Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Laboratory | National Council for Cement and Building Materials

The Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Laboratory is equipped with modern state-of-the-art testing instruments and facilities for assessment and evaluation of concrete structures. The laboratory is accredited by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standards, reflecting its commitment to quality, reliability, and technical competence.

The laboratory serves as an important facility under the Centre for Construction Development and Research, providing specialised services related to non-destructive testing, inspection, and condition assessment of concrete structures for various sponsored projects, consultancy assignments, and research & development activities. The laboratory is supported by experienced and skilled technical personnel who are adequately trained to ensure safe testing practices and generation of accurate, reliable, and scientifically processed results.

To maintain high standards of testing quality and reliability, all instruments and equipment are periodically calibrated and subjected to regular intermediate performance checks as per established quality assurance protocols.

In addition to testing and inspection activities, the laboratory actively contributes towards capacity building and knowledge dissemination through laboratory demonstrations, technical visits, and training programmes organised for officials, engineers, researchers, and students from various reputed organisations and academic institutions, including NTPC Limited, Public Works Department (PWD), NHPC Limited, BHEL, Gujarat Engineering Research Institute (GERI), TACC Limited, Aditya Birla Group, University of Illinois, GLA University, J.C. Bose University of Science and Technology, and various Government Polytechnic Institutes.

The laboratory is equipped with the following major testing facilities and instruments:

Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) Tester for assessment of concrete quality, crack depth evaluation, and integrity assessment.
Schmidt Rebound Hammers (L-Type, P-Type, N-Type, and M-Type) for comparative evaluation and indicative estimation of compressive strength of concrete.
Half-Cell Potential Measurement System (Cu/CuSO₄ based) for assessment of corrosion probability in embedded reinforcement bars.
Electromagnetic Concrete Cover Meter for locating reinforcement and measuring concrete cover depth.
Concrete Core Extraction System with diamond core bits of various diameters (25 mm, 60 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, 120 mm, and 300 mm) for extraction of concrete core specimens from RCC structures.
Electrical Resistivity Meter based on the Wenner four-probe method.
Concrete Air Permeability Tester.
Portable Crack Width Measurement Microscope for crack width assessment.
Digital Pull-Off Tester for evaluating adhesion strength of repair materials with concrete substrates.
Coating Thickness Meter.
Facilities for carbonation depth measurement of existing concrete structures.
CO₂ Analyser.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)/Drone equipped with optical and infrared (IR) cameras for inspection and condition assessment of tall and inaccessible structures such as chimneys, cooling towers, and similar infrastructure.