Mortar/Screed Testing

Mortar has played a major role in construction since ancient times with the oldest example having been found in Israel and thought to date back 10,000 years. Much of the ancient mortar still in existence remains durable today, a testament to the long lasting nature of the material.

In practice, a mortar joint acts as a sealant, a bearing pad, the glue that sticks the units together yet keeps them apart and, in this sense, performs as a gap-ﬁlling adhesive.

Today, mortar in the UK is produced to the speciﬁcation BS EN 998-2: Speciﬁcation for mortar for masonry – Part 2: Masonry mortar

BS EN 13318 defines a screed as: A layer or layers of screed material laid in situ, directly onto a base, bonded or unbonded, or onto an intermediate layer or insulating layer, to obtain one or more of the following purposes:

To obtain a defined level;
To carry the final flooring;
To provide a wearing surface.

Mortar and Screed Testing

ACS Testing carry out a wide range of mortar and screed in-situ testing in Hospitals, Schools, Shops and Warehouses as well as taking fresh samples for laboratory analysis.

We also carry out in-situ crushing resistance (ISCR) testing on screeds laid in the above mentioned buildings, the screed is subjected to repeat impact blows by dropping a weight vertically down a guide onto a hardened steel anvil in contact with the screed surface. This test determine the resistance of levelling screeds to the crushing effect of imposed loads and traffic in service.

Our Hygrometer survey of screed is to determine the humidity of the screeds, this is required before flooring products are laid and bonded to the screed surface.

Examples of our In-Situ and Laboratory testing includes:

Test	Method	What is shows
In-Situ Crushing Resistance of Screeds	BS 8204-1	Resistance to the crushing effect of imposed loads and traffic
Hygrometer Survey	BS 5325	Measurement of relative humidity values above porous surfaces such as screeds and concretes
Flexural and Compressive Strength of Screed	BS EN 13892-2	Determines the flexural and compressive strength of prisms
Mix Proportions of Screed	BS 4551	Determines traditional volume proportions and screed designation
Adhesive strength of hardened rendering and plastering mortar	BS EN 1015-12	Determines the maximum tensile stress applied by a direct load at right angles to the surface of the rendering
Flexural and Compressive Strength of Mortar	BS EN 1015-11	Determines the flexural and compressive strength of prisms
Mix Proportions of Mortar	BS 4551	Determines traditional volume proportions and mortar designation

Please see below for a list of the services provided by ACS;

Geo Environmental Consultancy
The ACS Geo-Environmental Consultancy Department has been operating as part the ACS Group of Companies for 8 years
On-Site Testing Services
ACS Testing offer a comprehensive range of professional On-Site Testing, all carried out by our fully trained Site Technicians
Aggregates & Soils Testing
From our main Laboratory in Poole, Dorset, ACS Group of Companies provide quality testing and material consultancy for the construction and civil engineering industry.
Bituminous Testing
Bituminous road surfacing materials are produced by mixing mineral aggregate with a bitumen binder in predetermined quantities and within defined temperature ranges.

Concrete Testing
Concrete was the first service to be offered by ACS Testing back in 1987, since then we have increased our scope to cover a wide range of UKAS Accredited testing on fresh and hardened concrete, both on site and in our laboratories.
Mortar & Screed Testing
Mortar has played a major role in construction since ancient times with the oldest example having been found in Israel and thought to date back 10,000 years.
Contamination & WAC Testing
At ACS Environmental Testing we offer an efficient and reliable analysis service using various test leaching procedures specified by the Environment Agency.
Chemical Testing
ACS Environmental Ltd was established in 2007 to complement the physical materials testing service provided by ACS Testing Ltd to offer a range of analytical services to clients in order to meet their overall needs.

Leachate & Water Analysis
Our purpose built analytical laboratory enables ACS Environmental Testing Ltd to provide, in conjunction with our other group companies, a comprehensive sampling, monitoring and analysis service on a wide range of leachate and water samples.
Natural Stone Testing
Our newly refurbished Stone Testing Laboratory has given us the opportunity to expand our testing scope as well as increase production and better improve on our turnaround of samples.
Site Laboratory Service
Over the last twenty-five years, ACS Testing Ltd have supplied custom fitted Site Laboratories with Technicians to many construction sites and projects worldwide.

ACS Group of Companies offer a professional weekly collection service covering the South of England and Wales. See below for our coverage range;

Contact One of the Team

If you require a collection that is outside of our usual range, please feel free to call us on 01202 622858 or contact us and we will do our best to accommodate your requirements.