Our Services
Independent Soil Nail & Ground Anchor Testing
We do one thing only: independent verification testing of soil nails and ground anchors. No installation, no design, no conflict of interest — just defensible test data your Superintendent will accept.
Pre-construction verification
Suitability Testing
Sacrificial nails · ultimate geotechnical capacity verification (TfNSW TS 02168.1)
- Sacrificial (non-production) nails installed by the same method as the works — TfNSW TS 02168.1 requires the greater of 1% of working nails or two per ground type in the anchorage zone.
- Four load cycles to 30%, 50%, 70% and 100% of the ultimate geotechnical strength, with 10, 60, 10 and 180 minute observation periods at each peak.
- Test load capped so it never exceeds 80% of the bar's ultimate tensile strength; grout confirmed at 40 MPa before testing.
- Creep criteria: less than 2 mm between the 6 and 60 minute readings and less than 1 mm between 60 and 180 minutes in the final cycle.
- Measured elastic extension checked against theoretical (greater than 90% of δet), with creep rate constant or decreasing on the log-time plot.
- MRTS03 does not prescribe a separate suitability regime — on Queensland works we run pre-construction verification to the load nominated by the designer or Superintendent.
Governing specifications
What the specifications actually require
Queensland and New South Wales set out materially different regimes. We test to whichever applies to your contract, and our reports are formatted against that clause structure.
| Specification | Scope | Frequency | Test load | Acceptance criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TMR MRTS03 (QLD) | Soil nails (Cl. 49) and passive rock dowels (Cl. 50) | Under 50 nails: 3 · 51–100: 6 · Over 100: 6% | 1.5 × working load, 3 cycles, 1 hour hold | Deflection after 3 cycles ≤ 0.1% of nail length |
| TfNSW TS 02168.1 (R64) | Soil nailing — suitability and acceptance tests | Suitability: greater of 1% or 2 per ground type · Acceptance: min. 3% | Suitability: to 100% ultimate geotechnical strength · Acceptance: 150% working load | Creep limits, log-time trend, δem > 90% δet |
| TfNSW TS 02163 (ATS 5140-23 MOD) | Post-tensioned ground anchors — proof, suitability, acceptance | By AS 5100.3 risk class: 1–2% suitability, 2% or 3 acceptance | Test load TP capped at 0.8 Tu (strand) / 0.75 Tu (bar) | Extension 90–110% of theoretical, lock-off 110–115% of working load |
Clause references reflect MRTS03 (March 2025), TfNSW TS 02168.1 (R64) and TS 02163 Post-tensioned Ground Anchors. Always confirm the edition nominated in your contract documents.
Elements we test
Soil nails, rock anchors and ground anchors explained
Different elements, different failure modes, different test regimes. Here is what each element does and how we verify it.
Soil nails (bar and hollow-bar)
Grouted steel bars drilled into soil or weathered rock to reinforce slopes, embankments and excavations. Nails work in tension and rely on grout-to-ground bond along their full length. We verify bond capacity with suitability tests on sacrificial nails and acceptance tests on production nails — multi-cycle loading with creep and deflection monitoring to MRTS03 Clause 49.5 or TfNSW TS 02168.1.
Rock bolts and dowels
Passive reinforcement installed into sound rock to stabilise cuttings, tunnels and batters. Dowels are untensioned; bolts may be tensioned at the head. Testing confirms the anchor length develops the required capacity in the rock mass — typically proof or acceptance loading with deflection readings against an independent reference frame.
Temporary and permanent ground anchors
Post-tensioned tendons (strand or bar) with a fixed anchor length bonded into competent ground and a free length that transfers load to the anchor head. Used for retaining walls, deep excavations and dam stabilisation. We run proof, suitability and acceptance tests to TfNSW TS 02163, including lift-off checks and lock-off load verification.
Multi-strand tieback anchors
High-capacity strand anchors used where wall movements must be tightly controlled, such as basement excavations adjacent to existing structures. Testing covers staged loading, creep observation at peak load, and lock-off at 110–115% of working load, with extension checked against the theoretical elastic range.
Every rig is configured for the element and geometry on site, including reaction frames for shotcrete facings and soft-ground bearing plates. If your project uses a different element type or a proprietary system, get in touch — we will confirm the test setup against the design requirements.