UPV — Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test | Jancy Labs
NABL Accredited Laboratory (Certificate No. TC-12176) as per ISO/IEC 17025:2017
When your NHAI or PWD project demands proof of concrete integrity — without drilling new cores — you need a certified UPV test lab, not a general testing centre. Jancy Labs provides Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity testing as per IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 from our NABL accredited facility in Madurai.
Jancy Labs provides Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) testing as per IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 from our NABL accredited facility (TC-12176) in Madurai. Our calibrated UPV equipment and qualified Materials Engineers deliver reports accepted across Tamil Nadu and beyond. Get your UPV test done today →
What Is Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity (UPV) Testing?
UPV testing tells you the internal quality, homogeneity, and defect status of in-place concrete — without cutting a single sample.
Engineers and contractors use it to assess existing structures, investigate cracks, and verify concrete placement quality for approval submissions.
Skipping this test on an infrastructure project risks costly rejections, structural queries from approving authorities, and unplanned remediation expenses.
UPV Concrete Quality Classification — IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1
Your measured pulse velocity places the concrete into one of four recognised quality grades. This classification is what your approving authority reads first:
| Pulse Velocity (km/s) | Concrete Quality Grade | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Above 4.5 | Excellent | Dense, homogeneous concrete with no significant internal defects |
| 3.5 – 4.5 | Good | Sound concrete, acceptable for most structural applications |
| 3.0 – 3.5 | Medium | Some internal voids or variability — further investigation advised |
| Below 3.0 | Doubtful | Likely honeycombing, cracking, or delamination — remediation assessment required |
Classification thresholds as per IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1. Your certified report states the measured velocity for each test path along with the resulting quality classification and the Materials Engineer's interpretation.
Applicable Standards
IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1
Prescribes the exact apparatus, coupling procedure, pulse transit time measurement, and result interpretation for UPV testing on concrete. Furthermore, it defines quality classification thresholds — ensuring your report carries clear, defensible pass/fail criteria.
Conducted Strictly to Standard
Jancy Labs conducts this test strictly as per IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 — no shortcuts, no approximations. Our accreditation scope is independently verifiable on the NABL India portal → under Certificate TC-12176.
Why UPV Testing Matters for Your Project
- Highway structural clearance: Therefore, NHAI and NHIDCL require UPV test data to verify in-situ concrete quality on road and bridge projects before issuing structural clearance.
- RCC rehabilitation projects: Additionally, PWD Tamil Nadu mandates non-destructive testing reports like UPV for inspection of existing RCC structures during rehabilitation projects.
- Rail infrastructure handover: Consequently, Railways (Southern Railway, RVNL, IRCON) accept UPV reports from NABL labs to confirm concrete integrity on rail infrastructure.
- Airside pavement and slab assessment: Furthermore, AAI specifies in-place concrete testing for airside structures — and UPV is the preferred non-destructive method for pavement and slab assessments.
- Government building audits: Moreover, CPWD project auditors reference UPV results to identify voids, honeycombing, or delamination in government building structures before handover.
- Defect-liability protection: Specifically, a UPV report from an NABL accredited lab like Jancy Labs protects you from RFI delays, departmental queries, and liability during defect-liability periods.
⚠️ Skipping UPV testing on an assessable structure risks non-compliance notices, remediation costs, and project delay — particularly on government and infrastructure contracts. View all concrete testing services →
Why Choose Jancy Labs for UPV Testing?
Jancy Labs operates one of Tamil Nadu's few NABL accredited labs (TC-12176) that conducts UPV testing strictly as per IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 — with calibrated equipment, qualified engineers, and reports built for departmental submission.
- Calibrated PUNDIT Pro+ / UPV meter maintained as per IS 516 equipment requirements.
- UPV testing conducted strictly as per IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 — no shortcuts.
- Every UPV test report reviewed and signed by a qualified Materials Engineer.
- NABL accredited lab — TC-12176 | ISO 17025:2017.
- UPV reports accepted by NHAI, PWD, Railways, AAI, and CPWD.
- Trusted for UPV testing by infrastructure and building project engineers across Tamil Nadu.
Our NABL accreditation under ISO 17025:2017 ensures every UPV test meets international quality benchmarks. See our NABL accreditation → · Talk to our team today →
How to Get Your UPV Test Done
Send Your Sample
Sample requirements depend on the element type: concrete cores (typically 100 mm or 150 mm diameter), standard cubes, or direct in-situ access. As UPV is a non-destructive test, the element is not consumed. However, if submitting laboratory cores or cubes, ensure they meet IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 dimensional requirements.
We Test It
On receipt, a Materials Engineer logs and inspects your sample against IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 requirements. Our calibrated UPV apparatus then transmits ultrasonic pulses through the concrete, measuring transit time across the element. Subsequently, the engineer calculates pulse velocity, classifies concrete quality per IS 516 thresholds, and prepares your certified report.
You Receive Your Certified Report
Your UPV test report from Jancy Labs contains every detail approving departments require — measured velocities, quality classification, and Materials Engineer interpretation.
Our UPV Testing Process — as per IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1
Preparing for the UPV Test
- First, inspect the concrete element or laboratory specimen to identify test point grid locations per IS 516 requirements.
- Next, clean and prepare the concrete surface at each test point to ensure full transducer contact.
- Then, apply coupling agent to both transducer faces and position transmitter and receiver transducers at defined test points.
Finalising the UPV Results
- Subsequently, activate the UPV apparatus, record pulse transit time for each test path, and confirm stable readings.
- Consequently, calculate the ultrasonic pulse velocity (m/s) using the measured path length and transit time per the IS 516 formula.
- Next, classify each reading against IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 quality thresholds (Excellent / Good / Medium / Doubtful).
- Then, compile all readings, classifications, and observations into the structured test report format.
- Finally, a qualified Materials Engineer reviews every UPV result and signs the report before we dispatch it.
FAQs: UPV Testing at Jancy Labs
How long does a UPV test take at Jancy Labs?
Can I send samples by courier to Jancy Labs?
Is your UPV test report accepted by NHAI, PWD, and Railways?
Do you test in-situ structures or only lab specimens?
How much sample do I need for a UPV test?
Get Your UPV Test Report Today
Need a certified UPV test report for your NHAI, PWD, or Railways project in Tamil Nadu? Jancy Labs delivers IS 516 Part 5 Sec 1 compliant UPV testing with fast turnaround — because your project approvals cannot wait.
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| 📞 Phone | +91-8680049004 / +91-9994421275 |
| +91-8680049004 | |
| ✉️ Email | jancylabsmdu@gmail.com |
| 📍 Address | No.6, Ganesh Nagar 3rd Street, K.Pudur, Madurai — 625007 |
| 🕐 Hours | Monday to Saturday, 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM |
Request Your UPV Test
Share your project scope and our team will call you back to confirm testing and turnaround.
Standards & Authority Reference Sources
- Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) — official publisher of IS 516 (Part 5/Sec 1): Hardened Concrete — Non-Destructive Testing, Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Method.
- National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) — verify Jancy Labs' accreditation scope under Certificate TC-12176.
- National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) — structural clearance requirements for road and bridge concrete elements.
- NHIDCL — National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd project quality requirements.
- Indian Railways — NDT requirements for rail infrastructure concrete integrity confirmation.
- Airports Authority of India (AAI) — in-place concrete testing specifications for airside pavements and structures.
- Central Public Works Department (CPWD) — government building structural audit and handover requirements.