The Plate Testing Co. is a specialist provider of plate testing services, delivering accurate and reliable ground investigation data across the UK, established in 2016. With extensive experience across highways, commercial developments, residential schemes, and major infrastructure projects, we support engineers, contractors, and consultants with testing they can trust.
Our process is seamless. From the moment you decide a test is required and submit your request, our team acts quickly to mobilise and deploy a qualified technical engineer to your site. The plate load test is conducted in accordance with BS 1377 Part 9: 1990. Once complete, results are transmitted directly to our office, where our dedicated reporting team promptly formalises the data. Reports are typically issued within a few hours, allowing you to review your results without delay and continue your work with confidence.
Get in Touch
Request a free quote today and get fast, clear pricing for your testing requirements. Costs are competitively priced, with no location-based increases, as our engineers are available countrywide. Simply complete the form, and our team will respond promptly with clear pricing and availability.
Plate Load Testing / Plate Bearing Test Work
We conduct in situ tests using a circular steel plate, a hydraulic jack, and a load cell in order to determine the settlement of the ground and the ultimate bearing capacity. By placing the bearing plate on the ground surface at your test location, we apply an incremental load to find out where the ground will settle and how much weight it can safely carry. This is useful for all sorts of things, like working platforms, piling mats, temporary works, and certifying load-bearing capacity for permanent structures like power lines and motorways.
CBR Testing – California Bearing Ratio (CBR)
Our CBR testing (both in situ and laboratory) gives a precise measurement of the California bearing ratio and the equivalent CBR value for subgrades, subbases, pavements, and testing larger aggregate backfills. This is all essential for road design, runways, car parks, and other major construction projects. Plus, results from our plate load testing can be used to estimate the CBR for your civil engineering project. In quality assurance, plate testing methodologies verify that materials or environments meet safety and performance standards to prevent structural failures and health risks.
How Plate Load Testing & CBR Testing Work
Setup and Plate Placement
We prepare a shallow pit if needed and position the correct size of the plate (typically a circular steel plate), placed on the ground at the selected point, foundation, piling mat, or crane outrigger pad. The plate diameter should be at least 5 times the size of the largest aggregate/stone size in the material being tested.
Load Application & Monitoring
A hydraulic jack applies a known load incrementally, using a reaction load from a suitable plant, such as a tracked excavator or other construction equipment. Precision settlement gauges and load cells continually monitor settlement and deformation characteristics.
Data Collection & Analysis
Our engineers take the bearing capacity and excessive settlement readings and prepare the graphs as we go. The modulus of subgrade reaction and total capacity of the ground are confirmed for safe bearing capacity and project design.
CBR Testing
We use a plunger to apply a given load and measure the reaction load needed, giving you a direct CBR value at your site to use in your civil engineering or road-building project.
Why Choose The Plate Testing Co.?
Same-Day, Accurate, and Reliable Data
Get a full report, complete with load increments, settlement graphs, bearing capacity, and settlement analysis, on the same day we do the test.
Nationwide Coverage & On-Site Flexibility
Urban, rural, or wind farm, wherever you are in the UK, we can get to you. We’re flexible, so we can work around your site conditions to get the best results.
UKAS-Calibrated Equipment & Experienced Team
Every piece of kit we use is properly certified. Our engineers are pros at getting accurate results every time, and they’ll give you valuable insights and peace of mind.
Ready for accurate and reliable plate testing and CBR testing?
Get in touch with Plate Load Test Co. today for same-day, on-site testing services. Ensure your site conditions, ground bearing capacity, and design load are right for any civil engineering project. Build with confidence; build on professionally tested ground.
Shaping The Future Of Construction
Frequently Asked Questions
A plate load test or a plate bearing test, determines the ultimate bearing capacity and settlement characteristics for platforms, foundations, and working areas to confirm that the ground can support permanent buildings, bridges, dams, or heavy machinery without excessive sinking.
Yes, we can bring the test to you; we do both in situ plate load testing and CBR testing, wherever that might be, on highways, runways, piling mats, or temporary works. We even offer laboratory CBR testing for construction materials & backfills, too.
Absolutely. Everything, your data, settlement curves, load increments, strength and bearing capacity values, and CBR equivalent values, is delivered in a report that comes with us when we leave the site.
We cover all other bases when it comes to soil types & site conditions, granular soils, shallow pits, mixed aggregates, and subgrades for civil engineering projects, you name it.
News & Blogs
Latest Articles & Blog Posts
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The Difference Between CBR and Plate Bearing Test
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Understanding Plate Load Test for Bearing Capacity of Soil Reports
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Once a plate load test for bearing capacity of soil has been done & dusted,…
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Why Plate Load Test Is Done in Construction Projects
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