Page 60 - Urban Construction Project Management

Testing and Quality Control

3 (Why do we have to test?)

WHAT IS TESTING?

Testing, in terms of construction projects, is an impartial and systematic way to prove
that the construction components that have been installed meet the criteria established
by the construction documents, the various agencies, user groups, quality control
groups, and building codes (hereto referred to as organizations). All of these organiza-
tions publish detailed testing procedures to be followed during the construction process.
A failure of any of the components used on a construction site may have catastrophic
results. As you may know, the construction industry unfortunately has an extensive
history of building failures, due to one or more components not performing to estab-
lished standards. Hence, testing has become routine and a compulsory part of sound and
responsible construction. A testing flowchart is indicated in Exhibit 3-1.

TESTING GROUPS

Testing procedures are grouped as follows:
1. Mixtures (i.e., concrete, soil)
2. Connections (i.e., welding, bolts)
3. Assemblies (i.e., curtain walls, roofs)
4. Material (i.e., steel, cement, aluminum, glass)
5. Load capacity (i.e., piles, concrete cylinders, steel)
6. Pressures (i.e., pipes, duct work)
7. Flow (i.e., air balancing, water balancing, sprinklers)
8. Systems (i.e., life safety, electrical)
9. Performance (i.e., elevators, mechanical equipment, electrical equipment)

The following are examples of testing for the aforementioned testing groups.
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