1. We are WSP
  2. What we do
  3. Services
  4. Materials testing and analysis

We provide contractors, consultants and engineers within local authorities with testing services for a variety of materials 

From cement testing, concrete cylinder, comprehensive strength test and tension testing, be assured that our nationally recognised research and laboratory teams have the knowledge and equipment to deliver.

Soil testing

Our comprehensive soil and aggregate testing laboratory offers a wide range of tests so that geotechnical and pavement engineers can define the engineering properties required to design pavements and foundations for a variety of structures.

The testing ensures that the pavement and foundations perform as expected and meet the asset owners design life requirements.

Bituminous materials testing

We have an extensive testing laboratory with experience in the assessment and testing of a wide range of bitumen-based materials. We perform the full suite of tests required by the NZTA in their M1 specification on roading bitumen's. We can also test asphaltic concrete to ensure it complies with NZTA's M10 specification including onsite removal of cores to determine density and compaction.

Concrete testing

Concrete testing is carried out in accordance with a variety of New Zealand, Australian and other international standards to determine fresh or hardened concrete properties, concrete, stone and clay paver performance, and cement quality.

img_Concrete test
Concrete durability testing
- Abrasion resistance
- Carbonation depth
- Carbonation resistance
- Chloride ion contamination
- Chloride ion diffusion
- Chemical resistance
- Water permeability
- Water absorption
- Water absorptivity
Reinforcing steel testing
- In situ
- Laboratory tests
- Strength testing
- Hardness testing
Concrete reinforcement (steel)
- Location
- Scanning
- Cover depth
- Testing
- Condition
- Corrosion risk assessment
- Strength
- Leeb hardness
Paver testing
- Breaking load
- Strength
- Abrasion resistance
- Slip resistance
- Dimensional tolerance

Fresh concrete sampling and testing, concrete mix trials, concrete core sampling, testing, and evaluation.

Concrete strength testing including compressive strength, tensile strength and flexural strength.

Concrete elastic modulus testing, Poisson’s ratio testing, creep testing and concrete shrinkage testing.

Concrete durability with either our on-site testing and assessment or lab testing.

Concrete materials quality and specification and chemical analysis of hardened concrete.

Concrete thermal resistivity and expansion testing

Concrete pipe testing, concrete aggregate testing, dimensional tolerance, grout testing, Shotcrete testing, concrete product testing and corrosion risk assessments,

Cement testing, fibre reinforced concrete testing, petrographic assessment of aggregates and concrete.

Alkali aggregate reaction (AAR) testing and evaluation

Alkali silica reaction (ASR) testing and evaluation

Concrete mould hire

Structural steel hardness and strength testing

For concrete bridges and culverts, concrete tunnels. pipelines, water retaining structures, concrete dams, buildings and structures.

Steel / Structures testing

We operate a structural testing laboratory based around a range of loading, measurement and data logging equipment with the capability to test a variety of materials and components under simulated load.

The laboratory has a strong floor that allows virtually any material or structure to be tested. Dynamic testing may be used to simulate seismic or cyclic loading using a range of servo-controlled test machines and actuators with capacities ranging from five tonnes to 200 tonnes.

A shake table is used to test the earthquake resilience of a variety of materials and components. Static testing may be carried out on the strong floor using jacks and calibrated load cells or using a range of universal test machines with capacities between one tonne and 100 tonnes.

  • Random verification testing
  • Steel RVT
  • Steel tensile test
  • Reinforcing test
  • Steel bend testing
  • 4671 test

Improve the performance of your infrastructure materials

Our team can assist with improving the performance of infrastructure via thorough material testing capabilities and technologies.

Our management and operating practices are accredited to the International Quality Management System (ISO 9001) and many of our laboratory services have ISO 17025 accreditation. In addition we have nationally recognised material specialists working in our team.


Why should you test your materials?

The likelihood of sourcing non-standard materials in construction is high. The use of alternative, cheaper and non-standard products in New Zealand can lead to significant decreases to the assets life.

Contact your nearest WSP laboratory to receive a quote