Onsite materials testing can save subcontractors time and money

Onsite materials testing can help contractors solve problems earlier and avoid costly investigations, testing company Bureau Veritas Laboratories has claimed.
Uxbridge laboratory manager Roger Rattue said contractors waste much of their resources looking into minor problems.
"There are always problems, but it can get out of control when contractors are having meetings and lose man hours at the top level," said Rattue.
"Control testing means doing more work upfront rather than having to go back afterwards. It involves regular testing at short intervals to achieve standard compliance of materials."
Rattue said subcontractors see the benefits in insurance
premiums by avoiding costly investigations. "Insurance companies aren't involved at that marginal level - they only usually get involved when there's a materials failure," he said.
Bureau Veritas general manager Jerome Rutler said problems often result in simultaneous investigations by the onsite contractor, the main contractor and the engineer. He added that the cost for investigations often lies with the subcontractor.