration and investigation (not accredited)

Field investigations: 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)
Plate load test EV and ME (SN 670317B)
Dynamic plate load test
Infiltration test, determination of the infiltration rate with the double ring infiltrometer (DIN 19682-7)
Echo sounding

Assessment Authority for Rockfall Protection Nets

The competence area Geotechnics and Natural Phenomena is commissioned by the Expert Commission for Avalanches and Rockfall (EKLS) of the Federal Office for the Environment FOEN. As such, it is responsible for the Assessment Authority for Rockfall Protection Nets.

Further information

In addition, experts with extensive know-how can provide advice, expert opinions and expert reports.

Infrastructure

The geotechnics laboratory allows us to carry out an extensive range of analytical methods in geotechnics and engineering geology, using the following equipment: