Structural testing with loads proof

Static testing is a procedure that includes a series of operations aimed at verifying the correct functioning of a structural work before being put into service.
The Static Testing pursuant to NTC 2018 and Application Circular no. 7/2019
Static testing, governed by chapter 9 of the Technical Standards for Construction (NTC) referred to in the Ministerial Decree 17 January 2018 and the related Application Circular 21 January 2019, n. 7, is the procedure aimed at evaluating the performance of the works and structural components included in the project and any variants filed with the competent control bodies. In general, the static test must be performed during construction, in parallel with the activities of the Project Manager, and accompanies the entire process of the construction phase of a building that cannot be put into operation until it is issued by the inspector of the "test certificate". The static testing of all civil engineering works regulated by the NTC must include the following requirements:

control of what is prescribed for the works carried out both with materials regulated by the Presidential Decree of 6 June 2001 n. 380, laws n. 1086/71 and no. 64/74 and with different materials;
inspection of the work in the various construction phases of the structural elements where the inspector is appointed during construction, and of the work as a whole, with particular regard to the most important structural parts;
examination of the certificates of tests on materials, divided into: – the verification of the number of samples taken and its compliance with the provisions contained in Chapter 11 of the NTC;
in checking that the results obtained from the tests are compatible with the acceptance criteria established in Chapter 11 of the NTC;
examination of the certificates referred to in the controls in the factory and in the production cycle, envisaged in Chapter 11 of the NTC;
check of the reports and of the results of any load tests carried out by the Project Manager;
examination of the project of the work, of the general layout, of the design in its structural and geotechnical aspects, of the calculation schemes and of the actions considered;
examination of the investigations carried out in the design and construction phases;
examination of the construction manager's report on completed structures.
Finally, within the scope of its discretion, the Inspector may request to carry out all those checks, studies, investigations, experiments and researches useful for forming the conviction of the safety, durability and testability of the work, such as in particular:
load tests;
tests on the materials used, also using non-destructive methods;
programmed monitoring of significant quantities of the behavior of the work to be continued, possibly, even after the testing of the same.
The inspection of the work will be carried out in the presence of the Project Manager and the Builder, comparing the project deposited on site with the construction in a cross-examination. Static testing also includes:

Technical fulfilments: aimed at forming the Inspector's judgment on the safety and stability of the work as a whole, including the interactions of the structure with the ground, the foundation structures, the elevated structures, the non-structural elements - if reported in the design documents deposited with the control bodies -, as well as on compliance with the performance requirements indicated in the project, with particular reference to the nominal life, the classes of use, the reference periods and the actions on the buildings.

Administrative fulfilments: aimed at ascertaining compliance with the technical-administrative procedures required by current regulations on structures. The static tester, therefore, is required to carry out:

a general check on the regularity of the administrative procedures followed in the previous phases; for example, the following are mentioned: filing with the competent technical offices, issuing the seismic authorisation, when required, etc.;
the general inspection of the work in the various construction phases of the structural elements, with specific regard to the most significant structures, to be compared with the deposited project referred to in point a), kept on site; the general inspection must take place in the presence of the site manager and the representative of the constructor; for each inspection visit, a special report must be drawn up, countersigned by those attending the visit and sent to the Customer; the various reports must then be attached to the static test certificate;
the examination of the certificates relating to the tests on materials; this examination must be aimed at verifying that: – the number of samples taken is consistent with the size of the facility; – the laboratory that issued the certificates is in possession of the authorization envisaged by article 59 d

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