South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has opened its first technical laboratory for testing materials used for construction and road works. The lab at RK Puram can be used by other agencies too after ISO certification.
Developed at a cost of Rs 1.7 crore and fitted with equipment costing Rs 1.2 crore, the laboratory complex occupies a 1200-sq-metre area and has testing facilities for cement and aggregates, steel rebars, bitumen for road works, water for construction, concrete and precast concrete, bricks and soils, tiles, flush doors and paint.
“Though the complex was constructed some time ago and personnel chosen for the lab, we were unable to install modern equipment due to shortage of funds,” said Colonel BK Oberoi (retd), chairman of SDMC’s standing committee. “Now, we have been able to equip the labwith state-of-the-art digital machinery and many other equipment.”
The chairman continued, “So far, we were either sending test samples of materials used by contractors to the North Delhi Municipal Corporation’s laboratory. The civic bodies were also consulting the Sri Ram Institute of Industrial Research, near Delhi University, on certain occasions. However, to save cost and time, a decision was taken in 2015 to establish our own lab where we could carry out testing at any time.”
Saying that the quality of work and longevity of the constructed projects depended on the cement and aggregates, steel re-bars, bitumen, bricks, even the water used for construction, Oberoi said it was pertinent to have all such material tested. “For example, if the cement is more than one year old, then its strength reduces by 50%. It is the same with many other materials,” said Oberoi.
The technical laboratory will charge a fee to other agencies to use its test facilities. “This endeavour will generate revenue for SDMC too. After the successful commissioning of the lab, we will aim for an ISO certification,” said an SDMC official.
