Soils Testing using Australian Standard Methods

PTA now offers Australian participants the opportunity to perform Soils testing in accordance with Australian Standard methods as well as Queensland TMR methods for each Soils Proficiency Testing round. 

As part of Soils Round 27, participants were required to either follow the AS or Queensland TMR methods with one set of results accepted per sample.

AS methodsQueensland TMR methods
Liquid LimitAS1289.3.1.1 Determination of the liquid limit of a soil – Four Point CasagrandeQ104A Liquid limit of soil
Plastic LimitAS1289.3.2.1 Determination of the plastic limit of a soil – Standard methodQ105 Plastic limit and plasticity index of soil
Plasticity IndexAS1289.3.3.1 Calculation of the plasticity index of a soilQ105 Plastic limit and plasticity index of soil
Linear ShrinkageAS1289.3.4.1 Determination of the linear shrinkage of a soil – Standard methodQ106 Linear shrinkage of soil
Particle Size DistributionAS1289.3.6.1 Determination of the particle size distribution of a soil – Standard method of analysis by sievingQ103A Particle size distribution of soil – Wet sieving

Participation in proficiency testing will satisfy the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025:2017 for monitoring your performance by comparison with results of other laboratories. 

Proficiency Testing Australia programs are developed and maintained to international standards. Our programs are accredited to ISO/IEC 17043:2010 “Conformity assessment – General requirements for proficiency testing” by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ). 

For more information about the Soils programs, please contact ptaenquiry@pta.asn.au.