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Soil testing is a set of field and laboratory tests that determine the physical and mechanical properties of soil before any construction project. Per Saudi Building Code SBC 303, pre-construction soil testing is mandatory across KSA, and building permits require a certified report from an accredited laboratory.
Soil carries the entire building — any assessment error can lead to foundation settlement, wall cracking or structural failure. The cost of soil testing is an investment that protects your project from far greater losses.
ICE Lab executes exploratory boreholes to the code-specified depths, samples the different soil layers, then analyses them in the lab to issue a certified geotechnical report accepted by all government and engineering authorities in KSA.
The first step of soil testing — representative sampling from fills or boreholes using the standard method to ensure accurate lab results.
Unit: sample
Determines particle-size distribution to classify soil and derive its engineering properties. Essential for fill selection and layer design.
Unit: sample
Measures fines passing sieve #200 to evaluate fill and earth-layer quality — a key soil-classification indicator.
Unit: sample
Measures clayey soil behaviour with moisture change — shrink/swell potential that informs foundation design.
Unit: sample
Determines max dry density and optimum moisture for compaction — the reference for fills and field-density comparison.
Unit: sample
Measures soil bearing under load — used mainly in road, pavement, warehouse-floor and parking design.
Unit: sample
Verifies in-situ compaction using the sand-cone method — essential for fill-layer acceptance per the Saudi Building Code.
Unit: point
Measures post-fill soil density to confirm required compaction — with NRRC-licensed nuclear gauges.
Unit: point
Measures the soil’s heat conduction — a specialised test for HV cable and power-station projects.
Unit: test
Determines soil resistance to heat transfer around buried cables — complements thermal conductivity for electrical infrastructure.
Unit: test
Measures aggregate abrasion resistance — a key quality criterion for road base and subbase materials.
Unit: sample
Analyses fine-particle distribution in clays and silts beyond sieve range — essential for precise geotechnical studies.
Unit: sample
Measures soil moisture — a key indicator affecting bearing capacity and behaviour under load and filling.
Unit: sample
Determines sandy-soil compaction state between max and min density — supports liquefaction assessment and design on sands.
Unit: test
A field test measuring bearing and settlement under real load — among the most accurate for shallow-foundation design.
Unit: test
A field load test of existing concrete slabs to verify structural integrity — required for extensions, settlement or cracking.
Unit: test
All our tests follow international and local standards approved by Saudi government authorities
American standard for material and soil testing
Saudi Building Code for soils and foundations
British standard for soil testing
International lab accreditation for competence and accuracy
From first contact to receiving the certified report — the steps in detail
We receive your request, define the required tests per project type, location and SBC 303, and send an accurate quotation within 24 hours.
Our engineering team visits the site with modern equipment — performing field tests, boreholes and sampling at the required depths per approved standards.
Samples are analysed in our accredited labs with periodically calibrated equipment per ISO 17025, and results are recorded with high accuracy.
You receive the full, engineering-certified report with results and recommendations — ready for authorities and the design engineer.
International accreditation
Accredited by MODON, ACI and NRRC
Years of experience
More than 300 projects delivered in KSA
Result accuracy
Full compliance with approved codes and specifications
Choosing an accredited lab directly affects result accuracy and report acceptance by engineering and government authorities in KSA
The soil report is the core reference for the design engineer and contractor — everything you need for sound design decisions
Our engineering team is ready to define the required tests and provide an accurate quotation within 24 hours.
Request a quotation now![[:ar]مختبر ICE للاستشارات الفنية والمختبرات الهندسية[:en]ICE Laboratory for Technical Consultancy & Engineering Labs[:]](https://icel-sa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/cropped-ice_expert_logo_2-1.png){kind=logo}
