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Special Inspections 

By focusing on inspection and testing, Signet has become one of the leading independent testing agencies in California. Our inspectors witness, record, and report the construction work performed by project contractors and subcontractors, as established in the project specifications and as defined by the California Building Code (CBC) requirements. While maintaining its independent testing laboratory status, we are responsible to the local building officials, the structural engineer, the project architect, and most importantly, Our Client. Inspection personnel are members of the OE3 union and services provided include:

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​On-Site Structural Inspections

  • Reinforced Concrete/Shotcrete

  • Prestressed/Post-Tensioned Concrete

  • Structural Masonry

  • Structural Steel Welding /Bolting

  • Spray-Applied Fireproofing (Steel/Wood)

  • Roofing/Waterproofing

  • Asphalt and Portland Cement

​Fabrication Shop (Source) Inspection

  • Concrete Batch Plant

  • Precast Fabrication Shop

  • Steel Fabrication Shop

  • Welding, Bolting, & Materials Identification

Field Testing

  • Asphalt Placement

  • Proofload/Pull Testing of Reinforcing Steel and Post-Installed Bolts

  • Torque Testing of Anchors

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​Materials Verification & Sampling

  • Rebar Supplier

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT)

  • Ultrasonic, Magnetic, Particle, Dye-Penetrant

  • Shmidt Hammer

  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)​

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Construction plan
QA/QC Testing Programs 

Immediate results. The larger the construction project, the more critical the need for precise and immediate testing and inspection services. Signet specializes in meeting the challenges of large-scale construction efforts by providing dedicated, on-site laboratories staffed with full-time project engineers and technicians. Our quality assurance/quality control programs provide added value beyond the immediate results, including:

Quality Control (QC)

  • Dedicated On-site Quality Control Manager (QCM)

  • QC Plan Development

  • Contractor QC

Final Reports & Affidavits

  • DSA Affidavits

  • OSHPD Affidavits

  • Lab Affidavits

  • Local Agency

Mix Design Reviews

  • Asphalt Concrete

  • Portland Cement

  • Cement Treated Base

  • Concrete Trial Batches

  • Structural Masonry

Laboratory Testing Review

  • Construction Materials Testing Analysis

  • Geotechnical Testing Analysis

On-Site Laboratory Testing Facility

  • Full-Service Laboratory for Remote/ Large Projects (Soils, Flex Beam, Compression tests)

  • Dedicated On-site Laboratory Technician

  • Immediate Test Results and Report

Welder Procedure Specification (WPS)

  • WPS Review

  • WPS Development

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Earthworks

Volume Change Testing

  • Incremental Consolidation

  • Expansion Index

  • Swell Pressure & Percent Swell

Our engineers have the technical expertise and diligence to keep your project moving forward including:

Geotechnical Engineering

Construction Observation and Testing

  • Grading

  • Driven or Drilled Piles/Caissons

  • Shoring and Underpinning

  • Soil Nailing

Geotechnical Engineering

  • Foundation Design Recommendation

  • Supplemental Earthwork Recommendations

  • Installation and Monitoring of Piezometers and Settlement Gauges

  • Slope Stability

  • Retaining Wall

  • Supervision of Reinforced Earth Construction

  • Cement Treated Base or Lime Treated Sub-base

Classification Testing

  • Asphalt and Portland Cement

  • Concrete Batch Plant Inspection

  • Moisture Content & USCS Visual Classification

  • Total & Dry Densities

  • Plastic & Liquid Limits (Atterberg)

  • Specific Gravity – Soil & Aggregate

  • Organic Content

  • Sieve Analysis

  • Percent Passing #200 Sieve

  • Particle Size Analysis – Hydrometer

  • Pinhole Dispersion

  • Porosity Determination

Static Strength Testing

  • Unconfined Compression, Soil

  • Unconfined Compression, Rock

  • Triaxial – Unconsolidated Undrained

  • Triaxial – Consolidated Drained

  • Triaxial – Consolidated Undrained

  • Direct Shear, Consolidated Drained

Hydraulic Conductivity & Other Tests

  • Soil Chemistry for Corrosion

  • pH (Soil or Water)

  • Permeability – Flexible Wall/ Constant Head

Earthwork Testing

  • Standard Proctor & Modified Proctor

  • California Impact Compaction

  • Soil Cement – Moisture/Density

  • Resistance Value (R-Value)

  • California Bearing Ratio (CBR)

  • Sand Equivalent

  • Durability Index

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Non-Destructive Testing

From our beginning, we have focused on the structural steel and concrete areas for both testing and inspection, thus acquiring equipment and personnel capable of performing non-destructive testing (NDT) examinations. Our comprehensive NDT program is administered by the American Society for Nondestructive Testing (ASNT) Level III professionals who have been certified by ASNT for the specific methods being utilized, and can accurately assess your project needs and provide timely and quality response working toward relevant project solutions. Our written practice is in conformance with the requirements of ASNT CP 189 and ASNT TC 1A requirements. Our experts have the knowledge and equipment to perform NDT in the field, at the project site, point of fabrication or manufacture, or in the laboratory. Services include:

