STANDARD TEST REQUIREMENTS

FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

MC-1168
Dated June 28, 1996
 SCOPE AND COVERAGE

All projects, be it civil works involving land

development, housing construction or corollary
works, undertaken through infrastructure
contracts, shall be subjected to the required
tests which shall be conducted by duly
accredited testing laboratories.
 All tests on materials used that are required
in the implementation of housing
development shall be performed by a testing
laboratory, either government or private-
owned, duly accredited by the BRS-DPWH.

 No test results shall be accepted for

payment or for project acceptance purposes
unless the required tests have been
conducted by duly accredited testing
laboratories.
 REQUIRED TESTS:
A. HOUSING CONSTRUCTION

CEMENT– One (1) quality test for every 2,000 bags or

fraction thereof.

FINE AGGREGATES – One (1) quality test for grading,

aggregate bulk specific gravity and
unit weight for every 75 cu.m. or
fraction thereof.
COARSE AGGREGATES – One (1) quality test for
grading, aggregate bulk specific
gravity, absorption and abrasion
for every 75 cu.m. or fraction
thereof.

CONCRETE – Compressive strength test on

concrete cylinder samples
One (1) set consisting of three (3)
concrete cylinders taken for each
day of pouring and to represent
 not more than 75 cu.m. of
concrete or fraction thereof for
each size.

REINFORCING STEEL BARS – One (1)

quality test for bending, tension and
chemical analysis for bar reinforcement
of concrete for every 10,000 kgs. Or
fraction thereof for each size.
CONCRETE HOLLOW BLOCKS – Compressive
strength test for every 1,000 block
of fraction thereof for each design.
One (1) set consisting of 10 CHB
taken at random.
Load bearing f’c = 13.7 MPA (min.)
Non-load f’c = 2.0 MPA (min.)

TIMBER AND SIMILAR PRODUCTS – One (1)

inspection report for each size and
shipment of material
 One (1) quality test or
manufacturer’s certificate for
each type of materials (except
for ordinary unprocessed or
untreated lumbers)

PVC PIPES – One (1) quality test or

manufacturer’s certificate/
specification (for waterline and
other uses)
 One (1) inspection report for
each size and shipment of
pipes (for waterline).

ROOFING – One (1) quality test or mill

test materials certificate for
each type of material used.
One (1) quality report for
each type and shipment of
material/ metal used.
 B. LAND DEVELOPMENT

 SUB-GRADE MATERIALS (ITEM 105) - For every 1500 cu.m.

or fraction thereof:
 1-G, Grading Test
 1-P, Plasticity Test (LL, PL, PI)
 1-C, Laboratory Compaction Test
 For each 500 sq. m. of each layer of compacted fill or fraction
thereof at least one group of three in-situ density tests. The
layers shall be placed not exceeding 200 mm in loose
measurement or based on the result of compaction trials.
AGGREGATE SUB-BASE COURSE (ITEM 200) –
For every 300 cu.m. or fraction thereof;
One (1) grading test, One (1) consistency
limits (LL.,PL. PI)
For every 1,500 cu.m. or fraction thereof;
One (1) laboratory compaction test
For every layer of 150 mm of compacted
depth/based on the results of laboratory
compaction tests. At least one group of
three (3) in-site density tests for each
500 sq.m. or fraction thereof.
AGGREGATE BASE COURSE
(ITEM 201)
For every 300 cu.m. or fraction
thereof:
One (1) grading test; One (1)
consistency limits (LL.PL.PI)
For every 1,500 cu.m. or
fraction thereof:
One (1) quality test for
abrasion test; One (1)
laboratory compaction test
 For every 150 mm of
compacted depth/based on
the results of compaction
trials. At least one group of
three (3) in-site test for each
500 sq.m. fraction thereof.

BITUMINOUS CONCRETE SURFACE

COARSE HOT LAID (ITEM 310)
Aggregates – For every 300 cu.m. or
fraction thereof:
One (1) grading test;
For every 1,500 cu.m. or
fraction thereof:
One (1) quality test for grading,
plasticity test and abrasion,
stripping and bulk specific
gravity and one (1) fractured
test.
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS – Quantity: 5 to
8% mass of total dry
aggregates Test: One (1)
quality test for each 40 t or
fraction thereof

MIX- For every 75 cu.m./130 t or fraction

thereof:
One (1) grading test;
One (1) extraction test;
One (1) stability test
 One (1) laboratory test

HYDRAULIC LIME – For every 100 t or

fraction thereof

MINERAL FILLER – For every 75 cu.m. or

fraction thereof:
One (1) consistency test
(viscosity)
COMPACTED PAVEMENT – For each full
day’s operation. Density and
thickness test at least one (1)
but not more than three (3)
samples shall be taken.

