Laboratory Facilities and Services
The Thompson & Lichtner Laboratory is located in a 10,000 sq. ft. facility at 480 Neponset Street, Canton, MA, and is staffed and equipped to provide the physical testing of most construction materials, including concrete aggregates, soils, masonry, bituminous materials, roofing materials, weatherproofing materials, steel, plaster, paint and timber.
Our laboratory provides a wide range of specialized and related analytical and testing services, both as an independent service and in support of our inspection and building enclosure weatherproofing services, utilizing test specifications of ASTM, ANSI, Federal and other national standards setting organizations. Contract, walk-in, and mail-in laboratory services are available, with convenient payment options of cash, checks, and credit cards.
Our laboratory is examined every 2 1/2 years by the Cement and Concrete Reference Laboratory of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly the National Bureau of Standards). It is certified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State Building Code Commission as Concrete Testing Laboratory Number 001, and has been recognized by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the American Concrete Institute for membership and contributions to both organizations for over 60 years.
Lab Equipment
In addition to standard industry equipment, our staff works with our clients to design custom test apparatuses and procedures for specialized testing and measurement requirements.
Our Field Inspectors
provide services in field inspection of piles, soils, cast-in-place concrete, precast concrete, structural steel, fireproofing, masonry, curtain walls, window systems, roofing and other elements of new construction, plus inspection of repairs of deficient conditions in existing construction.
Laboratory Tests, partial list
- Bolt tests
- Brick tests: Initial rate of suction, absorption, modulus of rupture, compression, stack-bond prism tests, efflorescence
- Calibration tests: Hydraulic jacks, stressometers, load cells, Skidmore.
- Coatings and waterproofing material tests: Paint, caulking and sealants, flashing materials, adhesives and mastic.
- Concrete Aggregate Tests: Sieve analysis, specific gravity, absorption, friable particles, soft particles, lightweight particles, flat particles, elongated particles, abrasion, alkali reactivity, organic, pH test, weight dry loose, weight dry rodded, composition, staining test, silt, soundness.
- Concrete tests: Cylinder tests, cube tests, grout prism tests, mix designs.
- Mortar tests: Cubes, water retention, efflorescence.
- Pull tests: adhesion test of wall and deck membranes.
- Rebar and Steel tests: Tension test, bond test, hardness test, weldability test.
- Soils tests: unconfined compression, grading – washed, Proctor, moisture content, grading – dry, consolidation, plastic limit.
- Soils tests (loam): Organic, moisture absorption capability, chemical (NPK), washed grading, hydrometer, pH.
- Sprayed fireproofing tests: Field sampling, density tests, composition tests.
- Wood tests: Modulus of elasticity, static bend tests, compression tests, tensile tests, shear tests
Completed Laboratory Testing, partial list
- Load tests of structural elements, including precast concrete members, bar joists and exterior wall panel systems.
- Analyses of causes of window glass etching.
- Calibration of load cells and jack assemblies.
- Evaluation of carbon monoxide concentrations in warehouses and garages.
- Evaluation of paint thickness – coatings, waterproofing coatings and sealants.
- Load testing of anchors and rebar splices.
- Load tests of cladding relief angles and wedge inserts.
- Product tests of concrete roof paving blocks.
- Chemical analyses of road salt.
- Condition survey of wood trusses in ice hockey rink.