NDT Testing

  • Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR)

  • Floor Flatness/Floor Levelness Testing (FF/FL)​

  • Ultrasonic (UT) Inspection

  • Magnetic Particle (PT) Inspection

  • Liquid Penetrant Inspection

  • Visual Inspection

  • Coating Thickness

  • Rebound Hammer (Schmidt Hammer) Testing

Rebar Location

  • Determine depth and spacing

  • Scan on concrete walls, slabs, footings, beams, and columns

  • Avoid reinforcement for anchor installation, electrical conduit, plumbing, and mechanical units

  • Confirms existence and placement of reinforcement

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Laboratory Testing

Located in the heart of the San Francisco Bay, Signet’s 14,000 square foot laboratory is approved by AASHTO/AMRL, CCRL, Caltrans, DSA LEA, OSHPD, USACE and managed by a highly experienced Civil and Geotechnical Engineer. Our dedicated laboratory personnel have proven their abilities through the successful completion of certification programs sponsored by ACI, NICET, and Caltrans. Our laboratories are fully equipped to perform a full range of testing on construction and geotechnical materials:

AASHTO Certified Laboratory

  • Quality Management System –
    R18, C1077, D3666, D3666, D3740, E329, E329, E329

  • Asphalt Mixture –
    D1560 (Stability), D1561, D2041, D2726, D3203, D5444, D6307, D6926, D6927

  • Soil –
    D421, D422, D558, D559, D854, D1140, D1557, D1883, D2166, D2216, D2487, D2488, D2844, D2974, D4318, D6938

  • Aggregate –
    C40, C88, C117, C127, C128, C131, C136, C142, C702

  • Concrete –
    C31, C39, C78, C138, C143, C172, C173, C192, C231, C511, C617, C1064, C1231

  • Iron and Steel –
    A615-A370 (Carbon-Steel Bars, Deformed and Plain: Tensile Strength+++)
    A615-E290 (Carbon-Steel Bars, Deformed and Plain: Bend Test

Geotechnical Testing Laboratory Analysis

  • Soils Classifications

  • Permeability

  • Triaxial Compression

  • Plasticity Index (Atterberg Limits)

  • Durability Index

  • Direct Shear Testing

  • Consolidation Properties

  • R-Value Determinations

  • Hydrometer

  • Organic Content

Caltrans Certified Laboratory

  • CT-105/106, CT-207/208, CT-227/229

  • CT-309/366, CT-539/540, CT-125 AC/Agg

  • CT-209/211, CT-231/375, CT-367/370

  • CT-543, CT-201/202, CT-2121213

  • CT-234/235, CT-371/382, CT-523/524

  • CT-203/204, CT-214/216, CT-301/303

  • CT-504/518,T-205/206, CT-217/226

  • CT-304/308, CT-521/533

Materials Testing Laboratory Analysis

  • Soils

  • Geotechnical

  • Aggregate

  • Asphaltic Materials

  • Concrete Materials

  • Masonry Components

  • Fireproofing Materials

  • Reinforcing Bars

  • Post Tension Strands

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Surveyors Equipment
Existing Building Survey

The materials technology and failure investigation services offered by Signet consist of field and laboratory testing, and existing condition surveys of a variety of building materials to determine the presence of defects, and the extent and cause of damage. The investigative services offered include methods and proven problem-solving techniques, which can be applied to a wide variety of real-world construction conditions. The following services are provided by us and our affiliates:

Special Testing Services

  • Full-scale structural load testing

  • Verification of reinforcing steel within concrete members (i.e. pachometer)

  • Crack and deflection monitoring

  • Foundation surveys

  • Anchorage and condition assessments of building facades and veneers

  • Testing of existing or newly installed anchorage.

  • Compressive strength and tensile testing of various materials

  • Physical and chemical testing of structural steel and reinforcing bars

  • In-place masonry shear testing

  • Concrete / masonry core sampling

  • Moisture emission testing of concrete floor slabs

  • F-Number measurement (Floor Flatness Testing) using the FACE Dipstick 2000 Floor Profiler.

  • Wood moisture testing

  • Rebound hammer (Schmidt Hammer) testing

  • Coefficient of Friction testing

  • Load testing of specialty fixtures / apparatus under field or laboratory conditions

  • Temperature monitoring of freshly mixed concrete by means of thermos couplers and data acquisition units

Investigative Services

  • Testing of existing or newly installed anchorage into concrete, masonry and other materials related to floor, wall, false ceiling and cladding connections (i.e., tension and shear tests)

  • Corrosion studies on reinforced concrete and structural steel structures

  • Deterioration studies of concrete exhibiting alkali-silica reaction, sulfate attack and other deleterious effects

  • Fire damage investigations

  • Glu-lam delamination / deterioration investigations

  • Moisture infiltration investigations of concrete slabs

  • Crack investigations of concrete members and structures

  • Material Investigations and condition surveys of existing structures

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Signet is proud to provide a wide range of testing and inspection services. When necessary, we will utilize our industry partners to provide any services that we may not be able to perform internally.

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