Geo-Con key staff have just completed a week’s distributor training at Controls (our principle supplier) in Italy.

A very intense week that included a full day dedicated to service, has provided a “deepening into some of the most common and important procedures that ensure proper and accurate functioning of the (concrete) compression machines”.

Test Sieves
The recently released March 2007 Supplementary Requirements for Accreditation in the field of Construction Materials Testing has included new requirements for test sieves in Appendix E of Section 6, page 44.

New Sieves
All new punched plate sieves must be measured to ensure compliance with the requirements of AS 1152 prior to being used for testing using taper gauges or calipers. The procedure for checking is in AS 1152 and the current requirements detail that they must be re-checked every two years.

New wire woven sieves need to be checked against reference sieves. Alternatively, new sieves which have been calibrated may be used. Reference sieves (woven wire) must be accompanied by an endorsed test report in addition to a certifi cate of compliance. Currently, requests to prepare reference material (sand) using reference sieves by a central laboratory are under consideration. Laboratories will be further advised on this matter later.

Old Sieves
After 1 March 2008, all sieves currently in use will need to be checked in accordance with the procedures for woven wire or punch plate sieves.