HIXTRA LTD

We come across many earthworks specifications calling for, amongst other things, MCV testing as part of the classification regime to establish whether the material conforms. Stop! To just carry out an MCV test on it’s own at the classification stage is pointless. MCV testing is designed to replace actual water content measurements of cohesive fill material during the laying and compacting process. Water content tests can take 24 hours before the result is known (as the sample has to be dried in an oven overnight) so if a fill material has failed the boundaries of acceptable water content it could be a day before this is known and the material could be buried under several other layers of fill! To overcome this time-issue then good practice using an MCV could take the form of:- Before Laying and Compacting: Establish the maximum dry density and optimum water content of the fill material using a dropping hammer compaction test. Conduct an MCV test at several water contents above and below the optimum water content to establish a relationship between water content and MCV. Establish what minimum and maximum MCV values equate to a water content compliant with the specification. Laying and Compacting: Conduct regular MCV tests on-site as the fill material is ready for compacting and get an instant result of compliance (or not)! We are always ready to help you get the most out of your testing. Please get in touch if you’d like to know more.

UKAS accreditation recommended to continue! https://lnkd.in/enNpnhBz

To compliment, support and extend our ground testing services we are pleased to now offer full diamond-cored drilling on any site in England or Wales. This service uses state-of-the-art coring technology utilised by our experienced technicians and can be used in many situations including:    - Concrete coring of existing floors in warehouses etc to assess concrete condition and depth and neatly expose underlying materials for further testing  - Tarmac and other surfacing coring to assess layer depth for compliance purposes  - Investigatory coring into materials and structures to assess compliance or investigate failure    We have the scope to core from 50mm to 400mm diameter holes at various depths and orientations. Our equipment is portable and hugely versatile and available at short notice.    If you would like any further information or to book some coring then please do get in touch. 

To help get the most out of plate bearing tests to establish ground performance for mobile cranes here are a few simple guidelines:    • Ask to use the widest diameter plate available as the wider the plate, the more accurately the test will replicate outrigger ground pressure zones. We have up to 760mm diameter plates!    • Calculate your maximum ground pressure under each outrigger, specific to the lift, and ask that the test pressures are at least 1.5 times higher than this; the higher the test pressure the better.    • Test all over the area where the crane may be used, not just directly under the planned outrigger locations.    • Test at the edges of fabricated pile mats as often outriggers end up there and the edges can be the weakest point.    • Ask that your testing company is UKAS accredited for plate bearing tests to ensure their competence    • Ignore CBR values for the top of a crane mat, they are for road subgrade construction and have nothing to do with ground stability for mobile cranes; pressure and resulting settlement are key.    • Ensure you have access to a competent person to assess the plate bearing test results who can check that:  - the maximum ground pressure has been calculated correctly  - the tests have exceeded this pressure by at least 1.5 times  - the test plate diameter is appropriate for the size of outriggers used  - the tests have been conducted in the correct location  - the tests are UKAS accredited  - the resulting maximum measured ground settlement is within acceptable parameters    If you need any further assistance you know where we are! 

We are pleased to announce that Hixtra is now certified to the Van Excellence Scheme.    Van Excellence is a scheme designed with safety and efficiency at its core, by some of the best van operators in the UK; facilitated and managed by Logistics UK to recognise excellence and improve operational standards. At its heart are the Van Excellence Standards outlining 'what good looks like' in van operations.    Van Excellence has been developed to allow operators to ensure their standards of operation meet the requirements of the audit standards, thus enabling them to be recognised as van operators that adhere to a best practice framework. It is a sign to our customers, clients, staff and supply chain that our operations adhere to the highest safety standards.