Tests on construction products
> Testing > Evaluations > Certification > Inspection
Concrete steel, reinforcement steel mesh, prestressing steel, post tensioning kits and anchoring systems for prestressing of structures
The main task of the Empa certification body (CB) for construction products is the conformity assessment of reinforcing steel in the delivery of bars, coils and meshes from steel manufacturer, steel cutting and bending plants and of post tensioning kits for prestressing of structures incl. anchoring systems. The activities of Empa CB and all necessary testing are subject to accreditation (SCESp0022 and STS0053). Based on the application according to SN EN ISO/IEC 17020:2012, SN EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018, SN EN ISO/IEC 17065:2013.
The Empa certification covers all stages in the supply chain from the prestressing of raw materials, the manufacture of steel and construction products through to the product installation or delivery to the customer.
Empa certification body mainly carry out conformity assessments with on-site sampling, auditing of the manufacturer and testing at Empa (System 1+).
The following construction products are subject to contractually regulated monitoring:
- concrete reinforcing steel as bar and ring material
- concrete steel as reinforcing mesh
- concrete stainless reinforcing steel
- further processing of reinforcing steel in coils
- tensioning and anchoring systems
Empa certification body also offers to assess the conformity of the following prestressing steel products (based on AVCP 4), whereby the manufacturer must have external monitoring in accordance with AVCP 1+:
- prestressing steel strands
- prestressing steel wire
- prestressing steel bars
In addition to conformity assessment, other construction products are also tested and assessed according to customer requirements. These include in particular static and dynamic fatigue tests, such as:
- tests on reinforcing steel connectors (couplers, steel sleeves)
- testing methods and identification of old (historical) reinforcing steels
- tests on prestressing steels and anchorage systems
- tests on tieback systems and all kind of prestressing systems for geotechnology
- customer specific test setups with strain and deformation measurement
- tests on other construction products (of metal or fibre reinforced plastic parts)
Empa certification body works with other Empa internal and external laboratories in order to offer the widest possible range of services. For example, the Empa departments Advanced Analytical Technologies, Concrete / Construction Chemistry und Structural Engineering.
The current, publicly accessible registers are published on the webpage of the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA):
www.sia.ch/register
The evaluation by Empa certification body is based on management system and full requirements of the relevant accredited laboratory STS0053. Contact us anytime, for any questions, also if you need support, we are happy to advise you!
On the link you can find an overview of our most common test equipment:
- Test equipment
Our range of accreditation:
- Accreditation of Empa certification body SCESp 0022
- Accreditation of Empa testing lab 304 STS 0053
If you have questions about accreditation or on individual testing requirements, please, do not hesitate to contac us.
Contact: P. Ebschner, S. Innella
Enclosed are some links, according to the respective section:
Manufacturer of reinforcing steel in bars, coils and meshes
- Request of certification (EN)
- Informationsblatt für unlegierten Qualitätsstahl/Schwarzstahl (DE)
- Informationsblatt für Nichtrostenden Betonstahl (NRB) (DE)
Further processing of reinforcing steel in coils
- Request of certification (EN)
- Informationsblatt (DE)
Manufacturer of prestressing steel
- Request of certification (EN)
- Information sheet (EN)
Manufacturer of tensioning and anchoring systems
- Technische Bewertungsstelle für Bauprodukte
- Informationsblatt (DE)
- Application form for post tensioning kits and anchor systems for prestressing (EN)