CONCRETE PAVEMENT – Flexural

strength test on concrete
beam sample, one (1) set
consisting of three (3) beam
samples shall represent a 330
sq.m. of pavement.
 Volume of concrete not more
than 75 cu.m.

COMPLETED PAVEMENT – Thickness

determination by concrete
core drilling on a lot basis. Five
(5) holes per 500 m. when two
(2) lanes are poured
concurrently.
CONCRETE STRUCTURES/ STRUCTURAL
CEMENT – Quantity (40 kg/bag)
Class A-9.0 bags/cu.m. of concrete
Class B-8.0 bags/cu.m of concrete
Class C-7.5 bags/cu.m. of concrete
Class P-11.0 bags/cu.m. of concrete
Test: For every 200 bags or fraction
thereof: One (1) quality test
FINE AGGREGATES – Quantity cu.m/cu.m
of concrete
Rounded Angular
Class A 0.50 0.54
Class B 0.45 0.52
Class C 0.53 0.59
Class P 0.44 0.47
Test: For every 1,500 cu.m. or
fraction thereof:
For a source not yet tested or failed
in previous quality test:
One (1) quality test for grading
elutriation (wash), bulk specific
gravity, absorption mortar strength,
soundness, organic impurities, unit
weight, % clay lumps and shale
For a source previously tested and
passed quality test:
One (1) quality test for grading,
elutriation (wash), bulk specific
gravity, absorption and mortar
strength.
For every 75 cu.m. or fraction
thereof: One (1) grading test
COARSE AGGREGATES – Quantity:
cu.m./cu.m. of concrete
Rounded Angular
Class A 0.77 0.68
Class B 0.82 0.73
Class C 0.70 0.68
Class P 0.68 0.65
Test: For every 1,500 cu.m. or fraction
thereof:
a) For a source not yet tested or failed in
previous test:
One (1) quality test for: grading, bulk
specific gravity, absorption, abrasion,
soundness and unit weight.
b) For a source previously tested and
passed quality test:
 One (1) quality test for grading,
absorption, bulk specific gravity and
abrasion.
For every 75 cu.m. or fraction
thereof: One (1) grading test.

STEEL REINFORCEMENT – One (1) quality

test for every 10,000 kg. or fraction
thereof for each size.
 CONCRETE – Comprehensive strength test
on concrete cylinder samples.
One (1) set consisting of 3 concrete
cylinder samples shall be taken from
each day’s pouring and to represent
not more than 75 cu.m. of concrete
or fraction thereof.

PIPE CULVERTS AND STORM DRAIN (ITEM 500)

PIPES – One (1) pipe for every 50 pieces:
Strength, absorption and dimension.
Alternative Requirements:
One (1) set consisting of
three(3) concrete cylinder
samples for not more than 25
pipes cast in the field, and

One (1) inspection report for

each size for not more than 25
pipes cast in the field
UNDERDRAINS (ITEM 501)
CONCRETE PIPES – 0.5% of the number
of pipes of each size but not
less than two (2), for strength,
absorption and dimension.
Alternative Requirements:
One (1) set consisting of 3
concrete cylinder samples for
not more than 25 pipes cast in
the field, and
 One (1) inspection report for
not more than 25 pipes cast in
the field.

PVC MATERIALS (for waterlines) – One (1)

quality test on manufacturer’s
specification.
One (1) inspection report for
each size and shipment of
pipes.
 Seal of approval for potable
water from an accredited
testing laboratory.
Letter “PVC” or number code
for water.

STONR MASONRY (ITEM 505)

CEMENT – Quantity: 2 bags/ cu.m. of
cement
Test: For every 2,000 bags or
 fraction thereof: One (1) quality
test.

FINE AGGREGATES – Quantity: 0.17 cu.m.

of concrete test: For every
2,000 bags or fraction thereof:
One (1) quality test.
a) For a source not yet tested or
failed in previous test:
One (1) quality test for grading,
elutriation (wash), bulk specific
gravity
absorption mortar strength,
soundness, organic impurities,
unit weight, % clay lumps and
shale.
b) For a source previously
tested and passed quality test:
One (1) quality test for grading,
elutriation (wash), bulk
specific gravity, absorption and
mortar strength.
 For every 75 cu.m. or fraction
thereof: One (1) grading test.

STONE – Inspection report.

 TEST RESULTS FOR EVERY ITEM OF WORK
COMPLETED BY THE CONTRACTOR SHALL BE
CONSIDERED AS NECESSARY ATTACHMENT
TO SUPPORT THE ABSTRACT OF PHYSICAL
ACCOMPLISHMENT THEREBY ATTESTING TO
THE QUALITY OF THE COMPLETED WORK
ITEM.
THANK YOU